A state of disaster has been declared in Victoria as the state tightens COVID-19 restrictions and implements a nightly curfew in Melbourne.
Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed Melbourne will to go into strict Stage 4 lockdown from 6pm on Sunday until at least September 13, revealing a strict set of rules for the radical shutdown.
Under new restrictions Melbourne residents must stay home between 8pm and 5am every day, with exemptions for work, receiving medical help or care giving.
Residents are able to exercise with only one other person for a maximum of an hour per day and must remain within five kilometres of their home.
Victoria has been declared a state of disaster with tighter restrictions implemented in Melbourne to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state. Pictured: shoppers wear face masks after stocking up on supplies at a Costco outlet in Melbourne on Sunday
One shopping outing is allowed per day and can only be done by one member of a household within five kilometres of their home.
Schools will effectively be closed and remote learning will commence for students across the state from Wednesday, with exemptions for special schools and for children of essential workers, who can attend childcare centres.
TAFEs and universities will also be closed with learning to be done remotely.
Weddings will be banned from Thursday, however funerals will still be allowed – with a maximum of 10 people allowed to travel from Melbourne to regional Victoria to attend one.
All recreational sport will be banned throughout the state of disaster.
Melbourne’s Night Network weekend public transport service will be shut down and its regular public transport will be reduced during curfew hours.
Mr Andrews said police will also be given additional powers to make sure people comply with public health directions.
‘I know Victorians are with me when I say, too many people are not taking this seriously,’ he said.
‘And too many people not taking this seriously means that too many other people are having to plan funerals for those they love.’
The face mask mandate will continue to be in effect across the state, with the changes set to remain until September 13, which is six weeks away.
‘As always, we’ll keep reviewing and realigning the restrictions in line with the advice of our health experts – and if we can change things earlier, we will.
‘I know that will cause a certain level of anxiety and uncertainty. But the truth is, this is complex – and we’re going to take some extra time to make sure we get these calls right.’
The new restrictions mean all students will be learning from home from Wednesday unless they are vulnerable or parents are essential workers. Pictured: Brunswick East Primary School after it was closed for deep cleaning on June 23
Weddings will be banned across the state from Thursday, though funerals will still be allowed. Pictured: a photographer wearing a face masks shoots wedding pictures in Melbourne on July 20
Mr Andrews urged Melburnians not to panic buy products, revealing supermarkets, bottle shops, pharmacies, bakers and butchers would remain open.
The Victorian Premier said declaring a state of disaster on Sunday was the most difficult decision of his political career.
‘I’ve had the job of leading this state for almost six years – more than 2,000 days. And today is by far the hardest day – and the hardest decision,’ he said.
‘But it is the decision I’ve made to keep our state safe.
Daniel Andrews said declaring a state of disaster in Victoria was the hardest decision he has made in office
‘All the temporary sacrifices we make now – all the time missed with mates, those delayed visits to mum – those sacrifices will help keep our mates and our mums and our fellow Victorians safe.’
He said an explosion of ‘mystery cases that cannot be traced back to work or home’ was deeply concerning.
‘As they tell us, based on the current numbers, cases might begin to drop off not in days or weeks – but in months. Months more of lockdown restrictions. Months more of 300, 400, 500 cases a day,’ he said.
‘More Victorians in hospital beds. More Victorians hooked up to machines just to breathe. And more Victorians – more grandparents, parents, sons, daughters, partners and loved ones – choked to death by an invisible enemy.
‘That’s not something I’m willing to accept. I don’t think it’s something any of us are willing to accept.
‘We must do more. We must go harder. It’s the only way we’ll get to the other side of this.’
Sport has also been banned in the state of disaster. Pictured: golfers play at Albion Park Golf Course in May