Victoria Plunges into Covid-19 Circuit-Breaker

Victoria enters a seven-day circuit-breaker lockdown as the state records 12 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19.

Acting Premier James Merlino made the announcement at a Press Conference on Thursday where he said there was no other choice but to lock down the state, given the speed at which this variant of the virus spreads. 

Health authorities moved quickly in response to the alarming speed at which the virus variant moved as exposure sites across greater Melbourne exceed 150.

The circuit-breaker lockdown is at stage 3 restrictions with only 5 reasons to leave home:

• shopping for necessary goods and services
• authorised work or permitted education
• exercise, a 2-hour limit with one other person
• care giving, compassionate, and medical reasons
• The fifth reason why you can leave your home to get vaccinated

WA's hard border with Victoria back in place

Victoria have extended eligibility for vaccines to include the 40 to 49-year-old age group, for the Pfizer vaccine.

Western Australia have slammed shut their border with Victoria as Premier Mark McGowan announced seven people in WA had been at the exposure sites in Melbourne. All are in hotel quarantine and one has so far returned a negative test result.

Mr McGowan said the virus had spread from Melbourne to regional areas of the state, warning that COVID-19 “doesn’t respect the Melbourne metropolitan boundary”.

“We're dealing with a very difficult situation, a very dangerous situation for Australia once again. “It is essential we take action to protect the health of Western Australians,” Mr McGowan said.

Anyone arriving from Victoria between May 16 and 6pm 25 May must now get tested within 48 hours and remain in self-quarantine until they receive a negative result.

Catch up on the latest headlines on The National Briefing. Available on Listnr.