The Victorian Government has announced a string of coronavirus restrictions will be re-implemented from 6pm tonight, in response to a growing cluster of COVID-19 cases based out of Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
From 6pm this evening, indoor gatherings will be restricted to just 5 people, while outdoor gatherings will be limited to 30.
In addition, face masks will be mandatory in all indoor settings unless people have a specific exemption. That includes all workplaces and schools, which will remain open under the restrictions.
Crucially, these restrictions apply to the Greater Melbourne area and its residents. Travel is permitted between Greater Melbourne and regional Victoria, however the restrictions will travel with Melbourne residents travelling outside the metro area. In other words, a Melbourne resident who travels to a regional Victorian town still has to wear a face mask in indoor venues in that town, however the residents of that town do not. How officials propose to police this particular quirk very much remains to be seen.
Acting Premier James Merlino confirmed that yesterday’s cluster of 4 cases has grown to 5, with one new positive case recorded just after midnight last night. However, Merlino also asserted that genomic sequencing on the positive cases thus far indicates a strong potential connection to the previous Wollert case that was recorded earlier in the month. That case was recorded after a man completed 14-day hotel quarantine in Adelaide.
In a bid to curb recent lax behaviours in contact tracing, Government officials will make QR code check-ins mandatory at sites where it is required from the 28th of this month.
The full list of new COVID exposure sites is as follows:
TIER ONE – Get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days from the date of exposure
- Nando’s Epping (Dalton Rd) – Wednesday May 19th, 8:30pm to 9:20pm
- Jump! Swim Schools Bundoora – Friday May 21st, 8:55am to 10:15am
- Woolworths Epping North – Saturday May 22nd, 4:45pm – 5:45pm
TIER ONE – Get tested immediately and self-isolate until further notice
- Highpoint Shopping Centre – Thursday May 20th, 5:00pm to 8:00pm
TIER TWO – Get tested urgently and self-isolate until receiving a negative result
- Shell Coles Express, Reservoir – Tuesday May 18th, 3:15pm to 4:15pm
- B.T. Connor Reserve, Reservoir – Friday May 21st, 8:00pm – 11:30pm
- Epping North Shopping Centre – Saturday May 22nd, 4:45pm to 5:50pm
- House and Party, Epping – Saturday May 22nd, 5:15pm to 5:50pm
- Futsal Brunswick – Sunday May 23rd, 9:00am to 10:00am
- Urban Diner Food Court, Pacific Epping Shopping Centre – Sunday May 23rd, 1:15pm to 2:30pm
