Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, will re-enter lockdown for six weeks with effect from 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday July 8, 2020, after reporting a record number of new coronavirus cases.
The state of Victoria’s Health and Human Services (HSS) reported 191 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 2,824. Thirty-seven cases have been linked to already-known outbreaks and 154 cases are currently being investigated.
No deaths were reported on Monday, but Victoria State Premier Daniel Andrews said in a statement on Tuesday, that two people in the state had died in the last 36 hours from the virus. To date, 22 people have died from the virus in Victoria, HHS stated.
“I know a lot of people aren’t scared because this feels like something happening to other people in other parts of the world. But you should be scared of this. I’m scared of this. We all should be,” Andrews said in the statement.
“Yesterday, we reached a grim new milestone, the most cases in a single day. Today, we surpassed it. It’s clear we are on the cusp of a second wave – and we cannot let this virus cut through our communities”.
Due to the growing number of cases, Andrews said, and based on the advice of Victoria’s chief health officer, stage 3 “stay-at-home” restrictions will be reinstated in 31 local government areas in the metropolitan Melbourne region from Wednesday and continue for six weeks until August 19, 2020.
Beginning late Wednesday, residents will not be permitted to leave their homes except for essential work and shopping and exercise. Residents are not allowed to have visitors, and no more than two people or members of the same household can gather in public.
Work from home restrictions are also in place.
Restaurants are take-out only and pubs, bars and clubs can either close or open for take-out only. Food courts and personal care services, except hairdressers, must close.
Movie theaters and sports and concert venues are closed, as are casinos.
Religious services are to be held virtually.
Weddings can be attended by no more than five people and funerals by no more than 10, Andrews outlined in the restrictions.
