States shut their borders as Victoria readies for five-day snap lockdown

Map of Victoria with a coronavirus warning tape (COVID-19, 2019-nCoV) isolated on a gray background. The map is white with a long shadow effect and in a flat design style. Conceptual image: coronavirus outbreak on the territory, coronavirus detected, closing of borders, area under control, stop coronavirus, quarantined area, spread of the disease, virus alert, danger zone, confined space. Vector Illustration (EPS10, well layered and grouped). Easy to edit, manipulate, resize or colorize.

States and territories have reacted to Victoria’s snap five-day lockdown to combat a growing COVID-19 cluster stemming from a quarantine hotel in Melbourne.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews revealed that Stage 4 restrictions will begin at 11:59pm tonight and go until 11:59pm on Wednesday, after it was announced that there are now 13 COVID cases linked to the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport.

Victorians will only be able to leave home under for the following four reasons: to get essential supplies, for care and caregiving, to exercise, and to undertake essential work.

Those who wish to exercise and shop will only be allowed to do so inside a five-kilometre radius from their home.

Victorians will need wear face masks indoors and outdoors, and no visitors will be permitted in homes. And any public gatherings won’t be able to go ahead.

Gyms, pools, community centres, entertainment venues, and libraries will all need to close.

All non-essential retail will close, but essential stores like supermarkets, bottle shops and pharmacies will remain open. Cafes and restaurants will only be able to offer take-away.

Victoria’s hotel and accommodation providers will be able to stay open to support guests already staying onsite, but no new bookings can be made.

Funerals will be able to go ahead with up to 10 people, but weddings will need to be postponed.

The Australian Open will continue as planned today and tonight. However, Tennis Australia said there will no fans onsite at the tennis major from Saturday until restrictions are lifted.

Victoria’s Premier said international flights won’t be accepted in the state unless they’re already in the air.

“Because this is so infectious and is moving so fast, we need a circuit breaker,” Premier Andrews said.

“I know it’s not the place that we wanted to be in.

“However, we’ve all given so much, we’ve all done so much. We’ve built something precious, and we have to make difficult decisions, and do difficult things, in order to defend what we’ve built.

“I am confident that this short, sharp circuit breaker will be effective.”

States and territories respond

Tasmania will shut its border to Victoria from midnight, deeming the entire state ‘high risk’, while Western Australia has announced a 72-hour hard border with Victoria from 6pm AWST (9pm AEDT) tonight.

Having already introduced a hard border to Greater Melbourne, South Australia has is now closing its border to all of Victoria.

The Northern Territory has already declared Greater Melbourne a hotspot, and Queensland will close its border to Greater Melbourne for 14 days from 1am on Saturday.

The ACT said residents who return home from Victoria before midnight won’t have to quarantine, but those who return home from tomorrow must notify ACT Health and enter into self-quarantine until Wednesday night.

Non-ACT residents entering the territory for essential reasons are required to apply for an exemption.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there were no plans to shut the state’s border to Victoria.


Featured image source: iStock/bgblue

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]