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Victoria begins 7-day circuit breaker lockdown, Airlines cancel services

Victoria will be entering a 7-day circuit breaker from 11:59pm 27 May, as the COVID-19 SA hotel quarantine breach outbreak continues to spread rapidly.

Victoria will be entering a 7-day circuit breaker from 11:59pm 27 May, as the COVID-19 SA hotel quarantine breach outbreak continues to spread rapidly.

Victoria is entering another 7 day circuit breaker snap lockdown, beginning 27 May at 11:59pm.

The news comes after the state records 12 new cases, bringing the total to 26 cases. In the past 24 hours, the number of cases has doubled.

The acting premier, Mr Merlino said we are currently dealing with a highly contagious variant. He said contact tracers are moving the fastest they have ever worked before.

“Our public health experts’ primary concern is how fast this variant is moving,” Mr Merlino said.

According to the acting premier, the time between catching the virus and spreading the virus is averaging just over a day, which is extremely quick in comparison to a normal virus transmission of 5-6 days.

10,000 primary and secondary contacts have been notified and will be required to get tested and self-isolate. There are currently over 150 exposure sites around VIC.

There are currently 196 testing centres around the state and a further 6 will be in service later today.

This lockdown will be particularly difficult for businesses and events, as there is no more Jobkeeper, but according to the press conference, additional support is currently being discussed.

Melbourne back in lockdown

Royal Arcade, Melbourne

From 11:59pm on Thursday 27 May, Melbourne will enter a 7-day circuit breaker lockdown, until 11:59pm Thursday 3rd June.

Masks must be worn everywhere, inside and outside, unless you’re in your home.

There are 5 reasons to leave home:

  • Shopping for necessary goods and services – within 5km from home where possible
  • Authorised work or permitted education
  • Exercise with one other person for a maximum of two hours
  • Caregiving, compassionate, and medical reasons
  • The new one… to get vaccinated.

Other restrictions include:

  • No visitors to your home other than an intimate partner. Single bubbles will be permitted. If you live alone, you can make a bubble with another person.
  • No public gatherings.
  • Restaurants, pubs, and cafes can provide takeaway only.
  • Essential retail, so supermarkets, food stores, petrol stations, banks, bottle shops and pharmacies, other retail stores can provide click and collect.
  • Childcare and kinders will be open as per the last circuit breaker lockdown earlier this year.
  • Approved professional sporting events will proceed but proceed without crowds.
  • Schools will move to remote learning, except for vulnerable children, and children of authorised workers.
  • Higher education will move to remote learning only.
  • Community support and recreation, accommodation, but there will be some exemptions that apply.
  • Hotels, clubs, TABs and the casino will be closed.
  • Indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, swimming pools, spas, saunas, indoor and outdoor springs, community venues, drive in cinemas, amusements parks and arcades, creative studios, art galleries and museums, tourism, tours, and transport, and auctions can only happen online.
  • Aged care facilities, no visitors except for limited reasons.
  • In our hospitals, visitors only for end of life, to support a partner during birth, or a parent accompanying a child.
  • In terms of ceremonies, funerals, a maximum of 10 people plus those running the service.
  • Weddings cannot proceed unless end of life or deportation reasons apply.
  • Religious activities will not proceed other than through broadcast with a maximum of five people.

Emergency surgery will continue.

From tomorrow morning vaccine eligibility will be expanded to include the 40-49 age group. A phone booking is required for the Pfizer vaccine.

“If you’re under 50, so between 40 and 49, you will be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, from those state-run centres, that have that capacity to deliver Pfizer,” Mr Foley said.

“My message to all Victorians is if you are eligible, if you’re eligible to get vaccinated, make yourself a plan to do that today, and get it done.”

Click here for more information.

Virgin cancels 10 Melbourne services

virgin-australia

Virgin Australia has cancelled more than 10 services in and out of Melbourne, where the coronavirus cluster continues to grow.

“Due to the evolving situation in Greater Melbourne, Virgin Australia will cancel more than 10 services” set down for Thursday, the carrier said in a statement.

“While most services in and out of Melbourne today are operating as normal, we are adjusting our forward schedule to better reflect changing travel demand and booking trends.”

Virgin is currently inundated with calls and is asking customers who aren’t travelling in the next 72 hours to call back later.

The airline will directly contact any customers impacted by changes to flights, including Melbourne services.

Source: AAP