Victoria to Enter Five-Day Lockdown from 11:59pm Tonight

Victoria will start into stage-four restrictions five-day snap lockdown from 11.59pm today until Wednesday, Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed.

Victorians will only be allowed to leave their homes for four reasons: shopping for essentials, giving care, essential work and education and exercise with household members only.

Masks must be worn everywhere.

Victorians will only be allowed to leave their homes for four reasons: shopping for essentials, giving care, essential work and education and exercise with household members only.

Mr. Andrews said the government had to act out of an “abundance of caution” to prevent a third wave of COVID-19.

“Today’s announcements are not about dealing with a third wave, they are about making the difficult choices to prevent a third wave,” he said.

“We have a lot to be proud of as a community. We know what to do. We are the only place in the world to have defeated a second wave.”

The lockdown deliberations come as the Holiday Inn cluster grew to 13 cases overnight, now spreading beyond the hotel quarantine program.

The latest five new cases linked to the Holiday Inn include a hotel worker and spouses of other hotel workers, marking the first infections outside of the hotel quarantine system.

The Australian Open will still go ahead but with no crowds.

Edited by Joe Cusmano