Victorian Government COVID-19 Response: Extended Circuit Breaker Restrictions

On Tuesday, 20 July 2021 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a seven day extension to the

July ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown.

Victoria’s lockdown will continue until Wednesday, July 28 with no significant changes to the current rules. The Premier and Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton outlined that the aim of the lockdown is to ensure almost all cases are in isolation throughout the duration of their infectious period.

Caseload and Vaccinations

In the last 24 hours Victoria recorded 54,839 tests; detecting 13 new locally acquired cases. Of the local cases all 12 are linked to the existing clusters, and one remains under investigation.

The cluster now brings Victoria’s active community cases to 82. Of those 82 cases, 18,000 close contacts have been identified and are currently under isolation directions.

The current caseload, alongside uncertainties surrounding community exposure has given health experts reason to advise the Victorian Government to implement further restrictions in Victoria.

As of Thursday, 15 July 2021, Victoria has administered 2,831,570 vaccinations.

For a full list of COVID-19 testing locations, click here. Tier 1 and Tier 2 exposure sites can be viewed here.

Circuit Breaker Restrictions

Victoria will remain in Stage Four restrictions until midnight Wednesday, 28 July.

These restrictions allow for only five reasons to leave households:

  1. Shopping for food or other essential items – within five kilometres of an individual’s household.
  2. To provide care giving, for compassionate reasons or to seek medical treatment.
  3. For exercise, for up to two hours – within five kilometres of an individual’s household – with household members, intimate partner, or one other person who is not from a household or a partner.
  4. Work or study if you cannot work or study from home.
  5. To get vaccinated.

Intrastate travel: travel limit of 5km from place of primary residence.

COVID Restrictions – until Wednesday, 28 July
CategoryRestrictions
    SocialPublic gatherings: Not permitted (two people for exercise).   Visitors to the home: Not permitted. Intimate partner visits are allowed.
    Education and childcareEarly learning centres, childcare, family day care: Open   School: Schools closed and moved to remote learning but will be open for vulnerable children and the children of essential workers.   Special needs schools will be allowed to open for children in need.   Higher education and training: Closed, remote learning only
  WorkOffices: If you can work from home, you must work from home   All workplaces with onsite workers require a COVIDSafe Plan.
HospitalityHospitality: Open for takeaway only.
      Shopping, hairdressing and personal careReal estate: Closed.   Essential retail: Open, DQ 1 per 4sqm.   Other/general retail: Closed, click and collect acceptable.   Auction houses: Closed, (permitted online).   Hairdressing, beauty and personal care services: Closed.
      Exercise and recreationIndoor physical recreation and community sport: Closed.   Gym and exercise classes: Closed.   Outdoor physical recreation and community sport: Outdoor playgrounds remain open.   Pools, spas, saunas, steam rooms and springs: Closed.
      Ceremonies and OccasionsWeddings (indoor and outdoor): not permitted (unless for compassionate reasons).   Funerals (indoor and outdoor): Funerals will be permitted with up to ten people, plus those who conduct the service.   Religious gatherings and ceremonies: No in-person gatherings permitted. Broadcast permitted.
        Entertainment and LeisureClosed: Except professional athletes are defined as essential workers, venues hosting professional sporting competitions can open, with essential staff attending to ensure the safe running of the event. No spectators. Seated entertainment venues (indoors and outdoors): Closed Indoor non-seated venues (such as galleries): Closed. Outdoor non-seated entertainment venues (such as Zoos, live museums): Closed Drive in cinemas: Closed. Amusement parks: Closed. Gaming: Closed. Nightclubs: Closed.
Community and Arts FacilitiesCommunity venues and facilities including libraries and toy libraries: Closed   Creative arts facilities: Closed
Travel and AccommodationAccommodation: Closed unless for permitted reasons, or shelter in place. No new bookings. Current guests can remain.
        Care facilities and hospitalsVisitor restrictions: No visitors are permitted into aged care or other residential facility settings, except for end-of-life reasonsNon-essential contractors are restricted from entry   Hospital Visits: Visitor restrictions:No visitors are permitted into health care settings, except for end-of-life reasons, as a support partner for birth, or a parent to accompany a child Non-essential contractors are restricted from entry

For further details see the Victorian Government’s Circuit-Breaker Restrictions framework.

Business Support Package Extension

The Victorian Government will double existing support payments for businesses affected by the extension of the circuit-breaker restrictions.

Up to 90,000 businesses will benefit from the support packages. Applications remain open.

Businesses that have previously received the Business Cost Assistance Program and the Licenced Hospitality Venue Fund will not have to reapply and will automatically receive a payment.

Borders

Victoria will maintain a ‘hard border’ with NSW for at least the next two weeks. From Wednesday, July 21, only Victorians with compassionate exemptions and essential workers will be allowed into Victoria from Greater Sydney.

For details on the Victorian Travel Permit System, and updates on travel restrictions see here.

Further Information

For more information, contact Hawker Britton Victorian Directors, JP Blandthorn at [email protected] and Emma Webster at [email protected], or Policy and Business Analysts, Raphael Mengem at [email protected] and Millie Boag at [email protected].

Further Hawker Britton Occasional Papers on the activities of the Victorian Government are available here.

For further coverage of Labor Government Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic see Hawker Britton Briefs here.

For further coverage of Liberal Government Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic seeBarton Deakin Briefs here.

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