Victorian Government COVID-19 Response: Lockdown extension and additional restrictions.
On Monday, 16 August 2021 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced an extension of the current lockdown until Thursday, September 2nd, 2021. In addition to the extension, the Premier announced a return to restrictions seen in last year’s stage four lockdown including the curfews and authorised work permits.
It is hoped the lockdown will supress the rate of infection and the number of unlinked cases.
Caseload and Vaccinations
In the last twenty-four hours Victoria recorded 29,986 tests; revealing twenty-two new locally acquired cases, including several unlinked cases.
The cluster now brings Victoria’s active community cases to two hundred and five.
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 Monday, 16 August 2021, Victoria has administered 4,012,922 vaccinations.
For a full list of COVID-19 testing locations, click here. Tier 1 and Tier 2 exposure sites can view here.
Circuit-Breaker Restrictions
At 11:59pm on Monday, 16 August Victoria will move to Stage Four restrictions until Thursday, 2 September.
These restrictions allow for only five reasons to leave households:
- Shopping for food or other essential items – within five kilometres of an individual’s household.
- To provide care giving, for compassionate reasons or to seek medical treatment.
- For exercise, for up to two hours – within five kilometres of an individual’s household – with up to one member of your household plus dependants.
- Work or study if you cannot work or study from home.
- To get vaccinated.
Intrastate travel: travel limit of 5km from place of primary residence.
The Victorian Government’s Table of Restrictions is available 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 Analyst, 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 BrittonBriefs here.
For further coverage of Liberal Government Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic see Barton Deakin Briefs here.