SNAP LOCKDOWN: Victoria enters Stage Four restrictions

Victorians are waking to a five-day lockdown, amid fears the state is on a brink of a third wave of COVID-19.

Stage Four restrictions apply, with Victorians only able to leave home for four reasons: shopping for essential goods and services, caregiving, essential work, and exercise for two hours per day.

Announcing the lockdown, Daniel Andrews says we “must assume that there are further cases in the community and that it is moving at a velocity that has not been seen anywhere in our country.”

The Australian Open will continue without crowds from Saturday.

RESTRICTIONS UNTIL 11.59PM WEDNESDAY 17 FEBRUARY:

• MASKS: Compulsory everywhere except for in the home
• HOME GATHERINGS: Not permitted
• PUBLIC GATHERINGS: Not permitted
• TRAVEL LIMIT: Must remain within a five kilometre radius of home
• WORK: If you can work from home you must
• CHILDCARE: Open
• SCHOOL: Closed except for vulnerable children and children of essential workers
• HIGHER EDUCATION: Remote learning only
• RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS: No in-person gatherings permitted
• FUNERALS (indoor and outdoor): No more than 10 people permitted + those needed to conduct the funeral
• WEDDINGS (indoor and outdoor): Only permitted for compassionate reasons, with five people including the couple and celebrant
• GYMS AND INDOOR RECREATION: Closed
• PLAY CENTRES, INDOOR SKATE PARKS: Closed
• OUTDOOR PHYSICAL RECREATION + SPORT: Closed except for outdoor playgrounds
• POOLS, SPAS, SAUNAS, STEAM ROOMS: Closed
• RETAIL:
  • Essential retail: Open with density of one person per square metre (supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, fruit and veg shops, fishmongers, food markets, bottle shops, financial institutions, courts, post offices, news agents, pharmacies, petrol stations)
  • Other retail: Closed
  • Auction houses: Closed
• HOSPITALITY: Open for take-away only
• ACCOMMODATION: Closed unless for permitted reasons. No new bookings
• REAL ESTATE: Inspections not permitted, auctions online only
• TOURISM SPACES + TOUR TRANSPORT: Closed
• CARE FACILITY VISITS: No visitors permitted in aged care or other residential facilities except for end-of-life reasons
• HOSPITAL VISITS: No visitors permitted except for end-of-life reasons, as a support partner for birth or a parent to accompany a child

Press PLAY below to listen to part of the Premier’s press conference.

Press PLAY below to listen to Neil Mitchell and Dee Dee’s reactions to the news.

Image: Asanka Ratnayake / Getty