Melbourne’s Sixth Lockdown Has Been Extended by Two Weeks – With Even Tougher Restrictions

Last Wednesday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced Melbourne’s sixth lockdown would be extended by a week, until Thursday August 19.

But, in a press conference on Monday afternoon, Andrews said that based on health advice, he would be further extending the lockdown by another two weeks. It will now end on September 2.

“We need to go harder and we need to go longer in terms of this lockdown,” Andrews said, condemning those flouting lockdown rules over the weekend. “If people continue to make these sorts of selfish choices, then we will be locked down longer … We are at a very delicate point in this outbreak.”

The strengthened lockdown conditions will apply from 11.59pm tonight. A curfew will apply from 9pm to 5am every day, Andrews said, and exercise will be limited to you and one other person (whether they be from your household or otherwise) plus dependents.

There will also be no removal of masks to drink alcohol outdoors. It’s takeaway, Andrews emphasised – “not hang around and turn the footpath into the pub”. Playgrounds, basketball courts, skate parks and exercise equipment will also be closed, despite being outdoors. Permits for authorised work and education will also return, as was the case in the 2020 lockdowns.

This announcement comes as the state records 22 new locally acquired cases of coronavirus, 17 of which are linked to known outbreaks, and with only 14 in isolation throughout their infectious period.

coronavirus.vic.gov.au