Seven day lockdown announced to curb Victoria’s growing coronavirus outbreak.

The Victorian government has announced a seven-day lockdown in a bid to curb the state's growing coronavirus outbreak. There are now 34 active coronavirus cases across the state, with 26 of those linked to the new cluster. One of the new cases is in intensive care and is on a ventilator.

Acting Victoria Premier James Merlino has announced the  lockdown and the new restrictions, beginning at midnight tonight(27^th May) , require people to stay in their homes with public gatherings banned. A full list of what is allowed under the new laws can be viewed in this article.

Acting Premier James Merlino has expressed concern at how fast the Indian variant is moving across the state, saying authorities are not only experiencing first hand how quick it is “but how contagious it is as well”.

“Our contact tracers are identifying and locking down the first ring, second ring, and third ring within 24 hours. They have never done that before,” he said during Thursday’s press conference.

From 11.59pm tonight all of Victoria will move into lockdown restrictions, with just five reasons to leave home, including getting food and supplies, authorised work, care and caregiving, exercise for up to two hours each day with one other person, and getting vaccinated.

The “circuit breaker” lockdown will be in place until 11.59pm on June 3, with the following restrictions also coming into effect:

• You must remain within a 5km radius of your home when shopping or exercising, unless your closest shops are further away.

• Masks must be worn everywhere other than your home, both indoors and outdoors, unless an exemption applies.

• There are to be no visitors to your home unless it is an intimate partner. However, single bubbles will be permitted, with people living alone allowed to make a bubble with one other person.

• Public gatherings will be banned. Restaurants, pubs and cafes can provide takeaway only. Essential retail, supermarkets, food stores, petrol stations, banks, bottle shops and pharmacies, other retail stores can provide click and collect.

• Schools will move to remote learning, except for vulnerable children and children of authorised workers. Higher education will also move to remote learning.

• Childcare will remain open.

• Funerals will be limited to a maximum of 10 people plus those running the service.

• Weddings cannot proceed unless end of life or deportation reasons apply.

• Religious activities will not proceed other than through broadcast with a maximum of five people.

• Approved professional sporting events will proceed but crowds will not be permitted.

• Hotels, clubs, TABs and casinos will be closed.

• Indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, swimming pools, spas, saunas, community venues, drive in cinemas and amusements parks, creative studios, art galleries and museums will all be closed.

• Aged care visitors will only be allowed for limited reasons. Hospitals will only allow visitors for end of life situations, to support a partner during birth, or a parent accompanying a child.