Victoria will enter stage three lockdown tonight with schools closed and only five reasons to leave home - as a Covid cluster grows to 26 with 11 new cases overnight.
Journalists on Thursday clashed with VIC state officials over the latest lockdown
But masked business owners in Melbourne s north showed remarkable resilience
An air of acceptance was felt along Brunswick Street, a busy street in Fitzroy
Many said it is what it is and noted it isn t out first rodeo after 2020 lockdown
Victoria will enter lockdown that will last for seven days starting at midnight
The cases linked to Whittlesea cluster ballooned to 26, up from 15 on Wednesday
Victoria: 7 Day Lockdown Starts Midnight Tonight
The Victorian government has imposed a seven-day state-wide “circuit breaker” lockdown starting at midnight Thursday after 26 new CCP virus cases emerged from a cluster of the Indian variant linked to South Australian hotel quarantine.
The restrictions mean people can leave their homes for only five reasons: shopping for food, attending authorised work or study, exercising (with one other person), providing care, and getting vaccinated.
The 5 km travel limit will also be reimposed for exercise and shopping, as will compulsory use of masks indoors and outdoors.
All non-essential retail will close but essential stores including supermarkets, bottle shops, and pharmacies will remain open.