Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that a state of disaster in Victoria will come into place from 6:00 pm tonight.
From 6:00pm tonight, a state of disaster will be declared across Victoria, which will act in addition to the state of emergency.
A curfew will be imposed from 8:00 pm to 5:00 am in Melbourne. The only exception will be for work or care giving.
Andrews said the state of disaster gave police greater power and allowed authorities to suspend acts of Parliament.
Under the stage four rules
- Exercise outdoors will be limited to one hour per day, with one other person (Recreational exercise like tennis and golf are banned)
- Only one person per household will be able to go out shopping within 5km of their home, once per day
- Remote learning will resume for all students from Wednesday (5 August)
- Public transport will be restricted overnight
- Weddings will be banned from Thursday (6 August)
- Funerals will be limited to 10 people
- Childcare centres will be closed.
This lockdown period will last six weeks and end in mid September.
Regional Victoria will move to stage three restrictions from Thursday.
Premier Andrews said 671 new coronavirus cases had been detected since yesterday and seven more people had died.
Six of the deaths have a connection to aged care.
The Mitchell Shire, north of Melbourne, will stay on the same stage three restrictions it has been on for nearly three weeks.
The new restrictions will last until at least September 13.
Panic buying
Even before Premier Andrews made the latest restrictions, there was panic buying at supermarkets.
Some Coles and Woolworths stores have sold out of chicken, mince, tinned tomatoes, and pasta and rice were in short supply. Even frozen vegetables, fruits, milk, and toilet paper are in short supply.
Premier Andrews has assured Victorians that there are enough supply of food and essential items and there is no need for panic buying.
Mr Andrews said the changes being announced today were about how Victorians lived their lives, but more changes would be announced on Monday about restrictions on workplaces.
