The Australian state of Victoria will enter in a lockdown for the third time in an effort to curb the outbreak of the UK coronavirus.
Authorities this week received 13 cases based on a quarantine worker who became infected at a Melbourne hotel.
The lockdown will begin on Friday midnight and end on Wednesday.
What About The Australian Open?
However, the government has said the Australia Open tennis tournament will continue in the provincial capital, Melbourne.
Viewers will be barred from attending the event in-person from Saturday, which previously allowed up to 30,000 visitors a day. Tickets will be refunded, said tournament director Craig Tiley.
Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews has said the current outbreak has nothing to do with isolated hotels used by tennis players.
He emphasized the need for a “circuit breaker” to combat the “highly contagious” strain which he said had likely already seeded other infections in the community.
“This is the fastest-moving, most infectious strain of coronavirus that we have seen,” he said, adding that almost 1,000 close contacts had already been reached.
COVID Cases In Victoria
Prior to the outbreak, Victoria had not seen a local infection for 28 days and the government had eradicated the virus.
Many Melbourne residents have expressed frustration but also resignation due to retreat to the old normal – lockdowns.
Last year, in Australia’s winter, the city endured one of the world’s longest and strictest lockdowns to overcome a second wave which led to more than 90% of Australia’s 29,000 cases and 909 deaths.
“We’ve built something precious, and we have to make difficult decisions, and do difficult things, in order to defend what we’ve built,” Mr Andrews said.
“I am confident that this short, sharp circuit breaker will be effective. We will be able to smother this.”
Restrictions
The state will be under the following restrictions for five days:
- People must stay at home except for shopping, exercise, caregiving and essential work needs
- No gatherings allowed
- Travel is restricted to within 5km (3.1 miles) of the home
- Mask wearing is mandatory in public
- Places of worship and all non-essential venues are closed
- Schools are closed except for children of essential workers
Meanwhile, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia have announced travel bans on people from Melbourne. Further border closures are expected. International flights to Melbourne will also be cancelled, authorities said.
The tough ride continues for the Australian Open as Covid and controversy strike again.
