Highlights
- Stage 3 restrictions from 11.59 pm July 8.
- Lockdown announced for six weeks
- The lockdown applies to metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, north of the city.
Harshal Desai and his group of friends, who recently resumed playing badminton at an indoor court in Melbourne’s East, will no longer be able to go for their weekly badminton session for the next six weeks as Melbourne once-again imposes Stage 3 restrictions.
Starting 11.59 pm on Wednesday, Stage 3 restrictions will return to Melbourne and other adjoining areas which means you can only leave your home for these four reasons:
- shop for essentials
- go to work or study, if unable to do so from home
- receive or give medical care
- exercise
Mr Desai says it feels bad to go back into lockdown but is relieved that some action is being taken to control the spread of the coronavirus.
“I feel bad as that was the only physical exercise I was getting. But I also believe that lockdown is good. It will help control the spread. It will be challenging, but we must do what we can,” he told SBS Hindi.
More than 772 active cases in Victoria:
The lockdown, a return to Stage 3 restrictions, was announced after Victoria recorded 191 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday and 134 cases of infection on Wednesday.
“I apologise for the inconvenience, the great challenge that many, many Victorian families are going to have to experience over these next six weeks,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said.
“The life cycle of this virus is about the 14-day period. The six weeks means we have three of those full cycles,” he said.
The local government areas where the Stay at Home restrictions apply include:
- Banyule
- Bayside
- Boroondara
- Brimbank
- Cardinia
- Casey
- Darebin
- Frankston
- Glen Eira
- Greater Dandenong
- Hobsons Bay
- Hume
- Kingston
- Knox
- Manningham
- Maribyrnong
- Maroondah
- Melbourne
- Melton
- Mitchell Shire
- Monash
- Moonee Valley
- Moreland
- Mornington Peninsula
- Nillumbik
- Port Phillip
- Stonnington
- Whitehorse
- Whittlesea
- Wyndham
- Yarra
- Yarra Ranges
So what is allowed and what is not in these areas?
Can we go for a short walk? Can we go see friends? Can we gather over weekend, at home? Can we do a take-away from the restaurant?
Questions galore and so here’s what you can do and what you aren’t allowed to do, for the next six weeks.
I live in Melbourne - can I leave home to buy groceries or go to work?
From 11:59 pm on 8 July, if you live in Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell there will be only four reasons to leave home – shopping for necessary goods or services, care or compassionate reasons, exercise, and work and study – if you can’t do it from home.
These restrictions will apply to all local residents whether they are in or out of Melbourne. Wherever possible, residents should limit their movement and ensure their activities are close to home.
You should only shop when necessary (e.g. avoid going to the supermarket every day and shopping online is encouraged where practical).
I live in Melbourne - can I exercise outside with someone who is not part of my household?
From 11:59 pm on 8 July, if you live in these restricted areas, you are only allowed to exercise outside with one other person, or members of your household.
In order to help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) across the state, you cannot leave metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire to exercise.
While exercising outside you should keep 1.5 metres distance between yourself and others and avoid sharing equipment.
Source: Getty Images/Terry Vine
I live in Melbourne - can tradespeople come into my home?
Tradespeople are able to visit your home but only if required.
As always, minimise physical contact where possible, including paying with a direct bank transfer or contactless payment.
I don’t live in Melbourne– can I travel into this area to buy food or groceries?
Yes. From 11:59 pm on 8 July, shopping for necessary goods or services, such as food or groceries, is one of the reasons to travel to the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell. Additional restrictions on businesses apply in these areas (e.g. restaurants are takeaway only).
I don’t live in Melbourne - can I travel into this area to visit friends or family?
No. From 11:59 pm on 8 July, if you don’t live in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell then you should not be visiting friends or family in these areas except for caregiving or compassionate reasons.
Everyone who lives in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell should stay at home.
There are only four reasons to leave home – shopping for food and supplies, care or caregiving, exercise and work and study – if you can’t do it from home.
You should connect with loved ones in these locations in other ways including video conferencing, phone calls, text message or social media.
Can I visit friends or family if I live in Melbourne?
No.
From 11:59 pm on 8 July, if you live in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell you cannot visit friends and family who live at another household or have visitors to your home.
The exception to this is if you are providing caregiving or visiting for compassionate reasons, providing a service or for work purposes.
Victorians also cannot visit friends and family who live in Melbourne. The exception to this is if you are providing caregiving or visiting for compassionate reasons, providing a service or for work purposes.
My partner and I live separately from one another. Can we still see each other?
Yes. Partners living separately are able to visit each other at home. You can travel to or from the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell to visit your partner.
If you are visiting your partner in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell, then you must abide by the Stay at Home restrictions and only leave home for one of the four reasons (shopping for food and supplies, care and caregiving, exercise, and study or work – if you can’t do it from home).
And if you live in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell and visit your partner in another part of Victoria, you must also abide by the Stay at Home restrictions.
I live in Melbourne. Can I participate in community sport?
No. You are only allowed to exercise outside with one other person, or members of your household.
While exercising outside you should keep 1.5 metres distance between yourself and others and avoid sharing equipment.
I live in Melbourne. Can I visit the beach?
Yes. As long as it is for the purpose of exercise and within the Melbourne metropolitan area. You are only allowed to exercise outside with one other person, or members of your household.
While exercising outside you should keep 1.5 metres distance between yourself and others and avoid sharing equipment.
I provide care to a member of my family who lives in Melbourne. Can I continue to do so?
Yes. Caring for a family member or friend is allowed under the ‘Stay at Home’ restrictions. You may continue to provide this care whether they live in or outside the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell.
There are, however, important steps you can take to keep you and them safe.
If you are delivering meals, think about leaving a package on their doorstep without making physical contact. If you are doing cleaning chores or other housework, think about having them sit somewhere comfortable away from you while you work, so you are not in close contact.
Make sure they are feeling well and ask them if they have enough of their regular medications whenever you visit.
You must maintain physical distancing by keeping at least 1.5 metres between yourself and others and practice good hygiene at all times.
I live in Melbourne but I am currently on holidays - am I required to return home?
From 11:59 pm on 8 July, if you normally live in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell but are on holidays elsewhere, you may continue that holiday.
From the start of the Directions (11.59 pm on 8 July), people living in Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell are required to Stay at Home except for the four reasons (shopping for necessary goods or services, care or compassionate reasons, exercise, and work and study) and will not be permitted to leave home for the purposes of a holiday.
I live in Melbourne - can I attend a funeral or a wedding outside of my area?
You may travel outside of the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell to attend a wedding or funeral, noting that the location of the wedding or funeral determines what restrictions apply.
You should never attend a wedding or funeral if unwell.
And if you are in Melbourne you should ensure that you practice physical distancing at the event.
Weddings in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell will be restricted to 5 people (the couple, two witnesses and the celebrant).
You cannot travel to a wedding outside of these restricted areas as a guest.
You can travel for a wedding if you are getting married, or you are the celebrant or the witness.
Funerals held in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell will be restricted to 10 people plus those required to conduct the funeral.
A wedding or funeral held in a private residence outside of metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire will be limited to five visitors, plus the celebrant.
Religious services and private worship will need to be streamed online as places of worship will be closed in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire except to broadcast services, hold weddings, funerals or public services such as food banks.
What about schools?
All Year 11 and Year 12 students in these areas will go back to school for Term 3 as planned from 13 July, along with students at special schools. Year 10 students doing VCE subjects will also go back to school from 13 July.
School holidays have been extended by a week for Prep to Year 10 students in these areas. Teachers in these areas will use this additional time to plan if a move to remote learning is required.
I live in Melbourne. Can I have a birthday party?
No. You cannot have visitors to your home.
Can I stay at a holiday home or second property?
No. You must reside at your principal place of residence.
Can I go to a second property for the purpose of caring for livestock?
Yes, but you should limit travel where you can. You should care for your animals and then return home.
If you do need to leave home to attend to your animals, you should comply with the public gathering requirements and practice good hygiene, including washing and disinfecting hands before and after handling animals and their equipment, bedding or food.
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In addition to these, there will also be an activity, facility and venue restrictions in the Melbourne metropolitan area and the Shire of Mitchell:
- Restaurants and cafes can open to serve takeaway and home delivery only.
- Pubs, bars, clubs, nightclubs will be closed. They can offer take away food and alcohol.
- Beauty and personal care services will be closed, apart from hairdressers and barbers.
- Libraries and community venues will be closed, except for essential public support services like food banks.
- Indoor sports centres including gyms, training facilities and pools will be closed.
- Community sports training and competition cannot occur within the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Shire of Mitchell. If you live in this area you cannot participate in community sport elsewhere.
- Galleries, museums, historic sites, zoos, outdoor amusement parks and arcades, play centres, indoor and drive-in cinemas, concert venues, theatres, auditoriums, arenas, stadiums, casinos and gaming venues will be closed.
- Outdoor sports facilities will be closed, except for facilities where people can exercise with no more than one other person or members of your household while maintaining 1.5 metres distance. Equipment should not be shared, and communal facilities cannot open. Personal training outdoors can occur but with a limit of two participants plus the instructor.
- Holiday accommodation and camping facilities will be closed except for those who reside there for emergency accommodation or work purposes.
From 11:59 pm, 8 July you will not be able to leave these areas for a holiday.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
