The lockdown, which will come into affect from mightnight on Wednesday, will affect nearly five million people and was announced just hours before the border between Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) will close for the first time in a century. People in Melbourne are being ordered to stay at home unless travelling to work, studying, shopping for food or attending medical appointments. Restaurants, cafes and bars will only be able to provide a take away service, while gyms and hair salons will be shut. Household gatherings will be limited to just two people, with the current school holiday in the country extended.
Victoria reported 191 new COVID-19 cases overnight – the biggest rise since the epidemic began – having reported its previous high of 127 new cases on Monday.
The state also reported two deaths, the first nationally in more than two weeks, increasing the death toll throughout the country to 106.
The decision to enforce this lockdown marks the first time the border between Victoria and New South Wales has been shut in 100 years.
Movement between the two states was last blocked in 1919 during the Spanish flu pandemic.
Melbourne has been placed into lockdown after a spike in coronavirus cases (Image: GETTY)
Premier Daniel Andrews said in a media briefing in the city: “These are unsustainably high numbers of new cases.
“It is the smart call, the right call at this time, given the significant challenges we face in containing this virus.”
He added: “We have to be clear with each other that this is not over.
“Pretending that it is because we all want it to be over is not the answer.
“It is indeed part of the problem. A very big part of the problem.”
The massive spike coronavirus cases in Melbourne over recent days has forced authorities to enforce strict social distancing orders in 30 suburbs.
They have also put nine public housing towers into complete lockdown.
New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian has not put a time frame on when the border might reopen.
This will be patrolled by the military to prevent illegal crossings from 11.59pm local time on Tuesday.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller confirmed the military will be providing 24-hour aerial and other surveillance to manage the closure of the border. .
Victoria’s only other internal border, with South Australia state, has been shut since for more than three months since March 22 as a result of early coronavirus lockdown measures that were enforced.
The state line has 55 roads, wilderness parks and rivers.
Some businesses stretch across both sides, with several workers and school children commuting on a daily basis.
Countries with quarantine exemption (Image: EXPRESS)
Premier Berejiklian said people will be able to apply for daily permits to cross the border.
But she warned there would be delays of around three days in issuing these passes.
Kevin Mack, the mayor of Albury, a border town on the NSW side, said an estimated 50,000 car movements are made across the state line every day, but is worried the strict new restrictions will be a “nightmare for everyone”.
Local businesses are also expressing fears over the enforcement of the latest lockdown.
Paul Armstrong, who runs a petrol station in Wodonga, a border town on the Victorian side, told Reuters: “About a quarter of my staff like me live in NSW, and cross that border every day to come to work. I don’t know if they are going to be able to get in.”
Australia has largely controlled the spread of coronavirus throughout the country, with less than 8,500 cases.
But over the past week, Australia has reported an average of 109 new infections each day, compared with an average of just nine daily cases over the first week of June.
The huge spike in new infections has sparked fears of a second wave of coronavirus now spreading across the country.
This is a breaking story. More to follow…