The exact length of the extension is still unknown.
Premier Daniel Andrews has announced that Victoria’s lockdown will be extended beyond midnight Tuesday – although he is yet to confirm for how long, with the next 24 hours proving critical to determining the lockdown’s end date.
What you need to know
- Victoria’s lockdown will be extended beyond midnight Tuesday
- Details of the length of the extension are yet to be revealed
- Health chiefs and senior ministers will make the final call in the next 24 hours
Stay up to date with what’s happening in Melbourne here.
The decision comes after Victoria recorded 13 more local COVID-19 cases on Monday, including one announced on Sunday in Mildura. While all of Monday’s cases are linked to existing outbreaks, they had all spent some time in the community during their infectious period.
Premier Andrews also confirmed four more cases in Victoria after the state’s midnight deadline. They have all been in isolation while infectious and will be included in Tuesday’s numbers.
“I know this is not the news that people want to hear,” Andrews said in Monday’s press conference. “This lockdown will be on for as long as it’s needed. It will be on for as long as needed. Not a moment longer.
“We can be clear that we will need more time – exactly how much more time, that advice is not with me … We know that if we had been open, we’d be just like Sydney with hundreds and hundreds of cases.
“Lifting restrictions now would not be the right thing to do.”
Reported yesterday: 13 new local cases and 1 new case acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
– 14,758 vaccine doses were administered
– 54,839 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl1hf3W#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/j2r9Pz8Ynd— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 18, 2021
