Circuit Breaker Lockdown for Victoria – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

On the advice of our public health team, Victoria will move to circuit breaker restrictions from 11:59pm Thursday, 27 may 2021. These settings will remain in place until 11:59pm on 3 June 2021. A graphic explainer for the lockdown is available here.

As we’ve seen here, and across Australia, this kind of short, sharp action is effective in stopping this thing in its tracks. Our public health experts’ prime concern: just how fast the B1.617.1 variant is moving. Overseas, they haven’t been able to track how quickly this version of the virus can move. Here in Victoria, though, we’re seeing not only how quick it is – but how contagious it is too.

The time between catching the virus and passing it on is tighter than ever. The ‘serial interval’ – how long it takes between the onset of symptoms in the first and secondary case – is in many cases just over a day.

And in just 24 hours, the number of cases has doubled.

It means that although these cases are all connected, this variant of the virus is making people more infectious, more quickly.

Circuit Breaker Restrictions

It’s why from 11:59pm tonight, there will be five reasons to leave home:

Food and supplies.
Authorised work.
Care and caregiving.
Exercise, for up to two hours and with one other person.
And getting vaccinated.

Exercise and shopping will be limited to five kilometres from home. If there’s no shops in your 5km radius, you can travel to the ones closest to you. Shopping is also limited to one person per day, per household.

Face masks will also need to be worn inside and outdoors – everywhere except your own home.

Private and public gatherings will not be permitted, although visiting your intimate partner continues to be okay. Single person bubbles will also be allowed.

Childcare and kinder will remain open, but schools will need to close other than for the children of authorised workers and vulnerable kids.

Shops like supermarkets, food stores, bottle shops, banks, petrol stations and pharmacies will also remain open. Cafes and restaurants will be able to offer take-away only. Gyms, hairdressers, community facilities and entertainment venues will all close. Non-essential retail may only open for click and collect.

Hotels and accommodation can only stay open to support guests already staying onsite. No new bookings can be made – unless it’s for one a permitted purpose, like authorised work.

Vaccination available for 40-Year-olds

It’s clear – more than ever – this virus isn’t going away. And vaccines are the only way we’ll ever get back to normal.

Without full vaccination, this virus will just keep mutating – and just keep making its way back in.

To that end, from tomorrow and dependent upon supply from the Federal Government, all Victorians over the age of 40 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

My message to those Victorians: if you’re eligible, get vaccinated. Make your plan today.

If someone you love is eligible, make a plan together.

Do it for yourself. Your family. Your friends. Your community. Whatever your motivation – please do it.

Because vaccination is our only real ticket out of this pandemic.

A graphic explainer for the lockdown is available here.

Circuit Breaker Lockdown for Victoria

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	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.