Workers in personal protective equipment were seen, next to a police patrol, on July 7 in Melbourne, Australia. Pictures of Daniel Pockett / Getty
The city of Melbourne Australia will return to Phase 3 lockdown for six weeks due to struggling with a surge in coronavirus cases, announced State Prime Minister Victoria Daniel Andrews today.
The locking will start at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday local time.
People will only be allowed to leave their homes to buy food, go to work, receive or provide care, and exercise, Andrews said.
Elsewhere in the state of Victoria, the Mitchell Shire area will also be locked for six weeks.
Businesses such as restaurants that have reopened will now be forced to close again, the prime minister said.
“We know we are on top of something very, very bad if we don’t solve this,” Andrews said. “But the alternative is to pretend it’s finished, as I think some Victorians do.”
Residential tower: Since Saturday, 3,000 residents in nine public housing towers in Melbourne have been under “hard locking,” which means they cannot go at all. All residents are now being tested, with food and other needs provided by the government.
With Melbourne under Phase 3 locking – softer restrictions than “hard lock” – residents of the tower will be allowed out again for important activities.
Earlier today, Victoria’s health department announced that it recorded 191 new cases on Monday – the highest daily jump so far.
