Victorian day of disaster

A NIGHT-TIME curfew and travel restrictions will apply across Australia’s second-biggest city after Victoria declared a state of disaster yesterday.

The stage four restrictions across Melbourne have been introduced in a bid to control a spiralling COVID-19 outbreak.

The state recorded another 671 new cases in 24 hours, with seven more deaths.

Melburnians will now have to stay within 5km of their homes and obey a 8pm to 5am curfew.

VICTORIAN Premier Daniel Andrews has announced tough new restrictions to try and stem spiralling coronavirus cases as the state recorded 671 new infections overnight.

It takes the total cases in Victoria to 11,557, of which 6322 are active. Seven more deaths took the state’s toll to 123.

The deaths included three women in their 70s, two women in their 80s and a man and woman in their 90s, with six of the seven linked to aged care.

Melburnians aren’t allowed to travel more than 5km from home after metropolitan Melbourne moved to tougher stage four restrictions from 6pm on Sunday.

Mr Andrews said there would also be an 8pm-5am curfew every day, beginning on Sunday, with the only reason to be out of your home to get care, give care or travel to and from work.

He said regional Victoria would also go to stage three restrictions from midnight on Wednesday.

The Mitchell Shire will remain at stage three restrictions.

The Premier also declared a state of disaster for Victoria, along with the continuing state of emergency to give police and authorities greater powers.

He said the new curbs would run for at least six weeks until September 13.

Mr Andrews will outline further restrictions for businesses on Monday.

He said there would be three categories of industries but businesses such as supermarkets, butchers, bakers, food and beverage and groceries would remain open.

Intimate partner and shared parental custody exemptions would still apply.