STATE OF LOCKDOWN

Last year Melbourne endured one of the world’s longest and strictest lockdowns, which lasted about four months, crushed the virus curve but also crippled the economy. Melbourne’s ‘Black Rock cluster’ of late 2020/early 2021 was a particularly bitter blow, breaking the state’s streak of 61 days without a new COVID-19 infection. It was followed by further restrictions the next month. The new lockdown even affected tennis players in town for the Australian Open, with 72 competitors in lockdown.