While every country is experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic differently, we’re experiencing somewhat of a Spice Girls effect, in that everyone is trying their hardest but Victoria is ruining it for everyone. And given Victoria’s inability to keep the COVID-19 curve flat, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has finally had enough.
We spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic on this episode of It’s Been A Big Day For…
Daniel Andrews has just announced a lockdown of metro Melbourne, as Victoria records its largest increase in daily cases since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was recorded that there were 191 new confirmed cases today, with 37 linked to known outbreaks and the other 154 under investigation. Big yikes.
As a result, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says that Stage 3 stay-at-home restrictions will be re-imposed as of midnight on the 8th of July (tomorrow) for 6 weeks in metro Melbourne. We can’t even begin to imagine the number of people that are bolting to do a quick groceries shop or a liquor run.
“There is simply no other alternative,” Daniel Andrews boldly declared in the press conference. Here’s the full press release.
While Stage 3 stay-at-home restrictions are re-imposed, there will be some differences in how it will actually come about. Most importantly, people will not be allowed to leave the locked-down areas for exercise and no-one will be able to go into a second home outside of Melbourne. Also, retail and hairdressers will remain open, but cafes, restaurants and pubs that are situated in the restricted zones will go back to doing takeaway meals only.
“Don’t for a moment think you can flout these rules.” – Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews
According to Daniel Andrews, we’re on the “cusp of something very very bad” as a “sense of complacency” has brought the COVID-19 case numbers back up.
In the press conference, Daniel Andrews said: “Every Victorian needs to understand this is not over. It is not something that you can pretend and wish away. It is here and it is going to be with us for a very long time…”
The Chief Health Officer of Victoria added on, “We’ve got 6 very difficult weeks ahead of us… We’re facing as significant a situation this time around…there is a unanimous view that this is required to avoid absolutely catastrophic outcomes.”
Always be in the loop with our snackable podcast breaking the biggest story of the day. Subscribe to It’s Been A Big Day For… on your favourite podcast app.