Additional updates have come out of Victoria, with the government confirming a list of additional postcodes that will now be returning to Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions.
As of 11:59 pm Saturday, July 4th, these are the areas that must follow new community lockdown rules.
3031 Flemington, Kensington
3051 North Melbourne
3012 Brooklyn, Kingsville, Maidstone, Tottenham, West Footscray
3021 Albanvale, Kealba, Kings Park, St Albans
3032 Ascot Vale, Highpoint City, Maribyrnong, Travancore
3038 Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Taylors Lakes, Watergardens
3042 Airport West, Keilor Park, Niddrie
3046 Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park
3047 Broadmeadows, Dallas, Jacana
3055 Brunswick south, Brunswick west, Moonee vale, Moreland west
3060 Fawkner
3064 Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Mickleham, Roxburgh Park, Kalkallo
According to the Victorian government, “This decision was made in response to increasing evidence of significant community transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) in these postcodes”.
People living in the above-listed will be required to remain at home unless they are shopping for supplies, receiving care or caregiving, exercising or if they are required to head out to study or work if you’re unable to do so from home.
Fines may be issued for those who do not follow these restrictions.
As the ABC reports, Victoria recorded 108 new cases of Covid-19 in a 24-hour period over the weekend. This is the second-highest number of positive cases since the pandemic hit.
Off the back of the confirmation of these new cases, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that nine public housing towers would be included in the lockdown effort. These buildings have been placed under a ‘hard lockdown’; they are unable to leave their homes for any reason SBS News reports.
3,000 people live in the 1,345 units affected by the lockdown. It has been reported food and supplies will be delivered to those living in these buildings. The hard lockdown is expected to last at least five days.
On the restrictions, Andrews told media:
“We have sufficient evidence to take these steps. They’re not taken lightly.
“We at no point underestimate how challenging this will be for families and businesses, particularly families, many of whom are vulnerable in those public housing towers, but for their safety and safety of all Victorians this is the right approach.”
SBS also shares that The Victorian Council of Social Service, Emma King, has made a statement on the decision to lockdown these nine public housing buildings. She stressed that while she understands the decision was made in the interest of public health, it must be considered that this experience will likely be traumatic for many tenants.
“Some public housing tenants have fled war or family violence. Some are dealing with mental health challenges. Many don’t speak English as their first language. Many others work casual or insecure jobs,” Ms King said.
“This lockdown will scare many people, and trigger memories of past trauma.”
Mark Feenane of the Victorian Public Tenants Association spoke with the ABC about the current situation in the state. He stressed that more access to public housing would have been able to help prevent this spike and protect the people in these areas.
“COVID-19 is a highly infectious virus, and it does not discriminate based on income or housing tenure. However, overcrowded living conditions assist the virus to spread. We believe that if Victoria had more public housing, this would be less of an issue,” he said.
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