ENTERING RECOVERY PHASE
Melbourne City goes back into lockdown following a surge in cases within the state.
MEASURES
- Officials have closed the borders of Victoria state – with the police and military deployed to enforce this closure – and Melbourne city is placed back under lockdown, following a spike in COVID-19 cases (mostly within the city).
- This means that all but essential services would have to cease operations yet again. The re-introduction of restrictions is estimated to cost up to AUD 1 billion every week.
- The sudden announcement to close Victoria’s borders has left residents of border towns scrambling to obtain permits to cross the border for work, and school holiday travellers rushing to return home.
- As anticipated, panic buying within the state has returned – with shoppers stripping supermarket shelves in preparation of the new restrictions. Major supermarkets have since re-imposed buying limits on essential items.