The Premier says it was the only option given the number of cases in the semi-rural municipality between Melbourne and Ballarat.
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews had announced that the Moorabool LGA will enter lockdown tonight due to the increase in COVID cases in the area, operating under the same rules that apply to Melbourne, with the exception of the curfew.
It includes the towns of Ballan, Bacchus Marsh, Balliang, Mount Wallace, Myrniong, Blackwood, Greendale, Gordon, Korweinguboora and Mount Egerton, Bungaree, Elaine and Wallace.
This news comes Victoria has recorded 1143 new local COVID-19 cases and three deaths. 34,935 doses of the vaccine were administered on Thursday and the state now has 10,944 active cases of the virus.
The key takeaways
- Moorabool in regional Victoria will be placed back into a seven-day lockdown from 11.59pm this evening
- There will be just six reasons to leave home
- Additional testing sites will be set up in the area to cope with increased demand
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the lockdown during Friday’s coronavirus update, and said it was informed by public health advice. The local government area of Moorabool will have to abide by the same rules as other locked-down areas in the state, including Melbourne.
There will be just six reasons to leave home, which are for food and supplies, four hours of exercise within a 15km radius, caregiving, to get vaccinated, essential work or education and for limited social interaction.
“We regret that that is the only option, given the number of cases in it that LGA. We will stand with that community with additional testing capacity and support for anyone who needs them, just like Ballarat, Shepparton and so many other communities, Latrobe Valley,” Andrews said.
“These lockdowns have been effective in first, bringing us stability to case numbers and then driving those case numbers down.
“But on advice, and very careful analysis has been done of the number of cases in that local government area, it is unavoidable that a lockdown must be applied to that community.”
The LGA, situated northwest of Melbourne, is adjacent to the regional city of Ballarat and south of Daylesford. It is located about an hour’s drive from Melbourne.
Victoria expands list of workers for mandatory vaccine
The lockdown comes as Victoria recorded its highest daily total ever, with 1438 new cases and five deaths, reported yesterday. In light of the jump in cases yesterday, Andrews has also announced that the government has moved to introduce a vaccine mandate for authorised workers.
From Friday 15 October, all authorised workers will need to have at least their first dose, and must have their second dose by 26 November.
“This is critically important to keep the case numbers down so that we can open up on 26 October, get our freedom back, get the economy going again, and deliver the national plan. This is advice from both the Burnet Institute and advice from the acting chief health officer and the public health team and, as all Victorians know and understand, if we are provided with that advice that we follow that advice.
“The science is what will get us through this and it is incredibly important that people who have not had a first dose and are an authorised worker are moving, are out and about, are part of all of that movement that we know is so challenging when it comes to the spread of this virus.”
The 15 October deadline will not apply to workers who already have existing requirements under CHO directions – groups like construction, freight, healthcare, aged care and education will still have to comply with previous advice.
You can find out who is an authorised worker here.
