Victoria has confirmed 10 more local coronavirus cases as it begins its fifth pandemic lockdown.
Friday’s update includes six cases that had not been previously reported.
The state now has 36 active virus infections, including 20 linked to the outbreaks that have sparked the new lockdown.
The Victorian government is expected to provide more details at a briefing later on Friday.
Tweet from @VicGovDH
More than six million Victorians are again under stay-at-home orders, due to the growing COVID outbreak.
It came just weeks after the state emerged from its fourth lockdown. The rules that applied then have returned, including a five-kilometre travel limit for exercise and shopping and compulsory mask-wearing indoors and outdoors.
Premier Daniel Andrews will not guarantee the lockdown will end after just five days – but said there was no choice but to shut down the state.
“We don’t want this getting away from us and being locked down for months,” he said on Thursday.
Late on Thursday, the federal government announced its COVID-19 Disaster Payment scheme would be available to people who work or live in greater Melbourne, as well as the local government areas of Moorabool Shire, the City of Greater Geelong, Borough of Queenscliffe and the Surf Coast Shire.
People who have lost at least 20 hours a week will get $600 while those who have lost between eight and 20 will receive $375.
People who have lost at least 20 hours a week will get $600 while those who have lost between eight and 20 will receive $375.
No liquid assets test will be applied to the payments.
Under a key change to the Morrison government’s income support package announced earlier in the week, income support will be available from the first week of a lockdown and is determined by hours of work lost, not the length of stay-at-home orders.
Employment Minister Stuart Robert confirmed the deal on Friday.
“The deal last night – literally at 10.30 finalised – was to say to Victorians whilst these personal income payments for 10 days or more of course will cover Victoria after five days,” he said.
“They will go to Services Australia and be able to claim that payment if they have lost those hours of work.”
The Victorian government will provide “significant additional economic support to businesses”.
The deal will be confirmed at Friday’s national cabinet meeting.
- See a full list of Victorian exposure sites here
Most of the recent COVID cases in Victoria are connected to NSW removalists who breached their worker permit conditions and spread the virus during a drop-off at the Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong, in ninner-north-west Melbourne, late last week.
Victoria Police is tracing the three-person crew’s movements as part of a health department investigation.
Of greatest concern to authorities are three cases of suspected “stranger-to-stranger transmission” at an AFL match at the MCG last Saturday.
A positive case also attended the international rugby clash between the Wallabies and France at AAMI Park on Tuesday night. Stadium management is working with health officials to identify close contacts.
There are more than 110 exposure sites across Melbourne and regional Victoria, including the MCG and several stores at Chadstone shopping centre.
-with AAP
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