Daniel Andrews extends coronavirus restrictions, so staying at home is now more important than ever
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13.04.2020

Daniel Andrews extends coronavirus restrictions, so staying at home is now more important than ever

Melbourne lockdown continues

The Premier made the announcement yesterday.

Victoria recorded 13 new cases of coronavirus overnight, bringing the state’s total to 1,281 but Premier Daniel Andrews has advised the state of emergency measures have been extended for another month until May 11.

The word ‘complacency’ has been popping up and it’s because of the fragility of the situation that we are amidst an incredibly crucial period. If people don’t stay home, the contraction rates will climb and the stress on the health system will skyrocket. The strategy is simple: stay home.

“This is unprecedented but these powers are passed by our Parliament, they are a law of our state and are designed to deal with challenges just like those that we face,” Premier Andrews said yesterday.

People are doing the right thing, as is evidenced by the low number of new coronavirus cases, but we all need to maintain our efforts.

“That is a very strong piece of evidence that our strategy is working, that we are aggressively tracing outbreaks,” he said. “We are making sure that this virus doesn’t get away from us, because if it does, then our health system will simply be overrun and people will die.”

For those still unclear as to what the state of emergency means, the below guidelines announced on April 7 will clear things up. There are measures in place advising that no one should leave their house unless they are engaging in one of the four following activities:

  • Shopping for food or other necessary goods.
  • Accessing medical services or providing caregiving. It applies to those you share parenting obligations or provide care for an unwell, disabled, elderly or pregnant friend or relative.
  • Work or education that can’t be done from home.
  • Exercise.

This outlaws any social visits from friends or family unless the visitor or person being visited is providing care for someone who is unwell, disabled, elderly or pregnant. Partners can continue to visit each other if they live in separate homes.

When it comes to exercise, you are able to venture outside with your housemates or with one other friend or family member that doesn’t normally live at the same address as you. Social distancing of 1.5 metres should be enforced and you should be sensible with the exercise you are doing.

When it comes to weddings, you can only attend if you are one of the people getting married, one of the two witnesses, or the celebrant. For funerals, no more than ten mourners are allowed at any one funeral service (not including the celebrant or funeral staff). Funeral companies may be able to offer the ability to make online tributes or the service of live streaming the funeral from home.

This is all in place until midnight on May 11, when the current guidelines will be reassessed.

Please note there are slight variances to the state of emergency guidelines from state to state. For more information on the state of emergency guidelines, head to Victorian Government website.