Victoria records 507 new local Covid-19 cases as three new areas plunged into lockdown

Three new Victorian regions have been plunged back into lockdown as Covid-19 cases continue to surge across the state.

Geelong, the Surf Coast and Mitchell shires have plunged back into lockdown over rising Covid-19 cases.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley announced the three local government areas would join Melbourne and Ballarat in lockdown from 11.59pm on Sunday.

He said the lockdown would last seven days and there would only be six reasons to leave the home after “outdoor social interaction” was added as a reason on Friday.

But, unlike Melbourne, the curfew won’t apply. All the other rules are the same.

The five other reasons to leave home are shopping for necessary goods and services, caregiving or compassionate reasons, authorised work or permitted education, exercise and getting a Covid-19 vaccine.

People can also leave home to visit an intimate partner or single social bubble buddy and shopping, exercise and outdoor social interaction must be done within 10km of home.

“Caseloads in greater Geelong and Mitchell Shire have increased in recent days, with 17 and 15 active cases in these local government areas as of September 18,” the state government said.

A further two new cases in Geelong, two on the Surf Coast and seven new cases in Mitchell Shire were confirmed in Sunday numbers.

It comes as Victoria recorded 507 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases on Sunday as new cases continue to rise throughout lockdown.

Premier Daniel Andrews will reveal Victoria’s road map out of lockdown on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

It’s the eighth straight day Victoria has recorded more than 400 new cases and fourth in a row above 500 as infections continue to trend upwards.

One new death was also announced on Sunday, a man in his 90s.

Eleven people have now died with Covid during the latest outbreak, with 831 lives lost since the start of the pandemic.

Premier Daniel Andrews has revealed a dramatic fall in the number of mystery cases as part of the infections announced on Sunday.

Mr Andrews said 282 of the 507 new cases announced were from households with an existing case.

On Saturday, only 62 of the 535 infections announced were linked to existing cases.

Despite the rising cases, Premier Daniel Andrews revealed Victoria’s road map out of lockdown on Sunday.

The first major tranche of changes for metropolitan Melbourne will kick in when 70 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 are fully vaccinated, a milestone expected around October 26.

The 9pm curfew and limited reasons to leave home will be abandoned and groups of 10 fully vaccinated people permitted to gather outdoors.

Geelong, the Surf Coast and Mitchell Shire joined Ballarat in lockdown on Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

Pubs and entertainment venues can open with up to 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors, and all school students will return to the classroom at least part time.

More restrictions will fall away across the state when 80 per cent of Victorians over 16 are double jabbed, a date likely to fall on November 5.

Then, masks will only be required indoors, people can have up to 10 people over to their house and indoor community sport can resume everywhere.

No new cases were recorded in hotel quarantine on Sunday. More than 20,790 primary close contacts remain in isolation in Victoria.

There are now 5262 active cases in the state.

Chief health officer Brett Sutton also tweaked the NSW border rules on Sunday, with 66 local government areas in NSW, plus Jervis Bay, moving from an extreme risk zone to a red zone under Victoria’s travel permit system.

It means Victorians who have only been in those 66 areas will be able to come home once they obtain a permit, where they need to isolate for 14 days and get tested regularly.

[e-mail]

Originally published as Victoria records 507 new local Covid-19 cases as three new areas plunged into lockdown