Victoria plunged into lockdown five

Victoria will enter a snap lockdown from midnight with the decision to be announced later on Thursday. It is understood schools will likely close and the lockdown last up to five days.

* For rolling coverage of the lockdown announcement CLICK HERE

Victoria is headed for a snap lockdown, with details of the potential move still being decided.

The Herald Sun has been told the move is now unavoidable, with a decision to be announced later today.

It will begin at midnight on Thursday and health department sources said it would be similar to the previous lockdown.

While exact restrictions are still being worked out, it is understood schools will likely close.

There will be only five reasons to leave home.

It is likely to last between three to five days.

Health officials hold the view that the state needs to go hard and go early to contain the outbreak.

The state government is set to announce a snap lockdown for Victoria on Thursday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Authorities have been trying to avoid going into lockdown but health information received on Thursday morning revealed it was too dangerous not to.

It is understood Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been briefed on the matter.

Health Department sources said they understood senior state government ministers were still in discussions about the details of the lockdown.

Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge told Sky News on Thursday morning that a Victorian lockdown was likely on the way.

“We’ve already had four lockdowns and potentially we could be going into a fifth lockdown,” Mr Tudge told Sky News.

“I really hope not but it is looking like that.”

Any lockdown will impact events in Melbourne including AFL games, with Richmond’s home game against Brisbane already relocated to Metricon Stadium.

PM ON VICTORIA’S LOCKDOWN

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had spoken to Daniel Andrews but had “no knowledge” of whether the state was going into a lockdown.

“We obviously canvassed various options,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Morrison said senior government committees were considering how it would respond, if Victoria was again plunged into lockdown.

He said ministers recognised that the state was recently under tough restrictions and had considered additional support measures, accordingly.

The comments come after the PM this week announced people left without work during the third week of a lockdown would receive higher disaster support payments from the commonwealth.

“We have to set up rules that apply right across the country,” Mr Morrison said.

“If another state or territory hasn’t had a recent lockdown, we wouldn’t deny the same sort of support from the start of that lockdown.

“We would apply to any new lockdown that occurs, whether it’s in Victoria or elsewhere.”

- additional reporting Jade Gailberger