Stage 4 restrictions: What they could look like in Melbourne

As Victoria continues to record large numbers of coronavirus cases daily, many are wondering if tighter restrictions will soon follow. Here’s what we could see under a stage 4 lockdown.

Premier Dan Andrews says Melburnians shouldn’t rule out being moved to tougher coronavirus restrictions as case numbers continue to soar.

We don’t know what a stage 4 lockdown will include, but can look to similar lockdowns in the United Kingdom and New Zealand for an idea of what’s to come.

A sign of things to come? Stage 4 restrictions would force even more businesses to close and tighter rules on leaving the house. Picture: Ian Currie

Bourke St Mall, pictured on Tuesday, has rarely been this empty. If we follow the lead of New Zealand and the UK, expect more scenes like this. Picture: Alex Coppel

NEW ZEALAND

Our neighbours across the ditch have achieved great success after enforcing a period of hard lockdown and have now all but eliminated COVID-19 in their country.

Stay at home

Everyone had to quarantine in their home and only leave for ‘essential personal movement’.

Exercise

Could only be done outdoors, in your own suburb and with a two metre minimum physical distance maintained from others. Swimming, surfing, boating, hiking and hunting were all banned.

Shops

Businesses were closed except for essential services like supermarkets, chemists, medical centres and petrol stations.

New Zealand went into lockdown in late March to stop the spread of COVID-19 across the country. Picture: Bradley White/Getty Images

Public gatherings

All gatherings were cancelled and all public venues closed.

Work

Any non-essential business that could not operate remotely from workers’ homes had to close.

Schools

All closed, including early learning centres and university. Remote learning was in place.

An empty Westminster Bridge with one pedestrian on the pavement in central London on March 24, 2020 after Britain ordered a lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus. Picture: Justin Tallis / AFP

UNITED KINGDOM

The UK recently reduced restrictions after months under hard lockdown— here’s what their restrictions included.

Stay at home

Residents must stay home and could only leave to buy food and medicine, as infrequently as possible or seek medical advice. Moving house was asked to be delayed unless it was unavoidable.

Exercise

People were told to only leave their homes once a day to exercise – either a run, walk or cycle, alone or with members of their household.

Shops

Most shops and businesses were ordered to close including pubs, cinemas, theatres, clothing and electronic stores, beauty salons, community centres, sports facilities, playgrounds and places of worship unless they were holding a funeral. Food retailers and markets, hardware stores and other retailers providing essential services, like medicine, could remain open.

Locals queue outside Waitrose supermarket in Frimley, south west of London, as life in Britain continues during the nationwide lockdown Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

Public gatherings

All events and public gatherings were banned including weddings, baptisms and restrictions were placed on funerals. People could gather in groups of no more than two people in public unless they lived together.

Work

People were allowed to travel to work if they couldn’t work from home but strict social distancing was enforced. Tradespeople, cleaners and nannys were allowed in your home as long as they had no symptoms.

Schools

All schools were closed.

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