Everything you need to know about Victoria’s lockdown rules

Life is changing dramatically for Victorians because of a series of tough new lockdown rules. Here’s how it will affect everyday life.

Life is changing dramatically for Victorians after a suite of tough new lockdown measures were announced on Sunday.

Premier Daniel Andrews declared a “state of disaster” that began at 6pm on Sunday, August 2, giving authorities sweeping powers, that includes a nightly curfew for Greater Melbourne from 8pm to 5am.

Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the new rules as the state desperately tackles the coronavirus outbreak.

WHAT ARE THE RESTRICTIONS FOR MELBOURNE?

Everybody in Victoria will have their movement restricted in some way, but the toughest stage 4 restrictions will be applied to 31 metropolitan local government areas.

Melburnians in those areas will only be allowed out to shop for food and necessary supplies and exercise, which will be limited to one hour once per day. For both activities residents are only allowed within 5km of their home. No groups bigger than two will be allowed.

Melbourne spent its first night in curfew last night.

Residents will not be allowed to have visitors in their home, but couples will still be allowed to visit each other, even if they live more than 5km apart.

A curfew will be in place each night between 8pm to 5am.

The Victorian government said wherever residents slept on the night of August 1 was where they needed to stay for the next six weeks.

There will exceptions for work or medical care and caregiving.

There is also an exemption for visiting a person who you are in an intimate personal relationship with, including outside metropolitan Melbourne.

This will all be enforced by the police.

WHICH AREAS ARE AFFECTED?

The local government areas under stage 4 lockdown are: Banyule, Hume, Moreland, Bayside, Kingston, Mornington Peninsula, Boroondara, Knox, Nillumbik, Brimbank, Manningham, Port Phillip, Cardinia, Maribyrnong, Stonnington, Casey, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Darebin, Melbourne, Whittlesea, Frankston, Melton, Wyndham, Glen Eira, Monash, Yarra, Greater Dandenong, Moonee Valley, Yarra Ranges and Hobsons Bay.

There are 31 areas affected by the new stage four restrictions. Picture: Josie Hayden

Regional Victoria will enter stage 3 restrictions at midnight on August 5.

That means residents will have to provide just four reasons to leave home – seeking medical care, providing care, buying groceries, and working or learning if it can’t be done remotely.

WHAT ABOUT SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE?

School students, even in year 11 and 12 and specialist schools, will return to remote learning across the state.

Students who are currently attending onsite – including senior students and those in our specialist schools – will go to school on Monday, August 3, have a pupil free day on Tuesday, August 4, and be learning at home from Wednesday, August 5.

The Victorian government says help in classrooms will only be available to pupils who really need it. That includes the children of “permitted” workers and vulnerable children who can’t learn at home.

They haven’t yet spelled out what a permitted worker is.

The new rules will apply for six weeks, covering almost all of schools’ term three, which is to end on September 18.

Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews declared a state of disaster on Sunday. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

From Thursday, August 6 the same rules will apply to childcare and kindergarten in Melbourne.

Regional early learning centres will be open as normal, but higher education and TAFE will run via remote learning only, state-wide.

CAN YOU STILL SHOP?

Melburnians willonly be allowed out to shop for food and necessary supplies within a 5km radius of their homes. Only one person can shop from each household.

If your closest supermarket is further than five kilometres, you can still shop there. If you’re a parent with little ones, you can still take them with you when you go for a walk.

Mr Andrews stressed yesterday that essential shops such as supermarkets, butchers and grocers will continue to operate as they were before.

He said more details about other types of industries will be announced today.

However, what we do know is that beauty services will need to close and restaurants and cafes will only be able to offer takeaway and delivery services.

CAN I GO FOR A RUN?

Exercise will be limited to a maximum of one hour per day and no more than 5km from your home. Group size will be limited to a maximum of two – you and one other person – whether you live with them or not.

Gyms will also be closed and, even in regional Victoria, community sport will need to stop.

Melburnians can only exercise for an hour a day. Picture: David Crosling

WEDDINGS ARE OFF

From midnight on Wednesday, weddings will not be able to be held in Melbourne, unless there’s a compassionate reason such as someone not having long to live.

Funerals however can continue as they were before.

CAN I USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT?

You can, however services will be reduced. In Melbourne, the Night Network will be suspended, and public transport services will be reduced during curfew hours.

WHAT’S THE GO WITH MASKS?

Face masks are mandatory across Victoria, regardless of where people live, and recommended in other states.

Premier Daniel Andrews extended the requirement to wear face coverings to regional Victorians, starting Monday, August 3. Face masks have been mandatory in Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire for a week.

Meanwhile in NSW, Premier Gladys Berejiklian introduced new mask recommendations — they should be worn when physical distancing is hard to maintain such as on public transport or in supermarkets, and at places of worship — but they are not compulsory.

With face masks now a mandatory part of Victoria’s fight against COVID-19, here are some of the best reusable mask options to consider.