Masks and 5km limit back in "seven-day circuit breaker"

Masks and the five kilometre movement limits are back as all Victorians face “a seven-day circuit breaker”.

The restrictions – including five reasons to leave your home – started at 11.59pm on Thursday for a minimum of seven days.

Under the changes, West Gippslanders cannot leave home unless one of five reasons apply.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccination has been added to the reasons which also include shopping for necessary foods and supplies (one person per household); care and caregiving; exercise (for up to two hours); and authorised work and permitted study.

You may also leave home to visit an intimate partner, single social bubble buddy or in an emergency.

Face masks must be worn indoors or outdoors whenever you leave home and you must stay within five kilometres of home for shopping or exercise.  If there are no shops that radius, you can travel to the ones closest to you. 

Schools are closed other than for children of authorised workers or vulnerable kids.  Remote learning is now back underway after a pupil-free day on Friday.  Childcare and kindergartens remain open.

Shops like supermarkets, food stores, bottle shops, banks, petrol stations and pharmacies also remain open.  Cafes and restaurants are back to take-away only.

Gyms, hairdressers, community facilities and entertainment venues are all closed.  Non-essential retail may open for click and collect.

As an estimated 90,000 Victorian businesses shut their doors, Acting Premier James Merlino announced a $250.7 million Circuit Breaker Business Support Package on Sunday.

“The circuit-breaker action will keep Victorians safe and protect businesses and jobs – but we know it’s not easy shutting your doors and putting your plans on hold,” he said.  “This support will help businesses pay the bills and maintain their workforce as best they can, as we work together to get through this challenge.”

The package features Business Costs Assistance Program grants of $2500 for businesses directly affected by restrictions; Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund grants of $3500 per premises holding an eligible liquor licence and food certificate; and an allocation of $20 million for operators in the events industry who have incurred losses.

Businesses can register their interest at business.vic.gov.au to be notified when grant applications open this week.  Operators eligible for the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund payment will be contacted directly by email in the coming days.

The new lockdown postponed the final three shows of Warragul Theatre Company’s musical “Wicked” at the West Gippsland Arts Centre.

Already pushed back 12 months due to last year’s lockdown, the company managed five shows – including a close to sold-out Thursday night performance – before restrictions hit.

The final three performances, which were almost sold-out, are rescheduled for this weekend with no capacity to reschedule for a later date.

“West Gippsland Arts Centre has been working furiously with the show’s production team to reschedule the remaining shows,” Rob Robson and Leane Gooding said on behalf of the arts centre and theatre company.

“We need to emphasise that this plan depends on the restrictions being lifted at midnight Thursday, and we understand there is no guarantee this will occur.  There is no capacity to reschedule again.”

“It will be an extraordinary feat if we can get Wicked to its planned finale.”

The Keith Potger performance, set for Friday, has also been rescheduled to September.

The current outbreak in Melbourne is also a stark reminder as the call was put out for those eligible to get vaccinated.

“The threat is real and it is here,” Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) president Dr John Hall said.  “Don’t wait for the next wave of the virus to arrive before taking action.”

A barrier for rural Victorians to gain the Pfizer COVID vaccine may soon be removed with a change in storage requirements.

RDAA welcomed news the vaccine can now be stored up to 31 days at normal fridge temperatures at the point of use.  The change in storage requirements follows approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

“This is a big change on the previous requirement that unopened vials of the vaccine could only be stored at the point of use for five days at normal fridge temperatures before having to be discarded,” Dr Hall said.  “Extending the approved storage period to 31 days will open up the ability for rural general practices and respiratory clinics to provide the Pfizer vaccine to more people locally, once an increased supply of the vaccine becomes available later in 2021.”

Dr Hall said this would be particularly welcome news for rural Australians under 50 years who often travel hours or even days to get to Pfizer vaccination hubs in larger regional centres.