KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Melbourne’s Covid-19 lockdown has been extended for another week to counter an outbreak in the city, as restrictions elsewhere in the Victoria state of Australia begin to ease.
The lockdown was first imposed on May 27 after the first locally acquired Covid-19 case was reported in the state. It was scheduled to end on Thursday, but has now been extended to June 10. Victoria recorded six new locally acquired cases today, raising its tally of active cases to 67.
Strict movement curbs will remain in place in Melbourne, with residents advised to remain at home and leave only for five essential reasons namely, shopping for food and supplies, work and study, care and caregiving, exercise as well as getting vaccinated and tested.
The travel radius, however, will be expanded to 10km from the current 5km imposed.
More students will also be returning to classroom learning, while some outdoor jobs such as landscaping, painting and solar panel installation will be permitted during the extended lockdown in Melbourne.
Victoria’s acting Premier James Merlino said the lockdown extension was “necessary” to avoid a third deadly wave. The latest outbreak involved the B.1.617 Delta variant from a returned traveller who was infected with the strain.
