At 11.59pm tonight, Victoria is going back into stage-four lockdown. The lockdown will end at 11.59pm on Wednesday.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced the news in a press conference this afternoon, after the state recorded five new locally acquired Covid-19 cases. That brings the total number of active cases to 19, while the number of cases connected to the Holiday Inn cluster remains at 13.

The lockdown is a response to the spread of the hyper-infectious UK strain.

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“Because this is so infectious and is moving so fast, we need a circuit-breaker,” Andrews said. “It’s moving at a velocity that has not been seen in our country, at any time in the past 12 months.”

As with last year’s lockdowns, you’ll only be able to leave home for four reasons: work (for permitted industries); exercise for two hours per day (with your household members, your intimate partner or one other person who is not from your household); medical care or caregiving; and shopping for food or other essential items.

You must stay within five kilometres of your home, other than for permitted work, and masks will be mandatory at all times outside the home. If you can work from home, then you must work from home. Gathering in homes or public places is not allowed.

Supermarkets will remain open, and hospitality venues will only be permitted to trade for takeaway.

Religious gatherings and ceremonies are not permitted, and funerals are capped at 10 people. Weddings are not allowed unless on compassionate grounds.

Professional sporting events will function as workplaces, not entertainment events, so crowds won’t be permitted.

Andrews said the decision comes “on advice from the chief health officer, and after a meeting of relevant cabinet committees and the full cabinet”.

Chief Health Officer Doctor Brett Sutton added: “This circuit-breaker – and, again, nobody wants all the consequences of a circuit-breaker, but the alternative is potentially devastating. I do not want to be here either, come Wednesday, not having done this and talking about 10, 15, 20, 30 new cases a day, including mystery cases, or including cases that we can’t chase down.”

Find the recently updated list of exposure sites here.

dhhs.vic.gov.au