3.30pm
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To recap, Victoria premier Daniel Andrews has announced regional Victoria will return to a stage three "stay at home" lockdown from midnight on Wednesday.
Victoria will be declared a state of disaster from 6pm tonight.
"We used this same provision over summer, and as we step-up our fight against this public health bushfire, we need to use it again," he said. "This will give our police additional powers to make sure people are complying with public health directions - more on which we'll have to say in the coming days.
"Today is by far the hardest day - and the hardest decision. But it is the decision I've made to keep our state safe."
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The return to lockdown will have an affect on business, schools, community sport and how people work.
"That means restaurants and cafes can only offer delivery and takeaway," Mr Andrews said.
"Beauty and personal services will need to close. Entertainment and cultural venues will need to close. Community sport will need to stop.
"This we'll be tough for these businesses and their workers - and we'll have more to say very shortly about extra support to help get you through."
Mr Andrews said there would only be four reasons to be out - shopping for food and essential items; care and caregiving; daily exercise; and work and study if you can't do it from home.
"Otherwise, you need to stay home," he said. "Face coverings will continue to be compulsory - ensuring that if we do have to be out, it's in the safest way possible."
Regional schools will return to remote and flexible learning for all year levels.
"The only exception will be for our specialist schools," Mr Andrews said. "Onsite supervision will again be made available for students who need it, including children whose parents are permitted workers and vulnerable kids who can't learn from home.
"We know this will be a significant ask of parents with little ones - and big ones too. But I promise, as a parent to three, it's an ask I don't make lightly."
The lockdown will stay in pace for six weeks and be lifted on September 13.
"As always, we'll keep reviewing and realigning the restrictions in line with the advice of our health experts - and if we can change things earlier, we will," Mr Andrews said.
"I know there'll also be questions about why restrictions are needed in some communities that have no cases. But as we've learnt over the course of thing, just because you have no cases today - doesn't mean you won't tomorrow."
EARLIER
Premier Daniel Andrews said Victoria will enter a state of disaster from 6pm tonight.
The announcement was accompanied by the news that regional Victoria will go back into stage three lockdown from midnight on Wednesday for six weeks.
Remote learning will begin for all primary and secondary students - including those completing VCE - in regional Victoria on Wednesday.
Mr Daniel Andrews also announced 671 new COVID-19 cases since yesterday.
It brings the state's total to 11,557 cases. There are 385 people in hospital with coronavirus including 38 in intensive care.
Mr Andrews said seven people had died of the virus overnight.
It follows 397 new cases announced in Victoria on Saturday.
A local breakdown of numbers will be released later in the day. Yesterday saw central Victoria record one new coronavirus case in the Macedon Ranges.
Metropolitan Melbourne will go into stage four restrictions meaning no one can travel further than five kilometres from their home, are restricted to one hour of exercise, can not gather in groups of more than two people and only one family member being permitted to shop.
A curfew in Melbourne will also be introduced, with people to be home between 8pm and 5am unless they must give care, get care or go to and from work.
The returning stage three restrictions come as face coverings become mandatory across Victoria from tonight at 11.59pm.
"That is not the position we wanted to be in but we can't have a situation where (cases) continue to grow and grow in regional Victoria (while) bringing stability to Melbourne," Mr Andrews said. "It will be a larger problem (if cases grow) in regional Victoria."
The lockdown will last for six weeks and end on September 13.
"The current strategy has avoided our hospital system being completely overwhelmed," he said. "But it is not working fast enough.
"The advice I have had is if we pursue (the current) strategy to where numbers are containable it would likely be end of year - six months. That is not sustainable."
Further announcements on businesses and industries remaining open or being forced to close will be made on Monday.
Mr Andrews assured people there was no need to panic buy.
"There is no need to be queuing at Coles or Woolworths," he said. "Supermarkets will remain open and able to provide you with the things you need."
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The decision to return to lockdown across the whole of Victoria came following a national cabinet meeting today.
"These are tough choices but are decisions I've taken because they are ones that will get us trough this
"It is six weeks versus a slower strategy that takes up to six month. I'm not prepared to accept days of hundreds of cases.
"This decision is not taken lightly. It is very challenging but it is what we have to do."
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