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VICTORIA'S local COVID-19 cluster is now up to 15 cases, with the state total up to 24.
Acting Premier James Merlino has not ruled out more restrictions for the state. Read about the new cases here.
Meanwhile, the list of COVID-19 exposure sites has continued to grow and now include venues in Bendigo and Axedale.
The Axedale Tavern has been named a tier one site meaning anyone that has visited the venue on Sunday, May 23 between 11.45am and 1.30pm must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days.
Bendigo's Hairfolk hairdresser has been named a tier two site meaning anyone that visited the venue on Saturday, May 22 between 9.40am and 10.10 am must get tested urgently and isolate until they a negative test.
The Department of Health has also announced a positive case watched Collingwood take on Port Adelaide on Sunday. Read more about the exposure sites here.
Earlier
Tuesday, 4pm
FOUR new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Victoria in the past hour.
The latest cases bring the state's total to 17 active cases of coronavirus, with nine cases in the cluster. Read the details from Tuesday afternoon here.
More coronavirus news from Tuesday:
From Tuesday morning:
THERE are 13 active cases of coronavirus in Victoria as the greater Melbourne region returns to some lockdown restrictions from 6pm on Tuesday.
Four cases were confirmed to be a Whittlesea family living across two households on Monday.
A male in his 60s tested positive overnight and is linked to case one from Monday's announcement.
Read more:
The five cases confirmed this week bring the state's total to 13 with the other positive results linked to hotel quarantine.
Acting premier James Merlino said genomic sequencing confirmed the cases originated from the South Australia hotel quarantine outbreak.
"The four locally acquired cases are reflected in today's number," he said.
"I can advise of a fifth case which formally entered our system after midnight. He was identified as a contact from case number one and was urgently tested, producing the positive result.
"Following early investigations, this case, like the four we announced yesterday, has not identified any link to exposure size from the Wollert case two weeks ago.
"This will be confirmed through further investigations and I advised that genomic sequencing for this outbreak has been completed; it is closely linked to the Wollert outbreak which originated in South Australia in hotel quarantine."
New restrictions on Greater Melbourne region from 6pm Tuesday:
- private gatherings in the home limited to five a day
- public gatherings limited to 30 people
- face masks will need to be worn indoors unless an exemption applies
- masks required for everyone aged 12 years and older
- schools and workplaces remain open
- Victorians who live in greater Melbourne and travel to regional Victoria can do so but the restrictions travel with them
- Victorians visiting regional Victoria from Melbourne need to wear a face mask when indoors, even when outside metropolitan Melbourne, unless an exemption applies
The restrictions will be in place until at least June 4.
"These are the measures that are there to protect you, your loved ones and our whole community," Mr Merlino said.
"Get tested straightaway if you have any symptoms whatsoever.
"Follow the specific public health advice if you have been to any of the exposure sites.
"Check in at menus using the Services Victoria app - that is compulsory from the 28th of this month.
"Wear a mask whenever you are in an indoor setting, and that applies from 6pm tonight.
"Observe the gathering limits because these are the settings where the virus does spread.
"Finally, if you are eligible to be vaccinated, and there are millions of Victorians right now eligible to be vaccinated, do not wait. There are millions of Victorians eligible to be vaccinated, people should not wait."
There were 14,892 tests and 8269 administered vaccine doses were reported to the Department of Health in the past 24 hours.
The New Zealand government placed a 72 hour pause on flights from Victorian throughout the Trans-Tasman bubble following the confirmation of five new coronavirus cases in the state in past 24 hours.
Chief heath officer Brett Sutton confirmed the coronavirus strain in the Whittlesea cluster was "It is the so-called Indian variance".
"These restrictions are in place as a precautionary measure," he said. "We know that doing what we need to do will save us in the long run. The easiest measure is to wear a mask.
"But the other restrictions really relate to the fact that transmission happens in the private setting, it happens in indoor settings and enclose gatherings especially for protracted periods of time."
The Department of Health has listed a Bundoora swimming school and Maribyrnong's Highpoint Shopping Centre as tier one exposure sites.
People who attended Jump! Swim Schools Bundoora at 4/37 The Concord, Bundoora, on May 21 between 8.55am and 10.15am, Nando's opening on Dalton Road at shop number 17, a Dalton Village, 351-371 Dalton Road, Epping on May 19 between 8.30pm and 9.20pm, Woolworths Epping North at Linden Drive, Epping on May 22 between 4.45pm and 5.45pm must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Anyone who attended Highpoint Shopping Centre on May 20 between 5pm and 8pm, Futsal Brunswick at 409 Victoria Street and Brunswick on May 23 between 9am and 10 a.m must get tested immediately and stay isolated until further notice.
Also anyone who attended the Epping North shopping centre at Linden Drive, Epping, on May 22 between 4:45pm and 5:50pm, and within that centre; the house and party store between 5:15pm and 5:50pm, the urban diner food court at Pacific Epping shopping centre on May 23 between 1:15pm and 2:30pm and the Shell Coles Express Reservoir at 192 - 202 Broadway on May 18 between 3:15pm and 4:15pm and the B.T Connor Reserve at 200 Broadhurst Avenue, Reservoir on May 12 between 8pm and 11 pm must get tested immediately and isolate until further notice.
The use of the Service Victoria QR code service will still be mandatory in all venues and facilities required to have mandatory electronic record keeping from Friday, May 28.
The state government has put a pause on moving to remove the density quotient in outdoor spaces and venues to a maximum of 200 people in spaces smaller than 400 square metres.
Timing for this easing will be reassessed when appropriate.
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