Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced two new restrictions that will cover the majority of the state.
It follows the shocking new Covid-19 numbers, which showed 723 new infections and 13 deaths had been recorded over the past 24 hours.
That's the deadliest day in Australia for the pandemic and the largest single-day increase in cases since the coronavirus came to Australia.
Advert
As a result, Premier Andrews is tightening social gatherings across the state, not just in hotspot areas of Melbourne Metro and Mitchell Shire areas.
There are 5,385 active cases in the state, 255 of which are in regional parts of Victoria.
From midnight tonight (Thursday July 30), people in Greater Geelong, Surf Coast, Moorabool, Golden Plains, Colac-Otway, and Borough of Queenscliffe will not be allowed to have weddings, funerals and no visitors.
Advert
These people will still be allowed to go to the gym, attend community sport and meet at restaurants, cafes and bars.
From 11:59pm Sunday (August 2), every person in Victoria will be required to wear a face mask when they're out in public.
Premier Andrews said at his press conference: "Both these decisions are on the advice of the Chief Health Officer. And I just want to explain where that advice comes from. We have low numbers in regional Victoria, and we want to jealously guard that.
"We want to keep those numbers low. These are preventative steps, they're an abundance-of-caution approach, if you like.
"It will be inconvenient for some, but at the end of the day, keeping those numbers very, very low is about protecting public health, protecting vulnerable people, protecting every family, but also protecting the economic benefits that also come from having regional Victorian case numbers very low."
Advert
While people might point out how hypocritical it is to allow people to go to the pub but restrict them from having friends over, the Premier had an answer for that.
"The data drives that decision. That's where the transmission is. It's not in cafes and restaurants, but it is, in small numbers, in people's homes. One family to another," he said.
"A group of visitors either getting it from a family that have got it and may not know, or vice versa. So, there can be no visitors to your home if you're in any of those local government areas that I have listed."
The restrictions will stay in place for as long as required in the hope it will prevent the current second wave being experienced in Melbourne from spreading to other parts of the state.
Featured Image Credit: PA