Infectious diseases expert's lockdown argument

Health experts have said the latest coronavirus strain to show up in Victoria is highly infectious and moving faster than ever before.

Infectious diseases physician and microbiologist at Canberra Hospital Professor Peter Collignon said the latest outbreak is very serious and warned a lot of people were being found with the virus.

He told A Current Affair host Leila McKinnon everyone should get vaccinated and mask up.

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"It means wearing a mask inside, but particularly avoiding crowded indoor venues where there is a chance of spread of COVID-19," Professor Collingnon said.

He said it's easy to pick up the infection through droplets in the air, particularly in places like bars where people are close together.

The microbiologist also urged people to ensure they're still checking into places with QR codes so people can be updated, and contact traced quickly to stop the spread.

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He said contact tracing was just as successful as lockdowns in stemming the spread of the virus.

"Overall the short lockdowns in New Zealand and across Australia haven't really identified any more cases than are found by the traditional method," he said.

Professor Collingnon said it won't be clear for around another seven days whether this lockdown was necessary, but noted previous outbreaks had been controlled without state-wide lockdowns.

Watch the full video above to find out what else Professor Collignon said.