Mildura enters seven-day lockdown, Shepparton and Moorabool freed
The Victorian local government area (LGA) of Mildura has entered a seven-day snap lockdown, just as two other regions were freed from the toughest restrictions.
COVID-19 caseloads in Mildura increased in recent days, with nine active cases reported on Friday.
State health authorities say an additional three cases have been discovered, which will be included in today's numbers.
READ MORE: Mask mandate for Victorian primary schools as COVID-19 cases spike
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said more than a quarter of the state's new cases were in Melbourne's western suburbs. 9News
Besides the curfew, the same restrictions that are in place in Melbourne will apply to Mildura.
From midnight overnight, residents are only leave home to get essential goods or services, provide care, complete authorised work, or for outdoor exercise.
Masks will be mandatory indoors and outdoors.
Mildura to enter into a seven-day snap lockdown. Google Maps
READ MORE: What Australia can learn from COVID-19 spike in English schools
People will also be allowed to visit a partner or single bubble buddy, but no other visitors are allowed in the home.
Residents can only go shopping, exercise, or meet someone within a 15km distance from their home.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the lockdown was necessary to limit the spread of the virus.
"We've seen regional communities get through an outbreak so we know it can be done – it's vital we protect the local community and the rest of regional Victoria from significant outbreaks," Dr Sutton said.
Other regional areas to come out of lockdown
Shepparton and Moorabool Shire emerged from lockdown at the same time overnight.
Restrictions in both areas follow those already in place in the rest of regional Victoria.
New cases remain in Moorabool Shire and Shepparton, but health authorities are confident that the lockdown and community effort have slowed the spread in each area.
Dr Sutton said the short lockdowns helped to "buy more time for locals to get vaccinated".
A quiet Shepparton town centre during lockdown. Eddie Jim
READ MORE: Vaccination blitz for Victorians with a disability begins
According to state health authorities over 91 per cent of people in Moorabool Shire have had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
While in Shepparton thousands of locals got tested and received their first and second vaccine doses.
Even though lockdown is lifting in the two regional towns certain restrictions will remain, such as mandatory mask wearing indoors and outdoors, and no socialising inside the house.
Moorabool Shire and Shepparton residents also can't travel to Melbourne or any other area in the state that's still in lockdown.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
Most viewed in Australia
Australian woman who died after falling from cliff near Bali was Queensland ecologist
PM ‘stunned’ over Pauline Hanson’s attack on his late mother
Six years ago, Australia had a $38 billion early super experiment. It didn’t go to plan
Police called to One Nation event after clash between passer-by and volunteer
