Home

More than 15 million Aussies in lockdown across NSW, Queensland and Victoria

Jack PaynterNCA NewsWire
Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned the outbreak would get worse before it gets better. NCA NewsWire /Gaye Gerard
Camera IconPremier Gladys Berejiklian warned the outbreak would get worse before it gets better. NCA NewsWire /Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia

More than half of the Australian population are now living under tough stay-at-home orders after Victoria was plunged into a record sixth lockdown overnight.

Just one day after Premier Daniel Andrews and chief health officer Brett Sutton boasted about recording zero new cases and beating the Delta variant for the second time, they sent the state back into lockdown after a sudden spike in COVID-19 infections.

Victoria joined Sydney and southeast Queensland in lockdown as the deadly Delta variant continues to wreak havoc across the nation’s east coast.

About 15.28 million Australians across three states – NSW, Queensland and Victoria – have been forced to stay home as they nervously await Friday’s daily case updates.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW
More than 15 million Australians are now in Covid-19 lockdown across NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
Camera IconMore than 15 million Australians are now in Covid-19 lockdown across NSW, Queensland and Victoria. Credit: Supplied

Pressure continues to mount on the federal government and Prime Minister Scott Morrison to get the nation vaccinated amid the recurring lockdowns and escalating case numbers.

Australia has almost 4000 active cases, with 283 locally acquired infections announced in the past day.

VICTORIA

A sudden spike in local cases and three mystery infections has sent Victoria back into a record sixth lockdown just nine days after the state emerged from its fifth one.

Victoria recorded eight locally acquired infections on Thursday with Mr Andrews saying authorities had to act fast to stop the spread of the Delta variant.

As of 8pm on Thursday, there are only five reasons Victorians can leave their home – shopping for essential goods and services, work or study if it can’t be home, caregiving, exercise for up to two hours a days and to get vaccinated.

The 5km travel limit is also back in force and face masks remain mandatory in all settings.

“We only get one chance to act fast, only one chance to make difficult decisions that are the right decision,” Mr Andrews said.

DANIEL ANDREWS PRESSER
Camera IconDaniel Andrews announced a snap seven day lockdown at Parliament Gardens. NCA NewsWire / Nicki Connolly Credit: News Corp Australia

“I would prefer to wait two or three days, I would prefer we didn’t have to make this decision now.”

The lockdown is expected to last at least seven days until 8pm on August 13.

NSW

Two more NSW regions – the Hunter and Upper Hunter – were thrown into lockdown on Wednesday, joining greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour living under stay-at-home orders.

The state recorded 262 locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the past day with greater Sydney to remain in lockdown until at least August 28.

NSW now has 3655 active cases as Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned the state’s deadly Delta outbreak will likely “get worse before (it) gets better”.

PREMIER PRESSER
Camera IconPremier Gladys Berejiklian warned the outbreak would get worse before it gets better. NCA NewsWire /Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia

People living in the locked down areas in NSW must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave, which includes receiving medical treatment, to get vaccinated, shop for food or essential goods and services, and for exercise.

People in greater Sydney can only travel within their local government area or within 10km of their home, with only one person per household allowed to leave the home to obtain food or other goods and services each day.

People must also carry a face mask when they leave home and they must be worn indoors, on public transport, construction sites, hospitality venues and certain outdoor gatherings.

Tighter restrictions apply for those living in eight LGAs of concern, with those residents ordered to stay within 5km of their home for shopping and exercise.

Residents can only go to work if their workplace is in their local area, unless they are an authorised worker. Health and aged care workers from these areas must submit to surveillance COVID testing every three days.

QUEENSLAND

Southeast Queensland is also battling a COVID-19 outbreak with 11 local government areas under lockdown.

There were 16 new local cases recorded in the past day, with the state’s Delta cluster that began at a west Brisbane high school last week rising to 79 cases.

Chief health officer Jeannette Young said the state was “so far in front of the virus” with 7766 people in home quarantine.

Health Presser
Camera IconQueensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is still in quarantine after returning from the Tokyo Olympics. NCA NewsWire / Jono Searle Credit: News Corp Australia

Southeast Queenslanders can only leave home for essential purposes, including to get essential goods or services, for healthcare, attend essential work if it can’t be done from home, caregiving, to get a COVID-19 test or vaccination and in an emergency situation.

Exercise is only permitted within 10km of the home with one other person or members of your household.

The lockdown is expected to last until at least 4pm on Sunday.

Originally published as More than 15m Aussies in lockdown across NSW, Queensland and Victoria

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails