Source:9news
Victoria has recorded 11 new local cases of COVID-19 as the state appears on track to exit lockdown at midnight on Tuesday.
In positive news for the state, all 11 of today’s new infections were linked to current outbreaks and were in quarantine throughout their entire infectious period.
New cases being in quarantine has been a key factor in determining if the state can lift lockdown measures.Premier Daniel Andrews and his cabinet met for high-level meetings overnight to discuss the state’s current situation and to decide if the state’s lockdown would lift as planned at 11.59pm on Tuesday.
If the state exits lockdown, regional and metropolitan areas could see the five essential reasons to leave home scrapped, schools reopened and hospitality businesses allowed to operate with fewer restrictions.
Authorities say there are two hurdles currently impacting whether the lockdown could be extended further, including protests which were held over the weekend in Melbourne’s CBD and testing results at a Docklands apartment building which has been deemed a Tier 1 exposure site.
Residents of around 300 apartments at the LaCrosse building are on high alert after it was confirmed a positive COVID-19 case visited the site.They remain in isolation with emergency testing underway to determine if anyone was infected.
Victorian officials have warned if the state’s lockdown does lift, a raft of precautionary measures will likely still remain in place.
Police are investigating after thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Melbourne’s CBD on Saturday as part of a major “Free Victoria” protest in conjunction with a demonstration held in Sydney at the same time.
