Almost all retail businesses in Melbourne have been ordered to close at midnight on Wednesday under the new Stage 4 coronavirus restrictions announced by the state government.
Essential businesses - including supermarkets, pharmacies and banks – will remain open.
The measures, announced on Monday, come as Victoria recorded 429 new coronavirus infections and 13 deaths.
Thirty six of the new cases are linked to known outbreaks and 393 are under investigation.
Eight of the new deaths are linked to aged care facilities. The state death toll now stands at 138, while the national toll is 221.
The deaths announced on Monday include a man in his 60s, two men and a woman in their 70s, two men in their 80s and five women and two men in their 90s.
New restrictions for businesses
Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday outlined three categories of businesses in Melbourne that will be subject to different levels of restrictions.
Businesses involved in the front-line response of the pandemic will not be subject to changes. These include supermarkets, grocery stores, bottle shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, news agencies and post offices, plus all services relating to healthcare.
A second category of businesses will need to close for the duration of the six-week Stage 4 lockdown period, with changes to come into effect from midnight on Wednesday.
These businesses include retail outlets, manufacturing businesses and some in the administration sector. While these business will be forced to close their doors, they may still be permitted to operate through delivery or click and collect models.
People shop at Queen Victoria Market hours before a citywide curfew is introduced in Melbourne. Source: AAP
A third category of businesses will be able to remain open, but will have to scale back the way their work from midnight on Friday.
These business will include construction and meatworks, where staff will have to work at reduced capacity.
Mr Andrews said meatworks operations across the entire state would be subject to the changes, with all staff to be dressed in full PPE.
The premier described the changes as "some of the most stringent safety protocols that have ever been put in place in a government setting" but described them as "necessary" to bring down case loads in the state.
"Until we fix the health problem, until we get these case numbers down to a much, much lower level, we simply cannot open the economy up again" he said.
A $5,000 grant will be available for businesses forced to close - such as restaurants, cafes, beauty parlours and gyms - which the premier said would be paid as quickly as possible.
Mr Andrews also warned people against panic-buying.
"I can't guarantee that everybody will get every product they want in the quantities they want, but everything you need will be there and there is no need to be doing anything else other than buying things that you need when you need them".
Of the 11,937 total number of coronavirus cases across the state, 10,976 are from metropolitan Melbourne, with 377 residents of public housing towers in North Melbourne, Flemington and Carlton currently living with the virus.
There are currently 1,089 active cases related to aged care facilities.
There are 416 people with coronavirus in hospital across the state, including 35 in intensive care.
Metropolitan Melbourne residents are subject to Stage 4 restrictions and must comply with a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 5am.
During the curfew, people in Melbourne can only leave their house for work, and essential health, care or safety reasons. Between 5am and 8pm, people in Melbourne can leave the home for exercise, to shop for necessary goods and services, for work, for health care, or to care for a sick or elderly relative.
The full list of restrictions . All Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
