The Department of Health has released updated advice that spells out just what the new COVID-19 restrictions mean for the community.
The Deputy Chief Health Officer (Communicable Disease), Annaliese van Diemen signed the Stay at Home Directions and Restricted Activity Directions under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act (Vic) 2008 to reduce the risk to public health.
Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton said that while the majority of confirmed COVID-19 cases were linked to overseas travel, there was an increasing number of locally acquired cases emerging in the community.
“Social distancing will save lives,” Professor Sutton said.
“Everyone needs to comply with restrictions in place to keep yourself, your loved ones and the whole community safe,” he said.
Professor Sutton said the Directions were compulsory, applied to everyone in Victoria and were in effect until midnight on 13 April.
He said people could only leave their home to shop for food and other necessary goods and services; to access medical services or provide care giving, including shared parenting obligations; to attend work or education, where it cannot be done remotely; for exercise; and in an emergency or if required by law.
He said home visits were only permitted when care giving was being provided for a person who was unwell, disabled, elderly or pregnant.
Professor Sutton advised people who were shopping for supplies to spend as little time in shopping malls and stores as possible.
He said the Department of Health had a hotline for public information on COVID-19 operating 24-hours a day on 1800 675 398.
Further information on the Directions can be accessed at this PS News link.
