Victoria's State of Emergency Has Been Extended for Three More Weeks

The Victorian Government will continue the strict enforcement of social distancing and isolation rules until at least midnight on Sunday, June 21, with the government announcing the extension of its COVID-19 State of Emergency.

First made in March and due to expire at midnight on Monday, April 13, the State of Emergency was initially extended until Monday, May 11. With the new extension, current restrictions — which came into force today — are now in place for three weeks.

The State of Emergency declaration allows the state's authorised officers to "act to eliminate or reduce a serious risk to public health" as directed by Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. That means restricting movement, preventing entry to premises and venues and detaining people — measures that have been in place over the past two months as the state responds to the coronavirus.

Announcing the extension, Sutton noted that the continued restrictions are needed to continue to keep slowing the spread of COVID-19. "Victorians have done a great job sticking to the coronavirus restrictions – their actions have saved countless lives," he said. "We know restrictions can be frustrating, but they are working. It's vital we continue to follow these directions to keep our community transmission numbers low and protect more Victorians."

With new restrictions coming into force today, Monday, June 1, the message has changed from "stay home" to "stay safe". While Victorians can now visit restaurants and pubs, head on regional holidays and gather in groups of up to 20, they're encouraged to continue following social distancing measures, practising good hygiene and avoid crowds. They're also required to continue working from home if possible. You can find out more about what you can and can't do from today over here.

Fines are being handed out to folks who breach the restrictions, with Victoria Police issuing 5957 fines since Saturday, March 28, according to The Age. The state's financial penalties span up to $1652 for individuals and up to $9913 for businesses. Under the State of Emergency, people who refuse to comply can also be taken to court, where the fine imposed could reach up to $20,000 for individuals and $100,000 for companies.

To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Victoria and how to protect yourself, head to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website.