Victoria has reported four new local Covid cases as the residents along the state’s northern border prepare for a bubble crackdown.
All cases are linked to Victoria’s current outbreaks and were in isolation for their entire infectious period.
Another infection was detected in a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.
There are 124 active cases in Victoria, down 10 from Sunday.
More than 22,000 test results were received in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, while about 16,500 vaccine doses were administered at state-run sites during the same period.
It comes as Victoria bans non-essential movement across state lines because of the hovering threat of Sydney’s COVID-19 Delta variant outbreak.
From 11.59pm on Tuesday, border-bubble residents will only be able to state-hop for six reasons including medical care, compassionate purposes, work, education, playing sport or getting vaccinated.
The new measure applies to residents on both sides of the NSW-Victorian border, who must also not travel any further than necessary for that specific purpose.
Anyone caught crossing the border for a non-essential reason could face a $5452 fine.
Health Minister Martin Foley said the move would burden people in border towns, but it was vital to keeping the virus out of the state.
‘With the outbreak in New South Wales still growing, the public health advice is clear: we need to limit unessential movement across the border into Victoria where it is practical and possible,’ he said.
‘We know this will affect many border residents, but so will another outbreak of the Delta variant on our doorstep – we need to keep our border residents and all Victorians safe.’
More to come.
