I know the majority of Victorians are doing the right thing by staying home – but we're still seeing groups of people meeting up and carrying on as normal.
This cannot continue.
So from 11.59pm tonight, Victoria will introduce Stage 3 restrictions.
This cannot continue.
So from 11.59pm tonight, Victoria will introduce Stage 3 restrictions.
Under these measures, there will only be four reasons to leave your house:
For food and supplies. For exercise. For medical care. And for work and education – if necessary.
For food and supplies. For exercise. For medical care. And for work and education – if necessary.
And just so we're clear: 'getting some exercise' means going for a walk round the block or a bike ride to stretch your legs and get some fresh air.
It means staying local – not driving for miles or being out all day.
It means staying local – not driving for miles or being out all day.
We've also closed skate parks, outdoor gyms and playgrounds. I know this will be tough – especially on parents with little ones – but we simply can't have people congregating in these areas.
Under Stage 3, gatherings of more than two people will also be off limits.
That doesn't mean you should think "Great, I still have one mate round for beers at home and that's OK."
It's really not.
That doesn't mean you should think "Great, I still have one mate round for beers at home and that's OK."
It's really not.
I know it's hard not to see friends. I know it's hard to be stuck at home all day.
And I know this will ask a lot of Victorians.
But we all need to be prepared and be patient – because what we do now will literally save lives.
And I know this will ask a lot of Victorians.
But we all need to be prepared and be patient – because what we do now will literally save lives.
There are thousands of Victorians on the front line of this pandemic.
Doctors and nurses. Paramedics. Supermarket workers and delivery drivers.
The Victorians driving our trams and trains and buses.
The cleaners making sure our state is safe and hygienic.
Doctors and nurses. Paramedics. Supermarket workers and delivery drivers.
The Victorians driving our trams and trains and buses.
The cleaners making sure our state is safe and hygienic.
But the rest of us have an important job to do too.
It's our role to help slow the spread of this virus – so that fewer Victorians end up in intensive care.
It's up to us to stop our health system from being overwhelmed.
And the best way to do that is to stay home.
It's our role to help slow the spread of this virus – so that fewer Victorians end up in intensive care.
It's up to us to stop our health system from being overwhelmed.
And the best way to do that is to stay home.
I'll be providing regular updates over the next couple of days, but in the meantime please remember this:
It's one thing to thank our frontline workers and tell them how much they mean to us.
But the real test is in our actions.
It's one thing to thank our frontline workers and tell them how much they mean to us.
But the real test is in our actions.
If you value the hours and the effort they're putting in to keep us all safe:
Stay home. Protect our health system. Save lives.
Stay home. Protect our health system. Save lives.
