Victoria COVID LIVE updates: Melbourne braces for lockdown as health officials await overnight case numbers

May 27, 2021

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State likely to go into lockdown

Victorians are likely to be sent back into lockdown on Thursday after senior cabinet ministers met late into the evening to decide how to contain Melbourne’s growing COVID-19 outbreak.

A source close to the government, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential decision, said cabinet was set to confirm final details of the lockdown on Thursday morning before announcing the public health measures.

The source said top cabinet ministers weighed up the merits of a lockdown last night and two ministers confirmed to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald that a lockdown would be the probable course of action.

Acting Premier James Merlino is expected to announce a lockdown to contain a growing COVID-19 cluster in Victoria.Credit:Justin McManus

The core ministry group – which includes Acting Premier James Merlino, Treasurer Tim Pallas, Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan – will meet again on Thursday morning to finalise the plans.

As of Thursday night, the group was resolved to implement a lockdown of no less than three days. This was expected to remain the plan unless unexpected events resulted in a change to health advice.

Read the full report here.

As Melbourne slept, COVID partied hard last Saturday night

While an unsuspecting city was tucked up in bed late last Saturday, the virus was out and about down Chapel Street enjoying a night on the tiles.

It began with a few drinks and a quiet chat with friends at Three Monkeys, a lounge bar known for its potent cocktails and laid-back vibe. Owner Antony Harvey was there at 9.15pm when the virus first walked in.

The Three Monkeys on Chapel Street in Prahran on Wednesday. The bar was added to the list of exposure sites on Wednesday morning.Credit:Simon Schluter

“It wasn’t crazy but it was solid,” he said of the crowd that night.

After an hour or so, the virus felt like a change of pace. It walked across the street and about 10.30pm it joined the throng inside Somewhere Bar, a Chapel Street institution that holds house parties every Saturday night.

Read more about where and how the virus travelled here.

State likely to go into lockdown

Victorians are likely to be sent back into lockdown on Thursday after senior cabinet ministers met late into the evening to decide how to contain Melbourne’s growing COVID-19 outbreak.

Acting Premier James Merlino is expected to announce a lockdown to contain a growing COVID-19 cluster in Victoria.Credit:Justin McManus

As of Thursday night, the group was resolved to implement a lockdown of no less than three days. This was expected to remain the plan unless unexpected events resulted in a change to health advice.

Read the full report here.

Almost 80 exposure sites

Victoria’s list of COVID-19 exposure sites increased to 79 as of 11.30pm, with contact tracers adding several more venues to the list last night.

If you have been to a tier 1 venue you will need to get a COVID-19 test and isolate for 14 days while tier 2 venues require you to get a COVID-19 test and isolate until you receive a negative test.

The new locations are here in this interactive:

Good morning

Good morning.

The spectre of lockdown has cast a shadow over Melbourne.

The feeling is familiar: waking to an anxious swirl of news, daily case number rumours, chat about decisions made in late-night government meetings, worry a mystery case – even one – could send our city into lockdown once again.

The team at Gloria Jeans in Spencer Street, where I picked up a coffee this morning, have their computer monitor set to VicGovDH on Twitter, hitting refresh between customers. Melbourne breakfast radio has already taken several calls from Victorians fleeing the state.

We are reporting that lockdown is probable after senior cabinet ministers met to decide how to contain the city’s latest outbreak. A source close to the government, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential decision, said cabinet was set to confirm final details of the lockdown this morning before announcing the public health measures.

Meanwhile, the state’s list of COVID-19 exposure sites has expanded again, with contact tracers adding several more venues to the list last night. We will keep you up to dates with sites throughout the day.

Whatever the day throws at us, you can follow it here in our free coronavirus blog where we’ll have all the COVID news specific to Melbourne and Victoria.

We’ll be here watching the shadow, taking notes.

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