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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-...cases/12376316

Victorian coronavirus restrictions tightening as cases continue to increase

Victoria will bring back tougher coronavirus restrictions, limiting gatherings in homes to five people from Monday, in a bid to address a recent increase in case numbers.

Premier Daniel Andrews said today's case numbers were the highest they had been in two months, with 25 new cases identified overnight.

Mr Andrews has also deferred plans to allow more patrons in restaurants, and flagged the possibility of even tougher lockdowns being introduced in the hardest hit areas over the coming days.

"Since April … half of all of our new cases have come from family-to-family transmission," Mr Andrews said.

"I'm frustrated by it. I'm disappointed by it.

"Unless we can break this cycle … then we are going to see more and more of these cases."

Coronavirus update: Follow all the latest news in our daily wrap.
Mr Andrews said there had been instances of people gathering in large numbers at the homes of family and friends, even though they had been told to self-isolate.

"We have even had people who had tested positive and have been told to go home and isolate and instead they have gone to work, instead they have gone and visited loved ones in large numbers," he said.

"It is pretty clear that behind closed doors when one family comes together in large numbers … they are not practicing social distancing."

The changes will come into place from 11:59pm on Sunday and will limit the number of visitors allowed in a home to five.

People will still be able to meet in groups of up to 10 people outdoors.

The Victorian Government will also delay planned changes to restrictions on businesses and community facilities.

Restaurants, pubs, auction halls, community centres, libraries, museums and places of worship will maintain their 20-person limits until at least July 12.

The Government had been set to increase patron limits inside those venues to 50 people from Monday but that has now been delayed by at least three weeks.

"Three weeks of course being the full lifecycle of this virus where we think that we get the best and clearest picture of exactly what's going on out in the community," Mr Andrews said.

Businesses that were set to open for the first time on Monday, including gyms, cinemas, theatres and TABs can still do so, but with a maximum of 20 people.

Community sport for children and non-contact competition for adults will proceed as planned.

Ski season and accommodation facilities with communal spaces will also open, but with increased screening and safeguards in place.

Hardship fund announced for workers without sick leave
Mr Andrews announced the Government would establish a Hardship Fund for people who cannot go to work because they have tested positive to coronavirus or are told to self-isolate because they are a close contact of someone who has.

They will be eligible for a $1,500 payment if they do not have access to paid leave.

"It is, I think, clear that there are some people in the community that perhaps don't have access to sick leave, for instance," Mr Andrews said.

"Their employment may well be tenuous.

"It is our view that we have to try and remove that barrier where people are, sadly, making the choice that public health is less important than the welfare and survival, in a financial sense, of their family.

"They're wrong to make that judgement but I can appreciate that that is a judgement that is being made."

Victoria flags possible return to lockdowns in hard-hit suburbs
Mr Andrews said he would not rule out the possibility of hotspots — either suburbs or local government areas — becoming the subject of strict lockdowns.

"It may be the case in the days ahead ... where we have seen the data tells us a very clear story that there are extra cases and the highest number of cases, we may need to, for instance, reinstitute the stay at home except for the four reasons," he said.

"We all remember that time, it was deeply frustrating but it was very effective.

"We may need to go back to that setting in given geographical areas."

The four reasons included shopping for food and supplies, care and caregiving, exercise, and study or work if it could not be done from home.

More to come.