The Chief Health Officer has declared the City of Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast and Mitchell Shire will enter a seven-day lockdown commencing at 11:59pm on Sunday 19 September, with restrictions the same as those in the City of Ballarat and metropolitan Melbourne, excluding the curfew.
Caseloads in Greater Geelong and Mitchell Shire have increased in recent days, with 17 and 15 active cases in these Local Government Areas respectively as of 18 September. A further 2 new cases in Geelong, 2 on the Surf Coast and 7 new cases in Mitchell Shire were confirmed in this morning’s numbers, an official press release said.
Under lockdown restrictions, you won’t be able to leave home other than for necessary goods and services, caregiving or compassionate reasons (including medical care and getting a COVID-19 test), authorised work or permitted education, exercise and outdoor social interaction in limited groups, and getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
You can also leave home to visit your intimate partner or single social bubble buddy. Shopping, exercise and outdoor social interaction will be limited to 10km from your home. Masks will be mandatory indoors and outdoors—and there will still be no visitors allowed to the home.
You have four hours a day for exercise and outdoor social interaction. You can meet with one other person, or up to four others from two households if all present have received two vaccine doses. Dependants can also join you.
The Chief Health Officer has also declared that 66 Local Government Areas in NSW, plus Jervis Bay, will move from an Extreme Risk Zone to a Red Zone under Victoria’s travel permit system.
This will help Victorians who have only been in these areas to come home, where they need to isolate for 14 days and get tested regularly. The areas changing are those which are not in lockdown and are listed here: www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/rules/
All LGAs on the NSW-Victorian border are becoming red zones—except for Albury, which is in lockdown. If you live in the cross-border community—and you haven’t left the cross-border area or you haven’t been in an Extreme Risk Zone any time in the previous 14 days – you can cross the border and enter Victoria without a permit for any reason.
People who have been in an Extreme Risk Zone—such as Albury—in the previous 14 days are still required to obtain a Cross-Border Community—Extreme Risk Zone permit and travel only for permitted reasons should they wish to enter or re-enter Victoria. Limited exemptions and exceptions, and other valid permits, apply.
For more info on restrictions, click here. For more info on Victoria’s travel permit system, click here. These pages will be updated at 11:59pm to include the new areas in lockdown and the new travel zone designations
Follow The Indian Sun on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Support Independent Community Journalism
Dear Reader,The Indian Sun exists for one reason: to tell stories that might otherwise go unheard.
We report on local councils, state politics, small businesses and cultural festivals. We focus on the Indian diaspora and the wider multicultural community with care, balance and accountability. We publish in print and online, send regular newsletters and produce video content. We also run media training programs to help community organisations share their own stories.
We operate independently.
Community journalism does not have the backing of large media corporations. Advertising revenue fluctuates. Platform algorithms change. Costs continue to rise. Yet the need for credible, grounded reporting in a multicultural Australia has never been greater.
When you support The Indian Sun, you support:
• Independent reporting on issues affecting migrant communities
• Coverage of local and state decisions that shape daily life
• A platform for small businesses and community groups
• Media training that builds skills within the community
• Journalism accountable to readers
We cannot cover everything, but we work to cover what matters.
If you value thoughtful reporting that reflects Australia’s diversity, we invite you to contribute. Every donation helps us maintain the quality and consistency of our work.
Please consider making a contribution today.
Thank you for your support.
The Indian Sun Team
