By Oliver Lees
Macedon Ranges residents have been plunged back into lockdown as case numbers continue to surge across the state.
Victoria recorded 71 cases in the 24 hours to Monday morning, taking the total number of active cases to 494.
Of the 71 local cases, 49 had been linked with 22 still under investigation as of Monday morning.
Regional Victoria was placed back into lockdown at 1pm on Saturday, after a positive case in Shepparton on Friday became the first infection outside of metro Melbourne.
Speaking on Saturday morning, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said placing regional Victoria under lockdown was necessary to stop the spread.
“We’ve done this before and we will do it again, but only if we all do as we need to do — play our part, follow the rules, do the right thing,” he said.
Regional Victoria is now subject to most of the restrictions in place in metro Melbourne, with only five reasons to leave the home: essential shopping, exercise, medical care or caregiving, essential work or education, and to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Regional Victorians are exempt from the 9pm to 5am curfew which applies in metro Melbourne.
Across the state, 22,191 COVID-19 vaccine doses had been administered and 46,446 test results received in the 24 hours to Monday.
COVID response deputy secretary Kate Matson said that health response teams were “driving as hard as they can” to get ahead of the outbreak that has led to the state’s sixth lockdown.
“Our teams are working as hard as they possibly can to get on top of this,” Ms Matson said.
“Victorians can work equally as hard by getting tested as soon as you’ve got a slight sniffle, gastro symptoms, a headache.
“Please, come forward and get tested.”
For more information on exposure sites: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
To find out where to get tested: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19
