As metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire enter a 6-week stage 3 lockdown, Capricorn puts on hold all site visits in the city for the next five weeks.
The spike in coronavirus cases on 7th July 2020 prompted Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to reimpose stage 3 restrictions, which took effect on 8th July 2020 at 11:59 pm.
6-Week Stay at Home Restriction
The rules are mostly the same as the set of restrictions implemented last March except for a few changes. Melburnians have to stay at their primary place of residence. They are allowed to leave their homes only to shop for food and other essentials, to provide care, to work and study, and perform daily fitness activities.
More specifics are provided for each of these purposes. For instance, employers are advised to implement work-from-home arrangements whenever possible; accepting visitors is not allowed except for persons with an intimate personal relationship. Melburnians are not permitted to leave the metropolis, as a way to contain the coronavirus and prevent it from spilling over to other parts of Victoria.
Travelling to Melbourne or Mitchell Shire is likewise restricted, while travel-through may be allowed without stop-overs. Markets and retailers are allowed to open with strict observance of social distancing and other safety protocols, entertainment venues and holiday venues are close, and bottle shops can open for takeaway selling only. Schools will implement remote learning for students in the affected areas starting on 20th July, while those outside Melbourne have already resumed face-to-face education last 13th July.
Capricorn Suspends Visits but Continues Support to Members
To do its part as a responsible organisation and to protect its members and suppliers, Capricorn has suspended site visits in Melbourne until the lifting of the lockdown. Its staff will continue to deliver services from home and assist members and suppliers through phone, online, and other digital means.
Meanwhile, Capricorn’s activities in cities and regions outside of the affected areas will go on unhampered but under strict safety protocols as recommended by the government of Australia. Capricorn assures all its members, not only in Australia but also in New Zealand, that their 21,000 workshops are ready to provide assistance, especially during this difficult time.
Municipalities Affected by the Lockdown
The lockdown is implemented in these municipalities:
- Banyule
- Bayside
- Boroondara
- Brimbank
- Casey
- Cardinia
- Darebin
- Frankston
- Glen Eira
- Greater Dandenong
- Hobsons Bay
- Hume
- Kingston
- Knox
- Manningham
- Maribyrnong
- Maroondah
- Melbourne
- Melton
- Mitchell Shire
- Monash
- Moonee Valley
- Moreland
- Mornington Peninsula
- Nillumbik
- Port Phillip
- Stonnington
- Whitehorse
- Whittlesea
- Wyndham
- Yarra
- Yarra Ranges
Strict compliance from residents in these municipalities is expected. In fact, Victoria police are authorised to issue fines of as much as $1,652 to erring individuals and $9,913 to businesses found violating any of the rules.
Harsher Stage 4 Lockdown Looms Ahead If People Fail to Comply
Everyone should rally behind the state in this battle and take the current restrictions seriously. There’s not much choice, actually; otherwise, we’d be looking at a steeper spike in cases and a stricter stage 4 for longer.
It is the responsibility of every individual and organisation to prevent this gloomy scenario in every possible way. In this spirit, Capricorn takes these precautions and slows down for the time being, with the hope that they can forge ahead after this momentary lull.
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By JMSL