Covid Victoria: Cases in community grow on first day of lockdown
Victoria has recorded four new locally acquired Covid-19 cases on its first full day of its sixth lockdown.
Worryingly, all four cases were infectious in the community, the Department of Health reported on Friday morning.
They are all linked to previous Delta variant cases.
Friday's official total is six, however two were revealed on Thursday.
There were 29,631 test results processed on Thursday and 18,901 Victorians were vaccinated.
The seven-day, statewide lockdown began at 8pm on Thursday after Victoria recorded eight new local cases.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the decision to lock down was "incredibly painful" but there was no alternative.
"The alternative is not to be locked down for seven days, it's being locked down for seven weeks or more, locked down until we get to 80 per cent vaccination and that may not happen until Christmas time," he said.
Further financial support for businesses is expected to be announced on Friday, with those that applied for grants and income support during the last lockdown to receive payments again.
On Thursday night, hundreds of anti-lockdown protesters lined the streets of Melbourne's CBD to voice their anger over the latest restrictions.
Police say 15 people were arrested while a further 16 were fined.
More than half of Australia's population is in currently in lockdown.
With AAP
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