'No choice': Victoria goes back into lockdown for the SIXTH time
Victoria plunged into sixth lockdown
Premier concerned over mystery cases
Andrews shocked by Sydney man's 'tragic' death
Victoria will join South East Queensland and Greater Sydney in lockdown from 8pm tonight.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Thursday afternoon, Victoria will go into a snap lockdown for seven days.
"None of us want to be in a situation where we have to lock down again," he said.
"But the Delta variant moves so fast that with even a handful of positive cases that can't be linked, that haven't been in isolation through their infectious period, there is no alternative for us."
The premier added it was a "very difficult decision".
The state reported six new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday with two more announced after the reporting period. These two will be counted towards Friday's total.
As of 8pm tonight, more than 16 million Australians are in lockdown. South East Queensland is currently due to come out of lockdown on Sunday at 4pm but this could be subject to change. The NSW Government is hoping to re-open Greater Sydney on August 28 after more than a month of lockdown and on Thursday it also moved to include the Hunter Region until August 13.
Premier's concern over mystery cases
Mr Andrews said only three cases are linked to a known outbreak which was the main concern.
He added the government had "no choice" but to go back into lockdown.
"The alternative is we let this run that gets away from us, and our hospitals will be absolutely overwhelmed," the premier said.
Victoria's most recent lockdown ended on July 27. It means it's only been a week since the state came out of its most recent lockdown and authorities on Wednesday celebrated a zero case or "donut day".
It means the state will have gone into its sixth lockdown overall once it commences.
Mr Andrews is hoping the state will come out of lockdown again after seven days but there are no guarantees.
"Seven days is what we believe is necessary, but let's hope that it is accurate," he said.
Andrews shocked by man's 'tragic' death
The premier added he is concerned after a man, aged 27, died in Sydney on Wednesday from coronavirus.
Aude Alaskar died in his home from Covid-19 six weeks after his wedding. He is the youngest death from coronavirus in NSW and had not been vaccinated.
“I would make the point that we have all got relatives, we have all got family, we have all got people vulnerable for one reason or another, but then I would also make the tragic point, a person in the 20s, a bloke in his 20s died yesterday in Sydney," Mr Andrews said.
"This is relevant to everybody. Nobody wants to get this. Nobody can afford to ignore this.”
Mr Andrews added this is evidence Covid-19 is not something that only happens to very frail old people or people who have critically poor health.
"It can happen to any of us," he said.
More to come.
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