PEOPLE ACROSS the State are waking up to the new reality of even tougher physical distancing restrictions.
Stage 3 restrictions came into effect at 11:59pm on Monday, March 30.
In a statement issued on Monday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews explained the reasons for the new restrictions.
“My message to every Victorian is that there are only four reasons to leave your home: food and supplies, medical care, exercise, and work or education.
“Most Victorians are doing the right thing and I’m grateful to them.
“But we continue to see instances of people gathering in significant numbers so we must do more.
“That’s why we are also restricting gatherings to no more than two people except for members of your immediate household and for work or education.
“We will not be breaking up household family dinners — but BBQs with the neighbours cannot happen anymore.
“Playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gyms will also close.”
The new restrictions mean, outside of the people you live with in your household, you are not allowed to mass, socially, as a group of more than two people.
Victoria Police has been given the authority to issue on the spot fines to anyone breaking the restrictions with individuals facing a fine of $1,652 and businesses $9,913 who breach this or any of the restrictions currently in place.
The roll out of restrictions has been complex with the restrictions targeting specific businesses and activities.
It is still okay to go to work, if you are able to and if you are able to comply with physical distancing rules, it is still okay to go shopping to buy essential supplies, it is still okay to leave the house (if you are not unwell or under quarantine) for daily exercise, but government and health officials at every level are reinforcing the message that if you do not need to leave your house, you should not.
The Diary would also like to reflect this message.
The staff and volunteers at the Diary are limiting their physical presence in the community, but that does not mean we are not still here working to keep you informed, engaged and entertained.
If you have something to tell the community, and to tell history, the Diary is a time capsule that will tell the story of how we got through this together.
Send your stories to the Editor and look out for the next Diary, which will be going to print next week.
To combat the spread of COVID-19 and to help sustain our local economy it is imperative we all respect the advice from government and minimise our movements to those which are deemed essential (food, health, and work).
To keep up to date on the latest developments, the Federal Government has released an app on the Apple App Store and on Google Play as well as set up a What’s App bot to help members of the community access the most relevant details regarding this pandemic.
The app is a straightforward and simple way to get the information they need to keep informed and is readily accessible from their smartphone and, like the Vic Emergency app, should be part of everyone’s app arsenal.
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