Another COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria has put the state into lockdown once again, meaning AFL games still going ahead will have no fans in attendance, with public gatherings banned.
"Approved professional sporting events will proceed but proceed without crowds," Acting Victorian premier James Merlino confirmed on Thursday morning.
He told media that the coronavirus strain in Victoria - which was caused by a hotel quarantine breach in South Australia - is the most contagious variant they've encountered and many in the state have potentially been exposed, with "10,000 primary and secondary contacts who need to quarantine or test and isolate".
"Unless something drastic happens, this will become increasingly uncontrollable. The vaccine rollout is not where we had hoped it would be or where it should be," he said.
"If we make the wrong choice now, if we wait too long, this thing will get away from us.
"From 11.59pm tonight, Victoria will enter a seven-day circuit breaker lockdown until 11.59pm next Thursday."
Victorians will only be allowed to leave their homes for five reasons - shopping within 5 kilometres, authorised work or education, exercise with a two-hour limit, caregiving or compassionate grounds or to get vaccinated. Masks must also be worn everywhere outside the home.
Yesterday Victorian MP Martin Pakula told media "there will be crowds at the footy this weekend", however in less than 24 hours the situation has changed dramatically as the Melbourne cluster added another 12 cases overnight.
With a total of 26 cases now linked to a recent outbreak and 34 active cases in the state, government health authorities - and AFL clubs - were left scrambling.
https://twitter.com/theage/status/1397701600622284800https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1397686292297793543The AFL managed to rush Essendon and Carlton out of Melbourne yesterday, but Hawthorn and Gold Coast's game in Darwin was postponed as the Hawks await a travel exemption from the Northern Territory government.
A lockdown would see hospitality venues across the state closed, and residents would be restricted where and when they can leave their homes.
There was hope that the scheduled games in Melbourne this weekend wouldn't be affected, but with a lockdown seemingly imminent as the cluster in the city grows, teams could be playing in empty stadiums.
"I'm hearing that clubs are preparing their players to be on the road for two-to-three weeks," Jordan Lewis told SEN on Thursday morning.
MORE TO COME
from WWOS https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/afl-brace-for-no-crowds-as-victoria-melbourne-lockdown-imminent/bf7d2ab7-c612-4184-b17d-d60790dba701
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