Premier Daniel Andrews has hinted new restrictions designed to protect regional Victoria from COVID-19 travelling out of metropolitan Melbourne could be announced early next week.
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Mr Andrews said he understood concerns about the virus seeping into regional communities.
"One thing of consistent feedback from regional Victorians, whilst they'd love to have tourism for instance and lots and lots of movement, they jealously guard (their) low virus status," he said.
"They want that protection and that's exactly what we will do.
"We will have some more to say next week about some changes, and some even further measures to make sure that that Melbourne-regional Victoria border is as hard as it can be."
The most recent case in Horsham was reported after a resident welcomed a visitor from Melbourne.
People living under metropolitan Melbourne's stage four restrictions can be granted exemptions to travel to regional Victoria for work, healthcare or caregiving purposes.
Mr Andrews was asked about the possibility of regional areas close to Melbourne that had high cases numbers - like the Geelong corridor - being moved out of regional Victoria, and classified as part of the "metropolitan Melbourne bubble".
"We want to be careful to make sure that the people are not doing anything that would put other regional Victorians at risk," he said.
"I think our area of real focus will be making sure we don't have people from metro Melbourne, without good reason, traveling to regional Victoria and potentially taking the virus.
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"We'll have more to say from a VicPol point of view. Particularly that Western Melbourne-Geelong corridor, that's a real challenge for us because we know that there's virus in the west of the city, and we don't want that spreading throughout the southwest of the state."
Mr Andrews also rejected the notion that cities or regions with zero active cases should have looser restrictions that areas with the virus.
"Regional Victoria should move as one. We are on the cusp of being able to take that step anyway," he said.
"The notion of dividing regional Victoria for one week - people would barely be familiar with the rules before they change again."
Matt Currill
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
