On 28th of June Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews during a press conference on June confirmed COVID-19 infection numbers continued to rise, with 49 new coronavirus cases recorded overnight.
Health authorities are continuing on a testing blitz in Melbourne suburbs that have been identified as community transmission hotspots for coronavirus.
A few days later Daniel Andrews announced Lockdowns across Melbourne which came into effect at for residents of suburbs identified as COVID-19 hotspots following a spike in new coronavirus cases through community transmission. From midnight Wednesday 1 July, residents of 10 postcodes will only be able to leave home for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Businesses and facilities in these lockdown areas will also be restricted and cafes and restaurants can only open for take-away and delivery. The restrictions will remain in place until at least 29 July.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 28: Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews during a press conference on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 28: A woman conducts an oral Covid-19 test at a pop-up facility during a COVID-19 testing blitz in the suburb of Broadmeadows on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 28: An elderly man has a Covid-19 test under the guidance of a member of the testing team during a COVID-19 testing blitz in the suburb of Broadmeadows on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 28: A man conducts a Covid-19 test by inserting a swab in his nose, under the guidance of a member of the testing team at a pop-up testing site, during a COVID-19 testing blitz in the suburb of Broadmeadows on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 28: An elderly woman is tested at a pop-up clinic during a COVID-19 testing blitz in the suburb of Broadmeadows on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: A police officer directs traffic into a lane where drivers are checked on their reason for travel and residential address on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: A police officer directs traffic into a lane where drivers are checked on their reason for travel and residential address on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Lockdowns across Melbourne have come into effect for residents of suburbs identified as COVID-19 hotspots following a spike in new coronavirus cases through community transmission. From midnight Wednesday 1 July, residents of 10 postcodes will only be able to leave home for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Businesses and facilities in these lockdown areas will also be restricted and cafes and restaurants can only open for take-away and delivery. The restrictions will remain in place until at least 29 July. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: An empty row of shops is seen at the Olsen Place shopping village in the suburb of Broadmeadows on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: A general view of a drive through testing facility at Broadmeadows central shopping center on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: A man gets a Covid-19 test at a testing site on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: A woman gets a Covid-19 test at a testing site on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
People line up to get a Covid-19 test at a testing site in the locked-down suburb of Dallas on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JULY 02: Bottleshop owner of Dallas Cellars, Darshan Singh in the locked down suburb of Dallas on July 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Darshan Singh has noticed a drop in business today, he normally gets a lot of walk-in customers but since lockdown has only got local customers. The restrictions will remain in place until at least 29 July. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews walks to the podium to conduct a press conference on June 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria’s confirmed COVID-19 infection numbers continue to rise, with 49 new coronavirus cases recorded overnight. Health authorities are continuing on a testing blitz in Melbourne suburbs that have been identified as community transmission hotspots for coronavirus. Restrictions in Victoria have been tightened in response to the spike in new cases across the state with premier Daniel Andrews extending the current state of emergency for at least four weeks to allow police the power to enforce social distancing rules. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
Suburbs under stay-at-home orders
- 3012: Brooklyn, Kingsville, Maidstone, Tottenham, West Footscray
- 3021: Albanvale, Kealba, Kings Park, St Albans
- 3032: Ascot Vale, Highpoint City, Maribyrnong, Travancore
- 3038: Keilor Downs, Keilor Lodge, Taylors Lakes, Watergardens
- 3042: Airport West, Keilor Park, Niddrie
- 3046: Glenroy, Hadfield, Oak Park
- 3047: Broadmeadows, Dallas, Jacana
- 3055: Brunswick South, Brunswick West, Moonee Vale, Moreland West
- 3060: Fawkner
- 3064: Craigieburn, Donnybrook, Mickleham, Roxburgh Park and Kalkallo
Words and Photos by Asanka Brendon Ratnayake
Asanka Brendon Ratnayake is a photojournalist and travel photographer based in Melbourne Australia covering Australia, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Follow him on instagram