Victoria and Queensland record new COVID-19 cases

• Melbourne’s lockdown will end tonight, despite four new cases being recorded in the state on Thursday
• The husband of a Victorian woman, who travelled through NSW to Queensland, has also tested positive for the virus
• Melbourne residents will be required to wear masks outdoors when the lockdown lifts
• Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Allen Cheng’ says the masks are necessary given the recent outbreaks

Melbourne’s lockdown will soon lift, despite new cases being recorded in Victoria and Queensland.

Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino says the capital city’s two-week-long lockdown will end at midnight despite four local cases being recorded on Thursday.

“I can confirm that the easing of restrictions that we announced yesterday will proceed as planned from 11:59 pm tonight with one small exception for Melbourne,” Mr Merlino said in a press conference today.

“Masks will continue to be required to be worn outdoors in all circumstances.”

Victorian Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Allen Cheng’ said the masks were necessary given the recent outbreaks.

“While it’s the judgement of the public health team that we are in a position to ease restrictions, these new cases are really the strongest reminder that we are, by no means, out of the woods yet,” Dr Cheng said.

Along with the four cases recorded in Victoria, Queensland authorities have revealed another person has tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.

The person in question is the husband of a Victorian woman, who travelled through NSW to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast earlier this month.

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said 17 close contacts of the Victorian couple had been identified, with three testing negative to the virus so far.

Dr Young said an alert has been issued for a number of towns across regional Queensland and NSW, with anyone with symptoms urged to get tested.

“It’s still there, and I still need everyone to come forward who develops any symptoms at all who lives in the Sunshine Coast, or Goondiwindi or Toowoomba – it’s very, very important,” Dr Young said.

“We’ve seen a lot of testing already started.

“That needs to continue, just so we can make sure that there hasn’t been any transmission out there.”