Victoria has reported four new local Covid cases as the residents along the state's northern border prepare for a bubble crackdown.
All cases are linked to Victoria's current outbreaks and were in isolation for their entire infectious period. Another infection was detected in a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.
It comes as Victoria bans non-essential movement across state lines because of the hovering threat of Sydney's Covid-19 Delta variant outbreak.
From 11.59pm on Tuesday, border-bubble residents will only be able to state-hop for six reasons including medical care, compassionate purposes, work, education, playing sport or getting vaccinated.
Victoria recorded four new cases of Covid on Tuesday, with all linked to current outbreaks. Pictured: A woman walks through Melbourne
The new measure applies to residents on both sides of the NSW-Victorian border, who must also not travel any further than necessary for that specific purpose.
Anyone caught crossing the border for a non-essential reason could face a $5452 fine.
Health Minister Martin Foley said the move would burden people in border towns, but it was vital to keeping the virus out of the state.
'With the outbreak in New South Wales still growing, the public health advice is clear: we need to limit unessential movement across the border into Victoria where it is practical and possible,' he said.
From midnight Tuesday, residents in border towns will only be able to cross between NSW and VIC for essential reasons. Pictured: police patrol entry permits at VIC border checkpoints in December last year
'We know this will affect many border residents, but so will another outbreak of the Delta variant on our doorstep – we need to keep our border residents and all Victorians safe.'
The new cases come a week after Victoria's statewide lockdown was lifted as the highly infectious Delta outbreak, which originated from NSW, was brought under control.
It is the third day in a row no new cases have spent any time in the community while infectious, with the number of exposure sites across the state falling to 56.
More than 22,000 test results were received in the 24 hours to Tuesday morning, while about 16,500 vaccine doses were administered at state-run sites during the same period.
The latest infections bring the number of active cases in Victoria to 124, down 10 from Sunday.
VICTORIA'S NEW BORDER BUBBLE RESTRICTIONS
From 11.59pm Tuesday 3 August, residents in the Victoria-NSW border bubble can only enter Victoria without a permit if they are travelling for essential reasons.
Essential reasons include:
• Necessary goods and services, including medical care and getting a Covid-19 test
• Care and compassionate reasons
• Paid or voluntary work (including for charitable and religious purposes)
• Education (including childcare and early childhood services)
• Getting a Covid-19 vaccination
• Sport and exercise at a sporting club or at a sport or physical recreation facility (excluding alpine resorts)
If a Victorian border bubble resident has travelled to NSW or a NSW border bubble resident enters Victoria for a non-essential reason, they are subject to a fine of up to $5,452.