Australia's Victoria state reported five new local COVID-19 cases on Sunday, including in a worker at a Melbourne aged care facility where not all of the residents have been vaccinated.
The infections on the third day of a week-long lockdown raise the total to 40 in the latest cluster, which started with a returning overseas traveller who tested positive after leaving a quarantine hotel.
Victoria went into lockdown on Thursday night, the state's fourth since the start of the pandemic, requiring people to stay at home except for essential work, healthcare, vaccination, shopping and two hours of outdoor exercise.Merlino on Sunday announced a A$250 million state support package for 90,000 businesses affected by the lockdown. He also criticised the federal government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison for not helping.
The outbreak has spurred people to get vaccinated in Victoria, following weeks of a slow inoculation roll-out and rising vaccine hesitancy because of the country's success in virtually eliminating the COVID-19 virus.