Once again, Melbourne is going into lockdown. Apparently this is our thing now.

Deputy Premier James Merlino announced this morning that Melbourne will be entering a seven-day lockdown from 11.59PM tonight until 11:59PM on Thursday June 3rd.

He listed the reasons to leave home as follows:

• Shopping for essential items
• Authorised work or education
• Exercise (limited to two hours, with one other person)
• Caregiving, compassionate and medical reasons.
• To get vaccinated

“Our public health experts' primary concern is how fast this variant is moving,” Merlino said, adding that the seven-day ‘circuit-breaker’ will give staff time to get on top of contact tracing.

He also stressed the importance of getting vaccinated, adding: “The only pathway through this pandemic is for people to get vaccinated as soon as they’re eligible”.

Here are the main rules and restrictions Acting Premier Merlino mentioned:

• Stay 5km of home
• Wear masks both indoors and outdoors, unless an exemption applies (or you’re at home)
• No home visits, other than your partner
• Single bubbles are permitted (if you live alone you can form a bubble with another person)
• No public gatherings
• Hospitality venues can provide takeaway only
• Essential retail like pharmacies and supermarkets remain open
• Childcare and kinder remain open
• Schools and universities will pivot to remote learning

We’ll update this story as it develops.

Written by Reena Gupta, a Melbourne-based writer for MTV Australia. Follow her on Twitter at @purpletank.