Victoria could be headed for a third lockdown with health authorities in pandemonium fearing they have lost control of a third wave of Covid-19.
Premier Daniel Andrews held heated crisis talks with health chiefs on Thursday night after five new infections were linked to the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport cluster, bringing the outbreak to 13 cases.
State government advisers were instructed to draw up plans for a third lockdown as early as Friday evening which would spell an end to crowds at the Australian Open.
Victoria is on the brink of a third lockdown. Pictured: Tennis fans enjoy Day four of the Australian Open, which would have crowds banned if lockdown occurred
Victorian health officials early on Friday morning said customers and staff at Terminal 4 s Brunetti cafe may have been at risk at any time between 4.45am and 1.15pm on February 9.
Five million Melbourne residents are bracing for lockdown once again as a Covid-19 cluster grows to 13, with five new cases reported on Friday.
Victorian ministers held a cabinet meeting at 11.45am to discuss a five-day lockdown that could involve confining residents to their homes except for essential reasons and closing schools and businesses.
The restrictions are expected to come into play on Friday evening after Premier Daniel Andrews gives a press conference at 1pm.
A city-wide lockdown could see fans banned from the Australian Open with Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic and Aussie superstar Nick Kyrgios due to play on Friday.
New coronavirus variants are forcing Australia and New Zealand to rethink already-stringent quarantine rules for overseas visitors, even as their systems are replicated around the world.