Melbourne was plunged into even tougher restrictions overnight as the dreaded 9pm to 5am curfew returned and the city’s sixth lockdown was extended.The state’s health department confirmed the new local cases about 8.30am, and revealed three were mystery infections.They said 21 of the 24 new local cases could be linked to existing outbreaks but only 14 positive people were in isolation during their infectious period.At least 17 mystery cases have been reported in the past five days as contact tracers face a race against time to determine how Melburnians are acquiring the virus.It comes as an angry Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the strengthened lockdown would be in place until September 2.The exercise exemption to leave home has been made tighter with it only allowed with one other household member and dependants.Playgrounds, basketball courts, skate parks and exercise equipment despite the fact that it is outdoors will also be closed.Permits for authorised work and education will come back from 11.59pm on Tuesday and large construction projects will be reduced to 25 per cent of the workforce, while smaller projects will have a maximum of five workers.“We are at a tipping point, we see too many cases, we see too many mystery cases,” Mr Andrews said““There is simply no option today but to further strengthen this lockdown and to, on the advice of the chief health officer, extend it for a further two weeks.”There are now more than 540 exposure sites in multiple suburbs across metropolitan Melbourne.There are 227 active cases across the state, up from 205 on Monday.One new case were recorded in hotel quarantine on Tuesday.jack.paynter@news.com.au
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