There will be restrictions on public gatherings and masks will be reintroduced after a fifth COVID-19 case was recorded in Melbourne this morning.

Acting Premier James Merlino has announced that from 6:00 tonight private gatherings in the home are limited to five visits per day and public gatherings are limited to 30. All Melburnians, 12 years and older, will have to wear a face mask unless they have an exemption.

No changes will be made to the density requirements at weddings and funerals at venues, however if they are held at a private residence these restrictions will apply.

Merlino confirmed that the newest case was a man in his 60s, and that it is linked to the four cases identified on Monday.

He said that these new restrictions were based on public health advice.

“This is about giving our contract tracers the time they need to track this matter down and get on top of it,” he said.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said that this new case is a warning to be prepared for other positive cases.

“We have to ready ourselves for any other positive, and when there are close contacts who do become positive that raises the possibility that even a casual contact could become positive as well,” he said.

The new cases have caused the AFL to pause ticket sales for rounds 11 and 12 while they assess the situation.

Merlino said a decision on crowds numbers has not yet been made and will require further discussion.

Photo: COVID-19 by Chad Davis available HERE and used under a Creative Commons Attribution. The image has not been modified.