There are fears Melbourne could plunge into its fifth lockdown as more local coronavirus cases emerge, border restrictions return and mask rules are reintroduced.
The city is on edge with 11 new local infections reported yesterday, linked to a family who breached quarantine rules and infected Sydney removalists who failed to wear masks while on the job.
Mask rules came back into effect at midnight for the Greater Melbourne area, meaning face coverings musty be worn in all indoor settings, other than at home and anywhere outdoors where social distancing is not possible.
READ MORE: Shopping mall among new Melbourne COVID-19 warning locations
"There are steps we can take right now to protect ourselves and each other," Victoria's Acting Chief Health Officer Dr Clare Looker said in a statement.
Senior Victorian Government cabinet ministers, including Premier Daniel Andrews, met last night with high-level discussions on reimposing restrictions to continue this morning, as the state races to crush the escalating crisis.
CSIRO Health Director, Dr Robert Grenfell said more restrictions were highly likely once today's COVID-19 numbers are announced.
"I don't think Victoria will take any chances with this one. The virus only respects tough, hard lockdowns and obviously vaccinations," Dr Grenfell told Today.
Dr Grenfell said authorities would be keeping an eye on any local infections which don't have a discernible community link and a decision would be based off of that.
He said the Delta strain is what forced Victoria's last lockdown and quick, swift action was needed to get on top of the state's new outbreak.
"At the moment the cases they have announced all fit into a chain of infections, coming mainly out of the housing complex. If there are other cases that appear, that don't necessarily have direct links to those, that's a concern that the virus is now spreading through the community," he said.
Dr Grenfell said areas of concern were high-density housing and workplaces where people need to go in, otherwise they don't get paid.
"We see it time and time again. (The virus) picks it out. It goes and finds those groups that it's easy to spread through and away way it goes," he said.
READ MORE: State shuts border with Victoria amid new COVID-19 cases
There are two clusters authorities are battling, one linked to the family of four and another linked to the three removalists.
Three additional cases were recorded last night, including a teacher at Bacchus Marsh Grammar, who has spread the virus to two of his family members, bringing the total number of local cases announced on Wednesday to 11.
"We have been informed that a member of the teaching staff has tested positive for COVID-19. The teacher was at the School's Staff Day on Monday 12 July but has not been in contact with students on either Tuesday 13 July or Wednesday 14 July 2021," Principal Andrew A Neal said in a statement.
"As a result of this result all staff who were at the Staff Day on Monday 12 July have been directed by the COVID-19 Public Health Division Department of Health to isolate and be tested."
The school has closed for the remainder of the week, with Barwon Heads Primary School, south-east of Geelong, also shutting temporarily after an infected case visited the school this week.
There are more than 70 exposure sites listed, including a Maribyrnong apartment building in lockdown, several shopping malls, schools and the MCG.
Tens of thousands of footy fans who attended the Carlton vs Geelong game at the MCG on Saturday have been put on alert, after a positive man in his 60s who resides in the apartment complex attended the match.
Testing centres across the state were inundated yesterday and massive lines are expected again today.
Western Australia has also closed its border with Victoria, forcing dozens of passengers into 14-day isolation upon landing on the west coast last night and this morning.
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