New Covid-19 restrictions in place from 5pm

UPDATE: 3.45PM: The Victoria Government has announced the border with NSW will close from 11.59pm on January 1. All Victorians currently in NSW will be required to have a Covid test and quarantine for 14 days when they return to the state. Anyone returning before the January 1 deadline will be allowed to quarantine at home. The number of new cases today has risen to five.

After three new cases of coronavirus were identified in Victoria overnight, the state government has announced new restrictions, effective from 5pm tonight.

The number of people allowed to gather at home has been reduced from 30 to 15.

Wearing masks indoors is again mandatory. You must carry a mask when you leave your home and it must be worn indoors except when eating or drinking.

The three new cases in Victoria are all linked to a gathering at a Black Rock cafe, which was attended by a returned traveller from Sydney.

Over 40 close contacts have been identified, including a person from Leongatha.

A list of public exposure sites, which currently includes Fountain Gate Shopping Centre, is available on the DHHS website and will be updated throughout the day.

Health Minister Martin Foley said Victoria was facing "a very serious situation".

He also strongly advised Victorians against travelling to NSW.

The Red Zone area in NSW has now been extended to include the Blue Mountains and Wollongong and anyone returning to Victoria who visited those areas from December 27, has until 11.59pm tonight to return. They must apply for a new travel permit through Service Victoria, get tested within 24 hours of returning to Victoria, and self-quarantine at home for 14 days from when they last left the region.

Mr Foley recommended Victorians who were in the NSW Green Zones should also return home immediately, as the situation was "dynamic" and changing rapidly.

Current Coronavirus information is available at www.dhhs.vic.gov.au