A University of Queensland virologist says the Stage Four lockdown measures being imposed on Victoria have the best chance of working to combat the growing COVID-19 threat.

A nightly curfew is now in effect for Melbourne and the Victorian government is set to announce which businesses will need to shut their doors.

Professor Ian MacKay says defeating the virus still comes back to keeping people apart from each other.

“Whether that’s by putting something in front of them like a mask to help reduce that transmission likelihood or just keeping people physically distant, which most effectively is keeping them off the road, out of the clubs and pubs and away from school and work.

“That’s really the ultimate best way to defeat a virus that relies on us for growth and transmission.

“If we can starve it of those people, it won’t transmit anymore.”

Listen to the full interview: