The state returns to heavy restrictions from Thursday night, with only five reasons to leave the home - shopping and exercise within 5 kilometres of the home, care and caregiving, authorised work and education, and for vaccination - and many businesses will pause or only be open for take-away and delivery as workers who are able to work from home.

The committee's chief executive, Michael Poulton, said dedicated quarantine facilities are the only way to avoid another lockdown and keep the community safe, as coronavirus is "not going away any time soon".

"The latest COVID lockdown in Victoria is a massive call to action - the alarm is ringing loudly," he said in a statement.

"Specialist quarantine facilities must be urgently set, as recommended in December 2020 by the state government's enquiry into hotel quarantine.

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"It's time to drop the word 'hotel' from our quarantine discussion.

"We need designated quarantine facilities, and let hotels do what they were designed for. Hotels have served their purpose but cannot continue to be the answer to an effective quarantine system.

"We know this outbreak is again the result of a 'leakage' from hotel quarantine, the 17th around the country in the past six months. It is clear we have a problem, and despite the thousands who have gone through hotel quarantine, the risks are simply unacceptable.

"We can no longer accept hotel quarantine when we know there is a better, fit-for-purpose solution that is effective and achievable now.

"We call on the federal government to back the state's proposal to build a specialist quarantine facility in Victoria. Such a facility is part of the long-term solution to managing COVID and will help protect our community for the many months that lie ahead as we continue to battle this pandemic.

"International borders are going to open up at some stage, our economy needs to grow, and that won't happen with government support alone, we need to address migration, and international borders and business.

"If we don't, we're going to get left behind, so quarantine and vaccination is crucial."

Mr Poulton echoed acting Premier James Merlino, who said at Thursday morning's press conference an alternative to hotel quarantine was desperately needed.

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