The lockdown will be in effect until at least 11.59pm on Tuesday under the same conditions as the previous lockdown in May.

All Victorians must stay within five kilometres of their home and there are only five reasons to leave home: essential shopping, authorised work, exercise with a two-hour limit with one other person, caregiving, or getting vaccinated.

No visitors are allowed in the home other than an intimate partner and single household bubbles are also permitted while public gatherings are not.

READ MORE:

Masks must be worn both indoors and outdoors while schools and universities have moved to remote learning.

Hospitality venues have moved to takeaway only and the majority of retail can provide click and collect with only essential retail to remain open.

Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett said the decision was disastrous for the region's businesses, especially with the call made late Thursday afternoon.

"Victorian businesses have absolutely borne the brunt of this situation over the last 18 months and they reply every time with the most amazing resilience and strength, but it's taking its toll, there's absolutely no doubt about that," she said.

"They've been gearing up for these weekends with the football happening and obviously the AFL game has been moved away.

"It takes a lot of planning for business to be able to deliver what they deliver into tourism and retail and hospitality. There's buying involved, there's rostering of staff and all this is not done at the last minute, so when these announcements come in and they come in so late, it makes it really difficult and it certainly causes additional cost to the businesses."

Committee for Ballarat chief executive Michael Poulton said it was devastating to be back in another lockdown.

"We understand the reasons why but I think all of us in the community would just be feeling incredibly flat that once again, we're having to face the restrictions that sadly we've come to know all too well," he said.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"I think we found in the fourth lockdown there were so many people saying to that one just felt worse, and here we go again a month later, we're into our fifth lockdown.

"I genuinely feel that there's a sense that we're over this but at the end of the day, I genuinely feel that everyone appreciates there is no option, that you just couldn't let it go, we're where we are because there are no other options.

"We want people to support each other, to be kind to each other, to have respect for the fact that we're all struggling and we're all dealing with this differently and it's very, very difficult."

Premier Daniel Andrews said at yesterday's announcement the lockdown was needed before the virus took hold of the state.

"We've got no choice. We have to do this, otherwise, it will get away from us. We don't want this getting away from us and being locked down for months," he said.

"We want to deal with this with a short, sharp lockdown. Decisive action, not waiting, not dawdling, not delay.

"Hard and fast, you only get one chance. Now is our time."

If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.