Victoria bans New Year’s Eve kisses to stop the spread of Covid-19

The Australian state of Victoria has banned the New Year’s Eve midnight kiss despite having two months of no Covid-19 cases.

State Prime Minister Dan Andrews has issued a draconian approach to preventing any risk of an outbreak as Melbourne heads into the new year.

The government said kissing and hugging should be prohibited for anyone other than his immediate family.

“Just as Christmas was a little different this year, New Year’s Eve will be too,” the Victorian government said.

The spokesperson also told Victorians to bring hand sanitizer on New Year’s Eve if they go to parties, and warned not to share drinks.

“Carry a hand sanitizer with you, do not share drinks with others and [new year] kisses and hugs must [only] be shared with those in your immediate family. “

The council comes when the government asks the community “not to say goodbye to the great habits that we have made part of our day to day.”

Melbourne also canceled its fireworks display due to Covid-19.

Instead, it is now hosting a two-day open-air food festival with crowd-control restrictions.

“While we will not have fireworks lighting the sky at midnight, we can still celebrate each other and all that we have accomplished as a community this year,” said Mayor Sally Capp.

The moves come as Sydney experiences a new Covid-19 outbreak.