Victoria reports eight 'local' COVID cases

* Sixty days without community transmission of coronavirus ended on Wednesday, with three new cases

* Another five cases from more than 70 close contacts were confirmed on Thursday

* Patients include three women: one aged in her 40s from Mitcham, another in her 40s from Mentone, and one in her 70s from Hallam

* The trio has been traced to the Smile Buffalo Thai Restaurant in Black Rock on December 21

* The Holy Family Catholic Parish Church at Doveton is also an exposure site of serious concern

* The cases are understood to be linked to a returning traveller from NSW

* Two of the close contacts are in regional Leongatha and Barwon Heads

* The potential exposure window for infection was December 17-19

* Victoria currently has 16 active cases - the eight new cases, plus seven international travellers in hotel quarantine and one returning traveller from NSW who is in isolation

NEW RESTRICTIONS

* From 5pm Thursday, home gatherings will be cut from 30 to 15

* Mandatory indoor masks

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

* Victoria will close its border to NSW from midnight Friday. Any Victorian returning from NSW must be tested and isolate for 14 days

* Arrangements for border communities near NSW and also people travelling through NSW, are still to be confirmed

* NSW closed its border with Victoria on July 8 and reopened on November 23

EXPOSURE SITES

* Smile Buffalo Thai restaurant, Black Rock, December 21

* Cape SchankNational Golf Club, The Cups Drive, December 30, 11.40am-1.30pm

* DovetonHoly Family Parish Doveton Catholic, December 26, 4-6pm

* Fountain Gate Shopping CentreKmart, Big W, Target, Millers, King of Gifts, Lo Costa, December 26, 9-11am

* Glen WaverleyCentury City Walk and Mocha Jo's, December 28, 1.30pm-5pm

* Mentone/Parkdale Beach, December 27, 10am-4.30pm

* Katialo restaurant, Eaton Mall, Oakleigh, December 28, 7pm-8:15pm

* Royal Brighton Yacht Club, December 29, noon-2pm

TESTING SITES

* New sites set up at Don Tatnell Leisure Centre in Parkdale and Wantirna Trash and Treasure Market.

Australian Associated Press