Victorians are waking up to a sixth coronavirus lockdown, put in place to contain an outbreak in Melbourne’s west, after hundreds rallied in the city against the measures.
Friday marks day one of the restrictions, with more than six million Victorians finding themselves living under stay-at-home orders only 10 days after coming out of the last lockdown.
They are under the same rules that applied during last month’s lockdown, including the five reasons to leave home, the five-kilometre travel limit for exercise and shopping, and compulsory masks indoors and outdoors.
Protesters, some carrying placards and most not wearing masks, gathered at Flinders Street about 7pm on Thursday and moved into Swanston Street as police tried to disperse them.
Video of the rally showed people walking through the city chanting “sack Dan Andrews” and “no more lockdown”, while two officers appeared to spray protesters with pepper spray.
An officer suffered minor cuts and abrasions after he was pushed to the ground and kicked by several demonstrators.
Police made 15 arrests during the protest including four people for allegedly breaching bail, activating a flare and hindering police, and handed out fines to 16 others for various health directions breaches.
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said four of those arrested or fined were known as protest organisers. They are expected to face court on charges such as incitement.
Police will continue to review video footage to identify more protesters.
“Police are, together with the vast majority of Victorians who are doing the right thing, outraged that a small minority of people continue to engage in deliberate breaches of the CHO directions,” Mr Cornelius said.
The seven-day, statewide lockdown began at 8pm on Thursday after Victoria recorded eight new cases of the Delta coronavirus variant.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the decision to lock down was “incredibly painful” but there was no alternative and he was determined to avoid an extended lockdown.
“The alternative is not to be locked down for seven days, it’s being locked down for seven weeks or more, locked down until we get to 80 per cent vaccination and that may not happen until Christmas time,” he said.
Thousands of businesses have been forced to shut again, as the state government faced criticism that not enough warning was given before Thursday’s announcement.
Further financial support for businesses is expected to be announced on Friday, with those that applied for grants during the last lockdown to receive payments again.
But Victoria’s tourism council said the current support was “simply no longer adequate to sustain businesses”, encouraging the government to push for the reinstatement of JobKeeper.
Meanwhile, health officials remain concerned about two mystery cases – an infected teacher at Al-Taqwa College in Truganina and a Maribyrnong man in his 20s.
The teacher, who lives in the Hobsons Bay area, has already passed the virus to her partner and two relatives, with fears she may have unknowingly spread the virus in the community while infectious.
Thousands of close contacts are isolating and there are more than 80 exposure sites, including two Virgin flights from Sydney to Melbourne and Melbourne to Launceston on Monday.
For exposure sites visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
AAP
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