Crowds pack into markets and sun-seekers head to the beach as Melbourne enjoys a pleasant 18C day – and Dan Andrews hints lockdown could soon be eased
Warmer weather has lured large crowds to beaches and markets in Melbourne, as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews hinted the state's strict COVID-19 lockdown measures could soon be eased.
Although the state leader warned Victorians that police and Australian Defence Force personnel would be patrolling popular beaches, the 18C sunshine proved too much of a temptation for long-suffering residents in the midst of lockdown.
Melburnians have been cooped up since July 8 under Stage 4 stay-at-home orders, only permitted to leave the house between 8am and 5pm for essential reasons like grocery shopping, health appointments, work and exercise.
Warmer weather has lured large crowds to beaches and markets in Melbourne on Saturday (pictured is Gleadell Street market in Richmond)
Crowds flocked outside to soak up the sunshine at Gleadell St market in Richmond as the mercury soared to 18C on the last weekend of winter
A number of sun-seekers are pictured at St Kilda beach. Under COVID restrictions, residents are only allowed to travel a 5km radius away from their home
Melbourne residents are seen walking along the St Kilda boardwalk. Walkers and cyclist don face masks as they take a stroll in the sun
During that period new daily infections reached a peak of 723 coronavirus cases.
But on Saturday, that number dropped 94, the lowest daily totals since July 5.
Premier Andrews has remained adamant that it is too soon to ease the draconian restrictions.
When asked about the weekend's warm weather forecast at a media conference on Friday, he said: 'I'm not often disappointed in a good forecast, but I am a bit about that.'
He urged Victorians to follow the health officer's directions and not flout the rules by heading to the beach unnecessarily.
'We need to defeat this properly now... I'm not admonishing, I'm appealing please despite the lovely weather forecast please let's all make positive decisions, Mr Andrews said.
'Please don't make any choices that would contribute to the spread of this virus.'
But on Saturday, he had eased his tone ever so slightly.
Melburnians have been cooped up since July 8 under Stage 4 stay-at-home orders, only leaving the house between 8am and 5pm for essential reasons like grocery shopping, health appointments, work and exercise
A man is pictured sun bathing shirtless on the grass at St Kilda as a man wearing a face mask walks by with his dog
A number of sun-seekers are pictured strolling along the pier at St Kilda wearing face masks which is now required by law in Victoria
During the lockdown period new daily infections reached a peak of 723 coronavirus cases. But on Saturday, that number dropped 94, the lowest daily totals since July 5
He stopped short at engaging in discussion about a 'roadmap' out of lockdown which is set to conclude on September 13.
But he did acknowledge crowds and gatherings could soon be part of Victoria's 'new COVID normal'.
'I think our COVID normal can involve some crowds, but that will be a matter of medical advice,' Mr Andrews said.
He added that the size of crowds would have to be determined by 'how successful we are defeating the virus'.
'It is very, very difficult to plan ahead. It's very difficult to bring certainty to something that travels so quickly,' he said.
'Certainly even at 94 cases, we are not able to open up now and we are not able to open up now and we are not able to provide a detailed road map with the sort of certainty that I would want.'
'The numbers need to be lower than they are now.'
Despite the small glimmer of hope for Victorians, Mr Andrews said: 'I don't think we will have 100,000 at the MCG for quite some time.'
Daniel Andrews stopped short at engaging in discussion about a 'roadmap' out of lockdown which is set to conclude on September 13
But the Premier did acknowledge that crowds and gatherings could soon be part of Victoria's 'new COVID normal'
Any changes to crowd restrictions would rely on science, Mr Andrews said. Pictured: A woman is seen taking a photograph of a couple frolicking in the water at St Kilda beach
Mr Andrews added that the size of crowds would have to be determined by 'how successful we are defeating the virus'. Pictured: A large crowd on St Kilda's boardwalk
Despite the small glimmer of hope for Victorians, Premier Andrews said: 'I don't think we will have 100,000 at the MCG for quite some time'
Meanwhile, Mr Andrews has announced plans to extend Victoria's State of Emergency to 18 months in September, giving the government the power to impose further lockdown restrictions.
Amendments are being made to change it, despite the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 only allowing a State of Emergency to operate for six months.
'It is not an unlimited extension, it is nothing more than a recognition that this virus won't be over on September 30,' the premier said on Monday, August 24.
'I would love nothing more for there to be no need for any rules on September 14, but I don't think that is the reality.'
Mr Andrews has received a lot of backlash online, with Victorians labelling his plan as 'frightening' and 'to save his own job for the next 12 months'.
'No other state has had a State of Emergency this length and had total control over every aspect of Victorian's lives. He's sounding more like the Supreme ruler by the day,' one person said on Twitter.
'This is really frightening,' another tweeted.
'We cannot let this happen. I am writing to my MPs today and you should too,' a third person said.
On Saturday the total number of coronavirus deaths in Victoria climbed to 513 after 18 more patients lost their lives.
Mr Andrews plans to extend Victoria's State of Emergency to 18 months in September, giving the government the power to impose further lockdown restrictions
WHAT STATE OF EMERGENCY MEANS
The State of Emergency provides the Chief Health Officer with additional powers to issue directions to help contain the spread of coronavirus and keep Victorians safe.
'Expanding the powers of the chief health officer will allow us to better protect public health and give our hospitals, GPs and other industries the best fighting chance we can,' Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said.
Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 the chief health officer can have their powers expanded in four ways:
- Any person or group in a particular area can be detained to eliminate or reduce a serious risk to public health
- The movement of people within the emergency area can be restricted
- People can be prevented from entering an emergency area
- Authorised officers can make any direction considered reasonably necessary to protect public health
The 'emergency area' could be defined by the chief health officer and could contain a street, suburb or the state.