Why Chairman Dan Andrews' controversial playground ban could be lifted in a week as Victoria records 79 new Covid cases

The controversial blanket ban on playgrounds in Victoria's strictest lockdown yet  could soon be lifted after the state recorded 79 new Covid-19 cases on Friday.

Premier Dan Andrews is said to be leaning towards scrapping the community restriction because there is no concrete evidence that the virus transmitted at any parks at all, despite a small scare. 

The spike in case numbers - there were also 80 on Thursday - was the highest daily increase since September 2 last year, when 110 cases were reported.

Victoria's latest lockdown, which is scheduled to end on September 2 at 11.59pm, will more than likely be extended, with more mystery cases emerging each day as well as a high percentage of cases not in isolation.

Victorian premier Dan Andrews angered many parents when he closed children's playgrounds earlier this month (pictured, a family out and about in Melbourne)

The Premier defended the decision - despite authorities stating there was no concrete link to Covid-19 transmission from any playgrounds

Despite the rise in case numbers, health authorities have said any evidence of playground transmission remains ­inconclusive.

'We don't get a definitive answer. We don't have an alternative explanation and that becomes a working hypothesis,' chief health officer Brett Sutton said.

'We can't see the virus transmit from one person to another so we don't know ­definitively.'

Earlier this month, Andrews defended his unpopular decision to close children's playgrounds in Melbourne, pointing out 50 children in the city had tested positive for Covid-19.

'We have seen evidence of transmission between people that don't even know each other and don't know that they were in the company of each other,' the premier said at the time.

'This is tough. But the best thing we can all do is stick together and hopefully drive down the numbers.' 

Playgrounds, basketball courts, skate parks and exercise equipment in metropolitan Melbourne were closed from August 16 after Professor Sutton said the measure was needed to reduce transmission of the Indian delta variant.

The decision was widely slammed by lockdown-weary Melbourne families with children struggling during their sixth round of stay-at-home orders.

'Getting to a playground is one of the few things you have left to alleviate boredom with the kids, it's a punch in the guts,' Melbourne father Toby Cummings said.

Professor Sutton explained the rationale for the decision.

'There have been instances where parents supervising children at playgrounds were sitting down, drinking coffee and not wearing masks or social distancing,' he said.

'That's the transmission risk, and the more we can get on top of each and every time - whether it's a small and moderate or a significant contributor to that overall burden of transmission - we have to get to the finish line fast, so that this doesn't drag on and on.'

A number of doctors, paediatricians and infectious disease experts also urged the Andrews government to rethink the closure of playgrounds, warning the mental health toll for children could outweigh the risk of coronavirus transmission.

Playgrounds, basketball courts, skate parks and exercise equipment in metropolitan Melbourne were closed from August 16 after CHO Brett Sutton said the measure was needed to reduce transmission of the Delta variant (pictured, a council worker closes off a swing set near the CBD)

Dan Andrews is now believed to be leaning towards re-opening the playgrounds within days - despite a recent spike in Covid case numbers