Daniel Andrews announced the biggest ever fines for those who refuse to obey the state’s Stage Four lockdown orders as Victoria announced another 439 new coronavirus cases and 11 deaths.
The Victorian Premier said those who repeatedly breach isolation orders face on-the-spot fines of $4,957 – which will increase to $20,000 if they choose to fight the fines in court – as authorities desperately try to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Mr Andrews also announced another 11 people in aged care had died on Tuesday, including a woman in her 100s, a man in his 70s, four people in their 80s and three in their 90s.
There are now a staggering 1,186 active cases of COVID-19 in aged care facilities in Victoria.
At least 14 flights between Melbourne and Sydney scheduled to arrive on Tuesday have been cancelled as both states try to manage their COVID-19 outbreaks.
Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne was deserted during peak hour on Tuesday morning as the state enforced strict lockdown measures
Three flights are still expected to arrive in Sydney, despite growing concerns Victorians are importing the virus. Three of the 12 new cases identified in NSW overnight came from Victoria.
Mr Andrews also discussed harsher penalties for people who break lockdown orders and health directives.
Authorities announced a Stage Four lockdown on Sunday and a strict 8pm curfew was introduced in Melbourne to stem the spread of the deadly respiratory infection.
Wearing a face mask was also made mandatory in Victoria, and failure to comply is punishable with a $200 on-the-spot fine.
The Department of Health and Human Services conducted more than 3,000 door knocks of people who had been instructed to isolate at home on Monday, and in 800 of those cases, the person was not at home.
In response, Mr Andrews announced changes, now banning people instructed to stay at home to leave their houses for any reason – even for daily exercise.
Wearing a face mask was also made mandatory in Victoria, and failure to comply is punishable with a $200 on-the-spot fine
Up to 1,500 police officers will be brought in to enforce the quarantine and door knock people who are required to be at home.
‘There will be no exercise if you are supposed to be isolating at home, fresh air at the front door or backyard, opening the window, that is what you’re going to have to do,’ he said.
Fines of up $4,957 will be issued for anybody caught breaking those orders, and repeat offenders will be issued a court summons where they face fines of up to $20,000.
‘You will be doorknocked. You will be visited. If you’re not at home you will be fined,’ Mr Andrews said.
‘The fine is $1,652 but there’s an opportunity for police to fine you on the spot $5,000 and for particularly selfish behaviour, the opportunity to take you to court where the maximum penalty is, in fact, $20,000.’
Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the ‘window for discretion’ has now closed and warnings will no longer be issued.
Overnight, a person was fined for breaking the 8pm curfew when they were caught driving to get alcohol at 3am.
On Monday, the state recorded a further 429 cases, while 671 were identified on Sunday.
Premier Daniel Andrews brought in the escalated emergency level as the state’s worsening crisis shows no signs of ending
‘As heartbreaking as it is to close down places of employment… that is what we have to do in order to stop the spread of this wildly infectious virus, this deadly virus,’ Mr Andrews said on Monday.
Early estimates indicate about 250,000 people will be directly impacted by the tough lockdown, which will last at least six weeks.
Those who lose their jobs in the coming days will join about 250,000 more in the state who were stood down earlier in the pandemic, and a further 500,000 who are working from home.
As he listed Victorian industries in three columns – those open, those with reduced output and those that will be closed for six weeks – Mr Andrews warned that further restrictions could follow if the state’s efforts fail.
In a statement, the Premier said: ‘What is clear is that if we don’t do this now, if this doesn’t work, then we’ll need a much longer list of complete shutdowns.
Australia’s coronavirus outbreak is rapidly spiralling out of control because of the second wave of infections in Victoria
A woman is seen walking through one of Melbourne’s deserted laneways during COVID-19 in Melbourne
Lone commuters were pictured waiting for public transport on Tuesday while wearing masks
Shoppers queue into the distance outside a Costco in Melbourne to stock up ahead of Stage Four restrictions and a curfew on Sunday
‘It’s hard to imagine what a Stage 5 might look like. But it would radically change the way people live.
‘Not just rules on when and where you can go shopping – but restrictions on going shopping at all.’
Under Stage Four, department stores like Myer, David Jones, Target, Big W, and Kmart will all be forced to close – but can sell online and have customers pick up their orders.
Bunnings will be closed to everyone except tradespeople, but as with retailers, other customers will be able to order online and pick up at the store.
Supermarkets, grocery stores, butchers, bakers, chemists and other essential services will remain open.
Also on the shutdown list are shops selling furniture, homewares, electircal, recreational goods, clothing and shoes, florists, and antiques.
Sales of vehicles, new and used, and car parts will close but mechanics allowed to stay open to keep essential services on the road.
Victorians have lined up at supermarkets to buy meat and fish but Mr Andrews has moved to assure them that shoppers will be able to get what they need, and not to panic buy
Pharmacies, post offices, banks, petrol stations, bottle shops, and a small list of other businesses will be spared.
Mr Andrews will be joined by Police Minister Lisa Neville and Chief Commissioner Shane Patton when he addresses the public on Tuesday.
He is likely to give further details about new restrictions introduced in regional Victoria and the policing of the unprecedented restrictions statewide.
The financial fallout of the lockdown is predicted to be upwards of $25 billion for Victoria alone.
Terry Rawnsley, an expert in economies, forecast the restrictions will also hit the New South Wales economy by about $1 billion during the September quarter.
Meanwhile in New South Wales, a further 12 cases of COVID-19 were reported on Tuesday.
The Royal Arcade in Melbourne was also empty on Tuesday morning as the government announced sweeping shutdowns of retail businesses
Victoria recorded 671 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday (pictured). A Stage 4 lockdown will see nearly all shops close and high school students back to learning from home
Pictured: Empty trams cross in front of Flinders Street Station on Sunday. Melbourne residents are banned from leaving their homes between 8pm and 5am other than for a small number of essential reasons under an unprecedented night-time curfew