Victoria records eight new coronavirus cases and three deaths as Melbourne’s average falls

The Chief Health Officer urged Victorians to hold the line obeying the restrictions.(ABC News: Peter Drought)

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he is “disappointed” at “unacceptable” scenes at a Melbourne beach, where people gathering at sunset in defiance of strict coronavirus restrictions yesterday.

Large groups of people gathered at St Kilda beach in warm conditions but many were not wearing masks and were not social distancing.

“Those scenes were very disappointing,” he said at his daily media conference.

“It has made a lot of people very angry, I think, that they are doing the right thing, because they can see how close we are.”

Mr Andrews said no-one had the right to break the rules and put the achievements to date at risk.

He said he had spoken to Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton and officers would be out in force fining people for breaches of Melbourne’s restrictions.

“Spending time at the beach without a mask, without social distancing now will just mean that you won’t get to go to the beach for all of summer. It just doesn’t make any sense,” he said.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said Victoria had a “golden opportunity”.

“I think if there is any message now, it is that the light at the tunnel is really apparent,” he said.

“Single figures … we could not have dreamed of it two months ago.”

Eight new coronavirus cases have been reported in Victoria today, with a further three deaths as the state edges closer to the next step on the roadmap to reopening.

Melbourne’s 14-day average from September 19 to October 2 has fallen to 12 from 12.8 and regional Victoria’s is now 0.1.

The two-week total number of cases with an unknown source is 11.

Melbourne is set to move to the third step of the roadmap to reopening by October 19 if Victoria hits two triggers: a 14-day rolling average below five and a two-week total of below five mystery cases.

Yesterday there were seven new cases and two new deaths.

Police have warned Victorians to continue to obey the coronavirus restrictions as warm weather saw many people heading outdoors as the school holidays come to an end.

Professor Sutton tweeted “don’t risk everything” with video showing a TV reporter being mobbed during a live cross.

“What we hold back now means a truly normal summer. Please — Hold. The. Line.”

Eighty-two people were fined by Victoria Police in 24 hours for breaching the orders of the Chief Health Officer.

Police fined two men from regional Victoria who wanted to attend a strip club in Melbourne.

Source: ABC