Victoria Police has deployed a COVID-19 enforcement squad of 500 officers to ensure virus containment measures are being followed.
Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews said the officers would be carrying out spot checks on returning travellers who are in 14-day self-isolation, as well as enforcing bans on indoor and outdoor gatherings.
“This decision and other containment measures are meaningless if Victorians don’t take them seriously or don’t think they will be caught if they flout the rules,” Mr Andrews said.
Mr Andrews said school holidays for public schools in Victoria had been brought forward to begin on Tuesday (24 March).
He said stage two restrictions were announced on Tuesday and came into effect today (26 March) following the National Cabinet meeting in which the Prime Minister and other first ministers recognised that Victoria was grappling with a more imminent threat than most other states.
“I know this is stressful and I know this is scary,” Mr Andrews said.
“The measures we already have in place are difficult, and these will be harder again.”
He said essential services such as supermarkets, petrol stations, banks, post offices and bottle shops would be staying open.
“If you can stay home, you must stay home,” Mr Andrews said.
The full list of current restrictions is available at this PS News link.
