Victoria’s tough COVID-19 restrictions are to remain in place for at least another month as the official State of Emergency is extended until 11 May.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the extension to continue the measures designed to ‘flatten the curve’ of COVID-19 and give the State’s health system the best chance of managing the virus.
“Under a State of Emergency, Authorised Officers, at the direction of the Chief Health Officer, can act to eliminate or reduce a serious risk to public health,” Mr Andrews said.
“The month-long extension will ensure the Government can continue its strict enforcement of social distancing, isolation and other vital directions put in place by the Chief Health Officer to slow the spread of coronavirus,” he said.
“There are positive signs our efforts are working – but if we relax now, our hard-won gains will evaporate and people will die.”
Mr Andrews said police had strong powers to enforce the Chief Health Officer’s directions.
He said that since 28 March, Victoria Police had conducted 19,303 spot checks at homes, businesses and non-essential services across the state and issued over 900 fines under the State of Emergency declaration.
The extension announcement comes as Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner, Shane Patton committed police to reviewing every fine issued for breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s physical-distancing directives to ensure that “common sense” had been applied.
Deputy Commissioner Patton said that, on a daily basis, every infringement issued would be reviewed by the Superintendent in charge of Operation Sentinel and a report provided to him.
