Authorities warn against complacency as Victoria battles another outbreak

Residents in Victoria are being warned about becoming complacent with Covid restrictions after people were spotted not wearing masks.

There are fears Covid complacency is growing in Victoria with the state now in its sixth lockdown.

Victoria recorded four new locally acquired cases on Friday, with authorities admitting the state was in a “precarious position” due to the nature of the outbreak and the number of infectious people who had spent time in the community.

It comes as new data has shown mask compliance on trains has fluctuated with outbreaks over the past six months.

There are concerns Victorians are getting complacent. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

The Department of Transport data has shown compliance on Victorian trains dropped from 88 per cent in November to 60 per cent in April, before increasing during the recent outbreaks.

Currently in Victoria face masks must be worn indoors and outdoors by anyone aged 12 years and over, whenever they leave their home – unless a lawful exception applies.

They don’t have to wear a mask if they are out of breath while exercising.

Photos taken on Friday show people out and about without masks on, including in popular exercise and shopping strips in Richmond and Albert Park, as well as at an inner city construction site.

People spotted at Albert Park lake without masks. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday said it was normal for Victorians to be fatigued but they couldn’t pretend the pandemic was over.

“It’s sadly not over and it won’t be over until we have 80 per cent of people vaccinated in our community – that is some months away,” Mr Andrews said.

“I would appeal to all Victorians that the rules are there to keep us open.

“Can I thank all those who are following the rules and can I appeal to anyone who has made the wrong choices that we’ve all got to work together to defeat this.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews warned against complacency. Picture David Crosling via NCA NewsWire

Prominent Victorian epidemiologist Catherine Bennett said not following the mask and social distancing restrictions was a concern, given the highly infectious nature of the Delta strain.

“It was different before because you could be outdoors and not have a problem, but Delta is just that much more infectious, because the person who has it is often producing a lot more virus,” Professor Bennett said.

“It looks like it only takes a smaller dose to get infected and if you put those things together, it is concerning, so outdoors matters.”

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