Shoppers crowd on busy Melbourne strip on Saturday morning

Pictures of a bustling shopping strip in Melbourne, taken this morning, have sparked fears that some Victorians believe the pandemic is already over.

You would be forgiven for thinking there were no stage four restrictions in some parts of Melbourne where people have gathered at busy shopping strips.

Authorities have begged people to stay inside today, as sunny weather hits the Victorian capital.

However, one reporter at Oakleigh in the city’s southwest took pictures showing a bustling pedestrian zone outside a shopping centre this morning.

The images appear to show a lack of social distancing and a group of elderly residents sat together on the strip.

Some Victorians have taken to social media, saying they’re worried today’s good weather and the state’s dropping case numbers will result in Melburnians believing the pandemic is over.

Stage four, apparently? pic.twitter.com/hTJgg3H4RS

— Sam Cucchiara (@SamCucchiara9) August 15, 2020

I don’t know, I feel very nervous about this beautiful sunny Saturday in Melbourne, where people might think the peak is over.

— Maxine Beneba Clarke (@slamup) August 14, 2020

Stage four lockdown in Melbourne’s west... pic.twitter.com/gsb6jwgq3F

— Brianna Travers (@briannatravers) August 15, 2020

Premier Daniel Andrews says it has been a “beautiful morning” in the Victorian capital and that he understands that makes it “frustrating” for Melburnians who are stuck in their home.

He said he hoped it would rain today.

“For any interstate viewers tuning in today, the irony of us complaining that the weather is too

good,” he said. “I think people understand that as frustrating as this is on a beautiful morning, we have people this morning planning funerals of their loved ones.

“Let’s all keep a perspective that we have to keep. It is not over, the signs are encouraging but it is not over, there is a long way to go and the only thing that wins if we get

fatigue, if we were in any sense to give up, the only thing that wins is the coronavirus. And we just can’t have that happen.”

The crowd of shoppers in Oakleigh comes despite the majority of retailers, including department stores such as Kmart and Target, remaining closed in Melbourne for the duration of the stage 4 restrictions.

Most shops in Melbourne will be shut down for the next four weeks – except for essential services such as supermarkets and pharmacies.

Clothing, furniture, electronics and other shops will be shut, as will larger department stores like Kmart, Big W, Target, Myer and David Jones.

Supermarkets, grocery stores, bottle shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks, news agencies and post offices will remain open during the lockdown.

Stage 4 restrictions will be in place in Melbourne for the next four weeks. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Victoria today reported 303 new cases of coronavirus, down from earlier this month when daily case numbers surged over 600, and peaked at 725.

Mr Andrews said the numbers appear to be on their way down, but he warned against a complacency.

“These numbers, if you look at the seven, eight, 10 day average, they are coming down,” he said.

“But I am incredibly cautious not to have anyone, not even one Victorian, come to the conclusion that this is somehow, you know, we are on the run now and we can let it all unfold.

“No, we have to keep working hard every day in the choices we make. It is not a sprint. This is an endurance race. It is an ultra marathon. At least. It might even be more than that. This is much better, of course, than having numbers at a higher level.”