Victoria lockdown: Melbourne residents spotted enjoying freedom

Melburnians have been pictured out and about, enjoying some freedom as the first round of coronavirus restrictions were rolled back.

Melburnians have been pictured out and about this morning, enjoying their first taste of reacquired freedom as the capital’s stage 4 lockdown restrictions were eased slightly overnight.

Residents were seen making the most of playgrounds, which have reopened, and their extra hour of permitted exercise time – which has increased from one to two hours per day.

These are among the first steps for the city out of one of the toughest lockdowns in the world, which residents have been subject to since August 2.

From today, the curfew has also been eased by one hour “in recognition that the days are getting longer”, meaning it now runs from 9pm to 5am.

“Single person bubbles” have also been introduced – giving people who live alone or single parents (with all children under 18) one nominated visitor.

When it comes to exercise or recreation, two people or a household can meet outdoors for the maximum of two hours.

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People are seen at Brighton Beach this morning. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

People enjoy the North Road Foreshore Playground in Brighton. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

The reopening of playgrounds and extra hour of exercise are among the first steps out of lockdown. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

People enjoy the playground at Elwood beach. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Asked during today’s press conference if he was concerned people would take the slight ease of restrictions “too far”, chief health officer Brett Sutton said they were only “baby steps” that would continue to keep Melbourne safe.

“We all recognise that it is not an absolute sea change in terms of what is opening up. That is what we’re trying to manage here. We are managing expectations and we’re being clear that outdoor activities are the low-risk activities,” Professor Sutton said.

“These small steps are the ones that will continue to keep us safe and keep us on a steady pathway. I know how keen everyone is to get to a different place, but you only need small numbers … We can’t have short-term memories on this.

“It starts with small numbers and it explodes and then the place that wasn’t infected becomes a place that is totally overrun with cases. We have to consider Victoria as a whole and do the right thing.”

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A woman and her daughter in Federation Square this morning in Melbourne CBD after the slight easing of restrictions. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Geraghty

A thumbs up from a police officer patrolling Melbourne CBD during COVID-19 lockdowns. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Geraghty

Victoria today reported its lowest number of COVID-19 infections in 11 weeks, with just 35 new cases detected in the past 24 hours, which Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters this morning was “great news”.

Mr Andrews also offered some hope for regional Victoria, saying it’s “on the cusp” of moving to the next step of its road map out of lockdown.

“The metro 14-day rolling average to September 11 is 54.4 cases, in regional Victoria it has dipped below 4 and it is now 3.9,” he said.

“That is a fantastic outcome. That is proof positive that this is not a theoretical exercise, it is a strategy that is working and to see regional Victoria down to 3.9 cases, it means they are on the cusp of taking the next step, all things being equal, there is a few more days to get through.

“We’re pleased to think we will be able to take those big steps, but safe steps towards opening regional Victoria up.”

The Premier said now that the numbers were low, “we are absolutely confident we can keep the numbers low”.

“That is where regional Victoria is at and that is the trend in metropolitan Melbourne also.”