Coronavirus: Melbourne residents make a run for it as restrictions set to ease

Daniel Andrews hasn’t revealed his grand reopening plans, but that didn’t stop residents making a rush for the exits.

Melbourne residents jam the road near Lysterfield Park in Melbourne.

Daniel Andrews hasn’t yet revealed his “significant” reopening plans for Victoria, but residents appeared to use the public holiday Friday to get out and about anyway.

The Premier on Friday foreshadowed the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, which will be formally announced on Sunday

He even put international arrivals on his Christmas wish list.

It came after just one new coronavirus case was recorded in the state. The crucial 14-day rolling average has fallen to just 5.5 and there were 10 mystery cases up to October 20.

“This is a good number,” Mr Andrews said. “This is a very clear sign that the strategy is working and that we are well placed to be able to have more to say about a program to steadily open up those safe and steady steps towards that Covid normal summer, a Covid normal Christmas and a 2021 that is vastly different to 2020.”

“We are very well placed to make some significant announcements on Sunday and they will be a testament to the absolute determination of the Victorian community to see this thing off, to do it properly and to make sure we got the numbers to such a low level that we have every reason to expect we can keep them low.”

Changes to the 25km travel restrictions in Melbourne, and removing the ban on regional travel by city dwellers, are expected to be announced on Sunday.

The Covid-19 roadblock as part of the ring of steel around Melbourne on Friday. Picture: David Crosling

The announcement sparked what could be interpreted as a test run of those easings.

At Lysterfield Park, in Melbourne’s outer southeast, cars were lined up trying to get into, and out of, the main entrance.

Normally, there would only be one or two cars driving into the park, but on Friday cars were queued in unprecedented numbers.

The area around the Botanical Gardens in the city also was overrun with people.

Police were patrolling Domain Rd in South Yarra as hundreds of people were picnicking and queuing for coffee.

Police patrol the Treasury Gardens on Friday. Picture: Andrew Henshaw