Will Melbourne reopen after six-week stage 4 lockdown?

Daniel Andrews has revealed ‘cautious optimism’ about the easing of strict lockdown measures in Melbourne.

A man enjoy one hour of exercise allowed under stage four restrictions at Albert Park on August 16 in Melbourne. Picture: Getty

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has revealed he has a “cautious optimism” that stage four lockdown measures in Melbourne will be eased from mid-September.

The state recorded 279 new COVID-19 cases and 16 deaths on Sunday.

Speaking at the coronavirus update, Mr Andrews was asked if he was confident restrictions would be eased at the end of the six-week period.

“I am always very cautious but there is, on my part at least, a cautious optimism and a sense of real hope that this strategy is working and that we are seeing numbers fall now,” he said.

Mr Andrews said the state was no longer seeing case numbers as high as 700 or more but warned no one could become “complacent”.

“Ultimately those rules are only as good as the many millions of individual choices and decisions that individuals and families make every single day,” he said.

So not breaking those rules, not going out, not being out after curfew, not ignoring symptoms and waiting two to three days and then maybe getting a test or maybe not, all of those really personal choices, that is what makes the rules work, that is what makes the strategy work.

“Where will we be tomorrow? We will have to wait and see what tomorrow’s numbers are.”

Victoria’s state of emergency declaration has been extended three days to Sunday, September 13, in line with the end of the six-week lockdown.

Mr Andrews said Sunday’s numbers were positive but did not give anyone in Victoria the “luxury of backing off”.

“We have to stay the course on this and I’m confident Victorians are equal to that challenge and they will, in increasing numbers, follow the rules to make it much more likely that we can get to the other side of this,” he said.

Then, Mr Andrews said Victoria could begin the process of not only opening up but rebuilding.