Coronavirus fines: 1000 Victorians caught in second Melbourne lockdown

More than 1000 Victorians have copped hefty fines in less than two weeks for blatant coronavirus restrictions breaches since lockdown.

More than 1000 Victorians have been fined in less than two weeks for breaching coronavirus restrictions since the stage three lockdown was reimposed on metropolitan Melbourne.

Another 73 people were caught breaching the rules in the past day, bringing the number to 1106 since 11.59pm on July 8 – at least $1.8 million worth of infringements.

Among those caught breaching the chief health officer’s directions were multiple people again hosting gatherings at private properties or on their way to visit friends.

It comes after 20 people were caught gathered in a short-term rental apartment in the CBD on Sunday night, a social outing that cost them more than $33,000.

Premier Daniel Andrews made an impassioned plea on Tuesday morning to the few Victorians still not doing the right thing.

Police officers patrol Melbourne CBD during stage three restrictions. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

“Victoria Police are out there and they’re not mucking about,” he said.

“The fines are significant, they’re there for a reason, to protect everybody.

“If you think that you can ignore the rules and make really selfish choices, your odds are not good, you will get caught and you will receive a fine.

“Recent enforcement data should show you that if you are doing the wrong thing you will be caught.”

Mr Andrews urged every single Victorian to keep following the rules.

“I’m very grateful to the vast majority of Victorians who are changing the way they behave every day,” he said.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has pleaded for the state’s residents to do the right thing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Daniel Pockett

“This is a wildly infectious virus and it only takes a handful of people to do the wrong thing and you can end up spreading this. Many cases can even come from one person doing the wrong thing.

“If we all make these sacrifices large and small then we will get to the other side of this second wave, we will get there together and we’ll be able to begin the process of opening up again.

In the past 24 hours, 12 people were issued infringements from more than 19,000 vehicles stopped at checkpoints on main arterial across the city and the Mitchell Shire.

Police also conducted 5248 spot checks on people at homes, businesses and public places across the state, bring the total number of spot checks completed since March 21 to 137,075.

Since Operation Sentinel began on March 21, more than 7400 fines worth at least $12.2 million have been issued to Victorians blatantly breaching the chief health officer’s directions.

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