REVEALED: Daniel Andrews’ emotional two-word message to Melburnians as he shares haunting photos of ghost town streets across the city
- Victorian premier shared two-word message thanking city for their support
- Melburnians are under unprecedented stage-four restrictions for six weeks
- The draconian restrictions include a curfew from 8pm to 5am every day
- Premier shared seven photos on Twitter of the city’s streets nearly deserted
- The major road arteries include the Tullamarine Freeway and M80 Ring Road
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has shared a heartfelt message thanking Melburnians for their support during the state’s unprecedented stage-four lockdown.
With hundreds of businesses deemed non-essential forced to shut and citizens locked in their homes during a curfew, the city’s streets have been left deserted.
On Tuesday night, Mr Andrews tweeted three photos showing the city’s normally bustling streets empty, and thanked Victorians for sticking to the rules.
The premier shared seven photos across two posts – including those showing the Tullamarine Freeway and the M80 Ring Road.
Both are normally filled with traffic and act as major arteries going in and around central Melbourne.
In the caption, Mr Andrews wrote simply: ‘Thank you’.
Daniel Andrews has shared pictures of Melbourne’s empty roads during the unprecedented stage-four restrictions (pictured, the Tullamarine Freeway in the city’s north-west)
Pictured: The M80 Ring Road. The orbital freeway acts as a major road moving traffic around Australia’s second most populated city
In the caption to the tweet separated into two posts, Mr Andrews wrote simply: ‘Thank you’
Stage four restrictions came into place for six weeks at 6pm on Sunday after the declaration of a State of Disaster. This included a curfew from 8pm to 5am every day.
Residents are only allowed to leave the home for one of four reasons: to shop for essential goods, to exercise, for medical care, to work in an essential industry or visiting a partner or child.
Anyone directed to self isolate is not allowed to leave their home to exercise.
Victoria recorded 439 new infections on Tuesday, out of a total 12,335 cases of COVID-19 confirmed since the pandemic began.
There were 11 deaths, bringing the state’s death toll to 147.
Of the new cases, 63 are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 376 are under investigation.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Andrews lashed out at some Melburnians for their ‘unacceptable’ and ‘selfish’ behaviour.
A woman wearing a face mask is pictured crossing the road as a large group of police patrol the streets in Melbourne on Tuesday (pictured)
Police can now hand out $5,000 fines for anyone breaching self isolation directives (pictured are police patrolling Melbourne on Tuesday)
‘Stay at home means stay at home for all of us, but it certainly it means stay at home for those who have the virus or those who have been directed to isolate,’ he said on Tuesday.
Mr Andrews announced the introduction of the harshest penalties across the country for individuals breaking laws around COVID-19 – a $4,957 on-the-spot fine.
‘If you are supposed to be at home and you are not, then you face the prospect of a fine of up to $5,000,’ Mr Andrews said.
‘We don’t want it to come to that. We want people to be where they are supposed to be. Because that is how we will all get past this.’
Daniel Andrews announced the introduction of the harshest penalties across the country for individuals breaking laws around COVID-19 on Tuesday. Pictured wearing a face mask on Monday
He also indicated authorities would take legal action against those putting lives at risk.
‘If there were particularly selfish behaviour, like for instance going to work when you have the virus, then there is the alternative pathway and that is of course taking you to the Magistrates’ Court where the maximum penalty that can be applied to you is $20,000,’ he said.
‘Every single positive case will be door-knocked multiple times, random and repeat door knocks.
Stage three lockdown will come into effect in the rest of Victoria at 11.59pm on Wednesday.