VICTORIA Police can now issue on-the-spot fines to people failing to take social distancing rules seriously.
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Popular Ballarat weekend spots were desolate on a warm autumn Saturday, with a top of 25C, and also the first weekend of the school break.
From what The Courier team has seen, Lake Burrumbeet, St George's Lake in Creswick were near-void of people and Stockland Wendouree was near-empty with many retailers opting to shut up shop late this week and food courts already shut down under Victorian Government regulations.
Lake Wendouree has been bustling with people but most exercising in pairs and not lingering.
This comes as people continued to flout warnings to stay home on the Surf Coast with pictures of beach-goers lining the road at Point Addis. Similar scenes have been reported in Torquay and Ocean Grove, both usually popular holiday spots for Ballarat residents.
- READ MORE: Massive jump in COVID-19 cases for Victoria
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews previously said he would not hesitate to close beaches if people continued to disregard the rules.
"The fact it's sunny, the fact it's school holidays ... this is no ordinary school holiday, this is no ordinary autumn day," Mr Andrews said. "This will be the case for weeks to come."
Victoria Police can issue spot-fines up to $1652 for individuals and $9,913 for businesses who do not follow the rules from Saturday.
This means persons or businesses could be fined on the spot:
- If they fail to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving at an airport in Victoria from a flight originating from overseas, as set out in the Airport Arrivals Direction.
- If they organise or attend a mass gathering prohibited by the Prohibited Gatherings Direction.
- If they organise or attend a wedding that has present more than the two persons being married, the celebrant, and two witnesses, or a funeral that has more than 10 persons, as prohibited by the Prohibited Gatherings Direction.
- If they organise an auction for the sale of a residential property, as prohibited by the Non-Essential Activity Direction.
The Victorian government's message to all Victorians is clear: if you can stay home, you must stay home.
From 11.59pm Saturday night, all travelers returning from overseas to Victoria will be placed in enforced quarantine (hotels) for the self-isolation period of 14 days.
Mr Andrews on Saturday said there were 685 COVID-19 cases in the state, up 111 on the previous day.
The total number of Victorian cases includes 378 men and 300 women, with people aged from eight to 88.
Latest data shows there are 21 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. More than 30,100 Victorians have been tested to date.
As of Saturday afternoon, there are 21 people are in hospital, including three patients in intensive care, and 191 people have recovered.
Of the total 685 cases, there have been 550 in metropolitan Melbourne and 117 in regional Victoria. A number of cases remain under investigation.
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For more information visit dhhs.vic.gov.au/novelcoronavirus or phone the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 for advice if you are displaying symptoms.
