A Melbourne bar has been fined almost $10,000 for flouting social-distancing rules.
The licensed venue in inner-city Fitzroy was hit with a $9913 fine on Monday after police found six staff serving two customers drinks at the weekend.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said the venue was being treated as “open for business totally”, despite a ban on in-person dining at restaurants and bars amid the escalating coronavirus outbreak.
“Unless you’re living under a rock, or unless you’re an idiot, it’s quite clear the restrictions are there, the restrictions are to be abided by,” he said on Tuesday.
It is the first on-the-spot fine issued by Victoria Police for breaching social-distancing measures.
In the past 24 hours, officers have conducted 1225 spot checks at homes, businesses and non-essential services across the state.
From Tuesday, individuals can be fined $1652 if they leave home for any reason that is not essential. Victoria has imposed stringent restrictions on movement and work as it tries to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
The new social-distancing rules also restrict public gatherings to two people.
Playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gyms will also close.
Businesses found to be flouting restrictions face a $9913 fine. However, larger fines can also be issued through the courts.
Tweet from @VicGovAu
There are similar rules in NSW, where Premier Gladys Berejiklian has implored people to stay at home unless they “absolutely” have to go out.
She said the biggest concern was the level of community transmission in some areas, such as Waverley and Bondi in Sydney’s east, where people might be unaware they have coronavirus.
“Its really important for people to assume they have it and to act like they have it,” she said on Tuesday.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said Victorians could leave their homes only to buy essentials, exercise, seek medical attention or go to work or study – if they cannot do it from home.
“People will not get the leniency we have seen in the past,” she said, but noted there might be times when discretion was used.
Ms Neville encouraged people to call police if they saw others flouting the rules, instead of taking matters into their own hands.
“Don’t fight with your neighbours, we want to come out as a community stronger,” she said.
From Tuesday, Victorians will also be banned from buying guns and ammunition until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, after a spike in panic buying.
Mr Patton said it was concerning that applications for firearms had doubled recently.
The ban on gun sales applies only to sport and recreational use and not primary suppliers or people who use guns for work, such as farmers and prison guards.
The ban follows similar measures in Western Australia and Queensland.
Victoria confirmed 96 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, bringing its tally to 917.
Four people in the state have died from the virus.
The cases continue to grow at about 10 per cent, down from a previous high of 25 per cent, Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said.
He was cautiously optimistic about how the crisis was developing.
“We can cap cases in Australia to 10,000 to 15,000,” he said on Monday.
“The alternative is hundreds of thousands, that means hundreds or thousands of deaths.”
-with AAP
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