Ten more Victorians have died from coronavirus and 459 cases have been recorded, marking the deadliest day in Australia since the pandemic began.
Key points:
- Paramedic students, retired healthcare workers and the army are being used to fight Victoria’s surge in cases
- Police have issued 126 fines for suspected breaches of stage three restrictions since Saturday
- The State Government has launched an emotional ad campaign showing the devastating impact the virus can have
Seven men ranging in age from their 40s to their 80s and three women in their 70s and 80s are the latest to die from the virus and take the state’s death toll to 71.
Mr Andrews said seven of the deaths were linked to aged care outbreaks and the man in his 40s was not connected to any outbreak.
The record number of deaths came as Mr Andrews issued a warning to Victorians refusing to wear masks inside the lockdown area, in breach of rules that came into effect on Wednesday.
Several videos have emerged on social media of customers arguing with retail staff and police, with one non-compliant woman telling Bunnings Warehouse workers: “It is my right as a living woman to do whatever I want”.
Mr Andrews said the mandatory use of masks outside the home was “not an issue of human rights” and said those who refused were “just making a selfish choice”.
“There are 10 families that are going to be burying someone in the next few days,” he said.
