BREAKING: Victoria has recorded 65 new coronavirus cases, including 16 cases initially reported yesterday. A total of 389 cases are now active in the state. Details: 9News
Health authorities fear the state is on course to fall into the sameEven before the crowds converged yesterday,Victoria Health authorities are on high alert after thousands of people took part in an anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne's CBD.An estimated 4000 people flooded the streets in the city centre yesterday, despite a heavy police presence and warnings of the potentially devastating spread of COVID-19 it may cause.
While the full impact of this anti-lockdown rally will not be known for about two weeks - a full infection cycle, it already has authorities, and the rest of the state, on edge.A person is hit with pepper spray as police confront crowds marching against Melbourne's lockdowns.More than $1 million in fines will be handed down, at least 218 people were arrested, and six police officers ended up in hospital as authorities lambasted abhorrent scenes.
"The behaviour seen by police was so hostile and aggressive that they were left with no choice but to use all tactics available to them," a Victoria Police spokeswoman said. "For the first time during lockdown protests, police were forced to use a range of non-lethal options including pepper ball rounds and OC foam cannisters in an effort to disperse the crowd.
What they claimed was "a freedom demonstration" was "anything but", Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said. "It's just selfish."
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