POLICE have used capsicum spray to subdue protesters at an anti-lockdown rally in Melbourne that has so far seen several arrests.<\/p>\n
About 1000 demonstrators have gathered in Richmond after the location of the protest was changed at the last minute to evade authorities.<\/p>\n
There have been minor scuffles as well as a violent confrontation involving a handful of protesters.<\/p>\n
Some 2000 officers were deployed at road checkpoints and barricades, and on roving patrols, to try to stop the rally going ahead in breach of public health orders.<\/p>\n
The city’s CBD became a no-go zone ahead of Saturday’s unrest, with most public transport to and from the precinct suspended and a “ring of steel” erected around its fringe.<\/p>\n
The partial shutdown was made at the request of police after 4000 people attended a violent anti-lockdown action on 21 August.<\/p>\n
The protest comes as the state records\u00a0535 new COVID-19 infections and one death.<\/p>\n
The latest case count released on Saturday is the highest daily number so far in the latest outbreak and comes from 61,622 tests in the latest 24-hour period.<\/p>\n
Sixty-two of the infections were linked to known cases, health authorities said. Victoria has 4974 active coronavirus cases.<\/p>\n
Also on Saturday, health authorities warned the state’s contact tracing team was under pressure and flagged delays in calls to track the movements of new cases.<\/p>\n
Rising numbers have prompted the team to begin triaging cases in order to focus on those representing the highest risk, such as aged care workers.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think it indicates the system being overwhelmed, it indicates that the system clearly is under pressure,” health minister Martin Foley told reporters.<\/p>\n
“When you’ve got several thousand cases, that’s got to be dealt with in a different way than if there’s several hundred cases,” he said.<\/p>\n
The Department of Health’s Kate Matson\u00a0could not say how long the delays might be but promised anyone with a positive result would receive a text as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
The move comes as Melbourne and Ballarat residents are granted modestly eased COVID-19 restrictions after reaching 70 per cent first dose coverage across Victoria’s eligible population.<\/p>\n
Among the changes, people will be able to meet one person from another household for a walk or picnic, outdoor exercise time is doubled and the travel limit expanded to 10 kilometres.<\/p>\n
Fully vaccinated adults can see five people from two households, plus dependents for a picnic.<\/p>\n
The State Government is planning to outline a full road map out of lockdown on Sunday, tied to double dose vaccination rates and based on\u00a0Burnet Institute modelling.<\/p>\n
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– BY AAP<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n