Four men are arrested in a tense anti-lockdown protest as Victoria records 23 coronavirus deaths and 113 new cases
- Victoria recorded 113 new coronavirus cases and 23 deaths on Thursday
- The new infections mark the fourth day the daily cases dropped below 150
- The latest fatalities are the third-highest daily toll for Australia during pandemic
- Police arrested four people on Wednesday night for breaching health directions
Victoria has recorded 113 new coronavirus cases and 23 deaths as four men are arrested overnight following an anti-lockdown protest.
The new coronavirus infections reported on Thursday mark the fourth day the daily cases have dropped below 150 - with 149 on Wednesday, 148 on Tuesday and 116 on Monday.
The new figures are the lowest daily increase in cases since 74 were reported on July 5 - which was also the last time infections were below 100.
Thursday also marks the third-highest daily death toll for Australia after Wednesday's 24 and the record 25 on August 5.
The new fatalities take Victoria's death doll to 485 and the national figure to 572.
The promising decline in infections comes after a daily protest in Melbourne's outer south-east was broken up as residents allegedly rebelled against the city's strict COVID-19 lockdown rules.
Victoria recorded 113 new coronavirus cases and 23 deaths on Thursday. Pictured: A man and a woman in face masks walk through a park in Melbourne
The new coronavirus infections reported on Thursday mark the fourth day the daily cases have dropped below 150
Footage shared online showed hundreds of residents walking through Dandenong streets on Wednesday afternoon.
The recurring protest has been taking place at Dandenong's George Andrews Reserve each afternoon in a blatant breach of health directions, Victoria Police confirmed.
Police ordered the protesters to move on at about 5.20pm on Wednesday and threatened the group with pepper spray.
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But residents claim they were simply out for their one-hour of daily exercise.
The incident on Wednesday comes after crowds gathered on Monday and Tuesday for a similar event.
In a video filmed on Tuesday, police are seen shadowing dozens of people as they walk along a busy street.
Residents in Dandenong have been going for walks each afternoon as part of a protest against lockdown
Pictured: Residents in Dandenong walk together on Tuesday afternoon
'Let the Nazis do their work,' someone is heard shouting as police cars appear around them.
Officers then march down the middle of the road and shout at the people to stay off the road.
'You get off the f**king road,' they respond.
'Youse are looking for it. Youse are dogs.'
A man is heard commentating as he conducts his hour-long walk within the allowed 5km radius of his home.
'People need to wake up. This is what we're dealing with here,' he says.
Victoria Police said they issued nine fines and arrested four men, all from Dandenong, during the protest on Wednesday
Residents can be heard booing police as they stop to question sections of the crowd.
'We pay them to follow us walk ... we pay these dogs to follow us walk,' the man says.
Victoria Police said they issued nine fines and arrested four men, all from Dandenong, during the protest on Wednesday.
'Four men were arrested after failing to provide identification for breaching the Chief Health Officer's directions,' a police spokeswoman said.
'Police are continuing to investigate Wednesday evening's protest activity and will consider issuing penalty notices for anyone else found to be in breach of the directions issued by the Chief Health Officer.'
Pictured: A woman walks her dog through a park in Melbourne on Wednesday during Stage 4 restrictions
Premier Daniel Andrews is meanwhile being dragged to the negotiating table over a proposed extension to Victoria's State of Emergency legislation, allowing the retention of ongoing coronavirus restrictions.
He wants 12 months but without the support of the state opposition, may have to compromise to satisfy at least four crossbench MPs for it to pass.
Prominent crossbencher Fiona Patten wants the emergency powers extended by no more than six months and a cross-party committee to oversee the provisions.
The current pandemic emergency declaration is due to expire on September 13 after a maximum six extensions.
Mr Andrews stressed the proposed extension did not mean stage four restrictions for another year and rules would only remain 'for so long as it is necessary'.
As case numbers and several other key statistics fall, Peninsula Health confirmed on Wednesday night that 618 of its workers had been forced to isolate.
It follows an outbreak at its Frankston Hospital, with 44 cases still active among the health provider's staff.
