Stay at home. That's the message Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is driving home, warning stage three COVID-19 restrictions will be enforced.
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Mr Andrews announced there were 56 new cases of coronavirus on Monday, bringing the total to 821 across the state.
He said 42,000 people had been tested, and of the 821, four had died, 29 more were in hospital - four of those in intensive care.
In the south west, four people have tested positive in Warrnambool, three at Hamilton and one in Glenelg Shire.
The Western District Health Service on Friday recorded its third positive test with the partner of a man who had tested positive earlier last week also testing positive.
Both had been in self-isolation together since returning from the UK. Both have mild respiratory symptoms and remain at home
Glenelg Shire Council also confirmed on Friday a person in the shire had tested positive to COVID-19, but no more details were available.
In a press conference on Monday, Mr Andrews said he had a very simple message - stay at home.
"Victoria has moved to stage three and that involves a ban with an on-the-spot fine of $1600 if you breach it on gathering with more than two people other than those in your household," he said.
"This is critically important. We can't have people out socialising, gathering as if this wasn't happening.
"We've got to protect the health system, we've got to save lives, we've got to protect jobs as well."
He said there were only four reasons to leave your home - to get medical care, for work or education, to get daily exercise and to go and buy the things you need when you need them.
Mr Andrews said it was not a time to be window shopping and buying the things that you don't need.
If people heed the message it will slow the curve and we will "get to the other side quicker".
"If you are outside, or in your back yard, gathering in more than two people. If you're having friends over for dinner or friends over for drinks that are not members of your household then you are breaking the law, you face an on-the-spot fine of more than $1600 and Victoria police will no hesitate to take action against you," he said.
"That's how serious this is.
"No one in my position enjoys doing this. We're not doing it for any other reason that this is life and death
"If we allow our health system to be over run then people will die and that is a price that is just not worth paying
"No gathering is worth someone's life."
He said distressing scenes around the world had prompted the national cabinet to step up restrictions, and instances of people gathering in significant numbers had meant more needed to be done.
"We will not be breaking up household family dinners but barbecues with the neighbours cannot happen anymore," he said.
National cabinet also closed playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gyms - something that was already done by Warrnambool City Council last week.
The restrictions would be reviewed in four weeks.
Fines for individuals are $1652 and $9913 for businesses.
The National Cabinet also agreed to a moratorium on evictions for the next six months for residential and commercial tenants who are experiencing financial distress due to the impact of coronavirus.
"The events we are living through are unprecedented and are going to mean big changes for everyone from our littlest Victorians to our most senior citizens," Mr Andrews said.
"Life is going to look very different for a while.
"To flatten the curve, we are all going to have to sacrifice a lot."
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