Coronavirus Victoria: Man breaches lockdown for butter chicken

A Victorian man offered police a bizarre excuse for breaching coronavirus restrictions.

Victoria Police confirmed on Saturday 74 fines were issued in the past 24 hours to individuals for breaching the Chief Health Officer’s directions across the state.

One of which was a man who drove from Werribee, about 30km southwest from Melbourne’s CBD, into the city, all to get “specific butter chicken”, according to police.

A breach of coronavirus restrictions could cost an individual a fine of up to $1652.

Police also said “multiple people” were fined for gathering in private or public places “to catch up with friends or consume alcohol”.

Of the 74 people who were fined, 10 were stopped at vehicle checkpoints.

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Metropolitan Melbourne and Victoria’s Mitchell Shire are under strict lockdown due to a spike in coronavirus cases.

Premier Daniel Andrews has once again warned those under lockdown not to leave their homes or drive across the city.

"Stay at home means just that... not travelling a couple of hundred kilometre round-trip to go for a walk at the beach, not coming into the centre of Melbourne if you live in the suburbs of Melbourne," he said.

"The stakes are very high... Victoria Police are out there in force and they are not mucking about."

Victoria recorded 217 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday and three deaths as the state grapples with the second wave.

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