Victoria police hand out 65 fines for virus breaches

Police in Victoria have handed out 65 fines in the past 24 hours to people breaking coronavirus social distancing restrictions.

An 18-year-old man from Sunbury was arrested yesterday after breaking the rules five times over the past 10 days in the Caroline Springs area, police said.

The teenager was charged with one count of reckless conduct endangering life and five counts of persistent contravention of stage three Covid-19 directions under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations Act.  

He has been remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today.

Others slapped with fines included six people who were gathered together at a home.

Three people committing an aggravated burglary were also fined, police said.

Premier Daniel Andrews said that despite the improving situation with the state, there would be no easing of social distancing restrictions and pleaded for people to stay at home.

A man in his 80s died in hospital, taking Victoria's death toll to 15.  Nine new cases have also been confirmed after 17 new cases were reported on Saturday.

"We need to stay the course," Mr Andrews told Sky News. "It's frustrating, but it's certainly less frustrating than if you look at what happened in northwest Tasmania last week," he said, referring to a new cluster outbreak in the town of Burnie.

"This can get away from you very, very rapidly."

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