MELBOURNE 6 Sep (ANA) - Australian police have made dozens of arrests as anti-lockdown protests are attended by hundreds in Melbourne.

Protesters were heard chanting ‘human rights matter’ and ‘freedom’ as they marched down the street. 

Stricter measures were put in place in the country’s’ coronavirus hotspot, many turned out to protest the city’s stage four lockdown while ignoring social-distancing restrictions.

Smaller protests have been reported to have taken place in other Australian cities including, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. 

Victoria Police said they have made 15 arrests – 14 for breaking lockdown rules and one for assaulting an officer – and issued more than 150 fines for similar breaches of Covid-19 restrictions.

Confirmed cases in the country have more than tripled over the past two months to 26,000 confirmed cases, as deaths rise to 748 from 104 over the same period. As cases increased, lockdown measures tightened.

Since July, Victoria has been in a six-week lockdown to curb Australia’s second-wave, banning businesses and imposing stay-at-home rules. Victoria accounts for 75% of Australia’s total infections and 90% of deaths.(ANA)

FA/ANA/6 September 2020----