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Covid 19 coronavirus: Melbourne lockdown - CBD foot traffic down 90 per cent

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Empty streets of the city are seen on July 27, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.

Empty streets of the city are seen on July 27, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.

news.com.au

Melbourne is going through an unprecedented time and the city has released evidence showing how the city has changed completely.

Victoria's new normal inside a lockdown bubble is obviously affecting its normally vibrant atmosphere, but new data has shown just how much the city has changed.

Empty streets of the city are seen on July 27, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.
Empty streets of the city are seen on July 27, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.

City Council Lord Mayor Sally Capp this afternoon revealed that pedestrian sensors show foot traffic in the CBD is down "about 90 per cent" compared to this time last year amid coronavirus restrictions.

"The city hasn't been this empty for this long in living memory," Capp said.

"As the lockdown changes were announced we saw the impact happening in real-time across the city."

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A sign reading "Go straight home and Isolate" at the exit of a drive-through Covid-19 testing site at Highpoint shopping centre, Melbourne, in July. Photo / Getty Images
A sign reading "Go straight home and Isolate" at the exit of a drive-through Covid-19 testing site at Highpoint shopping centre, Melbourne, in July. Photo / Getty Images

"Since the stage 4 restrictions started, Melbourne's streets have been almost deserted."

Victoria is under a strict curfew that demands people stay indoors between 8pm and 5am.

It is among the most severe rules in the world, but Premier Daniel Andrews maintains it is absolutely necessary, albeit "heartbreaking".

The data came on the same day Victoria recorded another 450 cases of Covid-19 and police arrested two men accused of organising a "freedom day" anti-lockdown rally in Melbourne's CBD.

Capp said the city "feels strange and unfamiliar as we all make sacrifices to keep our community safe" but said the data showed "Melburnians are doing the right thing and staying home to help slow the spread of the virus".

Cafe owner Maria Iatrou stands in her empty coffee shop in Melbourne.
Cafe owner Maria Iatrou stands in her empty coffee shop in Melbourne.

The impact on business has also been widespread as most businesses are closed and their potential customers stuck at home.

"This is devastating for our business community and we know that trading conditions are going to continue to be challenging for some time.

"However, the sooner we can flatten these infection numbers by doing the right thing, the sooner we can help businesses open their doors again."

Police guard access to housing commission apartments under lockdown in Melbourne. Photo / Getty Images
Police guard access to housing commission apartments under lockdown in Melbourne. Photo / Getty Images

"Our Business Concierge Service has made more than 10,000 contacts with small businesses across the municipality. If you need information and support in relation to your business please contact the City of Melbourne," Capp said.

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