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'This is a lockup': Anger as Australian state puts entire tower blocks under police guard

A resident looks out of his window as authorities in Melbourne keep people inside during lockdown. (Reuters)
A resident looks out of his window as authorities in Melbourne keep people inside during lockdown. (Reuters)

Residents under fresh lockdown restrictions in Australia have expressed their frustrations at being kept indoors under police guard.

More than 3,000 public housing residents in nine Melbourne tower blocks entered a fourth full day of lockdown on Tuesday following a surge in COVID-19 cases.

They were given just one hour's notice at the weekend before being prohibited from leaving their apartments for at least five days.

Residents were given just one hour's notice at the weekend before being prohibited from leaving their apartments for at least five days. (Reuters)
Residents were given just one hour's notice at the weekend before being prohibited from leaving their apartments for at least five days. (Reuters)
Police stand guard outside high-rise blocks after residents were told to stay inside. (Reuters)
Police stand guard outside high-rise blocks after residents were told to stay inside. (Reuters)

Authorities in Australia's most stricken city are attempting to halt a further spread of coronavirus over fears it will transmit rapidly in the densely populated buildings.

Australia has been among the world's most successful countries in containing its coronavirus outbreak – with the exception of Melbourne.

The south-eastern state of Victoria had some of the nation's toughest pandemic measures and was among the most reluctant to lift its restrictions when the worst of the outbreak seemed to have passed.

But as most of the country emerges from pandemic restrictions, the virus has resumed spreading at an alarming rate in Victoria's capital, the nation's second-largest city.

A playground outside the buildings remain out of bounds as lockdown restrictions were brought in. (Reuters)
A playground outside the buildings remains out of bounds. (Reuters)
A sign on one window compares the situation to jail. (Reuters)
A sign on one window compares the situation to jail. (Reuters)

Melbourne is buckling down with more extreme and divisive measures that have ignited anger and arguments over who is to blame.

Mother-of-seven Amina Yussuf lives in one of the towers with her family and said she was shocked and traumatised when police prevented her from leaving the building to shop for food for the week on Saturday.

She said: ”I told them I wasn't going far but they wouldn't let me.

“It was really shocking, I was scared and very confused. I don't now how to put it into words."

She said the situation could have been handled better, with more community consultation.

A resident places a 'jail' sign on their window as those inside are kept under police guard. (Reuters)
A resident places a 'jail' sign on their window as those inside are kept under police guard. (Reuters)
More than 3,000 public housing residents in nine Melbourne tower blocks entered a fourth full day of lockdown on Tuesday. (Reuters)
More than 3,000 public housing residents in nine Melbourne tower blocks entered a fourth full day of lockdown on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Another resident, Nada Osman, said: ”The amount of police officers makes us feel like we're criminals.

"It's overwhelming. It's scary. It's like we're caged in.”

Police said they have stationed two officers on every floor of each tower, where some windows have hand-written signs saying “jail” facing outwards.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 08: A girl looks out a window of the North Melbourne Public Housing tower complex on July 08, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Further lockdown measures for residents in metropolitan Melbourne or the Mitchell shire will come into effect from 11:59 Wednesday 8 July. Under the new lockdown restrictions which will be in place for six weeks, people will only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Victorians cannot gather in groups of more than two or their household group, school holidays will be extended for at least a week. Retail can remain open and markets are permitted to open for food and drink only. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars are back to takeaway only. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
A girl looks out a window of the North Melbourne Public Housing tower complex as further lockdown measures come into effect. (AP)

Victoria's premier Daniel Andrews said the entire city and some of its surrounding areas will be locked down again from Wednesday night under tougher restrictions than were imposed during the first shutdown that started in March.

"We are in many respects in a more precarious, challenging and potentially tragic position now than we were some months ago," Andrews said.

Nationwide, Australia has reported around 9,000 COVID-19 cases and 106 deaths from coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins.

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