An army of masked police patrolled Melbourne CBD on Wednesday night in anticipation of a swarm of anti-lockdown protestors - which never materialised.
Convoys of squad cars and riot vans lined the intersection around Flinders Street Station ahead of a planned demonstration which had been scheduled in Telegram and Facebook groups to kick off at 7pm.
But there was no crowd in sight, save for a handful of young mask-less protestors who skulked off after having their names taken by police.
The washout comes hours after Premier Daniel Andrews announced a week-long extension of Melbourne's lockdown after Victoria recorded 20 news cases of the virus - with officials already discussing leaving the restriction in place for longer.
All demonstrators approached by Daily Mail Australia declined to give their names, but two men who were stopped and questioned by police said they believe the virus is a 'hoax' linked to an 'agenda' concocted by the government.
An army of police patrolled Melbourne CBD on Wednesday in anticipation of an anti-lockdown protest that never materialised - save for this group of demonstrators
The small crowd was led by this man waving a yellow flag that read 'Don't tread on me' - a phrase popular among the far-right movement
One of the men said he feels scientists and epidemiologists whose theories are at odds with the mainstream narrative are being 'silenced' by 'government forces'.
Asked what these 'forces' were, he winked and said: 'I've done my research.'
Police arrested two men at the scene, including one man who continued to smoke a rolled cigarette as he was led away.
Controversial activist Avi Yemini dominated the abysmal turnout, interviewing the small number of attendees and arguing with officers flanked by a towering man who appeared to be his private security.
A regular fixture at anti-establishment events, Mr Yemini was the star of the show, attracting a crowd of about a dozen teenagers dressed in tracksuits who followed alongside him as he filmed for the far-right channel, Rebel News.
All demonstrators approached by Daily Mail Australia declined to give their names
Police questioned attendees (left and right) and asked for identification
Police arrested two men at the scene, including this man who continued to smoke a rolled cigarette as he was led away
The crowd followed the man with the yellow flag and far-right news reporter, Avi Yemini (not pictured)
They were led by an unmasked man waving a yellow a flag which read 'Don't tread on me', a popular phrase among the libertarian and far-right movement.
Mounted police later chased a group down Flinders Street, prompting the protestors to retaliate with a few expletive-laden chants before fleeing into side alleyways.
There were fears hundreds would march through Melbourne's streets in defiance of stay-at-home orders as seen in previous protests.
By next Thursday, Melburnians will have spent 200 days locked in their homes, after a disastrous 116-day lockdown last year.
Sources told The Herald Sun that officials were already in discussions about yet another extension, just hours after Mr Andrews announced the city would be kept in lockdown.
Mounted police later chased a group down Flinders Street, prompting the protestors to retaliate with a few expletive-laden chants before fleeing into side alleyways
Two unmasked men are questioned by police outside Flinders Street Station
The city's sixth lockdown in 18 months was scheduled to end at 8pm Thursday, but has now been extended until 11.59pm on August 19.
An expert close to the Victorian government said 'everything would have to work out perfectly' for this not to be extended once again.
Mr Andrews said he fears the city would see a huge spike in cases similar to the current outbreak in Sydney if stay-at-home orders were lifted this week.
'This is very challenging, I know, for every single Victorian who would like to be going about their business, they would like to be open and have a degree of freedom that is simply not possible because of this Delta variant,' he said.
'If we were to open, we would see cases akin to what's happening sadly Sydney right now.'
Six of the latest 20 cases were infectious in the community.
A woman walks along a deserted Flinders Street in Melbourne on August 11, 2021, hours before a planned anti-lockdown protest attracted an abysmal turnout
A woman is seen at the entrance to a vaccination centre at Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building on Monday August 9, 2021
Fifteen have been linked to current outbreaks while five are still being investigated as the state's exposure list site grew to almost 300 venues and transport routes.
These mystery cases are cause for concern, the Premier warned.
'I would love to be standing here announcing that we are coming out of lockdown this Thursday that but that is simply not possible,' Mr Andrews said.
'There are too many cases...the origins of which are not clear to us, too many unanswered questions, too many mysteries for us to safely come out of lockdown now.'
He continued: 'It is more than containing cases, to have 14 of those 20 locked away in iso, no risk to public health, as I said earlier in the week, that trend would grow.
'We started with one case, then we moved to four or five, now we're at 14.'
Pedestrians walk along Bourke Street in Melbourne CBD on August 10, 2021, the day before the city's snap lockdown was extended by another seven days
From 6pm Friday, residents of the cross-border community local government areas straddling Victoria and New South Wales must have a permit to cross interstate.
'If this virus can get from Sydney to Byron Bay, to Dubbo, to Armidale, to Tamworth, then only a fool would think that it couldn't get to Albury,' Mr Andrews said.
'It absolutely can, and that's why we need to go beyond the bubble.'
More than 12,000 active primary close contacts are now in self-isolation.
Caroline Springs in Melbourne's north-west remains the biggest area of concern.
The Caroline Springs Square shopping centre is now linked to 29 Covid-19 infections, including four announced on Wednesday.
Anyone who attended the shopping centre between July 27 and August 5 is urged to get tested while all staff worked there between August 2 and 5 to immediately get tested and quarantine for 14 days.
MELBOURNE EXPOSURE SITES
Tier one sites
Anyone who visited these sites at the times listed must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.
PTV Bus Route 426, Sunshine Station to Caroline Springs Secondary College, 05/08/2021 8:49am - 9:23am
PTV Bus Route 460, College St/ Caroline Springs Blvd to Tintern Loop/Gourlay Rd, 05/08/2021 4:49pm - 5:00pm
AK Nails Beauty - Woodgrove Shopping Centre, Unit 105/533 High Street, Melton West, 01/08/2021 11:30am - 1:30pm
PTV Bus Route 460, College St/ Caroline Springs Blvd to Tintern Loop/Gourlay Rd, 04/08/2021 4:49pm - 5:00pm
JD Sports - Highpoint Shopping Centre, 200 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong, 01/08/2021 1:30pm - 2:00pm
Male Public Toilets (next to Aldi) - CS Square, 29-35 Lake Street, Caroline Springs, 04/08/2021 9:30am - 4:30pm, 05/08/2021 9:30am - 4:40pm
All staff at Caroline Springs Square Shopping Centre, 29-35 Lake Street, Caroline Springs, 02/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm, 03/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm, 04/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm, 05/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm
Taylors Lakes Hotel - Gaming Lounge (pokies area), 7 Melton Highway, Taylors Lakes, 01/08/2021 5:15pm - 8:30pm
Tier two
Anyone who visited these venues at the times listed must get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.
Metro Trains - Sunbury line (Watergardens Station to Sunshine Station), 04/08/2021 10:44pm - 10:57pm, 05/08/2021 10:07pm - 10:20pm
Metro Trains - Sunbury line (Sunshine Station to St Albans Station), 07/08/2021 5:45pm - 5:53pm
Bunnings Taylors Lakes, 430 Melton Highway, Taylors Lakes, 04/08/2021 12:30pm - 1:15pm, 05/08/2021 6:45pm - 7:30pm
Caroline Springs Square Shopping Centre, 29-35 Lake Street, Caroline Springs, 06/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm
Taylors Lakes Hotel- all areas except Gaming Lounge (pokies area), 7 Melton Highway, 01/08/2021 5:15pm - 8:30pm
Dotti - Northland Shopping Centre, Shop J041, 2-50 Murray Road, Preston, 05/08/2021 8:30am - 9:15am
BP Connect - Elwood, Marine Parade St Kilda Marina, Elwood, 05/08/2021 10:30am - 10:50am
TerryWhite Chemmart - Woodlea Town Centre, 2 Lim Way, Aintree, 07/08/2021 11:20am - 12:00pm
Woolworths - Coburns Central Shopping Centre, 523/531 High Street, Melton, 07/08/2021 10:35am - 11:25am
Tasman Butchers Melton, 393 High Street, Melton, 07/08/2021 11:15am - 11:40am
Gloria Jean's Coffees - CS Square Shopping Centre, 29-35 Lake Street, Caroline Springs, 06/08/2021 7:45am - 8:25am
The Reject Shop - CS Square Shopping Centre, 29-35 Lake Street, Caroline Springs, 06/08/2021 9:12am - 9:47am
Anytime Fitness Gym Caroline Springs, 2 Lake Street, Caroline Springs, 05/08/2021 9:00am - 10:30am
Coles Cairnlea, 100 Furlong Road, 07/08/2021 8:45am - 9:45am
Woolworths - Woodgrove Shopping Centre, 533-555 High Street, Melton, 05/08/2021 1:47pm - 2:30pm
Brighton Mazda, 865 Nepean Highway, Brighton, 05/08/2021 8:45am - 10:15am
Coles - CS Square Shopping Centre, 29-35 Lake Street, Caroline Springs, 06/08/2021 9:19am - 10:00am
VicRoads Melton, 267 High Street, Melton, 05/08/2021 11:40am - 12:15pm
Bunnings Melton, Cnr Keilor Melton Road & High Street, Melton, 05/08/2021 11:50am - 12:26pm
The Coffee Club Cafe - Woodgrove Shopping Centre, 533-555 High Street, Melton, 05/08/2021 1:14pm - 2:18pm
Coles Woodlea, Town Centre, Woodlea Development, Woodlea Boulevard, Aintree, 07/08/2021 11:30am - 12:10pm
Western Ford, 766 Ballarat Road, Deer Park, 06/08/2021 7:30am - 8:10am, 06/08/2021 2:00pm - 2:50pm
126 Racecourse Road Residential Tower, Flemington, 04/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm, 05/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm, 06/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm, 07/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm, 08/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm, 09/08/2021 12:00am - 11:59pm
The Sugar Gum Hotel, 2 Gourlay Road, Hillside, 04/08/2021 5:00pm - 10:30pm, 05/08/2021 5:00pm - 10:00pm
Australia Post- Hoppers Crossing, 2-6 Lentini Street, Hoppers Crossing, 02/08/2021 11:30am - 12:15pm
Hotts Cafe, 10/1-3 Kilmur Road, Hoppers Crossing, 02/08/2021 11:40am - 12:30pm
Balha's Pastry - Williams Landing Shopping Centre, 100 Overton Road, Williams Landing, 03/08/2021 6:35pm - 7:15pm
Tier 3 site
Anyone who visited this venue at the times listed must monitor for symptoms.
Cairnlea Town Centre, 100 Furlong Road, Cairnlea, 06/08/2021 10:45am - 12:15pm, 07/08/2021 10:45am - 12:15pm
