Effect of curfew extremely difficult to measure, experts say

Experts say it’s extremely difficult to work out what effect an overnight curfew had on reducing Melbourne’s case numbers during its second wave last year, but say it is likely the reintroduced measure limits overall movement.

The return of 9pm to 5am stay-at-home directions by the Victorian state government on Monday reignited debate about curfews, with the state opposition describing it as an “unnecessary overreach” and the police union and peak civil liberty group Liberty Victoria also opposing it.