Premier Daniel Andrews has warned ‘thousands’ of Victorians would die if strict coronavirus restrictions were to be lifted.

Stage Four restrictions in Melbourne, and Stage Three in the rest of the state, are set to lift on September 13 at 11.59pm after weeks of enduring the miserable lockdown.

But speaking on Saturday, a day ahead of his announcement on easing restrictions, Mr Andrews said lockdown was unlikely to end.

‘To open up with those numbers would, of course, see the total number of coronavirus infections explode,’ Mr Andrews said.

‘It would see many, many hundreds, indeed thousands, of Victorians infected with this virus. 

‘So, as frustrating, as challenging as it is, we need to stay the course on this. 

‘That’s why tomorrow we will outline a road map to ease these important restrictions, to ease out of the second wave, once it’s appropriately and properly defeated. Truly defeated.’

Victoria recorded 76 new coronavirus cases and 11 deaths on Saturday, with the welcome infection numbers coming after a spike earlier in the week saw 113 new cases after days of double digit transmission.

Friday was Victoria’s deadliest day of the pandemic so far, with 59 deaths announced – but 50 of those had occurred back in July and August in aged care homes.

Melbourne’s Stage Four lockdown, with the rest of the state in Stage Three – regardless of how many coronavirus cases towns have – had come under increasing scrutiny as the numbers fall.

Bombshell leaked documents revealed on Thursday that Melbourne’s strict Stage Four lockdown could be extended by another two weeks. 

A top secret draft for Victoria’s recovery appeared to reveal the government’s plan to extend the 8pm-5am curfew and keep restrictions on businesses for an additional two weeks.

While the Victorian government has claimed the leaked map is ‘out of date’, Mr Andrews on Thursday refused to rule out continuing Stage Four restrictions.

‘Everything is on the table,’ he admitted. ‘It will be driven by the data and the science, how many cases there are, the types of cases there are.’ 

According to the road map, residents will be given the luxury of two hours of exercise a day, which can be split into two sessions, from September 14 – the official date Stage Four comes to an end.

The decision will be announced on Sunday. 

Single people and single parents would also be given the right to have a nominated visitor at their home.

According to the report, which was obtained by the Herald Sun, there are bigger changes coming from September 28, which includes the curfew being lifted and increased social gatherings. 

But the Victorian Chamber of Commerce has denied there is a plan to extend Stage Four lockdown by two weeks – claiming it is out of date.

But a growing number of locked down residents are growing increasingly frustrated with the Premier’s tough restrictions.

On Saturday, ‘Freedom Day’ protests broke out near the Shrine of Remembrance in in central Melbourne.  

Demonstrators were warned a large police presence would be in place to crack down on anti-lock down protesters and coronavirus deniers who defy the city’s strict COVID-19 restrictions. 

In the lead up to the march, many of the anti-lockdown movement’s most notorious members announced they would no longer attend.

James Bartolo was charged with incitement on Friday for allegedly encouraging his mass following to attend the rally.

Following his arrest, Bartolo told Nine News he would not longer be in attendance.

‘I wanted people to not go to the protests, now, hopefully, (the) protest won’t go ahead, I hope you put that on,’ he said on Friday night.

‘It’s a trap because Daniel Andrews just wanted to blame the protest to extend the lockdown.’