More than 10 million people are in lockdown in Australia as of Friday - but New South Wales' Premier is refusing to impose additional restrictions despite warnings that Saturday's case numbers could peak above 100.
Meanwhile, Melbourne's outbreak of the virus increased to 24 on Friday, the first day of Victoria's fifth lockdown.
The presence of police and protestors are indicative that the state's lockdown has been met more by frustration than fear.
The trigger this time was community transmission within a crowd of 30,000 at Melbourne's iconic MCG stadium.
Victorians know the drill well - a snap five-day lockdown that requires residents to remain largely at home.
But it's a tale of two cities.
In Sydney, luxury shops remain open, with the likes of Gucci and Louis Vuitton continuing to welcome in customers - despite the city grappling to contain its escalating outbreak. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed 97 new cases on Friday, and added that Saturday's case total is expected to be even higher.
But the Premier is resisting calls to impose additional lockdown restrictions.
"It's important for us to base it on the science and the data," she told reporters on Friday.
But three weeks in, modelling experts from the University of Sydney have analysed that science and data - and concluded that if 80 percent of the six million residents in lockdown stick to the rules, it will take another month - not two weeks - to end the outbreak.
If fewer comply, it will take an estimated two months to eliminate the outbreak.
But the reality is, compliance is currently nowhere near that level. It's estimated just 40 percent are playing by the rules.
On Tuesday, New South Wales' lockdown was extended for at least another two weeks until Friday, July 30 - but unless people stick to the rules, it could be a lot longer.
