COVID–19: Australia likely to lock down 300,000 suburbs in Melbourne due to high rise of infection

Melbourne: More than 300,000 people living in the suburbs of Northern Melbourne will be locked down for a month from Wednesday to curb the spread of infection after two weeks of double-digit surge in new COVID – 19 cases in Melbourne, authorities said.

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“We’ve had an increase in cases but they’re almost all in a very defined geographic area,” said acting chief medical officer Paul Kelly.

With about 7,920 cases, 104 deaths and less than 400 active cases, Australia has curbed the spread of infection better than many countries. However, the recent surge has elated fears of a second wave of COVID-19,

From midnight, more than 30 suburbs in Melbourne will recur to stage three restrictions, in order to curb the spread of infection. Following which the residents will be permitted to leave their houses only for essential services, namely, grocery shopping, health appointments, work, and exercise.

The restrictions will be followed by testing, which might extend to half the population of the affected area, and for which borders will be watched, authorities said.

Source: Reuters