Victoria declares state of disaster as infections rise

Melbourne, August 2

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Australia’s second-most populous state of Victoria declared a state of disaster on Sunday and imposed a night curfew in Melbourne as part of its harshest movement restrictions to date to contain Covid-19. Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city already under a reimposed six-week stay-home order, has struggled to rein in the disease, with record numbers of infections being reported last week.

Curbs necessary to contain spread

The federal government backed Victoria’s measures, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying in an FB post that they were “regrettably necessary” to stop the spread of the pandemic.”We are all in this together and get through it,” Morrison said.

On Sunday, Victoria reported 671 infections, one of its highest, and seven deaths. High numbers of community transmissions and cases of unknown origins have forced the new restrictions, which will be in place for six weeks, officials said.

CURFEW IMPOSED

• A curfew from 8 pm to 5 am every day will be imposed from Sunday evening in Melbourne
• The sweeping new restrictions limit the time Melbourne residents may spend on outdoor exercise and essential shopping
• All schools will move to remote learning from Wednesday.

“The current rules have avoided thousands and thousands of cases each day, and then thousands of people in hospital and many more tragedies than we have seen. But it is not working fast enough,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews told a televised briefing.

A curfew from 8 pm to 5 am every day will be imposed from Sunday evening in Melbourne, barring the nearly five million people in the city from leaving their houses. Supermarkets will continue with their takeaways. — Reuters