Australia’s Melbourne begins new shutdown

Five million Australians in the country’s second-largest city Melbourne woke up under strict stay-at-home rules on Thursday (July 9) as the authorities struggle to contain a coronavirus outbreak in the city.

Three Australian states have imposed a hard border lockdown with the southern state of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, after a surge in infections in recent days.

Victoria on Wednesday reported 134 new infections, down on the previous day’s record increase but well above the rate of other states, reports The Straits Times.

Other states and territories have recorded few or zero cases in recent weeks and are continuing to reopen their economies.

The state of Queensland on Thursday said it would tighten its border by banning non-residents from Victoria entering the state from Friday noon, ahead of opening its borders to people of other states and territories.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged Queensland residents to avoid travelling to Victoria, adding they would have to quarantine in a hotel for 14 days at their expense on their return from Victoria.

The authorities said they have seen a number of people attempt to travel from Victoria and willingly go into the mandatory paid hotel quarantine.

“… They are making the decision that that two weeks and that cost is worth it to get out of Victoria, we don’t want that to continue,” deputy premier Stephen Miles said in a televised news conference.

Australia’s busiest state border, between Victoria and the most populous state New South Wales (NSW), was closed on Tuesday. South Australia state has already closed its border with Victoria.

NSW said anyone arriving from Victoria will have to self-isolate for 14 days.