Pedestrians in protective masks cross an intersection in Melbourne on July 23.
Photo credit: Carla Gottgens / Bloomberg
Photo credit: Carla Gottgens / Bloomberg
The Australian state of Victoria recorded 532 new cases of Covid-19 on Monday as authorities struggle to control a second wave of infections.
The daily count announced Monday follows the 459 new cases reported the day before in Victoria, and is a new national record. There were six additional deaths, state Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said at a press conference.
Authorities are struggling to stem a new wave of infections after nearly 5 million people in Melbourne were locked up more than two weeks ago. Nearly three-quarters of the state’s 8,696 infections have occurred since the restrictions were tightened, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
Second wave
Daily virus cases in Victoria hit new record
Source: NSW and Victoria official data
Andrews implored people to follow the rules, especially workers who still go to work even when they have symptoms. Last week, he announced plans for a A payment of $ 300 ($ 214) to encourage those who feel bad to get tested and isolate themselves.
“The blockade will not end until people stop working with symptoms,” he told reporters. “Unless we see a change, we will continue to see these numbers at unacceptably high levels.”
The closure of the country’s second largest city, which contributes about a quarter of gross domestic product, could prolong the country’s first recession in almost three decades. Australian government forecasts Melbourne’s renewed constraints that reduce national real GDP growth by approximately A $ 3.3 billion ($ 2.4 billion), or about three-quarters of a percentage point, in the September 2020 quarter.
The state of New South Wales reported 17 other cases in the past 24 hours, according to the state health agency.
(Updates with details of the third paragraph, comment by Prime Minister Daniel Andrews in the fourth paragraph)
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