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Victoria has recorded more than 100 deaths in the past week
Australia has recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic amid a second wave of infections in Melbourne.
Victoria State – of which Melbourne is the capital – reported 19 deaths on Monday.
Victoria has now seen about two-thirds of Australia’s 314 deaths and about 21,400 cases.
But the number of daily infections – though still in the hundreds – has dropped in recent days, prompting hopes that a strict lockdown will work.
Melbourne’s second lockdown began more than a month ago, but residents have been subject to a starting point and stricter requirements since 3 August.
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Employers must have a permit to leave home, and all non-essential businesses are closed. Wearing masks in public is also mandatory.
Victoria reported 322 new cases on Monday, down from a height of 725 recorded five days ago. Other states reported few or no cases.
More than 100 deaths have been recorded in Victoria in the past week, as hospital admission rates are also rising.
Daily cases of Victoria
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Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said it was too early to tell if the state was at a turning point, but “we are certainly seeing some greater stability” after the tougher measures.
“It’s always better to be lower than the previous day, but it’s just data from one day,” he said.
Most of the deaths have been linked to outbreaks in nearly 100 elderly care homes in the state.
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But a man in his 30s was among last week’s victims – prompting authorities to urge young people to take greater care.
In neighboring New South Wales (NSW), which has seen small virus clusters in Sydney, the state government is urging young people to limit their social activities.
Queensland, which has closed its border to NSW and Victoria, said on Monday that it appeared to prevent an outbreak, two weeks after travelers returned the virus from Melbourne.
What happened to Australia’s early success?
Australia has generally fared even better than many countries due to effective suppression measures in the pandemic.
But since June – when most Australians emerged from a first lockdown – the outbreak in Melbourne has spiraled.
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Infections make up more than 70% of Australia’s total cases since the pandemic began.
The outbreak is suspected to have started with hotel quarantine breaches of infected travelers returning from abroad.
In recent days, medical groups have sounded the alarm about the growing number of healthcare workers who are sick with the virus.
There are now more than 700 such cases. A survey of doctors revealed that 20% of doctors in hospitals had to source their own protective equipment.
