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Australia looked poised to post its lowest daily increase in new coronavirus cases in three months today as a harsh lockdown in the city of Melbourne dramatically brought down the country’s virus epicenter.
Victoria’s second-most populous state, of which Melbourne is the capital, reported 14 new infections in the 24 hours to this morning, up from 21 new cases the day before and its lowest level since June 19.
That put Victoria, who has spent months under lock and key to curb a second wave of infections, on track to meet a goal of keeping average daily increases below 50 by Sept. 28, when authorities have said they could lift the restrictions.
Australia’s largest state New South Wales, which has Sydney as its capital, reported two new cases, while the state of Queensland also reported two, bringing the national total to 18, the lowest national count since the June 23.
The other five states and territories had not reported daily case numbers this morning, but did not report increases on most days for weeks.
Victorian State Prime Minister Daniel Andrews, who has faced national political pressure for his hardline approach to enforcing movement restrictions, invoked recent spikes in infection rates in Europe as a warning about the possible effect of leaving confinement too early.
“It’s heartbreaking to see all that those communities have given, all the sacrifice that they have made, and now they have cases that run perhaps more savagely than their first wave,” he said. “You have to say goodbye.”
Melbourne has been under one of the toughest roadblocks in the world, including a nightly curfew, after a second outbreak in that state saw daily infection rates exceeding 700 and prompted other states to close internal borders.
Victoria also recorded five additional deaths associated with the virus and New South Wales reported one new death in the previous 24 hours, bringing the national death toll to 850, according to government data.
The country has reported just under 26,900 infections.
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Madrid issues new anti-epidemic measures
The regional government of the Community of Madrid has officially issued new anti-epidemic measures against Covid-19, including limiting movement outside of various areas with certain exceptions, in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
At a press conference, Enrique Ruiz-Escudero, head of the region’s Health Secretariat, explained that starting tomorrow movement will be restricted in 37 areas, six health districts, and eight municipalities.
This measure will affect some 850,000 people in the capital itself and in peripheral towns such as Fuenlabrada, Humanes and Getafe.
After the measures go into effect tomorrow, residents cannot enter and leave the quarantined areas at will, except to go to the doctor, work and school. However, they can move within the range of controlled areas.
Restaurants and bars will be limited to 50% of their capacity and must close at 22:00. Public parks and gardens will be closed. Meetings will be limited to six people throughout the community.
In Spain, from February 2 to 3:28 p.m. yesterday, 640,040 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been registered with 30,495 deaths, according to the World Health Organization.
Daily count of new coronavirus cases in the Czech Republic drops to 2,046
The daily count of new coronavirus cases in the Czech Republic dropped to 2,046 on Saturday, a record number for a weekend day with fewer tests, data from the Health Ministry showed today.
The overall count of confirmed cases rose to 48,306 in the country from 10.7 million people.
The Czechs have been reporting new cases of the infection at one of the fastest rates in Europe in recent weeks and authorities have reverted to some of the measures used in the spring when the pandemic first hit the country.
Indonesia halts seafood producer exports after virus tests
Indonesia suspended exports of an Indonesian seafood company PT Putri Indah to China after its frozen fish products tested positive for the coronavirus, the country’s Ministry of Fisheries said in a statement on Saturday.
The ministry said an investigation was underway and that the suspension would only apply to PT Putri Indah “while the others can still carry out export activities as usual.”
The virus was detected on the outermost side of the package, not the fish, the ministry said.
The seven-day suspension began Friday, he said.
A person in charge of marketing, answering a number from PT Putri Indah, hung up the phone without answering.
China’s General Administration of Customs said on Friday it would stop accepting import applications from PT PutriIndah for a week after a batch of the company’s frozen furtail fish tested positive for the coronavirus.
Chinese customs said on September 11 that it would stop companies’ imports for a week if their frozen products tested positive for the first or second time for the coronavirus.
More than 30.71 million people are reported to be infected with the new coronavirus worldwide and 953,901 have died, according to a Reuters tally.
Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
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