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A sudden cluster of coronaviruses has emerged in the Australian city of Adelaide after seven months without a significant outbreak there, and the virus again escapes from the country’s hotel quarantine system.
The state of South Australia reported yesterday that four cases had been detected in the city, before the group grew dramatically overnight to 17 people today, the largest there since April.
All but two of the 17 were members of the same large family, including one who worked at a hotel used to quarantine travelers returning from abroad.
Fearful that the number of cases would increase, authorities lifted a series of coronavirus restrictions and suspended international flights to Adelaide.
“No effort will be spared to slow and stop the expansion of the powerful group,” South Australian State Prime Minister Steven Marshall told a news conference.
Officials ordered hundreds of people to isolate themselves, while closing schools and related businesses.
“The next 24 hours will be critical, but we are not going to wait for the situation to deteriorate,” Marshall added.
Residents of South Australia are urged to wear masks, work from home and avoid non-essential travel.
The Adelaide cases also prompted other states to immediately impose new restrictions on anyone traveling from South Australia.
The internal borders of the country had been gradually reopened and were to be reopened almost completely by Christmas.
South Australia last detected a cluster of Covid-19 outside the border quarantine in August, when health authorities quickly prevented a small handful of cases from spreading using similar measures.
But there are fears that the latest outbreak has the potential to infect high-risk populations, with a prison guard and elderly care workers among those testing positive.
It comes just as Australians breathed a collective sigh of relief after crushing a second wave outbreak in Melbourne that stemmed from security errors in the hotel quarantine.
Melbourne, which has recorded thousands of cases and hundreds of deaths in recent months, has gone more than two weeks without a single new case.
Overall, Australia has been relatively successful in containing the virus, with just over 27,700 cases and 907 deaths recorded since the pandemic began.
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New Zealand orders masks on Auckland domestic flights and public transport
New Zealand has made masks mandatory since Thursday for users of public transport in Auckland, as well as on all domestic flights, and authorities said the time was right for such a move after a new infection was reported. coronavirus in the community.
Last week’s positive test on a student, after authorities had nearly eradicated community-transmitted Covid-19 on two occasions, was linked to a known case from a border isolation facility, suggesting a minor risk of a wider invisible spread.
“Adding the use of masks to the virus action toolbox is a sensible precaution and the time is right to take action,” Health Minister Chris Hipkins said at a news conference.
The rules go into effect Thursday for travelers 12 and older on public transport in and out of Auckland. Taxi drivers and Uber must also wear masks, although their passengers are exempt.
Children coming and going to school are also exempt, Hipkins said, adding that police could enforce the rules as a last resort.
Last week, the government said it was also considering mandatory use of a Covid tracking app before entering large events and hospitality venues.
With 1,645 infections and 25 deaths, New Zealand ranks among the lowest in the world in terms of virus precipitation.
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