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Melbourne has recorded its second day in a row with no new coronavirus cases as bars and restaurants at the epicenter of Australia’s second wave outbreak prepare to reopen after a lengthy blackout.
The milestone, the first time since early March that no new cases have been confirmed in 48 hours, comes as the city’s five million residents expect a partial lifting of virus restrictions at midnight local time.
The milestone for Melbourne and the surrounding state of Victoria follows strict measures, including a night curfew, stay-at-home orders and the closure of non-essential businesses, to contain an outbreak that peaked at more than 700 cases daily. in August.
There are now only 87 active cases of coronavirus in the entire state.
Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said the high testing rates in recent weeks had been “nothing short of impressive.”
“It gives us great confidence that these numbers are an accurate picture of how many viruses there are,” he told a news conference.
Finally, visiting other people’s homes will be allowed starting at midnight, he added, although it will be strictly limited to two adults and any children traveling within a 25-kilometer radius of their homes.
Australia had largely slowed the spread of Covid-19 when the virus reached the community from Melbourne hotels that used to quarantine foreign travelers.
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While the rest of the country was lifting restrictions and returning to a semblance of normalcy, its second-largest city was almost completely closed.
Beauty salons and retail stores will also be able to welcome customers starting at midnight, but gyms will be forced to wait until November 8.
Travel restrictions between Melbourne and regional parts of the state will also be lifted as of that date, with a 25km travel radius for city residents being lifted the same day.
But for now, the state remains isolated from the rest of Australia, which overall has recorded around 27,500 cases and 905 deaths in a population of 25 million.
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