SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA) – Victoria state in Australia recorded as many as four new coronavirus cases on Monday. This comes as its capital Melbourne granted more freedom to its residents to move about after a strict month-long lockdown.
On Sunday, there were just two cases. However, the number is well below a peak of more than 700 daily cases in August.
Residents of Melbourne will be allowed to spend as much time they want to exercise outdoors after they spent more than 100 days in a strict lockdown which allowed only two hours of outdoor activity a day. The city has a population of 5 million.
In spite of the relaxation of norms, people have been told to restrict their movement to within 25 km of their homes and public gatherings will be strictly restricted. Retailers and restaurants must operate only on take-away or delivery orders.
November 1 has been set as the date for the next stage of easing of curbs by state Premier Daniel Andrews. He said some curbs could be eased before that if the number of cases remains low.
However, this has irked the federal government, which wants Melbourne to reopen to bolster the ailing economy.
“Quite clearly, it’s having a huge cost on the Victorian, and indeed, the national economy,” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Monday.