MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA) – New daily coronavirus infections in Australia’s hotspot of Victoria went up to double digits on Sunday, as 12 cases were recorded. However, authorities said the state is on the right path, easing its social distancing restrictions in the coming weeks.
Melbourne, Victoria’s capital, has been under a strict lockdown for nearly three months.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews told a televised briefing, “We are so, so close.”
“If we continue these numbers, continue this trend, we are ready to take that step. All things being equal, that will be just a couple of weeks.”
Victoria, one of Australia’s most populous state, accounts for 90% of national COVID-19 deaths. Australia, with 894 fatalities, has performed far better than many other developed countries.
Australia has had just over 27,000 infections, according to health ministry data.