SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA) – Australia recorded its lowest one-day spurt in the number of coronavirus infections in more than three weeks on Thursday. This shows that the second wave of infections in Victoria is being brought under control finally.
Australia earned accolades for being able to successfully stem the spread of coronavirus when the pandemic broke out. But it has been struggling to control the surge in the number of cases in the second most populous state of Victoria which has been witnessing triple digit new cases every day for weeks at a stretch.
The state witnessed 278 new infections over the past 24 hours compared to 410 a day earlier.
The country’s most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) recorded 12 cases while Queensland said there were no new cases over the past 24 hours.
The total number of new cases in Australia stands at 290 and it is the lowest one-day rise in the number of infections since July 20.
“I think we have to wait and see what happens over the coming week just to make sure that downward slope continues over the days ahead,” said Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd.
So far, the country has recorded 22,500 COVID-19 cases and the death toll went up to 361 on Thursday after 9 deaths were recorded in Victoria and NSW.
The drop in the number of new cases is attributed to the total lockdown in Melbourne, which is the country’s second largest city, including a night curfew. Large swathes of the state economy have been ordered to close and there is a restriction on the movement of people. For almost a month, Melbourne’s 5 million residents have been forced to stay at home.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field