MELBOURNE (AUSTRALIA) – Australia on Friday witnessed a dip in new coronavirus infections. This indicates that the spike in cases in its second most populated state of Victoria appears to have ceased. However, in the hotspot suburbs of Melbourne more than 10,000 people refused to be tested.
Victoria recorded 66 new infections on the second day of the lockdown which was re-introduced in more than 30 suburbs of Melbourne. This is down from more than 70 that were recorded daily for four previous days.
“We do need more time in order to get a firmer hold on whether there is a positive trend there. But certainly, to see these numbers relatively consistent is very pleasing,” said Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews.
Over the past two days, Victoria tested more than 24,000 people daily in the hotspots. But the fact that 10,000 people refused to be tested was alarming, said the state’s health minister.
“It is concerning that some people believe that coronavirus is a conspiracy or that it won’t impact on them, so what I want to stress here is that coronavirus is a very contagious virus,” Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said in a briefing.
A good number of new infections in Victoria has been traced to one security staff of a hotel where travellers who returned to the country were quarantined, said the minister.
Police are keeping a watchful eye on the streets to ensure that people leave their homes only to go to work, buy essential items or for health emergencies.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field