Australia will isolate Victoria from the rest of the country and implement unprecedented measures to combat a worrying increase in the number of coronavirus cases, authorities announced on Monday.
For the first time since the start of the pandemic, the boundary separating the two most populous states of the immense island-continent - that of Victoria and that of New South Wales (Sydney) - will be closed from midnight on the night of Monday to Tuesday, said the authorities of these two states.
127 new cases this Monday
Victoria reported a record 127 cases on Monday as the virus spread to the city of Melbourne, including several densely populated buildings.
The Prime Minister of this State, Daniel Andrews, described the closure decision as "a good choice at the moment given the considerable challenges we are facing in order to contain this virus". A plan to reopen the border with the neighboring state of South Australia has been frozen.
Outbreak of infections in Melbourne
After weeks of easing restrictions, Melbourne has seen a spike in the number of infections, leading health officials to confine residents of certain neighborhoods. This measure, which must remain in force until July 29, concerns more than 300,000 inhabitants of this city, the second in the country, which has 5 million.
Sixteen of the new cases registered were in nine tall social housing towers whose 3,000 inhabitants have been confined since Saturday. It is the most rigorous measure taken since the start of the pandemic.
To date, 53 cases have been identified in these buildings, in which a large number of immigrants live. Officials in this community are concerned about how this "strict confinement" stigmatizes them when hundreds of police have been deployed to enforce these measures.
8,500 cases of coronavirus and 105 deaths in Australia
Daniel Andrews said food and toys have been delivered to families, while medical care is provided. An extensive screening campaign for residents has also been launched.
Australia has recorded more than 8,500 cases of coronavirus and 105 deaths. The majority of new daily cases are now recorded in Melbourne, while most of the other regions benefit from a relaxation of the measures.
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