Corona spreads again in Melbourne, Australia ... and the return of masks and social restrictions

Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, re-imposed COVID-19 restrictions on Tuesday as authorities strive to find the missing link in five cases of the disease re-emerging.

Home gatherings will be limited to five guests, and only 30 people will be allowed in public gatherings, and masks will be mandatory in restaurants and other indoor places from 6 pm local time (0800 GMT) today, Tuesday, until the fourth of June.

"This is a responsible step we need to take to counter this spread," James Merlino, Acting Prime Minister of Victoria, told reporters in Melbourne.

The state of Victoria was completely free of infections for approximately three months.

Victoria was the state worst affected during the second wave late last year, with about 70 percent of all cases and 90 percent of deaths reported in Australia.

The state has brought the outbreak under control after one of the world's longest and strictest lockdowns.

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