Australia's Victoria state expects further easing of COVID-19 curbs
Australia's Victoria state expects to announce an additional easing of COVID-19 restrictions this week, Acting Premier James Merlino said on Sunday (Jun 13), as the state reported one new locally acquired infection for another straight day.
The latest infection was a close contact of a previously reported case and had already been quarantined, Victoria's health department said.
Victoria recorded 92 cases in its latest wave of COVID-19 infections, which triggered a two-week snap lockdown late last month. The state emerged from the lockdown on Friday as new cases declined, however, many physical distancing rules remain. "My expectation is by later in the week, we are in a position to announce further easing of restrictions for regional Victoria and ... for metropolitan Melbourne," Merlino said.
Merlino added he was keen to get persons back to attending sports and theatre, though he previously no announcement to create yet for the reason that regard.
Under existing curbs, Melbourne residents can only travel up to 25km from your home while outdoor gatherings are limited by 10 people. Masks are required indoors and outdoors at all public spaces.
Snap lockdowns, internal border controls and tough social distancing rules have helped it contain prior outbreaks.
New South Wales and neighboring Queensland are on high alert after an infected woman and her husband travelled from Victoria through several country towns in both states.
Without new cases on Sunday, New South Wales hasn't reported any locally acquired infection in greater than a month, while Queensland last reported cases in late March.
