Australia continues lockdown in Melbourne regardless of drop in cases

Photo credits: AFP

The Australian officials have decided to continue with the strict virus lockdown in Melbourne for another two weeks, stating that new cases had not dropped adequately to prevent another spike.

Earlier, Melbourne was supposed to end a 6 weeks harsh lockdown by next weekend with limitations and precautions for the following months. Though, Victoria state premier, Daniel Andrews stated that the current lockdown would be in practice till September 28. He said in a press conference, “If we open up too fast then we have a very high likelihood that we are really opening up at all- we are just beginning a third wave.”

“And we will be back in and out of restrictions, coming in and out of lockdown, before the end of the year” he added.

The present data states that only 63 new cases and 5 deaths happened on Sunday, though health authorities want to be have a cautious approach.The most stringent  rules will be relaxed from September 13 in Melbourne alongside an overnight curfew will be an hour later at 9:00 pm, daily exercise will be increased for upto 2 hours and for the people living alone, small “social bubbles” are created.

Though, rules for residents in regional and rural Victoria will be eased faster due to significantly less active cases. The announcement is presented a day after protesters were arrested in Melbourne for clashing with police on an anti-lockdown rally.