Australia to lock down 300,000 in Melbourne suburbs after coronavirus spike

Wednesday, 1 July 2020 09:05

More than 30 suburbs in the Australian city of Melbourne will be placed under lockdown for a month to contain the spike in COVID-19 cases.

The stage three restrictions, which will come into effect late Wednesday, will impact around 300,000 people.

It will be accompanied by a testing blitz, with authorities hoping to curb its spread.

So far, the country has recorded around 7,830 cases and 104 deaths, but the recent surge has stoked fears of a second wave of COVID-19.

The measures come as curbs ease across the rest of the state of Victoria.

More from International

Quakes rock Venezuela, killing at least 32 and injuring hundreds

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela on Wednesday, killing at least 32 people and injuring 700 more as buildings collapsed in and around the capital Caracas, interim President Delcy Rodriguez said.
Trump asks Congress for more funds to fight Iran, defying rebuke on war powers

President Donald Trump's administration has asked the US Congress on Wednesday for $87.6 billion in additional funding, most of it related to the Iran war, setting the stage for another fight with lawmakers already frustrated with the conflict.
Magnitude 6.9 quake strikes Japan's northeast, no tsunami warning

An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 has struck Japan's northeast coast on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued, no injuries were immediately reported and no irregularities were found at nuclear facilities, the authorities said.
US, Iran at odds on nuclear inspections, frozen assets in deal to end war

US President Donald Trump has stated on Tuesday that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity," while Tehran said it had made no such concession in negotiations, raising questions about the viability of their fragile peace deal.
Oman establishes temporary shipping corridor through Strait of Hormuz

Oman has coordinated with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to establish a temporary maritime corridor for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to its local news agency.