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Australia coronavirus cases 'set to be lowest

in months'
5 hours ago

Coronavirus pandemic

EPA

Australia's case numbers are dropping

Australia looks set to record its lowest daily coronavirus increase for three
months, with just 18 new cases reported so far.

The state of Victoria - the epicentre of the country's Covid-19 outbreak -

recorded 14 new infections to Sunday morning, down from 21 the day before.

New South Wales and Queensland reported two cases each. The remaining
states are yet to report their figures but rarely record any new cases
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9/20/2020 Australia coronavirus cases 'set to be lowest in months' - BBC News
states are yet to report their figures, but rarely record any new cases.

Figures were last this low on 23 June.

Why is Melbourne seeing more cases during lockdown?

Australia 'anti-lockdown' arrest stirs controversy

'I grew up in a war - I'm not dying in a pandemic'

Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews said the numbers were "cause for great
optimism". His state, which has accounted for 75% of Australia's 26,900 cases
and 90% of its 849 deaths, has been under lockdown since early July.

Melbourne, the capital, has been under tighter restrictions than other areas,
including a curfew and stay-at-home orders. Anti-lockdown protests in the city
have become a regular sight.

On Sunday, demonstrators gathered in the central business district, according

to local media. Saturday's protest, in a park, saw protesters being dispersed by
police on horseback.

EPA

Protests have become a regular sight in Melbourne

However, Mr Andrews has defended the state's strict lockdown, pointing to

rising cases in Europe.

"It's heartbreaking to see all of those communities have given - all the sacrifice
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9/20/2020 Australia coronavirus cases 'set to be lowest in months' - BBC News

they've made - and now they've got cases running perhaps more wildly than
their first wave," he told reporters.

"Some of these nations as well, I see a bit of commentary around the place
about how... death rates in second waves are lower. That's not what the data's
saying. That's not what the data in Europe is saying. You've got to see it off."
Melbourne has started to ease its restrictions, saying it will li the curfew and
exercise limits on 26 October if there are fewer than five new cases per day.

Related Topics

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