CANBERRA, Sept 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, described the extended COVID-19 lock-down in Melbourne as “crushing,” as the country recorded its lowest single-day increase in about two months.
As of Monday afternoon there were 26,322 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and the number of new cases in the last 24 hours is 48.
Of the new cases, Victoria, the hardest-hit state by the pandemic, confirmed 41, which is the lowest increase in cases in the state.
Victoria also confirmed nine more deaths on Monday, taking the national death toll to 762.
“Eight of today’s nine deaths are linked to known outbreaks in aged care facilities. To date, 675 people have died in Victoria,” said a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services.
It comes only one day after Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews announced that, strict stage-four restrictions in Melbourne, the capital city of the state, will be extended until Sept 28 with minor changes.
“If we go too far too soon, the modelling also tells us we’d be on track for a third wave by mid-Nov,” said the statement from the premier.
Responding to the announcement, Morrison, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt said, it was vital to the national interest to restore Victoria to a COVID-Safe environment, “where we can reopen our economy and reasonably restore the liberties of all Australians.”
“While this needs to be weighed up against mitigating the risk of further community outbreak, it is also true that the continued restrictions will have further impact on the Victorian and national economy, in further job losses and loss of livelihoods, as well as, impacting on mental health,” they said.– NNN-AGENCIES
