Victoria suffers record daily increase

MELBOURNE: Victoria overnight tonight closes its border with New South Wales having recorded its highest increase in new Covid19 cases since the pandemic began.

Victoria will be shut off from the rest of Australia as a record number of coronavirus cases prompted NSW to shut their border. NSW had been the last state to allow an open border with Victoria, which reached a grim milestone yesterday, including two new deaths in 24 hours. The 127 new cases of coronavirus is a record daily increase for Victoria. A 90yearold man died in hospital on Sunday night and a man in his 60s died on Monday morning, bringing the national pandemic death toll to 106. Victoria has had 20 consecutive days of doubledigit new cases, in stark contrast to the rest of the country. Victoria now has 650 active cases, an increase of 590 in four weeks, while other states have remained stable.

A permit system for travel between the states was to be outlined by NSW. There would be arrangements put in place for people in border towns such as AlburyWodonga to carry out daily activities or receive healthcare. Mr Andrews said the border closure meant staff at airports and train stations could be redeployed into ‘‘much more important roles’’. He said stooddown Qantas staff have been called up to work in the hotel quarantine programme in Victoria, reporting directly to the Department of Justice. More than 100 additional personnel from the Australian Defence Force were being called in to help. — Reuters