NEW CURBS IN MELBOURNE TO KEEP VIRUS AT BAY

PERTH Melbourne has closed all non-essential businesses in fresh lockdown measures that take the number of workers staying at home to 500,000. Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria, made the announcement Monday after the state recorded 429 new virus cases and 13 deaths overnight.

While the daily new cases number is well down from the recent peak of 723, the 13 deaths equals the highest number in 24 hours since the pandemic began. Eight of the deaths were linked to outbreaks in elderly care homes.

Under the new restrictions, hairdressers, call centres, factories and most retail businesses will shut. Supermarkets, food stores, liquor shops, petrol stations, pharmacies, convenience stores, newsagents, post offices and disability and maternity supply outlets can stay open.

Andrews, shown, said the state would introduce a permit system to make it easier for essential workers to be out at night, given Melbourne’s new 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew he announced on Sunday.