Masks compulsory

MELBOURNE - Wearing masks became compulsory in Australia’s second-largest city, Melbourne, as hot spot Victoria state posted 403 new cases and five deaths.

Much of the spread is blamed on sick workers who do not take time off from their jobs while they wait for coronavirus test results. The wait for those results has usually been two days.

The state government announced on Thursday that workers who do not have sick leave will be eligible for a one-time support payment of $A300 ($F455) while they await test results.