Australia, HK struggle to contain virus
Residents of Australia’s second most populous city, Melbourne, must wear masks when leaving home from Wednesday as the country posted a record rise in novel coronavirus cases while New South Wales state was on “high alert.”
Australia recorded 501 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, its highest since the epidemic took hold in March. Its death toll also rose by 2 to 128.
Victoria state, of which Melbourne is capital, accounted for most of the new cases, with 484.
Worryingly, more than half the people who tested positive for the virus in Victoria between July 7 and July 21, or more than 2,000 people, did not isolate, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said.
“That means people have felt unwell and just gone about their business,” Andrews said. “They have gone out shopping. They have gone to work. They have been at the height of their infectivity and they have just continued on as usual.”
Andrews said the number of cases would stay on an upward trajectory if people did not self-isolate after getting tested.
“And a six-week shutdown will not be for six weeks. It will run for much longer than that,” he said.
Cross-border travel between
Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) will only be allowed for work, education or medical care, after the border was closed this month for the first time in 100 years.
Staff and students traveling from Victoria into NSW to attend boarding schools or universities are required to self-isolate for two weeks and test negative for the virus, while seasonal workers from Victoria are barred.
Also, Thailand will extend a state of emergency until the end of August, an official said Wednesday, maintaining the measure put in place to contain its coronavirus outbreak.
The announcement comes after nearly two months without local transmission and with many people in Thailand questioning the need for an emergency decree.
The decree, first introduced in late March, will be subject to cabinet approval next week.
“It is still necessary to have the decree because we are opening up the country for more business meetings and tourism to stimulate the economy,” said Somsak Roongsita, secretary-general of the National Security Council, adding that doctors had requested it be maintained.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong will extend strict social distancing measures from midnight on Wednesday, ordering masks in all indoor public areas including malls and markets, as the global financial hub reported a daily record increase of novel coronavirus cases.
Hong Kong tightened social distancing measures in July after a spike of locally transmitted cases and as authorities warned about a third wave of infections.
“This is the most critical time for Hong Kong. We ask citizens to be patient and stay at home as much as possible,” Health Secretary Sophia Chan said.
Commenting on the spike in cases, she said people had become more relaxed and were going out more without wearing masks. The new order for masks in indoor public places would be for two weeks.
Hong Kong reported 113 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, a new daily record, including 105 locally transmitted infections.
Since late January, more than 2,000 people have been infected in Hong Kong, 14 of whom have died.
Chan said the closure of 12 types of venues, including gyms and entertainment centers, would continue until July 28, as would a ban on dining in restaurants after 6 p.m. (Reuters)