Australia’s Victoria state reports lowest rise in daily COVID-19 cases

Australia’s second-most populous state Victoria has reported lowest rise in daily COVID-19 cases on Thursday, after a snap lockdown in state capital Melbourne was extended for another week.

Australia Prime Minister, Scott Morrison announced a plan to pay people in lockdown, the payments would be given to people over 17 years old who cannot work from home.

Victoria has endured four lockdowns since the pandemic begun, the longest running for more than 100 days in late 2020.

Snap lockdowns, regional border curbs and tough social distancing rules have largely helped Australia keep its COVID-19 figures relatively low, at 30,130 cases and 910 deaths.

Morrison is being criticised for a slow vaccine roll and his refusal to help state government’s build specific COVID-19 quarantine centres, instead of relying on hotel quarantine where leaks have spread the virus.

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Kamila/Reuters