Australia reports no new local COVID-19 cases for first-time in 5 months
02 November, 2020
Australia has recorded no new locally transmitted coronavirus infection for the very first time in five months.
In Melbourne, the capital of Victoria state, which had the highest number of cases in the united states, residents were enjoying the first weekend of cafes, restaurants and pubs reopening to walk-in customers.
The town only has one mystery case with out a known source. There are 61 active cases left over the state, down from 70 on Saturday.
State Deputy Premier James Merlino hailed Sunday’s zero figures as “another great day for Victoria”, but urged caution before Australia’s most prestigious horse race on Tuesday, the Melbourne Cup, referred to as the “race that stops a nation”.
Australians traditionally gather in bars or in private homes to view the event, a public holiday.
The race attracts crowds greater than 100,000 at Melbourne’s Flemington racecourse, but this season it'll be held without fans as a result of restrictions on public gatherings.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton urged Victorians to enjoy the Cup but to keep obeying guidance on mask-wearing and social distancing.
“The great majority of Melburnians really know what to do,” Sutton said. “There will be a few who may be a bit liberal within their behaviour."
Sutton said the new wave of infections in Europe showed how quickly the coronavirus can reassert itself.
“What Europe is certainly going through now is a consequence of not being able to get to this aspect where you can stick to top of suprisingly low numbers,” he said. “What we've created is very precious and we need to hold onto it tightly.”
Western Australia state on Sunday recorded one new case of COVID-19, a woman who returned from overseas and is in hotel quarantine.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
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