A police officer checks entry permits to Victoria at a border checkpoint in Mallacoota, Australia, on December 31, 2020.
Photographer: Diego Fedele / Getty Images
Photographer: Diego Fedele / Getty Images
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Health officials are warning Australians to remain vigilant, even when signs point to coronavirus clusters in the country’s two most populous states being controlled.
New South Wales on Sunday is said to have detected eight cases transmitted locally in the last 24 hours, compared with seven the day before. The outbreak in the state originated from a cluster originating in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, which has spread to other areas of the city and has already infected more than 150 people.
The neighboring state of Victoria has detected three new cases in the past 24 hours, health officials said on Sunday. The count dropped from 10 new cases registered the previous day.
Australian health officials are rushing to reach the top of the groups that interrupted the peak summer vacation period. The nation succeeded largely suppress community broadcasts through rigorous testing and contact tracking, placing restrictions on international arrivals and isolating all travelers returning from abroad in quarantined hotels for 14 days.
The Sydney outbreak had spurred the New South Wales government to tightening of social distance restrictions. Beginning on Monday, individuals in Australia’s largest city who do not wear masks indoors such as shops, churches and public transport will be fined A $ 200 ($ 154).
More than 18,900 people in New South Wales were tested on Saturday. Interim Premier John Barilaro on Sunday called for an increase to maintain the state’s record of success in curbing outbreaks.
Victoria virus response commander Jeroen Weimar also asked residents of his state to maintain test levels, especially if they returned from New South Wales after their shared border was closed on Saturday in an attempt to contain the clusters. .
“People need to remain alert and aware that this is not over yet,” said Weimar.