Australia’s Victoria Gripped in Second-Wave with New Case Record

(Bloomberg) -- Australia’s Victoria state recorded 532 new Covid-19 cases Monday as authorities struggle to bring a second wave of infections under control.

The daily tally announced Monday follows the 459 new cases reported the previous day in Victoria, and is a new national record. There were six additional fatalities, State Premier Daniel Andrews said at a press conference.

Authorities are battling to contain a fresh wave of infections after about 5 million people in Melbourne were plunged back into lockdown more than two weeks ago. Almost three-quarters of the state’s 8,696 infections have occurred since the restrictions were reinforced, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Andrews implored people to follow the rules, especially workers who are still going to work even when they have symptoms. Last week, he announced plans for a A$300 ($214) payment to encourage those feeling unwell to get tested and self-isolate.

“Lockdown will not end until people stop going to work with symptoms,” he told reporters. “Unless we see a change, then we’re going to continue to see these numbers at unacceptably high levels.”

The shutdown of the nation’s second-biggest city, which contributes about one-quarter of gross domestic product, could prolong the nation’s first recession in almost three decades. Australia’s government forecasts Melbourne’s renewed restrictions reducing national real GDP growth by about A$3.3 billion ($2.4 billion), or around three-quarters of a percentage point, in the September quarter of 2020.

New South Wales state reported a further 17 cases in the past 24 hours, according to the state health agency.

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