Australia Virus Hotspot Reports Slowdown in New Cases

(Bloomberg) --

Victoria state, the epicenter of Australia’s pandemic, reported a slowdown in new cases in the past 24 hours and will this weekend outline a path out of a strict lockdown that’s been in place for two months.

There were 76 new Covid-19 infections in the country’s second-most populated state and 11 deaths, Victoria’s health department reported Saturday via Twitter, down from 81 new cases the previous day and a peak of 687 on Aug. 4. Across the state, people have been ordered to stay at home except for essential work, medical care, provisions, or exercise. The state capital, Melbourne, is under even tighter restrictions, with a nighttime curfew and large parts of its retail and manufacturing sectors shuttered.

The state government will announce a “roadmap” out of the restrictions on Sunday, State Premier Daniel Andrews told a media briefing, but emphasized that a re-opening had to be done in a “steady and safe way.” Decisions on timelines would be finalized following meetings on Saturday, Andrews added.

“At 76 new cases that is still a significant challenge for us,” Andrews said at a media briefing. “To open up with those numbers would of course see the total number of coronavirus infections explode.”

Signs the Victoria outbreak is easing come after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Friday that most state and territory leaders have recommitted to opening up the economy by December, although he failed to secure an immediate agreement to lift border restrictions that are hampering the recovery.

The economy contracted by the most on record last quarter, falling into its first recession in almost 30 years due to a nationwide lockdown to contain the virus. Activity is now returning to normal across most of the country, but restrictions remain in Melbourne, the nation’s second-largest city with about 5 million people, delaying the economy’s recovery.

New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, reported five new cases on Friday. Four of those came from a cluster in the city’s central business district which has grown to 61 people, while the other case was a returned traveler in hotel quarantine.

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