Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Australia s second most populous state went into lock down last night after authorities reported 12 new cases, bringing the Melbourne outbreak to 26.
Crowds have been banned from sporting events and people ordered to stay home except for work, exercise, shopping for essentials, providing care and getting vaccinated.
Melbourne, the country s sporting capital, has more than a dozen professional teams competing in top flight leagues, and all faced disruption and schedule changes.
Super Rugby team Melbourne Rebels left Victoria for Sydney on Wednesday to avoid travel complications and will play their Trans-Tasman match against the Highlanders there on Sunday.
The Chiefs are now making alternate plans as they re due to host the Rebels next weekend.
Victoria Plunges into Covid-19 Circuit-Breaker
Stage 3 Restrictions
Vic Emergency
Travel restrictions are back in place as Victoria enters a seven-day circuit-breaker lockdown with 12 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19.
Victoria’s Acting Premier
James Merlino made the announcement at a Press Conference on Thursday where he said there was no other choice but to lock down the state, given the speed at which this variant of the virus spreads.
Health authorities moved quickly in response to the alarming speed at which the virus variant moved as exposure sites across greater Melbourne exceed 150.
The circuit-breaker lockdown is at stage 3 restrictions with only 5 reasons to leave home:
In this Jan. 15, 2021 photo, a medical worker holds a package for a Sinopharm vaccine at a vaccination facility in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
JAKARTA, Indonesia Two vaccines made by China’s Sinopharm appear to be safe and effective against Covid-19, according to a study published in a medical journal.
The report, published online in the Journal of the American Medical Association, concluded the two vaccines are about 73% and 78% effective, as Sinopharm has previously claimed.
Scientists have been waiting for more details about the two vaccines, even though they already are used in many countries and one recently won the backing of the World Health Organization.
URL copied
COVID: Fourth round of lockdown in Melbourne, Victoria as new cluster grows
Australiaâs second-largest city was set to enter its fourth lockdown Thursday as concern grew over the rapid spread of infections from a coronavirus variant.
The seven-day lockdown for Melbourne and the rest of Victoria state comes after a new cluster in the city rose to 26 infections, including a person who was in intensive care. Another 10,000 people have had some degree of contact with those already infected.
âUnless something changes, this will be increasingly uncontrollable,â Victoria Acting Premier James Merlino said.
The federal government declared Melbourne a hot spot, which entitles the city to additional federal resources. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said 218 military personnel were in Victoria helping in pandemic operations and more would be sent if Merlino asked.
Health by Frances Vinall 27th May 2021 6:40 AM | Updated: 9:48 AM
Victoria has recorded 11 coronavirus cases overnight, as a cluster that started in Melbourneâs northern suburbs continues to grow.
The stateâs Department of Health reported that that there were 34 active cases in the state on Thursday morning.
It reported 12 new cases on Thursday, however one had previously been revealed in Wednesdayâs figures.
There are now 26 cases linked to an outbreak which is of the Indian variant of COVID-19.
The past 24 hours had been described as critical by Acting Premier James Merlino, who had warned that he couldnât rule out taking âfurther actionâ to stop the spread.