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Australia Gradually Eases Its Toughest COVID-19 Lockdown in Melbourne

Phil Mercer

   SYDNEY - A curfew imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus has
   been lifted in the Australian city of Melbourne. The Victorian state
   government has said that a fall in the number of infections is allowing
   them to gradually relax other restrictions. Melbourne was placed into a
   second lockdown in July because of a spike in COVID-19 cases.

   New cases of COVID-19 in Melbourne have fallen enough that officials
   are talking about re-opening the city. In late July, authorities had
   reported more than 700 new daily infections. On Monday, they recorded
   just five cases.

   Infections have fallen sufficiently for Australia's second-biggest city
   to move to the second of a four-step recovery plan.

   A night-time curfew hasended,and all primary schools will reopen in two
   weeks' time, while about 130,000 people will be allowed back to work.

   The next step could be taken earlier thanitsscheduleddate ofOctober26.
   To achieve a 'COVID-normal' status, Victoria would need to have
   recorded no new infections for 28 days.

   Victoria premier Daniel Andrews says the state is "so close to beating"
   the coronavirus.

   He hopes other restrictions will soon be lifted.

   "This is a strategy that is designed to get us to a COVID-normal
   Christmas. We are well on track. In fact, we are ahead of time when it
   comes to achieving thatoutcome. That is a credit to every single
   Victorian who is staying the course, workinghard,making sacrifices,"
   Andrews said.

   Many personal freedoms remain restricted in Melbourne. Residents can
   only leave their homes for one of four reasons, including study, work
   andcaregiving.

   A second wave of infections in Victoria is blamed on security failures
   in the hotel quarantine system for Australiantravelersreturning from
   overseas. A judicial inquiry has heard thattravelers
   infectedhotelstaff, who then spread the disease into the community with
   devastating consequences.

   Victoria has had 75%of Australia's confirmed COVID-19 cases, and most
   of its fatalities.

   New South Wales,thenation's most populous state, Sunday recorded no new
   infections for the first time since early June.

   Australia has had about 27,000 confirmed coronavirus cases since the
   pandemic began. More than 870 people have died.

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