Melbournians not wearing face coverings will be fined A$200 ($140), said Victoria premier minister Daniel Andrews.
Face masks wearing becomes a routine for every citizen of Melbourne, confirmed Health Minister Greg Hunt told a televised briefing. Melbournians obliged to wear any kind of face coverings when leaving their homes as Victoria, Australia’s 2nd most populous state. On Sunday, the state marked two weeks of triple-digit increases in new pathogen infections.
PM Andrews stressed that the state, which has forced nearly 5 million people into a partial six-week lockdown on July 9, reported 363 new cases of the COVID-19 on Sunday, after 217 cases the previous day.
“We’re going to be wearing masks in Victoria and potentially in other parts of the country for a very long time,” PM told a televised briefing.
The first minister added that there’s no vaccine yet, so, masks are “a simple thing, but it’s about changing habits, it’s about becoming a simple part of your routine.”
Australia has recorded about 11,800 coronavirus cases, however, an outbreak of community transmission in Victoria has been growing this week, prompting PM to impose stricter social rules. In general, community transmission remains our single greatest threat, Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Saturday.
Victoria became the first state in Australia to require masks for part of its population.
Australia’s most populous state restricts again social mingling as infection intensifies
New South Wales (NSW) authorities had to restrict again some social mingling as cases have been growing. On Sunday, NSW reported 18 new infections, its highest in three months. The transmission rate in the state is higher than in Victoria.
“People are urged to avoid non-essential travel and gatherings,” NSW Deputy Chief Health Officer Jeremy McAnulty said in a video address.
He added that transmission in venues such as hotels and restaurants, gym and social gatherings remain the concern.
About 60 people in Sydney face a fine of $1,000 each after attending a party Saturday night and breaking the public health guidelines of no more than 20 visitors to a home, police said.
