Virus lockdown in Australia’s second-largest city extended by a week

People exercise in Melbourne on June 1, 2021 on the fifth day of a seven-day lockdown as the city battles with an outbreak of the Indian variant of Covid-19. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — A coronavirus lockdown of Australia’s second-biggest city will be extended by another seven days, authorities announced Wednesday, as they attempt to stamp out a cluster of cases in Melbourne.

“We have right now 60 cases and over 350 exposure sites and a variant of the virus that is quicker and more contagious than we have ever seen before,” said James Merlino, the acting premier of the state of Victoria.

Australia tells citizens to depart Israel, Palestinian territories if ‘safe to do so’
SYDNEY, April 19, 2024 (AFP) - Australia on Friday told its citizens to leave Israel…
Microsoft announces $3.2 billion investment in Australia
Microsoft announced Tuesday a Aus$5 billion (US$3.2 billion) investment in Australia focused on cloud computing…
Australia warns of worse fires, heat as El Nino kicks in
Australia's weather bureau confirmed on Tuesday that an El Nino weather pattern is under way,…
AI could halve time reading breast cancer scans, study suggests
By Daniel Lawler Agence France-Presse PARIS, France (AFP) -- Artificial intelligence could help almost…
Entire pod of 97 pilot whales dies in Australia beaching
SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) -- Nearly 100 pilot whales have died after beaching in Western Australia,…