Prime Minister Scott Morrison says a shutdown of Australia’s second-largest city is necessary and promised continuing financial support for businesses that fear they won’t survive a second lockdown. The Victoria state government said Melbourne and part of its surrounds will lock down for six weeks from Wednesday night because the rate of coronavirus spread was unsustainable. Australia’s seven other states and territories would continue to relax pandemic restrictions, the prime minister said. “Let’s remember that seven states and territories around the country remain in a very strong position when it comes to our response to Covid-19,” Morrison said. Morrison said he wanted to reduce the numbers of exemptions from Australia’s travel ban because of the strain on hotel quarantine.-AP

Source: The Standard July 08, 2020 07:18 UTC