Australia's Melbourne to close retail
Australia's second largest city, Melbourne brought in sweeping new curfew rules on Sunday( August 2).
It's the latest move by the state of Victoria to battle the spread of a resurgent coronavirus outbreak.
A "state of emergency" was declared and the curfew marks the country's harshest limits on movement yet.
No one is allowed to go out between 8pm and 5am for six weeks except for work or medical care.
Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, said the tight restrictions are a first.
"For Melbourne we've never had a curfew before, not in the history of our city. So I think it really reflects the fact that we need to lift up our efforts."
As the city emerged from the first night of curfew, few people were out on the streets :
"Curfew does affect me. I suppose just because, you know, you lack the freedom, however if it means that we have to get on top of this virus, then we all have to pull together and we all have to just buckle down and do it."
And then came another blow on Monday, Victoria ordered large parts of its economy to shut down for the next six weeks, too.
Almost all retail have been ordered to close this Wednesday at midnight.
The state reported over 400 cases on Monday, down from 671 infections on Sunday.
Overall, Australia has fared far better than many other countries in keeping the coronavirus from spreading.
However with this recent surge, hopes for an Australia - New Zealand bubble opening up anytime soon, allowing quarantine-free travel have been dashed.
New Zealand's leader Jacinda Ardern delivered the news, Monday:
"It's incredibly difficult to watch, to see our cousins over the ditch going through this. It's also a message to us to continue to maintain our vigilance. In terms of repercussions for our wider plans for out Trans-Tasman bubble, obviously, that will be a long way off."
