The Australian state of Victoria has recorded 75 more coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, health authorities announced on Monday, leading to increased concern the nation may be on the cusp of a second wave of cases as it removes lockdown restrictions that have crippled the economy.
The surge in cases in Melbourne, the capital of Australia’s second-most-populous state, have been centered around suburbs in the city’s northern and western fringes. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews, who has indicated that some of those areas may need to return to stricter lockdown measures, has blamed some clusters on large family gatherings that have broken social-distancing restrictions.
Read more:Global Covid-19 Deaths Reach 500,000 as Pandemic Gains Momentum
“Many of the cases that have come through today are overwhelmingly concentrated in those priority suburbs,” state Health Minister Jenny Mikakos told reporters in Melbourne on Monday. “It’s important to reiterate to the community that you are not immune from catching coronavirus by virtue of the postcode that you live in.”
42,597 in U.S.Most new cases today
-10% Change in MSCI World Index of global stocks since Wuhan lockdown, Jan. 23
-1.091 Change in U.S. treasury bond yield since Wuhan lockdown, Jan. 23
-2.3% Global GDP Tracker (annualized), May