Coronavirus live news: daily global cases top 200,000 as Australia's toughest lockdown begins
Record infections driven by US, Brazil, India; Melbourne stops residents from nine tower blocks leaving home; England reopens pubs. Follow the latest updates
- Local lockdowns ordered in Melbourne and northern Spain
- Trump claims ‘victory’ as US sees case records in multiple states
- ‘We feel totally safe’: east London drinkers savour taste of freedom
- WHO says trials show malaria and HIV drugs don’t cut hospital deaths
- See all our coronavirus coverage
Residents detained in public housing towers in Melbourne’s inner city will be barred from leaving their homes for a further 10 days if they refuse a coronavirus test, according to new public health orders introduced by the Victorian government.
The detention orders – which prevent about 3,000 people in nine public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne – were published by Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services on Saturday night.
The directions apply from 4 July to 18 July, however the government has said it only intends to apply the laws for five days at this stage.
They state that people who refuse to be tested will be “detained for a further period of 10 days from the end of the initial detention period”.
People will not be able to leave their properties for reasons such as work, study or to obtain essential supplies like food, as is allowed in other Covid-19 “hot spot” suburbs which have been placed in lockdown.
However, the orders state that people can leave their home if they are granted permission by authorities to attend a medical facility, on compassionate grounds, or if there is an emergency.
“Except for authorised people, the only other people allowed in your premises are people who are being detained with you,” the order states. The government has said it will provide food and medical services to people who have been detained.
Some 3.85 million Croats are eligible to go to polls on Sunday to elect a new government at a time when coronavirus infections are on the rise and the economy is facing a sharp downturn, reports Reuters.
Polling stations will open at 05.00 GMT and close at 17.00 GMT when the exit polls will be released. The first preliminary official results are expected some two hours later.
The ruling centre-right Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) has had a slight advantage in most opinion polls over its main rival, the Social Democrats (SDP), but neither party is seen being able to form a cabinet on its own.
Croatia has reported a relatively small number of coronavirus infections - 3,000 Covid-19 cases and around 100 deaths recorded so far - but infections have accelerated in the past two weeks, with new daily cases currently peaking at around 80.
Voters have been strongly advised to wear masks and respect other hygiene measures at the polling stations.
from The Guardian https://ift.tt/3dTBr1K
No comments