Coronavirus cases in Australian state stay stubbornly high

Australia’s Victoria state recorded an increase in new coronavirus cases on Saturday as officials laid out new directives to protect people in retirement homes and help contain the second wave of infections.

Victoria, Australia’s second most populous state, recorded 357 new cases overnight, and five deaths, up from 300 on Friday when it saw its highest ever death toll of 7, but lower than Wednesday’s record daily increase of 483 cases, state officials said.

Australia has escaped the high coronavirus casualty numbers of other countries, with 13,950 infections and 145 deaths as of Saturday, but recent flare-ups in its two most populous states have raised alarm.

A cluster of infections in Melbourne, Victoria’s largest city, prompted the government to impose a six-week partial lockdown and make masks mandatory for its residents, or risk a A$200 ($143) fine.

“This is an incredibly stubborn second wave,” state premier Daniel Andrews told a regular media briefing.

Despite the lockdown, Victoria is not likely to see a substantial fall in new cases for weeks, its top health official said.

“There is no magic bullet here, and there is nothing that will all of a sudden see numbers hit a zero in the next couple of weeks,” Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton told reporters.

“When you have got outbreaks that are really difficult to manage, those will have ongoing cases for some time yet.”