The number of daily infections in Victoria state has not come down, Victoria logged almost 2300 new covid cases. That's the highest for any Australian state or territory since the pandemic began.

Australia: Covid 19 cases infections in Victoria hit record high

Australia's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/australia-victoria-orders-snap-lockdown-for-7-days-as-covid-cases-double-387646">Victoria </a>state, which had gone into a snap lockdown, recorded three new coronavirus cases overnight on Monday, throwing into doubt the date for the end of the week-long lockdown.

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Reports said at least nine cases were detected in the last 24 hours, with over 42,000 tests conducted so far. The coronavirus cases jumped&nbsp;last month amid slow<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-eases-coronavirus-restrictions-amid-nationwide-vaccination-388778"> vaccination</a> in the country.

The lockdown was set to end on Thursday as Victoria's state health minister Martin Foley said, "I don't know if there is going to be an extension or not."

Foley pointed out that there were cases of community transmission, with several new areas added to the coronavirus hotlist. Australia's second-highest populous state was put under a snap lockdown on May 27.&nbsp;

Australia has been successful in curbing the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/one-day-the-pandemic-will-be-behind-us-but-psychological-scars-will-remain-who-chief-388730">virus </a>for the past year with just 30,100 cases and 910 fatalities reported till May.

However, the number of cases surged last month worrying health authorities as coronavirus cases were linked to care centre for senior citizens in the city.

The Morrison government has been criticised for the slow vaccine rollout as total vaccination doses reached just four million last week which authorities were expected to reach in March.

Authorities have now ramped up <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-and-uk-raise-doubts-about-covid-19-vaccine-patent-waiver-388679">vaccination</a> in aged care centres and for disabled workers with walk-in vaccination stations set up including in Victoria.

Melbourne also reported new cases since the lockdown began with authorities asserting that the&nbsp;cases are linked to breach in South Australia hotel quarantine.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Australia's Victoria state, which had gone into a snap lockdown, recorded three new coronavirus cases overnight on Monday, throwing into doubt the date for the end of the week-long lockdown.

Australia's Victoria state, which had gone into a snap lockdown, recorded three new coronavirus cases overnight on Monday, throwing into doubt the date for the end of the week-long lockdown. Watch: Reports said at least nine cases were detected in the last 24 hours, with over 42,000 tests conducted so far. The coronavirus cases jumped last month amid slow vaccination in the country. The lockdown was set to end on Thursday as Victoria's state health minister Martin Foley said, "I don't know if there is going to be an extension or not." Foley pointed out that there were cases of community transmission, with several new areas added to the coronavirus hotlist. Australia's second-highest populous state was put under a snap lockdown on May 27. Australia has been successful in curbing the virus for the past year with just 30,100 cases and 910 fatalities reported till May. However, the number of cases surged last month worrying health authorities as coronavirus cases were linked to care centre for senior citizens in the city. The Morrison government has been criticised for the slow vaccine rollout as total vaccination doses reached just four million last week which authorities were expected to reach in March. Authorities have now ramped up vaccination in aged care centres and for disabled workers with walk-in vaccination stations set up including in Victoria. Melbourne also reported new cases since the lockdown began with authorities asserting that the cases are linked to breach in South Australia hotel quarantine. (With inputs from Agencies)

Australia: Victoria state lockdown end date in doubt after new COVID-19 cases

Melbourne authorities imposed a snap five-day lockdown in Australia's second-biggest city to contain the outbreak of "hyper-infectious" <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-finds-two-new-mutations-of-coronavirus-amid-virus-surge-362612">UK strain</a> on Thursday casting doubt on the fate of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-continue-as-planned-australian-open-organizers-to-go-ahead-with-tournament-despite-snap-lockdown-363064">Australian Open</a> grand slam tennis tournament which began this week.

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The lockdown which comes into effect from midnight on Friday has been categorised as "stage 4" after over 900 COVID-19 cases were linked to virus leak from a quarantine hotel at the city airport.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton asserted that alternative to lockdown is “potentially devastating” over fears of a cluster of cases which needed to be contained. Authorities said it was needed to ensure it was "sharp circuit breaker".

Under the new restrictions, masks have been mandatory with no visitors allowed at anyone's home. Public gatherings have also been disallowed and schools have been ordered to close.

The authorities have also banned religious gatherings with only ten people allowed in funerals.

Meanwhile, Terminal 4 of Melbourne Airport has been added to the list of "Tier 1" exposure sites with people who visited the location on February 9 &nbsp;to isolate themselves and test and remain isolated for 14 days.

Amid the lockdown announcement, PM Scott Morrison has supported calls for a “short-sharp” lockdown.

Melbourne authorities imposed a snap five-day lockdown in Australia's second-biggest city to contain the outbreak of "hyper-infectious" UK strain on Thursday casting doubt on the fate of the Australian Open grand slam tennis tournament which began this week.

Melbourne authorities imposed a snap five-day lockdown in Australia's second-biggest city to contain the outbreak of "hyper-infectious" UK strain on Thursday casting doubt on the fate of the Australian Open grand slam tennis tournament which began this week. Watch: The lockdown which comes into effect from midnight on Friday has been categorised as "stage 4" after over 900 COVID-19 cases were linked to virus leak from a quarantine hotel at the city airport. Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton asserted that alternative to lockdown is “potentially devastating” over fears of a cluster of cases which needed to be contained. Authorities said it was needed to ensure it was "sharp circuit breaker". Under the new restrictions, masks have been mandatory with no visitors allowed at anyone's home. Public gatherings have also been disallowed and schools have been ordered to close. The authorities have also banned religious gatherings with only ten people allowed in funerals. Meanwhile, Terminal 4 of Melbourne Airport has been added to the list of "Tier 1" exposure sites with people who visited the location on February 9 to isolate themselves and test and remain isolated for 14 days. Amid the lockdown announcement, PM Scott Morrison has supported calls for a “short-sharp” lockdown.

Melbourne orders snap coronavirus lockdown during Australian Open tennis

An ombudsman report has said that lockdown announced by Australia's second most populous state violated human rights and was not based on health officials advice.&nbsp;

To contain the rise in the spread of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a>, the state of Victoria ordered the lockdown of nine public housing towers for many days in July.&nbsp;

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Victoria's acting chief health officer was given only 15 minutes to consider and approve the measure, which includes the impact on human rights, Ombudsman Deborah Glass' report said.&nbsp;

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"The rushed lockdown was not compatible with the residents' human rights, including their right to humane treatment when deprived of liberty..., the action appeared to be contrary to the law," Deborah was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;

People residing in the eight towers were confined in their apartments for five days, but in the ninth tower, which had the most number of cases, there was a complete lockdown for two weeks.&nbsp;

The report said some residents were left without food and medicines, and several others waited for over a week to go outside.&nbsp;

The state government accepted that mistakes were committed, but insisted that the measures were necessary to ensure the safety of its people.&nbsp;

"We make no apology for saving people's lives, absolutely no apology for saving people's lives," Victoria state Housing Minister Richard Wynne told reporters.

Australia managed to contain the coronavirus outbreak, but the bulk of the cases were reported from Victoria.&nbsp;

However, the state is able to control the surge and has not reported a single case in 48 consecutive days as of Thursday.&nbsp;

An ombudsman report has said that lockdown announced by Australia's second most populous state violated human rights and was not based on health officials advice.

An ombudsman report has said that lockdown announced by Australia's second most populous state violated human rights and was not based on health officials advice. To contain the rise in the spread of coronavirus, the state of Victoria ordered the lockdown of nine public housing towers for many days in July. Watch | Victoria's acting chief health officer was given only 15 minutes to consider and approve the measure, which includes the impact on human rights, Ombudsman Deborah Glass' report said. Also read | Australian MP urges Donald Trump to pardon Julian Assange before leaving White House "The rushed lockdown was not compatible with the residents' human rights, including their right to humane treatment when deprived of liberty..., the action appeared to be contrary to the law," Deborah was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. People residing in the eight towers were confined in their apartments for five days, but in the ninth tower, which had the most number of cases, there was a complete lockdown for two weeks. The report said some residents were left without food and medicines, and several others waited for over a week to go outside. The state government accepted that mistakes were committed, but insisted that the measures were necessary to ensure the safety of its people. "We make no apology for saving people's lives, absolutely no apology for saving people's lives," Victoria state Housing Minister Richard Wynne told reporters. Australia managed to contain the coronavirus outbreak, but the bulk of the cases were reported from Victoria. However, the state is able to control the surge and has not reported a single case in 48 consecutive days as of Thursday.

Australian state violated human rights in lockdown to control Covid-19 spread: Report