Coronavirus: Australia’s Melbourne enters snap lockdown; Philippine cinemas, theme parks to resume soon

The Melbourne lockdown was announced after a new Covid-19 cluster linked to a highly contagious UK variant hit 13 cases as of Thursday midnight

Meanwhile, New Zealand is likely to begin vaccinations next week, while the Philippines will soon allow cinemas, theme parks and conferences to resume business

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People line up to be tested for Covid-19 in Melbourne, Australia. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 1:26pm, 12 Feb 2021Updated: 9:30pm, 12 Feb 2021

The second-most populous city in Australia will enter a five-day snap coronavirus lockdown, authorities said on Friday, barring spectators for much of the Australian Open tennis tournament.

A fresh Covid-19 cluster linked to a quarantine hotel in Melbourne, the capital of Victoria state, reached 13 cases as of Thursday midnight, as authorities rushed to quash the spread of the virus. All of those infections were linked to the highly contagious UK variant.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews announced the lockdown for the state, starting at midnight on Friday, calling it a “short, sharp circuit breaker” banning public gatherings, home auctions, weddings and religious gatherings.

“We must assume that there are further cases in the community than we have positive results for, and that it is moving at a velocity that has not been seen anywhere in our country over the course of these last 12 months,” Andrews told reporters.

Police are seen in front of Flinders Street Station during a curfew in Melbourne on August 8, 2020. File photo: AAP

Andrews said the spread of the UK variant of the virus was much faster than previous outbreaks in the country.

Asked about the Australian Open, which runs through February 21, the premier said the Grand Slam event was considered a workplace, subject to lockdown restrictions.