Coronavirus update: Victoria reports 77 new infections, 300K enter lockdown

The Australian state of Victoria, the COVID-19 hotpot, reported 77 new infections on Thursday, as the second-wave fears intensify.

Of the 77, 20 are in hospital now while 4 in the ICU.

Additional details

300,000 enter lockdown in Melbourne hotspot suburbs.

Stay-at-home orders are now in place for 10 postcodes in city’s north as state steps up action to contain COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the Guardian reported, “Victorian students are currently on school holidays, but Brett Sutton says it is a situation they are watching closely. It is not just the student/staff transmission risk, it is also the transmission risk during pick up and drop off.”

New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland have already ordered borders closure, barring people to enter the affected areas in Melbourne.

Market reaction

AUD/USD is unperturbed by the growing virus concerns and mixed Australian trade data, as it keeps its range near-daily highs of 0.6927, up 0.14% on the day.