• email inquiry@market.us
  • phone+1 718 618 4351 (International)
  • phone+91 78878 22626 (Asia)
menu logo logo
more_vert
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team
  • Privacy Policy
October 23, 2021

Home / Australia’s Melbourne enjoys weekend of eased COVID curbs after long lockdown

Australia’s Melbourne enjoys weekend of eased COVID curbs after long lockdown

Tajammul Pangarkar

Last updated on:October 23, 2021 Market.us

October 23, 2021

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Melbourne, Australia’s second-biggest city, began its first weekend out of the world’s longest string of COVID-19 lockdowns with spontaneous street parties, live music and packed pubs, bars and restaurants.

Home to about five million people, Melbourne endured 262 days, or nearly nine months, of restrictions during six lockdowns since March 2020, longer than the 234-day continuous lockdown in Buenos Aires.

Despite rain on Saturday morning, people queued for barbers and breakfast restaurants, all of which are open only to the fully vaccinated.

Late on Friday, people broke into a spontaneous street party in Melbourne’s southeast and many rejoiced with their first drink in months in a pub with friends, social media footage showed.

Although the Delta outbreak continues to spread, with 1,750 new cases and nine deaths reported on Saturday in Victoria state, of which Melbourne is the capital, the ease in restrictions came the state’s full-vaccination rate reached 70%.

While most retail outlets remained closed, authorities said further easing will come once 80% of Victorians are fully inoculated, estimated by next weekend.

“Let’s not slack off, let’s increase the pace as we get to the 80% milestone – but also the 90% vaccination milestone,” Jeroen Weimar, Victoria’s COVID-19 response commander, said on Saturday.

While small but violent anti-vaccinations protests have taken place in Melbourne and other cities this year, Australians overwhelmingly support vaccinations, with polls showing the percentage decisively opposed in single digits.

Nearly 72% of adults in Australia are now fully vaccinated and nearly 87% have received one shot. According to a national strategy, lockdowns will be unlikely once 80% of Australians are fully inoculated.

Sydney, Australia’s largest city, celebrated its reopening two weeks ago, after reaching the vaccination threshold of 70%. On Saturday, New South Wales state, of which Sydney is the capital, recorded 332 COVID-19 cases and two deaths.

Weekend newspapers were filled with travel advertising for the coming months, as international border restrictions start to ease from November. Flag carrier Qantas Airways https://ift.tt/3B5bCHp Ltd (QAN.AX) is speeding up plans to restart flights to many destinations and upsize some planes amid “massive demand”.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly; Editing by William Mallard)

Source Link Australia’s Melbourne enjoys weekend of eased COVID curbs after long lockdown

Tajammul Pangarkar

Tajammul Pangarkar is a tech blogger, and has contributed to numerous tech magazines. Tajammul longstanding experience in the field of mobile technology and industry research is reflected in his insightful news articles as presented on News.market.us. His interest lies in understanding the tech trends, mobile applications and technical consciousness on these increasingly consumer-oriented industries. When he is not ruminating about the tech world, he can be found playing table tennis or hanging out with his friends.

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on Email

  • location_on420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 300 New York City, NY 10170,
    United States
  • phone+1 718 618 4351 (International)
  • phone+91 78878 22626 (Asia)
  • emailinquiry@market.us

Find Help

  • Contact Us

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Our Team

Explore

  • Business
  • Technology
  • Health
  • Science

Secured Payment Options

PayPal Payment System
Payoneer Payment System

© 2022 Market.us. All Rights Reserved.