money After initial success, Australia suffers deadliest day
It had been one of the leading countries in its response to COVID-19, but on Wednesday (August 12), Australia recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic and the biggest daily rise in infections in three days -- denting hopes that a second wave gripping the state of Victoria may be stabilizing.
Victoria reported 21 deaths and 410 new cases in 24 hours, ending a run of three consecutive days with new infections below 400.
A cluster of infections in the state's capital, Melbourne, forced authorities last week to impose tough new restrictions, including a night curfew.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says although the figures are rising, the strict measures will work in the long term.
"It's heartbreaking to see empty streets, empty venues, to see work places that don't have any workers in them. It's heartbreaking. But it is what we must do and it's what will get us to the other side of this."
Only Victoria and the country's most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), reported fresh cases Wednesday, with the virus effectively eliminated outside of the two states.
Despite Wednesday's tally, Australia has reported just over 22,000 infections and 352 deaths from the virus, far fewer on a per capita basis than many other developed countries.
