The state of Victoria in Australia — home to Melbourne, “the country’s second-most populous city,” implemented a 7-day lockdown over a new coronavirus outbreak:
The state of Victoria, Australia, announced a seven-day lockdown beginning Thursday night to stem a coronavirus outbreak in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, the country’s second-most populous city, after Sydney. https://t.co/gLcaXcZfRU
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) May 27, 2021
The outbreak is at 26 cases. That’s it. They’re locking down a city of about 5 million for 26 cases. From the NYT:
After nearly three months without a new infection, state health officials have detected 26 cases in the Melbourne-area cluster. The outbreak is believed to have begun when a man became infected while serving a 14-day hotel quarantine in the city of Adelaide, then traveled to Melbourne, where he tested positive for the virus.
One major difference between Australia and the U.S., however, is that their vaccination program badly trails ours:
Australia expects its Covid-19 vaccination campaign to be delayed by months because of concerns over side effects from the AstraZeneca vaccine and supply-chain issues https://t.co/1fqtmFPSS8
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) April 13, 2021
And:
Morrison government under fire over Covid vaccine delays as Victoria enters lockdown https://t.co/pMH6gth9I7
— Guardian Australia (@GuardianAus) May 27, 2021
This is the city’s 4th lockdown for those keeping score at home:
Melbourne re-enters lockdown for the fourth time https://t.co/fA0P62Hm7T
— Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) May 27, 2021
Those who can leave the state are leaving the state:
Exodus from Melbourne ahead of midnight lockdown as NSW issues stay-at-home orders https://t.co/sEsd8Ut44e
— Stuff (@NZStuff) May 27, 2021
Some are comparing what’s happening right now in Australia to North Korea:
Sky News host Alan Jones says “we draw closer to North Korea” everyday as Greater Melbourne is set to be plunged into a “totalitarian” lockdown.https://t.co/JFwbFEWYZ2
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) May 27, 2021
Now, that comparison might be a little over the top, there is a backlash growing over this latest lockdown:
Pix: Anti Lockdown Protest Melbourne https://t.co/74nULKxIK9 pic.twitter.com/VynXiWy6sA
— AAP Photos (@aap_photos) May 27, 2021
More of this, please:
Anti-lockdown protest going through central Melbourne right now- pic.twitter.com/bkGZlGyYMy
— Laurie Penny (@PennyRed) May 27, 2021
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