Prognosis
Second Wave Sees Australia’s Most-Populous States Shut Border
- Closure prompted by spike in virus cases in Victoria state
- Tower blocks likened to ‘vertical cruise ships’ locked down
Photographer: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
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Australia’s two most-populous states will close their shared border from Tuesday night as authorities battle to contain Victoria’s worst spike in coronavirus cases since the crisis began.
The decision taken by the governments of New South Wales and Victoria marks a dramatic escalation of efforts to contain the virus and could jeopardize the nation’s economic recovery as restrictions are eased elsewhere. Victoria, which has locked down 12 areas of the state capital Melbourne, recorded 127 cases overnight, its biggest daily increase.