France, Italy, Austria and Greece report record increases in Covid-19 cases; Melbourne cluster grows. Follow the latest updates live * US coronavirus cases surge in final days before election * How Australia is tracking where Covid cases come from * Coronavirus vaccine final-stage testing to restart in US * Which countries have the most coronavirus cases and deaths? 12.15am BST The Australian health minister, GREG HUNT, has urged the Victorian government to ease restrictions to bring the state in line with neighbouring New South Wales. Hunt, whose electorate is in Victoria, was speaking in Canberra ahead of Victorian premier DANIEL ANDREWS’S announcement. He urged the state: ...to take the next step to opening up safely, and we hope and commend to Victoria that the Commonwealth will support them in moving to those next levels of reduced restrictions, in line with New South Wales. We have seen how a strong testing, tracing and isolation system can allow a state to manage through the challenges of this. [There have been] over 400,000 cases a day for the last four days, consecutively, globally. In Australia, seven states and territories, zero community cases, yesterday. One state, with seven. And that means we are in a strong position, and there should be no barrier to Victoria taking those steps in line with New South Wales. And they have improved their systems and we want to commend and acknowledge that improvement. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS MORE TO GO, BUT THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED TO A LEVEL WHERE, IN OUR VIEW, THEY ARE CAPABLE OF MANAGING SMALL CASE NUMBERS, because if we do not do that, then we see the risks to mental health and health which have been so sadly evident in the numbers. But all up, it is a day of great hope. 12.11am BST Moreland City Council, which covers an area of Melbourne’s northern suburbs, this morning sent an alert to residents WARNING THAT CORONAVIRUS CASES HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED IN THE SUBURBS OF FAWKNER, PRESTON, WEST HEIDELBERG, DALLAS, ROXBURGH PARK AND BROADMEADOWS. Anyone who lives or works in that area is urged to gets tested if they experience even mild symptoms. Continue reading...
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