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Australia Jacinda Ardern cancels travel between New Zealand and Australia

05:15  03 august  2020
05:15  03 august  2020 Source:   dailymail.co.uk

New Zealand PM Ardern's ratings sky high ahead of election

New Zealand PM Ardern's ratings sky high ahead of election New Zealand PM Ardern's ratings sky high ahead of electionWELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's party raced ahead of rivals in the latest opinion poll, putting the charismatic 40-year-old leader on track for a comfortable victory in the elections in September.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has cancelled plans for the trans-Tasman tourism bubble as Victoria struggles to contain a Community transmission in Victoria delayed the travel between the countries. New Zealand has not seen a single case of community transmission in 93 days.

After New Zealand ’s Jacinda Ardern dialled in to a meeting of Australia ’s national cabinet on Tuesday, she and Scott Morrison issued a joint statement saying they would pursue a trans-Tasman Covid-safe travel zone once Australia and New Zealand had eased current lockdown restrictions.

Jacinda Ardern has called off plans for a trans-Tasman travel bubble between New Zealand and Australia. 

The New Zealand Prime Minister said flights between the two nations was out of the question as Victoria struggles to contain a coronavirus outbreak. 

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a stage four lockdown on Sunday as his state recorded 671 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths.  

Victoria records 384 new COVID-19 cases and six new deaths overnight

Victoria records 384 new COVID-19 cases and six new deaths overnight Four of the six deaths are linked to aged care facilities. READ MORE: Bunnings won't back down over anti-maskers in Victoria storesGallery: Coronavirus in Australia Get the best stories in the world all in one place with Disney+ Ad Disney+ Investment Property Loan Deals Ad Finder Cash Rate Cut: Are You Getting The Best Home Loan Deal? Ad Finder

Jacinda Ardern , New Zealand ’s prime minister, said the travel agreement between Australia and New Zealand would not begin immediately. Ms Ardern became the first world leader for more than 60 years to join an Australian Cabinet meeting, appearing via video link on Tuesday to discuss travel

Australia - New Zealand travel bubble could be in place by September, expert group says. On Wednesday, the New Zealand prime minister, Jacinda Ardern , said in conversations with her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison there was enthusiasm from both sides for travel to resume.

The amount of community transmission has delayed the possibility of travel between New Zealand and Australia by several months.

New Zealand has not seen a single case of community transmission in 93 days compared to Melbourne's 760 active coronavirus cases with no known source.  

Jacinda Ardern holding a cat: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has cancelled plans for the trans-Tasman tourism bubble as Victoria struggles to contain a coronavirus outbreak © Provided by Daily Mail New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has cancelled plans for the trans-Tasman tourism bubble as Victoria struggles to contain a coronavirus outbreak Cours Mirabeau street filled with traffic at night: Premier Daniel Andrews announced a stage four lockdown on Sunday as Victoria recorded 671 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths (Pictured: Deserted Melbourne on Sunday night) © Provided by Daily Mail Premier Daniel Andrews announced a stage four lockdown on Sunday as Victoria recorded 671 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths (Pictured: Deserted Melbourne on Sunday night)

Ms Ardern told Radio NZ the outbreak was a 'major step back for the trans-Tasman travel.

Morrison Canberra bound to deal with escalating Victorian aged-care outbreak

Morrison Canberra bound to deal with escalating Victorian aged-care outbreak Prime Minister Scott Morrison will be cutting his trip to Queensland short to address issues facing Victoria's aged-care sector amid the state's second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. "The situation remains very concerning and particularly the aged-care situation," Mr Morrison said."The situation in Victorian aged-care is very complex," he said."Community transmission ... is finding its way into many facilities.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says a breakdown in COVID-19 measures that allowed two women to leave quarantine early is an "unacceptable failure of the system", for Jacinda Ardern said she could not allow New Zealand 's gains to be "squandered by processes that are not followed".

Australians could soon be allowed to fly to New Zealand as Jacinda Ardern prepares to let in Travel -bubble between Australia and New Zealand has been on table since May Prime Minster Jacinda Ardern said is prepared to restart trans-Tasman flights

'Obviously this is going to be some time away now,' Ms Ardern said. 

Gallery: Coronavirus in Australia

  • Slide 1 of 90: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: A digital sign warning people to social distance, otherwise there will be fines of $1000 per person is seen at Bondi Beach on August 02, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. As Sydney COVID-19 clusters in the east, inner west and south west continue to grow, Sydney is on high alert with a further 12 cases of COVID-19 reported overnight in New South Wales. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)
  • Slide 2 of 90: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: A healthcare worker wearing a face shield and protective clothing are seen showing information to someone about to be tested for COVID-19 at a pop-up testing clinic in Rushcutters Bay on August 02, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. As Sydney COVID-19 clusters in the east, inner west and south west continue to grow, Sydney is on high alert with a further 12 cases of COVID-19 reported overnight in New South Wales. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)
  • Slide 3 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: People line up outside a Coles supermarket in Malvern on August 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Public concern has increased as speculation grows that Premier Daniel Andrews will introduce further restrictions in his daily briefing (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 4 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: Members of the ADF (Australian Defence Force) patrol with Members of Victoria Police on August 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Public concern has increased as speculation grows that Premier Daniel Andrews will introduce further restrictions in his daily briefing (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 5 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 02: A shop attendant is seen wearing a face mask on August 02, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Public concern has increased as speculation grows that Premier Daniel Andrews will introduce further restrictions in his daily briefing (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 6 of 90: A members of the muslim community records his details on arrival to celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha at the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque in Sydney, Australia, 31 July 2020. New South Wales has granted an exemption for 400 people to gather at a mosque in western Sydney to celebrate Eid. Eid al-Adha is the holiest of the two Muslims holidays celebrated each year, it marks the yearly Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj) to visit Mecca, the holiest place in Islam. Muslims slaughter a sacrificial animal and split the meat into three parts, one for the family, one for friends and relatives, and one for the poor and needy.
  • Slide 7 of 90: Muslim worshippers leave Auburn Gallipoli Mosque after a mass Friday prayer on the first day of the Eid al-Adha festival in Sydney on July 31, 2020. - Muslims in Australia offered their Eid Al-Adha and Friday prayers inside the mosques with limitations and restrictions to halt the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus as the country recorded over 16,000 coronavirus cases and 189 deaths in a population of 25 million. (Photo by SAEED KHAN / AFP) (Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Slide 8 of 90: Police patrol near the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, 31 July 2020. According to local media reports, police intervened to clear the area after anti-mask protesters had gathered near the monument in the early morning hours. Victoria state has recently seen a spike in coronavirus cases, forcing authorities to declare face masks mandatory.
  • Slide 9 of 90: Police move to arrest two anti mask protesters for not wearing a mask and refusing to give their details to police. Anti facemask protesters rally at the Shrine of Remembrance a day after Victoria sees a new record in Coronavirus cases.
  • Slide 10 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 31: A man is fined by Victoria Police for refusing to wear a face mask on July 31, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria recorded 627 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths on Thursday, July 30. As of Sunday, masks will be compulsory state-wide, with additional restrictions in specific regional areas that have seen an uptick in new cases. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 11 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 31: Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews leaves the daily briefing on July 31, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria recorded 627 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths on Thursday, July 30. As of Sunday, masks will be compulsory state-wide, with additional restrictions in specific regional areas that have seen an uptick in new cases. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 12 of 90: Medical personnel in personal protective equipment (PPE) are seen at a pop-up testing centre for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as the state of New South Wales grapples with an outbreak of new cases, in Sydney, Australia, July 30, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
  • Slide 13 of 90: People maintain social distance as they queue to be tested for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a pop-up testing centre, as the state of New South Wales grapples with an outbreak of new cases, in Sydney, Australia, July 30, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
  • Slide 14 of 90: A medical personnel holds a swab while administering a test for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a pop-up testing centre, as the state of New South Wales grapples with an outbreak of new cases, in Sydney, Australia, July 30, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
  • Slide 15 of 90: Police speak to staff at the Epping Gardens aged care facility in the Melbourne suburb of Epping on July 29, 2020, as the city battles fresh outbreaks of the COVID-19 coronavirus. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Slide 16 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 28: An international student is seen collecting food from Alex Dekker of 'Alex makes meals' at a location in the Melbourne CBD on July 28, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Alex Makes Meals is a volunteer food organisation started by 20-year-old Alex Dekker during Melbourne’s lockdown when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in March. Originally aimed at providing meals for healthcare workers, the charity has now expanded to provide meals for anyone in need following the return of lockdown restrictions due to a spike in community coronavirus transmissions. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
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  • Slide 18 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 27: Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton speaks to the media on July 27, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria has recorded 532 new cases of coronavirus and six more deaths. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with people permitted to leave home only for exercise, work, to buy essential items, or to access childcare and healthcare and individuals are required Face coverings or be subject to a $200 fine. Lockdown measures are in place until August 19. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
  • Slide 19 of 90: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 27: A general view of the exterior of Thai Rock restaurant in Potts Point on July 27, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. A warning has been issued to anyone who attended Thai Rock in Potts Point in Sydney between July 15-25 to self-isolate and be tested after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19. Australia recorded 10 COVID-19 deaths yesterday - all in Victoria - the highest single-day death toll since the start of the pandemic. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
  • Slide 20 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 27: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews enters the press conference on July 27, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria has recorded 532 new cases of coronavirus and six more deaths. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with people permitted to leave home only for exercise, work, to buy essential items, or to access childcare and healthcare and individuals are required Face coverings or be subject to a $200 fine. Lockdown measures are in place until August 19. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
  • Slide 21 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 27: A Clinical waste removalist wearing PPE is seen emptying a clinical waste bin at St Basil's Home for the Aged in Fawkner on July 27, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria has recorded 532 new cases of coronavirus and six more deaths. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with people permitted to leave home only for exercise, work, to buy essential items, or to access childcare and healthcare and individuals are required Face coverings or be subject to a $200 fine. Lockdown measures are in place until August 19. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
  • Slide 22 of 90: Medical staff prepare to transport people from the St Basil's Home for the Aged Care in Fawkner, which has had an outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 July 2020. Aged care facilitates in Melbourne are reportedly being affected by the virus in multiple facilities.
  • Slide 23 of 90: Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and a Victorian Department of Human Services officer doorknocking houses in St Albans, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 25 July 2020. Australian Defence Force personnel are now doorknocking homes of Victorians who don't pick up the phone after testing positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
  • Slide 24 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 25: A man, wearing a protective face shield, looks on at Princes Park on July 25, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria reported seven COVID-19 deaths on July 24, the state's highest toll since the start of the pandemic. Effective, July 23, face coverings are mandatory for people leaving their homes in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Mitchell Shire with anyone failing to do so subject to a $200 fine. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with people permitted to leave home only for exercise, work, to buy essential items, or to access childcare and healthcare. Lockdown measures are in place until August 19. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 25 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 25: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (L) and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton arrive for a daily briefing on July 25, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria reported seven COVID-19 deaths on July 24, the state's highest toll since the start of the pandemic. Effective, July 23, face coverings are mandatory for people leaving their homes in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Mitchell Shire with anyone failing to do so subject to a $200 fine. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with people permitted to leave home only for exercise, work, to buy essential items, or to access childcare and healthcare. Lockdown measures are in place until August 19. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 26 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 25: A worker exits the Bertocchi Smallgoods premises in Thomastown, where a cluster of 57 coronavirus (COVID-19) cases has been traced to, on July 25, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria reported seven COVID-19 deaths on July 24, the state's highest toll since the start of the pandemic. Effective, July 23, face coverings are mandatory for people leaving their homes in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Mitchell Shire with anyone failing to do so subject to a $200 fine. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with people permitted to leave home only for exercise, work, to buy essential items, or to access childcare and healthcare. Lockdown measures are in place until August 19. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 27 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 25: Members of the Australian Defence Force patrol the streets with members of Victoria Police on July 25, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria reported seven COVID-19 deaths on July 24, the state's highest toll since the start of the pandemic. Effective, July 23, face coverings are mandatory for people leaving their homes in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Mitchell Shire with anyone failing to do so subject to a $200 fine. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with people permitted to leave home only for exercise, work, to buy essential items, or to access childcare and healthcare. Lockdown measures are in place until August 19. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 28 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: An empty Degraves Street is seen at the usually peak morning period on July 24, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Face masks or face coverings are now mandatory for anyone leaving their homes in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Mitchell Shire. The new rule went into effect on Thursday 23 July, and anyone failing to wear a mask in public can receive a $200 fine. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
  • Slide 29 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: A female jogger is seen running wearing a mask on July 24, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Face masks or face coverings are now mandatory for anyone leaving their homes in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Mitchell Shire. The new rule went into effect on Thursday 23 July, and anyone failing to wear a mask in public can receive a $200 fine. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
  • Slide 30 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: A woman wearing a mask is seen walking along the banks of the Yarra River on July 24, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Face masks or face coverings are now mandatory for anyone leaving their homes in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Mitchell Shire. The new rule went into effect on Thursday 23 July, and anyone failing to wear a mask in public can receive a $200 fine. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
  • Slide 31 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 24: Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews wearing a mask walks out of the theatre hall after his press conference on July 24, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Face masks or face coverings are now mandatory for anyone leaving their homes in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Mitchell Shire. The new rule into effect on Thursday 23 July, and anyone failing to wear a mask in public can receive a $200 fine. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
  • Slide 32 of 90: A Protective Services Officer speaks to a member of public in Melbourne after it became the first city in Australia to enforce mask-wearing in public as part of efforts to curb a resurgence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), July 23, 2020. REUTERS/Sandra Sanders
  • Slide 33 of 90: Beachgoers wear protective face masks at St Kilda beach in Melbourne after it became the first city in Australia to enforce mask-wearing in public as part of efforts to curb a resurgence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), July 23, 2020. REUTERS/Sandra Sanders
  • Slide 34 of 90: A cyclist wears a protective face mask in Melbourne after it became the first city in Australia to enforce mask-wearing in public as part of efforts to curb a resurgence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), July 23, 2020. REUTERS/Sandra Sanders
  • Slide 35 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 23: Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos speaks to the media on July 23, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Face masks or face coverings are now mandatory for anyone leaving their homes in the Melbourne metropolitan area or the Mitchell Shire. Under the new rule, which came into effect at midnight on Thursday, anyone failing to wear a mask in public can receive a $200 fine. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
  • Slide 36 of 90: Essential workers wear protective face masks in Melbourne after it became the first city in Australia to enforce mask-wearing in public as part of efforts to curb a resurgence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), July 23, 2020. REUTERS/Sandra Sanders
  • Slide 37 of 90: Commuters walk outside Melbourne's Flinders Street Station on July 23, 2020 on the first day of the mandatory wearing of face masks in public areas as the city experiences an outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Slide 38 of 90: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: Registered nurses Michelle Gibbons and Debbie Bhatti conduct COVID-19 swab tests as large crowds queue at a Bondi Beach drive-through testing clinic on July 22, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. New South Wales recorded 16 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the state's total number of coronavirus cases to 3,425. NSW residents are being urged to avoid non-essential travel and large crowds, as health authorities work to contain several COVID-19 cluster outbreaks across the state. Cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel, Thai Rock and Batemans Bay Soldiers Club clusters have been shown to all be linked to virus strains in Victoria, where residents are currently in lockdown due to the dramatic rise in community transmissions. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
  • Slide 39 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 22: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media on July 22, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria has recorded 484 new cases of coronavirus. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire remain in lockdown due to the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Face masks or coverings will be mandatory from Thursday 23 July, with $200 fines to apply for not wearing face coverings. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
  • Slide 40 of 90: COVID-19 Frontline Medical testing staff are seen at a pop-up site at Colac Area Health. Victoria has recorded 374 new cases overnight with 3 further deaths, health workers are busy at the Colac drive through testing facility in Regional Victoria.
  • Slide 41 of 90: Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos speaks during a press conference in Melbourne, Australia, 21 July 2020. Australia has recently seen a spike in coronavirus infections, with a cluster in Victoria where face masks will become mandatory starting 22 July.
  • Slide 42 of 90: A view of masked statues along Swanston street in Melbourne, Australia, 20 July 2020. Victorians will be forced to wear masks from Wednesday or face a 200 Australian dollar fine in a further attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
  • Slide 43 of 90: People wait to buy face masks outsides a pharmacy in Melbourne on July 20, 2020. - Australia's second-biggest city will make it compulsory to wear a mask in public, authorities announced on July 19, as Melbourne steps up efforts to bring a coronavirus outbreak under control. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Slide 44 of 90: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) leaves after speaking to media during a visit to DisplayWise in Sydney, Australia, 20 July 2020.
  • Slide 45 of 90: A view of facemasks for sale inside a store in Melbourne, Australia, 20 July 2020. Victorians will be forced to wear masks from Wednesday or face a 200 Australian dollar fine in a further attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
  • Slide 46 of 90: A health worker wearing a protective suit conducts tests for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the Bondi Beach drive-through testing centre, as the state of New South Wales grapples with an outbreak of new cases, in Sydney, Australia, July 20, 2020. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
  • Slide 47 of 90: People wearing face masks cross the normally busy Burke Street Mall in Melbourne on July 20, 2020. - Australia's second-biggest city will make it compulsory to wear a mask in public, authorities announced on July 19, as Melbourne steps up efforts to bring a coronavirus outbreak under control. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Slide 48 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 19: A medical professional is seen inside the Brady Hotel where people with COVID 19 are in quarantine on July 19, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire are currently in lockdown following the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions. The new restrictions came into effect on Thursday 9 July, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 49 of 90: Melbourne Remains In Lockdown Due To COVID-19, St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia - 19 Jul 2020, A For Lease sign is seen on Acland Street as commercial vacancies skyrocket during COVID 19. Premier Daniel Andrews announced today that from midnight on Wednesday facemasks will become mandatory for all those living under Stage 3 restrictions. Police will hand out 4200 fines for anyone not complying.
  • Slide 50 of 90: Daily life amid coronavirus pandemic in Melbourne, Australia - 19 Jul 2020, People wear masks as they walk around Melbourne, Australia, 19 July 2020. Australia has recently seen a spike in coronavirus cases, with a cluster in the state of Victoria where face masks will become mandatory starting 22 July. According to media reports, those not wearing a mask will face fines up to 200 Australian dollar.
  • Slide 51 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 19: A general view of the Alfred Street Public Housing complex in North Melbourne on July 19, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. The Housing block came out of total lockdown at 11.59pm and is now in line with restrictions placed on Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire which are currently in stage 3 lockdown following the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions. The new restrictions came into effect on Thursday 9 July, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 52 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 19: Clinical waste bins are removed from Alfred Street Public Housing complex in North Melbourne on July 19, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. The Housing block came out of total lockdown at 11.59pm and is now in line with restrictions placed on Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire which are currently in stage 3 lockdown following the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions. The new restrictions came into effect on Thursday 9 July, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 53 of 90: People wearing face mask walk while keeping social distancing at Fitzroy Gardens in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 18 July 2020. Victoria has recorded 217 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases on the day, bringing the state's number of active cases to over 2,600. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT
  • Slide 54 of 90: A sign hangs from a window at a Government Commission tower which remains under strict lockdown in Melbourne, Australia, 18 July 2020. Australia has recently seen a spike in coronavirus cases, with a cluster in the state of Victoria.
  • Slide 55 of 90: Healthcare workers prepare to conduct swab tests a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility in Hoppers Crossing, Melbourne, Australia, 17 July 2020. Australia has recently seen a spike in coronavirus cases, with a cluster in the state of Victoria.
  • Slide 56 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 17: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews sanitises his hands after speaking to the media at the daily briefing on July 17, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria has recorded 428 new cases of coronavirus overnight and three new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the state from COVID-19 to 32. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire are currently in lockdown following the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions. The new restrictions came into effect on Thursday 9 July, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 57 of 90: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media during a press conference regarding the coronavirus pandemic, at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, 16 July 2020. According to media reports, the Australian governement has announced a 1.39 billion US dollar plan for employment training and retraining, to help people reskill during the coronavirus pandemic.
  • Slide 58 of 90: A medical worker (centre L) speaks to people queueing outside a COVID-19 coronavirus testing venue at The Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne on July 16, 2020. - Melbourne, which is undergoing a six week lockdown, has recorded 317 new coronavirus cases, the largest biggest daily increase since the pandemic started in Australia. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
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  • Slide 62 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 15: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media during a press conference on July 15, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria has recorded 238 new coronavirus cases and one death overnight. The death of the woman in her 90s brings the state COVID-19 death toll to 27 and follows two other deaths confirmed on Tuesday night. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire are currently in lockdown following the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions. The new restrictions came into effect on Thursday 9 July, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders until 19 August. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Gatherings of groups of more than two or more than a household group are not permitted while school holidays have been extended by a week so children remain home. Retail can remain open and markets are permitted to open for food and drink only. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars are back to takeaway only. Eight public housing estates that have been under hard lockdown have reopened subject to stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions in line with the rest of Melbourne, while the tower at Alfred Street remains under hard lockdown while health authorities continue COVID-19 testing. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
  • Slide 63 of 90: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Tests are carried out at a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic at Victoria Park in Picton on July 14, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Twenty-eight confirmed COVID-19 cases have also now been linked to the Crossroads Hotel in the south-west Sydney suburb of Casula. All visitors to the pub from 3-10 July are now being urged by health authorities to self-isolate and get a coronavirus test. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
  • Slide 64 of 90: People wearing face masks are seen at the entrance of the Menarock Life aged care facility, where a cluster of some 28 new infections had been reported, in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon on July 14, 2020, as the city battles fresh outbreaks of the COVID-19 coronavirus. - Authorities on July 13 reported 177 new infections in and around Melbourne after the Australian city imposed a six-week lockdown on July 9, with surrounding Victoria state sealed off from the rest of the country in an effort to contain the virus. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Slide 65 of 90: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: A line of traffic leads to a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic at Victoria Park in Picton on July 14, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Twenty-eight confirmed COVID-19 cases have also now been linked to the Crossroads Hotel in the south-west Sydney suburb of Casula. All visitors to the pub from 3-10 July are now being urged by health authorities to self-isolate and get a coronavirus test. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
  • Slide 66 of 90: A staff member sanitises her hands outside the Menarock Life aged care facility, where a cluster of some 28 new infections had been reported, in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon on July 14, 2020, as the city battles fresh outbreaks of the COVID-19 coronavirus. - Authorities on July 13 reported 177 new infections in and around Melbourne after the Australian city imposed a six-week lockdown on July 9, with surrounding Victoria state sealed off from the rest of the country in an effort to contain the virus. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Slide 67 of 90: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks at a press conference in Homebush on July 14, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Berejiklian has announced stricter social distancing restrictions will be reintroduced in response to the COVID-19 cluster outbreak linked to the Crossroads Hotel in south-western Sydney. Group bookings at pubs will be reduced from 20 back to a maximum of 10 people and large venues will not be allowed to have more than 300 patrons, while there will be tougher regulations on venues to collect the contact details of patrons in case of an outbreak. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
  • Slide 68 of 90: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Tests are carried out at the Bondi Beach COVID-19 drive-through testing clinic on July 14, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Twenty-eight confirmed COVID-19 cases have now been linked to the Crossroads Hotel in the south-west Sydney suburb of Casula. All visitors to the pub from 3-10 July are now being urged by health authorities to self-isolate and get a coronavirus test. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
  • Slide 69 of 90: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: COVID-19 testing is carried out at the Crossroads Hotel in Casula on July 13, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Nine confirmed COVID-19 cases have now been linked to the Crossroads Hotel in the south-west Sydney suburb of Casula. All visitors to the pub from 3-10 July are now being urged by health authorities to self isolate and get a coronavirus test. A pop-up testing clinic has been set up in the hotel carpark. (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
  • Slide 70 of 90: Two woman wearing facemasks are seen staring at something of interest in the CBD during COVID-19. After seeing another 177 cases overnight and further outbreaks in nursing homes, Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire are in lockdown following the rise of active cases to 1,612. The new restrictions came into effect on Thursday 9 July with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders for the next six weeks.
  • Slide 71 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: An empty Federation Square is seen on July 13, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire are in lockdown following the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions. The new restrictions came into effect on Thursday 9 July, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders for the next six weeks. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Gatherings of groups of more than two or more than a household group are not permitted while school holidays have been extended by a week so children remain home. Retail can remain open and markets are permitted to open for food and drink only. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars are back to takeaway only. Eight public housing estates that have been under hard lockdown have reopened subject to stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions in line with the rest of Melbourne, while the tower at Alfred Street remains under hard lockdown while health authorities continue COVID-19 testing. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
  • Slide 72 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton speaks to the media at a press conference at Treasury Theatre on July 13, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire are in lockdown following the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions. The new restrictions came into effect on Thursday 9 July, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders for the next six weeks. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Gatherings of groups of more than two or more than a household group are not permitted while school holidays have been extended by a week so children remain home. Retail can remain open and markets are permitted to open for food and drink only. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars are back to takeaway only. Eight public housing estates that have been under hard lockdown have reopened subject to stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions in line with the rest of Melbourne, while the tower at Alfred Street remains under hard lockdown while health authorities continue COVID-19 testing. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
  • Slide 73 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: An empty Flinder Street Station is seen on July 13, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire are in lockdown following the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions. The new restrictions came into effect on Thursday 9 July, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders for the next six weeks. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Gatherings of groups of more than two or more than a household group are not permitted while school holidays have been extended by a week so children remain home. Retail can remain open and markets are permitted to open for food and drink only. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars are back to takeaway only. Eight public housing estates that have been under hard lockdown have reopened subject to stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions in line with the rest of Melbourne, while the tower at Alfred Street remains under hard lockdown while health authorities continue COVID-19 testing. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
  • Slide 74 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: People wearing face masks walk down an empty Bourke Street Mall on July 13, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire are in lockdown following the rise in COVID-19 cases through community transmissions. The new restrictions came into effect on Thursday 9 July, with residents in lockdown areas under stay at home orders for the next six weeks. People are only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Gatherings of groups of more than two or more than a household group are not permitted while school holidays have been extended by a week so children remain home. Retail can remain open and markets are permitted to open for food and drink only. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars are back to takeaway only. Eight public housing estates that have been under hard lockdown have reopened subject to stage 3 COVID-19 restrictions in line with the rest of Melbourne, while the tower at Alfred Street remains under hard lockdown while health authorities continue COVID-19 testing. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
  • Slide 75 of 90: A police patrol car is seen at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 July 2020. Residents in metropolitan Melbourne have been advised to wear masks in public amid a spike in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, and are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for essential work, study, exercise or care responsibilities, media reported.
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  • Slide 80 of 90: Response personnel dispose of rubbish outside a public housing tower, reopened the previous night after being locked down in response to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Melbourne, Australia, July 10, 2020. REUTERS/Sandra Sanders
  • Slide 81 of 90: An essential worker sanitises surfaces after lockdown restrictions were implemented in response to an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Melbourne, Australia, July 10, 2020. REUTERS/Sandra Sanders
  • Slide 82 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Members of Victoria Police perform checks at a road block on the Princes Freeway just before Little River on July 09, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Lockdown measures across metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire came into effect at midnight, with Victorian residents of those areas under stay at home orders for the next six weeks. Under the new lockdown restrictions, people will only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Victorians cannot gather in groups of more than two or their household group, school holidays will be extended for at least a week. Retail can remain open and markets are permitted to open for food and drink only. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars are back to takeaway only. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 83 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: A man wearing PPE pushes a trolley with supplies at the Flemington Public housing tower on July 09, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Lockdown measures across metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell shire came into effect at midnight, with Victorian residents of those areas under stay at home orders for the next six weeks. Under the new lockdown restrictions, people will only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Victorians cannot gather in groups of more than two or their household group, school holidays will be extended for at least a week. Retail can remain open and markets are permitted to open for food and drink only. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars are back to takeaway only. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)
  • Slide 84 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 07: Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speak to the media on July 07, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victoria will go into further six week lockdown effective from 11:59 Wednesday 8 July after the state recorded its highest daily increase since the epidemic began, with 191 cases recorded in the latest 24-hour reporting period. Under the new lockdown restrictions, people will only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Victorians can not gather in groups of more than two or their household group, school holidays will be extended for at least a week. Retail can remain open and markets are permitted to open for food and drink only. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars are back to takeaway only. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 85 of 90: Police officers and healthcare workers are stationed outside a public housing tower that is locked down as a Coronavirus hotspot in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, July 8, 2020. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says a shutdown of the nation's second-largest city is necessary and promised continuing financial support for businesses that fear they won't survive a second lockdown. (James Ross/AAP Image via AP)
  • Slide 86 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 07: Players are seen preparing to board a bus where the Melbourne based A-League teams will then head to New South Wales from AAMI Park on July 07, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 87 of 90: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 07: Victorian Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos speaks to the media on July 07, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Victorian premier Danial Andrews has announced further lockdown measures for residents in metropolitan Melbourne or the Mitchell shire for six weeks effective from 11:59 Wednesday 8 July. The announcement comes after the state recorded its highest daily increase since the epidemic began, with 191 cases recorded in the latest 24-hour reporting period. Under the new lockdown restrictions, people will only able to leave home have for exercise or work, to buy essential items including food or to access childcare and healthcare. Victorians cannot gather in groups of more than two or their household group, school holidays will be extended for at least a week. Retail can remain open and markets are permitted to open for food and drink only. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, clubs and bars are back to takeaway only. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
  • Slide 88 of 90: Police in the southern New South Wales (NSW) border city of Albury check cars crossing the state border from Victoria on July 8, 2020 after authorities closed the border due to an outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus in Victoria. - With the city of Melbourne going into lockdown for the next six weeks, the entire state of Victoria will effectively be sealed off from the rest of the country with the state border to NSW closing on 08 July. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)
  • Slide 89 of 90: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 07: Passengers have their temperature checked by health officials as they arrive from a Qantas flight at Sydney Airport on one of the last flights out of Melbourne to Sydney on July 07, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. The NSW-Victoria border will close at 11:59pm on Tuesday evening due to a large spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria. It is the first time in 100 years the border between the two states has been closed, and comes after Victoria recorded its highest-ever daily increase in cases, 127, since the start of the pandemic on Monday, along with the deaths of two Victorian men. From 12:01 Wednesday 8 July, NSW residents returning from Victoria will need to self isolate for 14 days. Special provisions will be in place for border communities such as Albury-Wodonga as well as freight operations and other critical services. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)
  • Slide 90 of 90: ALBURY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 7: A sign is displayed regarding COVID-19 restrictions in the New South Wales (NSW), Victoria border town of Albury on July 7, 2020 in Australia. The NSW-Victoria border will close at 11:59pm on Tuesday evening due to a large spike in COVID-19 cases in Victoria. It is the first time in 100 years the border between the two states has been closed, and comes after Victoria recorded its highest-ever daily increase in cases, 127, since the start of the pandemic on Monday, along with the deaths of two Victorian men. From 12:01 Wednesday 8 July, NSW residents returning from Victoria will need to self isolate for 14 days. Special provisions will be in place for border communities such as Albury-Wodonga as well as freight operations and other critical services. (Photo by David Gray/Getty Images)
1/90 SLIDES © James D. Morgan/Getty Images

A sudden surge in the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases has been reported from Australian cities of Melbourne and Sydney. In a bid to control the outbreak, authorities announced on July 7 that Melbourne and Mitchell Shire in the state of Victoria will return to Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions for six weeks, from 11:59 p.m. on July 8. Wearing of face masks has been made compulsory in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire starting 11:59 p.m. on July 22. A $200 fine will be charged from those who fail to do so. Several new cases have been reported from Sydney, the capital of New South Wales (NSW). Most of the cases were from a cluster linked to a hotel, leading to the reintroduction of stricter social distancing norms. Meanwhile, for the first time in a 100 years, the border between Victoria and NSW – two of the nation's most populous states – has been closed to curb the outbreak.

Minister stands by response to Victorian COVID-19 crisis

Minister stands by response to Victorian COVID-19 crisis Questions have been raised over why it took so long for action to be taken in Victoria over the mounting coronavirus outbreak in aged care homes across the state. It comes as Premier Daniel Andrews took aim at the Federal Government over its handling of the crisis.Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck told Today the situation in a number of aged care facilities was concerning, but there was now enough being done about the problem.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has dismissed the prospect of a trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia starting "anytime soon". Recent polling showed Ms Ardern 's popularity steady at 54 per cent. Speaking on NZ 's The AM Show on Monday morning, Ms Ardern said Australia 's

The prime minister appeared to be responding to the opposition leader, who has said keeping the borders closed for months or years is ‘untenable’.

Here's a look at the ongoing situation in pictures.

(Pictured) A digital sign warning people to social distance is seen at Bondi Beach in Sydney on Aug. 2.

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A healthcare worker wearing a face shield and protective clothing is seen at a pop-up testing clinic in Rushcutters Bay in Sydney on Aug. 2.

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People maintain social distancing as they line up outside a Coles supermarket in Melbourne on Aug. 2.

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Members of the Australian Defence Force patrol with members of Victoria Police in Melbourne on Aug. 2.

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An attendant wearing a face mask is seen at a store in Melbourne on Aug. 2.

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A member of the Muslim community records his details on arrival at the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque in Sydney for Eid al-Adha prayers on July 31. New South Wales had granted an exemption for 400 people to gather at the mosque to celebrate Eid.

New Zealand's Ardern on track to win September election, poll shows

New Zealand's Ardern on track to win September election, poll shows New Zealand's Ardern on track to win September election, poll showsThe 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton Poll showed Labour's popularity at 53%, a rise of 3 percentage points from late June. If repeated in the elections, that would allow the party to govern on its own rather than in coalition.

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Worshipers leave Auburn Gallipoli Mosque after Friday prayer on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha festival on July 31.

8/90 SLIDES © Daniel Pockett/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Police patrol near the Shrine of Remembrance enforcing COVID-19 restrictions in Melbourne on July 31.

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Police arrests an anti-mask protester for not wearing a mask and refusing to give details to police in Melbourne on July 31.

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A man is fined by Victoria Police for refusing to wear a face mask in Melbourne on July 31.

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Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews leaves the daily briefing in Melbourne on July 31.
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Medical personnel in personal protective equipment (PPE) are seen at a pop-up testing centre in Sydney on July 30.
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People maintain social distance as they queue to be tested for COVID-19 in Sydney on July 30.
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A medical personnel holds a swab while administering a test in Sydney on July 30.
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Police speak to staff at the Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility, on the outskirts of Melbourne, on July 29.

NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Australian coronavirus transmission too high for trans-Tasman travel bubble

NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Australian coronavirus transmission too high for trans-Tasman travel bubble The New Zealand Prime Minister removes any hope Australians may have had of travelling across the ditch anytime soon, saying Australian coronavirus community transmission remains too high.Speaking on NZ's The AM Show on Monday morning, Ms Ardern said Australia's coronavirus community transmission levels were too high to contemplate opening her nation to its citizens.

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An international student is seen collecting food from a volunteer of a charity food organisation in Melbourne on July 28. Originally aimed at providing meals for healthcare workers, the charity, Alex Makes Meals, has now expanded to provide meals for anyone in need following the return of lockdown restrictions.

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Cleaners are seen at Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility on July 28.

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Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton speaks to the media in Melbourne on July 27.
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A general view of the exterior of Thai Rock restaurant in Potts Point in Sydney on July 27. A warning has been issued to anyone who attended Thai Rock between July 15 and 25 to self-isolate and be tested after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews arrives for a press conference in Melbourne on July 27.

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A clinical waste remover wearing personal protective equipment is seen emptying a clinical waste bin at St. Basil's Home for the Aged, which has had an outbreak of COVID-19, in Fawkner suburb of Melbourne on July 27.

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Medical staff prepare to transport people from the St. Basil's Home for the Aged in Fawkner on July 25.

Covid-19: New Zealand wants to create a tourist "bubble" with the Cook Islands

Covid-19: New Zealand wants to create a tourist © Marty Melville, AFP New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during a press conference in Parliament located in Wellington , June 8, 2020. New Zealand and the Cook Islands want to allow tourists to travel between the two territories, which are performing well in the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

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Australian Defence Force personnel and a Victorian Department of Human Services officer knock on houses in Melbourne on July 25. ADF personnel are now knocking on doors of homes of Victorians who don't pick up the phone after testing positive for coronavirus disease.

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A man wearing a protective face shield at Princes Park in Melbourne on July 25.

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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews arrives for a daily briefing in Melbourne on July 25.

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A worker exits the Bertocchi Smallgoods premises, where a cluster of 57 coronavirus cases was recorded, in Melbourne on July 25.

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Members of the Australian Defence Force patrol the streets with members of Victoria Police in Melbourne on July 25.

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An empty Degraves Street is seen at the usually peak morning period in Melbourne on July 24.

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A jogger is seen running while wearing a mask in Melbourne on July 24.

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A woman is seen walking along the banks of the Yarra river in Melbourne on July 24.

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Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews walks out of the theatre hall after his press conference in Melbourne on July 24.

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A Protective Services Officer (R) speaks to a member of public in Melbourne on July 23.

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Beachgoers wear protective face masks at St Kilda beach in Melbourne on July 23.

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A cyclist wears a protective face mask in Melbourne after it became the first city in Australia to enforce mask-wearing in public as part of efforts to curb a resurgence of COVID-19, on July 23.
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Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos speaks to the media in Melbourne on July 23.
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Essential workers wear protective face masks in Melbourne on July 23.
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Commuters walk outside Melbourne's Flinders Street Station on July 23.
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Registered nurses conduct COVID-19 swab tests as large crowds queue at a Bondi Beach drive-through testing clinic in Sydney on July 22.
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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media in Melbourne on July 22.

New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, in level three lockdown after new coronavirus cases

New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, in level three lockdown after new coronavirus cases The streets of Auckland are mostly deserted after New Zealand's largest city is plunged back into lockdown following the country's first coronavirus case in more than 100 days. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's late-night announcement on Tuesday meant residents had less than 15 hours to prepare for level three restrictions that will last for at least three days.Auckland resident Louise Young told the ABC the streets were very busy in the morning as people tried to complete errands or leave the city before the midday deadline."People are panic buying again, even though it's only three days," she said.

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Frontline medical staff work at a pop-up testing site at Colac Area Health in Victoria on July 22.

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Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos speaks during a press conference in Melbourne on July 21.

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Statues along Swanston Street in Melbourne are seen with face masks on July 20.

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People wait to buy face masks outsides a pharmacy in Melbourne on July 20.

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) leaves after speaking to media during a visit to DisplayWise in Sydney on July 20.

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A view of face masks for sale inside a store in Melbourne on July 20.

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A health worker wearing a protective suit conducts tests for COVID-19 at the Bondi Beach drive-through testing centre in Sydney on July 20.

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People wearing face masks cross the normally busy Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne on July 20.

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A medical professional is seen inside the Brady Hotel, where people with COVID-19 are in quarantine, in Melbourne on July 19.

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A “For Lease” sign is seen on Acland Street in Melbourne, as commercial vacancies skyrocket during COVID-19, on July 19.

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People wear masks as they walk around Melbourne on July 19.
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A general view of the public housing complex at Alfred Street in Melbourne on July 19. The housing block came out of total lockdown late on July 18 and is now in line with restrictions placed across the rest of Melbourne.

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Clinical waste bins are removed from the public housing complex at Alfred Street on July 19.

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People wearing face masks walk while keeping social distancing at Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne on July 18.

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A sign hangs from a window of a tower under strict lockdown, in Melbourne on July 18.

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Healthcare workers prepare to conduct swab tests at a drive-through COVID-19 testing facility in Hoppers Crossing on July 17.

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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews sanitises his hands after speaking to the media at the daily briefing in Melbourne on July 17.

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks to the media during a press conference regarding the coronavirus pandemic, at the Parliament House in Canberra on July 16.

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A medical worker speaks to a person outside a COVID-19 testing venue at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Melbourne on July 16.

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A notice has been placed on the front door of a cafe to advise customers that they are closed until further notice, in Melbourne, on July 15.

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Australian Capital Territory (ACT) police and health officers stand during a quarantine compliance check demonstration at the Burbury Hotel in Canberra on July 15.

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A food delivery person is seen riding by one of the many empty shops with a "for lease" sign in Melbourne on July 15. 

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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews gives an update about the new cases reported overnight during his morning press conference in Melbourne on July 15.

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Tests are carried out at a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic at Victoria Park in Sydney on July 14.
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People wearing face masks are seen at the entrance of the Menarock Life aged care facility, where a cluster of some new infections had been reported, in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon on July 14.
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A line of traffic leads to a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic in Sydney on July 14.
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A staff member sanitises her hands outside the Menarock Life aged care facility on July 14.

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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks at a press conference in Sydney on July 14. Berejiklian said that stricter social distancing restrictions will be reintroduced in response to the COVID-19 cluster outbreak linked to Sydney’s Crossroads Hotel. Group bookings at pubs will be reduced from 20 back to a maximum of 10 people and large venues will not be allowed to have more than 300 patrons, while there will be tougher regulations on venues to collect the contact details of patrons in case of an outbreak.

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Tests are carried out at the Bondi Beach COVID-19 drive-through testing clinic in Sydney on July 14.

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COVID-19 testing is carried out at the Crossroads Hotel in Sydney suburb of Casula on July 13.

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People wearing face masks are seen in Melbourne on July 13.

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An empty Federation Square is seen in Melbourne on July 13.

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Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton speaks to the media at a press conference in Melbourne on July 13.

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An empty Flinders Street railway station is seen in Melbourne on July 13.

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People wearing face masks walk down an empty Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne on July 13.

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A police patrol car is seen at St. Kilda Beach in Melbourne on July 12.

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A general view of Bourke Street on July 12.

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A general view of empty streets at Hosier Lane in Melbourne on July 12.

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Balloons are seen on the fence of the locked down public housing tower at 33 Alfred Street in North Melbourne on July 12. Restrictions were earlier eased in the other eight public housing towers that had also been in hard lockdown.

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Police walk dogs belonging to residents of the Alfred Street public housing tower, which remains under tight lockdown, on July 11.

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Response personnel dispose of rubbish outside a public housing tower in Melbourne on July 10.

81/90 SLIDES © Sandra Sanders/Reuters

An essential worker sanitises surfaces in Melbourne on July 10.

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Members of Victoria Police perform checks at a road block in Melbourne on July 9.

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Workers seen with trolleys of supplies at the Flemington Public housing tower in Melbourne on July 9.
84/90 SLIDES © Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media, announcing the lockdown, in Melbourne, on July 7. "We're on the cusp of something very, very bad if we don't take these steps today... Let's not see it as simply an inconvenience. It's much more than that. It's a pandemic," he said.
85/90 SLIDES © James Ross/AAP Image via AP Photo
Police officers and healthcare workers are stationed outside a public housing tower that is locked down as a coronavirus hotspot, in Melbourne on July 8.
86/90 SLIDES © Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Players of Melbourne-based A-League teams are seen preparing to board a bus in an attempt to head to New South Wales from AAMI Park in Melbourne on July 7.
87/90 SLIDES © Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos speaks to the media in Melbourne on July 7. During an interview with a radio station, she stressed that "if we show a little bit of patience, and follow the rules for the next six weeks, we can bring the cases back down again."
88/90 SLIDES © William West/AFP via Getty Images
Police in Albury check cars crossing the state border from Victoria on July 8.
89/90 SLIDES © James D. Morgan/Getty Images
Passengers have their temperature checked by health officials as they arrive at Sydney Airport on one of the last flights out of Melbourne to the city on July 7.
90/90 SLIDES © David Gray/Getty Images
A sign is displayed regarding COVID-19 restrictions in New South Wales on July 7.
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Ms Ardern said all of Australia would need to be free of community transmission for at least 28 days before the travel bubble goes ahead.

'Anywhere where we have COVID-free travel they have to be free of community transmission for a period of time - that will be some time for Australia,' she told The AM Show.

'It will be on the backburner for several months.' 

For the next six weeks, Melburnians are banned from leaving their homes between 8pm and 5am unless for work or care-related reasons. 

While the restrictions are the most intense in Australia so far, they are still not as harsh as New Zealand's level four lockdown.

There was a possibility of opening up the trans-Tasman bubble state-by-state as other locations in Australia are better off than Victoria.

Federal tourism minister Simon Birmingham announced last Thursday that there could be approval for a travel-bubble on a state-by-state basis.  

The Morrison government previously said Australia would only enter into a travel agreement if state borders were open and all residents had access.

But Senator Birmingham said he hoped the plan could move forward 'at some point this year,' according to the Australian Financial Review.

'If New Zealand was ready to move and the rest of country in Australia was ready to move - but we had this quarantine still in place around Victoria - well that's an idea that's worth entertaining,' he said at a Tourism and Transport Forum summit.

a large building with a clock on the side of a road: While the Melbourne restrictions are the most intense in Australia so far, they are still not as harsh as New Zealand's level four lockdown © Provided by Daily Mail While the Melbourne restrictions are the most intense in Australia so far, they are still not as harsh as New Zealand's level four lockdown Daniel Andrews wearing glasses: Melbourne's restrictions came into place from 6pm Sunday and will run for six weeks before being reevaluated on September 13 © Provided by Daily Mail Melbourne's restrictions came into place from 6pm Sunday and will run for six weeks before being reevaluated on September 13

'[The government would] see if we can manage to work it out with the Kiwis so they can travel safely to Sydney, Gold Coast, Adelaide and Perth.'

But comments made by Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran last week suggest the plan may not go ahead until 2021.

'[The travel bubble] felt a little bit closer eight weeks ago,' he said.

'Now it feels that possibly, that maybe, at best, [it could come at] the end of this year, and probably more likely next year.'  

Melbourne's restrictions came into place from 6pm Sunday and will run for six weeks before being reevaluated on September 13. 

Under the 'stage four' restrictions, Melbourne residents will only be allowed to exercise for an hour a day and can't travel more than 5km from home for the purpose of shopping.

a screenshot of a computer: Victoria recorded 671 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday (pictured). A Stage 4 lockdown will see nearly all shops close and high school students back to learning from home © Provided by Daily Mail Victoria recorded 671 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday (pictured). A Stage 4 lockdown will see nearly all shops close and high school students back to learning from home

Only one person from each household will be able to go to the shops each day.

Metropolitan Melbourne will be under a nightly curfew, between the hours of 8pm to 5am, from Sunday night with some exemptions for those providing care and travelling to and from work.

Regional Victoria will move to 'stage three' restrictions, with restaurants, cafes, bars, gyms and other businesses to shut from midnight on Wednesday.

Victoria recorded seven new deaths from coronavirus on Sunday, taking the national toll to 208, along with 671 new cases.

Six of the deaths were connected to the age care sector.

Seventy-three of the new cases are linked to known outbreaks while 598 remain under investigation.




WHAT IS THE TRANS-TASMAN BUBBLE

Australia and New Zealand have discussed the possibility of a 'trans-Tasman bubble'.

The bubble would allow residents from both countries to travel across the ditch without having to endure a mandatory 14-day isolation period.

The idea has been raised as both countries have been successful in controlling the outbreak of the coronavirus. 

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said the bubble would only be introduced if they could guarantee they would neither import or export cases.

New Zealand's largest city, Auckland, in level three lockdown after new coronavirus cases .
The streets of Auckland are mostly deserted after New Zealand's largest city is plunged back into lockdown following the country's first coronavirus case in more than 100 days. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's late-night announcement on Tuesday meant residents had less than 15 hours to prepare for level three restrictions that will last for at least three days.Auckland resident Louise Young told the ABC the streets were very busy in the morning as people tried to complete errands or leave the city before the midday deadline."People are panic buying again, even though it's only three days," she said.

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