(ANSA) - ROME, OCTOBER 17 - The Australian city of Melbourne, which has spent more time in lockdown than any other place in the world during the Covid pandemic, will remove the obligation to stay home this week. This was announced by local authorities, cited by the Guardian.
The capital of the state of Victoria has had six lockdowns since March 2020, totaling 262 days of confinement (almost nine months), surpassing - the Australian media write - the record of Buenos Aires, 'closed' for 234 days.
As Covid cases continue to rise in Victoria, the two-dose vaccination rate will reach 70% this week, the threshold set to begin lifting restrictions.
Even if hotels, restaurants and other businesses reopen, there will still be many restrictions;
when the vaccination rate reaches 80% - scheduled for November 5 at the latest - there will be further easing.
Victoria has today recorded 1,838 new cases and seven deaths.
New South Wales, the neighboring state, which emerged from a 100-day lockdown last week with 80% vaccinated, today counted 301 cases and 10 deaths.
(HANDLE).
