Australia coronavirus cases surge as 'nine in ten ignore isolation rules'

Australia reported 502 new coronavirus infections over a single 24-hour period yesterday — the largest daily number of cases since the pandemic began. The figure was well ahead of the previous single-day record of 469, recorded in March. Australia also reported its highest daily number of coronavirus-related deaths in three months today, with five deaths in the past 24 hours taking the nationwide total to 128. “This demonstrates the growing toll this terrible virus is taking on our community,” Jenny Mikakos, the health minister, said. The increase prompted Daniel Andrews, the Victoria premier, to threaten a longer lockdown in Melbourne, Australia’s second largest city, which has been hardest hit by the resurgence. The city, which has a population of 4.9 million, is in the throes of a second six-week lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19.