Two-minute guide to the latest on the Australia's coronavirus crisis - as Victoria announces unprecedented restrictions and NSW sits on a knife edge
- Victoria will shut down retail stores and some manufacturing, administration
- Supermarkets, groceries and post offices will stay open during the lockdown
- The NSW government urged its citizens to wear a mask to fight the spread
It was another 'heartbreaking' day for Australia in the fight against coronavirus, with with Victoria releasing details on its stage four lockdown measures amid warnings NSW is entering a 'critical stage'.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced sweeping restrictions that will effect the retail, manufacturing and construction sectors.
The NSW government strongly urged residents to wear masks in high-risk settings as the state attempts to fight off a Victoria-style outbreak.
Here's the latest on the crisis in Australia.
Australia has experienced a concerning day during the pandemic as Victoria announces further lockdown restrictions and NSW enters a 'critical stage'
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
* Another 13 Victorians have died, bringing the national death toll to 221. It was the state's equal worst day for fatalities.
* Victoria announced 429 new cases on Monday. The other new cases in Australia are 13 in NSW and two in South Australia.
* Of the 13 deaths announced on Monday, eight were linked to outbreaks in aged care facilities. They include a man in his 60s, two men and a woman in their 70s, two men in their 80s and five women and two men in their 90s.
* Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews also announced a partial business shutdown across Melbourne.
* Supermarkets, groceries and post offices will stay open, but retail, some manufacturing and administration, must stop onsite operations as of midnight on Wednesday.
* A third group of businesses, including meatworks, will stay open but under much stricter conditions.
* It follows the introduction of tough new restrictions imposed across Melbourne from Sunday evening, which include allowing only one person per household to shop and only one to exercise for an hour a day. Both activities must be within a 5km radius.
* There will also be an 8pm-5am curfew in Melbourne over the next six weeks. Anyone caught in breach of the regulations will be handed a $1652 on-the-spot fine.
* Stage three restrictions also apply in regional Victoria, with people only allowed out to shop for food and essential items, and for exercise, work, study or caregiving.
* The NSW government, meanwhile, is strongly recommending people wear masks in high-risk situations as the state enters what Ms Berejiklian labelled a critical phase.
* South Australia has reimposed some coronavirus restrictions. From midnight on Tuesday, family gatherings will be limited to 10 people, down from 50, and pubs and restaurant patrons must be seated.
* Tasmania has reneged on its agreement to open its border to South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory at the end of the week. Instead Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said his government would not open the state to anyone until at least August 31.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the retail sector along with some manufacturing and administration will shut down but supermarkets, groceries and post offices will stay open. Pictured are commuters wearing facemasks in Melbourne
SPORT
* AFL crowds at Adelaide Oval will be cut back and North Melbourne's round-12 game against Brisbane will no longer take place in Hobart after the premier announced Tasmania's borders would remain shut.
* The capacity at the Melbourne Storm's home ground on the Sunshine Coast will be reduced by 1000 after concerns were raised about social distancing. The parties were in contact with the Queensland government on Monday morning after vision of the stadium appeared to show the crowd packed on the hill for the Storm's Sunday afternoon NRL win over Newcastle.
KEY DATES
* July 2 to September 13 - stage four lockdown for Melbourne including a nightly curfew and stage three lockdown for regional Victoria.
* August 3 - Face masks will be mandatory for all Victorians.
* August 5 - Business shutdowns across Melbourne will begin.
* August 31 - Tasmania's borders will remain shut until at least the end of the month.
The street were empty in Melbourne's China town on Sunday night as the 8pm curfew kicked in
AUSTRALIAN CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS
* Australia's total number of active cases is 7475.
* The national death toll as of Sunday is 221: NSW 52, Victoria 136, Tasmania 13, WA 9, Queensland 6, SA 4, ACT 3. (Two Queensland residents who died in NSW have been included in the official tolls of both states).
GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS
* Cases: at least 18,239,000
* Deaths: at least 692,000
* Recovered: at least 11,450,000.
Data current as of 1815 AEST August 3, taking in federal government and state/territory government updates, Worldometer and Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre.
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