Australia To Ease Curbs As Cases Drop

PM Morrison expects return of the foreign students in July.

Australia has eliminated the novel coronavirus in many parts of the country, its chief medical officer said on Friday, clearing the way for sports fans to soon return to stadiums and for foreign students to prepare to fly back to classes.

Australia recorded just 38 cases of the coronavirus over the past week, with travellers returning from overseas and already in quarantine accounting for more than half of them, said Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy. “We have effectively achieved elimination at this time in many parts of the country,” Murphy told reporters.

PM Scott Morrison last month announced a three-step plan to remove most lockdown measures by July. But with case numbers falling significantly, Morrison said restrictions on indoor gatherings would be loosened in July with crowds of up 10,000 people allowed in seated stadiums and a trial scheme to allow foreign students to return. Details for students were being finalised but they would require quarantine, he said.