After another weekend living under strict quarantine rules, Australian health officials say the isolation measures are working, with just 80 new COVID-19 cases recorded across the country over the weekend.
New South Wales recorded just six news cases overnight, and Victoria one.
South Australia and the Northern Territory recorded zero cases over the entire weekend, while Queensland announced on Monday it had no new cases overnight, the first time it's been able to do so in more than two months.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it is an “absolutely tremendous” result, and flagged if numbers continue to flatten, she will consider lifting restrictions.
Authorities have said social distancing and isolation measures could still remain in place for the next six months. Source: AAP
It leaves the state’s total infections at 1019. 20 people remain in hospital, with seven of them in intensive care on ventilators.
South Australia
South Australia celebrated zero new cases over the entire weekend, amid a testing blitz the government launched last Thursday.
More than 5,000 South Australians have been tested in recent days, as authorities expanded their focus to people with symptoms, but without travel history or known contact with confirmed cases.
The total number of cases in the state sits at 435, with seven people in hospital.
ACT
While the ACT enjoyed six days with no new cases, health officials in the territory confirmed on Monday it has one new diagnosed case.
The patient is a man in his 40s who is said to have contracted the disease overseas.
While there’s just 104 diagnosed cases in the territory, ACT’s Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said it’s not time to become complacent.
"Maintaining these measures has helped us to flatten the curve and protect our most vulnerable community members,” she said in a press conference.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory’s case number has also remained low at just 28 cases, with no new reported cases in the past few days.
The NT government was quick to shut its borders in order to curb the spread of the virus.
Anyone entering the territory from overseas or interstate is required to spend 14 days in quarantine in a hotel which they must pay for themselves.
New South Wales
Six new cases were reported in New South Wales over the past 24 hours, the lowest total in five weeks.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the results were “very positive”.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks to the media during a press conference in Sydney, Monday, April 20, 2020. Source: AAP
But authorities are still concerned about a Western Sydney nursing home cluster - where 41 people have become infected.
NSW Health on Monday confirmed that a second person at the Newmarch House nursing home in Caddens, a 94-year-old man, had died.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW sat on Monday at 2963, with 22 people in intensive care.
Six new cases were reported in New South Wales over the past 24 hours, the lowest total in five weeks. Source: AAP
Victoria
Just one new case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Victoria as the state ramps up testing.
The progress in flattening the curve, however, is not an invitation to relax the measures Premier Daniel Andrews told Nine's Today program on Monday.
About 7000 tests were done on the weekend. The single new case brings Victoria's infection tally to 1329.
But Mr Andrews doesn't anticipate an end to the current social distancing laws and partial lockdown.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said he doesn't anticipate an end to the current social distancing laws and partial lockdown. Source: AAP
"No-one is enjoying not being able to do the things they love, being locked at home," he said.
"But there is a clear alternative. That's what we see in New York, where there are 8000 people dying every day."
Victorians have been told they must "stay the course" with the coronavirus restrictions even though the number of fresh cases in the state has been modest.
Western Australia
Western Australia marked just one new case on Sunday, taking the state’s total to 545.
Health officials confirmed they detected the latest case, a 60-year-old man in the state’s gold fields, using contact tracing.
The cruise ship Artania, which was the source of at least 81 of WA’s coronavirus cases, departed Fremantle on Saturday, and a flight carrying dozens of remaining passengers and crew left Perth on Sunday.
Australian Medical Assistance Team staff who worked with the passengers and crew on the cruise ship Artania wave goodbye as it departs Fremantle harbour. Source: AAP
Tasmania
Tasmania however recorded nine more cases over the weekend, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 197.
Health officials confirmed all of the new cases were in the state's northwest, which has become a hotspot for the virus.
Two hospitals have been forced to close in Burnie, with a COVID-19 outbreak infecting almost 100 people linked to the facilities, including 60 workers and 16 patients.
The North West Private Hospital is one of two hospitals closed in Burnie because of a coronavirus outbreak. Source: AAP
The state’s Public Health Director Dr Mark Veitch also confirmed one of the new cases was a resident from an aged care home.
Eight people have died of the virus in Tasmania to date.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at .
