SYDNEY • Australia's Victoria state expects to announce further easing of Covid-19 restrictions this week, acting Premier James Merlino said yesterday, as the state reported one new local infection for a second straight day.

The latest case was a close contact of a previously reported case and had already been quarantined.

Australia's second-most-populous state has recorded 92 cases in its latest Covid-19 wave, which triggered a two-week snap lockdown late last month. Victoria emerged from the lockdown last Friday as new cases declined, but some physical distancing rules remain.

"My expectation is by later in the week, we will be in a position to announce further easing of restrictions for regional Victoria and... for metropolitan Melbourne," said Mr Merlino. He added that he was keen to get people back to attending sporting and theatre events, though he had no announcement to make yet in that regard.

Under existing curbs, Melbourne residents can travel only up to 25km from home while outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people. Masks are required indoors and outdoors at all public spaces.

More than 3,000 primary close contacts of infected cases are already in quarantine, with about 122 exposure sites listed on the Victorian government website.

Australia has recorded more than 22,300 local Covid-19 cases and 910 deaths since March last year.

Snap lockdowns, internal border controls and tough social distancing rules have helped the country contain prior outbreaks.

New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, and neighbouring Queensland are on high alert after an infected woman and her husband travelled from Victoria through several country towns in both states.

With no new cases yesterday, New South Wales has not reported any local infection in more than a month, while Queensland last reported cases in late March.

REUTERS