Victoria records 148 new coronavirus cases, eight deaths

Victoria has recorded 148 new cases of coronavirus and another eight people have died of the virus in the past day.

The figures come as Premier Daniel Andrews prepares to introduce a bill to extend the state of emergency in Parliament next week.

The Premier took to Facebook and Twitter on Monday night to defend his plan, saying it was necessary to keep Victorians safe.

Melbourne is now more than half-way through its six-week, stage four lockdown.

Mr Andrews stressed the state of emergency extension was not the same as the state of disaster and that he was not proposing stage four lockdown measures such as Melbourne's 8pm curfew be extended.

The Premier said the extended state of emergency would prolong "commonsense" rules on face masks and social distancing, which he said had driven down transmission of the virus.

More to come

Sign up to our Coronavirus Update newsletter

Get our Coronavirus Update newsletter for the day’s crucial developments and the numbers you need to know. Sign up to The Sydney Morning Herald’s newsletter here and The Age’s here.

Source: Read Full Article