Childcare centers reopen as strict COVID-19 restrictions eased in Australia's hardest-hit state

Kids conduct a simulated shopping at an early start discovery space in Wollongong, Australia, Sept. 26, 2020. (Photo by Hongye Zhu/Xinhua)

 
Childcare centers reopened for all children as Australia has made a progress in its fight against a second wave of COVID-19 infections with strict restrictions in Melbourne eased on Monday.

Daniel Andrews, the premier of Victoria, the hardest-hit state by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, on Sunday announced that the roadmap for easing restrictions in the state's capital city Melbourne over about a two-month period would be accelerated.

From Monday the citywide curfew between 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. will be lifted and up to five people from a maximum of two households will be allowed to gather outdoors.

As of Sunday afternoon there had been 27,040 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and the number of new cases in last 24 hours is 24.

A girl plays games with her father during a simulated shopping at an early start discovery space in Wollongong, Australia, Sept. 26, 2020. (Photo by Hongye Zhu/Xinhua)

 

Kids conduct a simulated shopping at an early start discovery space in Wollongong, Australia, Sept. 26, 2020. (Photo by Hongye Zhu/Xinhua)

 

Kids build a model house at an early start discovery space in Wollongong, Australia, Sept. 26, 2020. (Photo by Hongye Zhu/Xinhua)