COVID-19 updates: Australia cases dive to new low; NZ defers lockdown
CGTN
A worker disposes of waste outside a quarantine hotel where returning travelers are kept in isolation for a period to curb the spread of the coronavirus in Sydney, Australia, August 21, 2020. /Reuters

A worker disposes of waste outside a quarantine hotel where returning travelers are kept in isolation for a period to curb the spread of the coronavirus in Sydney, Australia, August 21, 2020. /Reuters

Australia headed for its lowest daily increase in coronavirus infections in five weeks on Friday as the hotspot state of Victoria neared the midway point of lockdown, prompting the prime minister to hail "a week of increased hope."

While the rest of Australia eases restrictions, the home state of a quarter of its population is in a six-week lockdown due to a second wave of virus infections.

Victoria reported 179 new cases in the past 24 hours, from 240 a day earlier and down from over 700 a day two weeks ago, with nine deaths.

The country's most populous state, neighboring New South Wales, reported just one new case as an emergency cabinet of state and federal leaders discussed the prospect of relaxing closures of state borders that have been in place for months.

"Today's meeting of national cabinet came during what I would describe as a week of increased hope," Prime Minister Scott Morrison told a televised news conference.

"We're doing better than most and many of the developed world in this situation."

New Zealand defers lockdown, PM takes aim at Trump

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday deferred a decision on whether to ease a lockdown on the city of Auckland as 11 new coronavirus infections were reported, including nine cases of community transmission.

New Zealand's biggest city was placed in lockdown earlier this month until August 26 amid a spike in new cases, forcing businesses to close and schools to shut.

Ardern said after a review of the lockdown that there was no need to change any settings at this stage, and promised to review them again on Monday.

"We have made good progress. Unlike our first lockdown we are not dealing with multiple outbreaks," she said at a news conference.

"There is nothing to suggest we need change our course and certainly nothing that suggests that we need to escalate our response."

The latest cases brought the total in New Zealand to 1,315, including 105 active cases. The country of 5 million people has reported 22 deaths from the respiratory disease caused by the novel virus.

Ardern also took aim at U.S. President Donald Trump after he claimed there had been a massive breakout of coronavirus cases in New Zealand, his third such reference to the country this week.

The United States had 16,563 cases per million people, while New Zealand had 269 cases per million people, Ardern said.

"Everyone can see that in New Zealand today we are talking 11 cases, whereas the United States has been dealing with over 40,000 cases," she said.

"But I'll also add, it's not just whether you have cases it's how you choose to deal with them as a nation and personally I am incredibly proud of the approach that all New Zealanders have taken to the battle against COVID-19."

(With input from Reuters)