melbourne

Construction workers and others opposed to new COVID-19 vaccine rules have taken to the streets. Some allege that right-wing extremists have infiltrated the increasingly violent protests.

The city recorded zero new coronavirus cases on Monday, for the first time since June. "Now is the time to congratulate every single Victorian for staying the course," said the state's top official.

Health officials in Australia's second-largest city said 317 new cases had been reported more than a week after a "hard boundary" around the city closed it off.

The premier of Victoria state, Australia's second-most populous, issues a six-week stay-at-home order for Melbourne and closes the border with New South Wales state, effective at midnight local time.

Victoria, whose capital city is Melbourne, has logged 127 cases in the last 24 hours, which accounts for more than 90% of Australia's infections during that period, according to national data.

Saeed Noori killed one person and injured 16 others in the Australian metropolis last year when he rammed an SUV into a throng of pedestrians. Now, nearly a year later, he has admitted his guilt.

At least 20 people were injured in the incident, which Australian police said is not terrorism-related. Officers had been pursuing the driver in connection with a stabbing earlier in the day.