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Australia deploys police, army forces amid increase in coronavirus infections

KULA LUMPUR, July 7 (KUNA) -- Australia deployed the police and army forces to restrict movement between the states of New South Wales and Victoria due to the hike in coronavirus (COVID-19) infections.
"A large-scale military and security operation will take place to monitor the activities by the borders, as serious fines are taking place, and many violators were sentences to prison" New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Andrew Elliott said on Tuesday.
Any violators of the latest regulations will face penalties including paying fines of AUD 11,000-(USD 7,700), and jail sanction for six months.
The closure between the states of New South Wales and Victoria was announced yesterday, after registering a hike in the number of infections in Melbourne city, capital of the state of Victoria.
The local authorities re-imposed this week social distancing regulations in more than 30 suburbs of Victoria, and put nine residential towers on total lockdown Victoria saw 191 of the 199 cases in Australia, the highest number of infections registered per day since last April.
Australia hits 88,000 total infections, and 106 deaths, a relatively low number compared to other countries, but the spread of COVID-19 lately in Melbourne caused worries to the state officials. (end) aab.lb