More than 30 suburbs in the Australian city of Melbourne will be placed under lockdown for a month to contain the spike in COVID-19 cases.
The stage three restrictions, which will come into effect late Wednesday, will impact around 300,000 people.
It will be accompanied by a testing blitz, with authorities hoping to curb its spread.
So far, the country has recorded around 7,830 cases and 104 deaths, but the recent surge has stoked fears of a second wave of COVID-19.
The measures come as curbs ease across the rest of the state of Victoria.


Peace deal hopes fade after Trump rejects Iran proposal
UK's Starmer defies calls to quit, says he is getting on with governing
New Israeli law sets military tribunal for those linked to October 7 attack
Russia strikes Ukraine with drones as ceasefire ends
Dutch hospital quarantines 12 over breach of hantavirus protocol
