Protesters in Melbourne defied a coronavirus lockdown for the second straight weekend, prompting 14 arrests and 51 infringement notices for breaching public health orders, as new infections in the Australian hotspot continued to fall.

Protesters in Melbourne defied a coronavirus lockdown for the second straight weekend, prompting 14 arrests and 51 infringement notices for breaching public health orders, as new infections in the Australian hotspot continued to fall.
Around 100 people protested in various locations in Melbourne, Victoria Police said, after about 200 people gathered the weekend before.
“Despite all the warnings, it was disappointing to see individuals turn out to protest in the city today, putting the lives of Victorians at risk,” the police said in an e-mailed statement.
New coronavirus infections cases in Victoria, the country’s second-most populous state, continued to fall from a peak of more than 700 in a single day in early August.
It reported 37 new cases today, its lowest since late June.
It also reported six new deaths related to the coronaviru sover the past 24 hours, bringing its total to 716, or more than 90% of the 803 deaths in Australia.
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The state, home to one-quarter of Australia’s 25 million people, now accounts for about 75% of the country’s more than 26,500 Covid-19 cases.
Its capital, Melbourne, has been under a strict lockdown for weeks.
The lockdown, which was initially to end tomorrow has been extended for another two weeks.
“You can only keep numbers low if you first drive them down to very low levels,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews told a televised news briefing.
“That is exactly what is happening and that is good news. It is challenging out there and I know it is difficult, but the strategy is working.”
Neighbouring New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, reported six new cases. Three cases were reported i nQueensland, but the virus has been effectively eliminated in other states and territories.
Australia has fared better than many other countries in managing the health crisis and a subsequent economic slump, thanks to swift measures and substantial government financial support
Spanish princess quarantined after classmate diagnosed with Covid-19
Princess Leonor, the heir to the Spanish throne, has gone into quarantine after a classmate at her school tested positive for  Covid-19, the royal household said.
The 14-year-old daughter of King Felipe will be tested for coronavirus like other pupils in her class at the Santa María de los Rosales school in Madrid.
The king and Queen Letizia will continue their royal duties for the moment, a spokesman for the royal household said, as Spain struggles to control a surge in coronavirus cases.
Eight million Spanish children returned to school last week but some have closed or classes been sent home after pupils tested positive for Covid-19, while authorities in Galicia delayed the start of term by a week for pupils aged 14 to 18.
Spain reported 4,708 new coronavirus infections yesterday, bringing its cumulative total to 566,326, the highest in western Europe, as its total Covid-19 death toll rose to 29,747