Australia's PM delays parliament as coronavirus spreads
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison delayed the opening of parliament for several weeks on Saturday (July 18) as the new coronavirus continued spreading through the country's two most populous states - Victoria and New South Wales.
Morrison asked the speaker of the parliament to cancel a two-week session due to start on August 4, out of concern about the COVID-19 pandemic.
Morrison's move came as Victoria reported at least 217 new infections after a record 428 cases on Friday (July 17).
Neighboring New South Wales, the most populous state, which has also been struggling to contain a new wave of infections, saw at least 15.
Victoria forced nearly five million people into a partial lockdown for six weeks on July 9, as expectations of harsher social-distancing restrictions were growing with the virus continuing to spread.
