The refusal of some Australian states to reopen domestic borders to outsiders has highlighted a dilemma set to face the world, as cities, regions or countries emerge from the pandemic at different speeds
The refusal of some Australian states to reopen domestic borders to outsiders has highlighted a dilemma set to face the world, as cities, regions or countries emerge from the pandemic at different speeds AFP / PATRICK HAMILTON

New cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed across Australia, increasing the confirmed number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

Six people have tested positive for the virus in Western Australia, WA Premier Mark McGowan confirmed. These cases are crew members on a live export ship docked in Fremantle. They are currently quarantined at a Perth hotel, The Guardian reported.

“There is currently a situation evolving as we speak at Fremantle port,” McGowan said.

“Six have tested positive, all males, and are being moved off the ship to a Perth hotel for quarantine purposes.”

McGowan said the rest of the crew members who are well will remain on board the ship, Al Kuwait, and will be continuously monitored. He also called the new cases “a fast evolving” situation.

In South Australia, one new COVID-19 case was also recorded -- the first in 19 days. The person is a woman in her 50s that travelled from the United Kingdom. She was in quarantine at a Victoria hotel for a week, but had been given a travel exemption to fly to South Australia for "compelling family reasons," ABC noted.

Upon her arrival at the Adelaide Airport, she was tested for coronavirus which turned out positive. Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the woman is currently in isolation, but had a “significant number” of contacts in her flight and at the airport who are now being traced.

"All of us … are very excited about seeing our restrictions lifting but we do need to remember we will see cases from time to time in our state,” Spurrier said.

"As I'd said before, we are not coronavirus or COVID-19-free in Australia."

As of May 26, 10:22 p.m. AEST, there are 7,133 confirmed COVID-19 cases, an increase of 15 cases from the day before. There are 102 coronavirus-related deaths in Australia, Worldometer data revealed.

Despite its successful effort to slow down the spread of the virus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday confirmed the borders of Australia will remain closed. The PM is in discussions with New Zealand for a trans-Tasman safe travel zone, but the country’s borders will not open “anytime soon” to other countries.

RELATED STORIES