Tag: Australia

New Zealand locks down Auckland after 3 new local COVID-19 cases

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand Prime Minsiter Jacinda Ardern on Sunday announced a three-day lockdown in the country’s biggest city Auckland, after three new local COVID-19 cases were reported, the first local infections since late January.Slideshow ( 2 images )Ardern said the level 3 restrictions, which require everyone to stay home except for essential shopping

Melbourne starts snap virus lockdown, no crowds at Australian Open

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australia’s second most populous state Victoria entered a five-day lockdown on Saturday as authorities raced to prevent a third wave of COVID-19 cases sparked by the highly infections UK variant.Slideshow ( 5 images )One new locally acquired case was confirmed in the past 24 hours, health authorities said on Saturday, taking the

Why We Should Start Taxing Sugary Soft Drinks In Australia

More Australians are overweight and obese than every before. Obesity alone is estimated to cost Australian taxpayers over $5.3billion per year. The Grattan Institute is calling for the government to implement a tax on non-alcoholic sugary beverages in a bid to halt growing obesity rates. The proposed tax, similar to the way cigarettes and leaded