Fears Of Second Wave of COVID-19 After Huge Rise In Infections
James Gompertz | July 22, 2020 | Updated On: January 17, 2021
Australia reported the biggest increase of new COVID-19 infections on July 22, prompting fears of a second wave. Five-hundred-and-one new cases is the largest daily infection rate. March 28 saw 459 new cases, which initially was thought to be the peak of the outbreak.
The Australian Government recently began easing lockdown restrictions as new infections continued falling. Melbourne is the exception to this because it re-entered Stage 3 lockdown two weeks ago.
Victoria accounted for 484 of the 501 new cases despite being under strict lockdown rules. The authorities there are struggling to contain the outbreak despite the rules in place to protect residents.
Daniel Andrews, the Victoria Premier, announced 484 new cases and two more deaths in the state. This brings the state's total active cases to more than 3,400. There are 4,221 currently infected people throughout the entirety of Australia.
Australia has seen 12,894 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 128 deaths. More than 6,700 of these infections are recorded in Victoria. Continued increases in confirmed cases is a sign of a second wave of the virus incoming.
The wearing of face masks in public is mandatory for Melbourne residents from midnight. This is the first place in Australia to force people to cover their faces. Premier Andrews also hinted the current six-week lockdown may last longer than six weeks.
This is after figures show almost nine in 10 Victorians diagnosed with COVID-19 over the past fortnight did not self-isolate between feeling ill and undergoing a test.
What Is A Second Wave?
A second wave is declared with a sustained rise in confirmed infections. New Zealand reported its first cases after 24 days without COVID-19 but this isn't a second wave. It will be if the infection figures continue growing over a period of days and weeks.
Not all virus pandemics result in a second wave. Spanish Flu in 1918 had an infamously bad second wave. It infected 500 million around the world and killed between 20-50 million victims.
The second wave can be more deadly if the virus mutates. COVID-19 isn't showing signs of mutation, thankfully. Here's hoping the second wave never happens and the latest figures are just a freak rise.
What Does This Mean For Crown Melbourne?
Crown Resorts hoped to reopen its flagship Melbourne property in June but it never happened. It won't and can't happen before the middle of August because of Melbourne re-entering lockdown.
Crown managed to reopen its Perth casino and hotel but any plans for reopening Melbourne are currently shelved.
Many sporting and social events have fallen at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current situation casts serious doubts on the 2021 Aussie Millions despite it being five-to-six months away. Players from around the world descend on the Crown Melbourne every January for the month-long poker festival. Crown is yet to even hint that it will run.
The virus has caused humongous problems already, a second-wave doesn't even bear thinking about.
How Is The Rest Of The World Coping?
Hundreds of casinos have reopened around the world or are in the process of reopening. British casinos begin reopening on August 1 albeit with very strict guidelines in place.
Casinos on the famous Las Vegas Strip began accepting customers on June 4. Coronavirus cases continue to climb from 189 on June 4 to a peak of 1,447 on July 15. The last figure show 815 new cases on July 19. This isn't a second wave, however, the virus isn't thought to have peaked in Vegas yet, which makes it strange Donald Trump allowed Sin City to reopen its doors.
Malaysian and Cambodian casinos are a little closer to home and have started the reopening process. Resorts World Genting in Malaysia allowed gamblers back in from June 19. Attendance figures are currently 50% of what they were before the COVID-19 closures.
NagaCorp in Cambodia "is satisfied with the results" since the July 7 relaunch.
Crown has plenty of credit facilities and cash reserves, but other venues simply won't cope with a second wave.