Asia Today: Australian state's cases spike, borders to shut

  hard-hit Australian state of Victoria recorded a death and its highest-ever daily increase in coronavirus cases on Monday as authorities prepare to close its border with New South Wales.

death of a man in his 90s brings national death toll from COVID-19 to 105.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said of 127 new cases, 53 were among 3,000 people who have been confined by police to ir apartments in nine public housing blocks since Saturday.

Australia’s Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has described high-rises as “vertical cruise ships” because of high risk of virus spre.

Andrews said high number of cases reflected a daily record number of tests exceeding 24,500.

Andrews also anunced that state border with New South Wales will be closed from late Tuesday night in an agreement between two state premiers and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Morrison h previously opposed states closing ir borders.

It will be first time Australia’s two most populous states have closed ir border since pandemic began.

New South Wales h previously banned travel from dozens of Melbourne suburbs that were locked down last week for a month due to high rates of infection.

leer of Australia’s most populous state said her government’s decision to close its border with hard-hit Victoria marked a new phase in country’s outbreak.

New South Wales Premier Glys Berejiklian h criticized states that closed ir borders to New South Wales residents when Sydney, state capital and Australia's largest city, h most of country's COVID-19 cases.

She ted overwhelming majority of new cases in Melbourne in recent weeks were from community transmission. Everywhere else in Australia, vast majority of cases were people infected overseas or by a returned traveler, Berejiklian said.

“What is occurring in Victoria has t yet occurred anywhere else in Australia,” she said. “It’s a new part of pandemic and, as such, it requires a new of response.”

New South Wales police will close Victorian border from late Tuesday. Some flights and trains services would continue for travelers who are given permits and exemptions, Berejiklian said.

In or developments in Asia-Pacific region:

— Philippines has seen a big recent spike in infections, raising possibility its overcrowded capital may be placed back under a strict lockdown. Department of Health reported 2,434 cases in recent days, majority in metropolitan Manila, raising cases nationwide to more than 44,250, including 1,297 deaths. Interior Secretary Eduardo A said a lockdown is possible if uptick continues and hospitals fill up. At least one major Manila hospital, Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, said its COVID-19 ward was running at full capacity. President Rodrigo Duterte eased lockdown in metropolitan Manila on June 1 to help faltering ecomy.

— South Korea reported 48 new infections Monday, 24 of m each linked to local transmissions and international arrivals, continuing a weekslong spre that has inspired second-guessing on wher officials were too quickly to ease social restrictions entering May. figures anunced by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought national caselo to 13,137 infections and 284 deaths. Health Minister Park Neung-hoo during a virus meeting on Monday said outbreak remains controllable while urging vigilance to slow spre.