Australian authorities warn against panic buying in hotspots

Production of beef, lamb and pork has been reduced by one third to reduce chances of virus spread in meat processing plants

Cases continue to surge in Melbourne even after month-long lockdown

The virus has spread rapidly through nursing homes in the city, with almost 1,500 active infections now linked to the facilities

PM Scott Morrison said workers in Victoria state will be entitled to a 1,500 Australian dollar payment if they are required to self-isolate

Overnight curfews and a ban on weddings imposed on Melbourne, Australia's second-biggest city

Once proud of itself about a tough approach to social distancing, the state now accounts for about 60% of Australia’s 17,300 cases

Government has deployed disaster-relief teams to elderly-care centres and extended Melbourne's lockdown measures to surrounding cities

While Washington is Australia’s main security ally, China is its largest trading partner

Australia, Canada and the UK suspended extradition treaties with Hong Kong earlier this month

The country had seen only 11 cases until a week ago but the total now stands at 61, with new cases being found daily

India is one of the top sources of skilled immigrants to Australia, with nearly 90,000 students studying in Australian universities