The Latest: Australian Capital Territory free of COVID-19

The Latest: Australian Capital Territory free of COVID-19

SeattlePI.com

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The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

TOP OF THE HOUR:

— Australian Capital Territory is the first in the country to declare itself free of the coronavirus.

— India touts gains in curbing virus with lockdown, may relax some rules

— South Korea reports four new coronavirus cases, lowest in about two months

— NYPD called after overwhelmed funeral home stores bodies on ice in rented trucks

— Nevada governor extends stay-at-home order to May 15, eases some restrictions

— US to let federal social distancing guidelines expire.

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CANBERRA, Australia —: The Australian Capital Territory has become the first of the country’s eight states and mainland territories to declare itself free of all known cases of the coronavirus.

Chief Health Officer Kerryn Coleman said the territory surrounding the capital city Canberra was free of any recorded infection on Thursday for the first time in seven weeks after the last patient recovered.

There have been 106 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canberra and three patients have died. The capital territory has a population of only 420,000, the second-smallest of the states and territories, and its infection rate per head of population ranks in the middle of the field.

Everyone with cold or flu symptoms have been offered free COVID-19 testing in Canberra for the past week and the government said that offer will be extended for another week. One in 49 of the territory’s population had been tested by Thursday.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said a government announcement will be made on Friday on the future of lockdown measures that will...

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