Australia's Victoria state declared a disaster on Sunday and imposed a nightly curfew for the capital Melbourne as part of its harshest movement restrictions to date to contain a resurgent COVID-19.

Melbourne, Australia's second-largest city, is already under a reimposed six-week stay-home order, but struggling to rein in the disease, with record numbers of infections of the new coronavirus last week. A curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. every day will be implemented as of Sunday evening in Melbourne, barring the nearly five million people in the city from leaving their houses except for work or to receive or give care.

The sweeping new restrictions limit the time Melbourne residents may spend on outdoor exercise and essential shopping. All schools will move to remote learning on Wednesday.

On Sunday, Victoria, the second-most populous state, reported 671 infections, one of its highest, and seven COVID-19 deaths. High numbers of community transmissions and cases of unknown origins have forced the new restrictions, which will be in place for six weeks, officials said.

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