Australia to lock down 300,000 in Melbourne suburbs after coronavirus spike

More than 30 suburbs in the Australian city of Melbourne will be placed under lockdown for a month to contain the spike in COVID-19 cases.

The stage three restrictions, which will come into effect late Wednesday, will impact around 300,000 people.

It will be accompanied by a testing blitz, with authorities hoping to curb its spread.

So far, the country has recorded around 7,830 cases and 104 deaths, but the recent surge has stoked fears of a second wave of COVID-19.

The measures come as curbs ease across the rest of the state of Victoria.