Number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in Australia 2022, by state

As of Febraury 1, 2022 the number of COVID-19 cases in the Australian state of Victoria was at 12,571 people per 100,000 of the population. From March and most of April 2020, New South Wales held the highest proportion of cases. Tasmania overtook New South Wales in late April, however in late June 2020 a rapid increase in recorded cases in Victoria saw the south eastern state overtake the other states and territories in recorded cases. Since mid-2021 uncontained outbreaks in NSW and Victoria caused the government to move away from its former 'Covid zero' approach.

The second wave

From late April to early August 2020, the daily number of new confirmed coronavirus cases had settled on less than 20 per day. During this time the Australian government relaxed lockdown restrictions and most businesses went back to operating as normal. However, throughout the months of August and September, Australia witnessed its second wave of coronavirus infections. This time the majority of new coronavirus infections were located in the Victorian capitol of Melbourne.

The economic impact of lockdown measures

In March of 2020, one survey showed that over 70 percent of Australians expected the economic outlook in Australia to get worse in the next three months. For most industries this prediction was correct, with the worst hit industries being hospitality, tourism, and gyms and fitness. However, some businesses flourished under the shift in pandemic consumer behavior with food delivery services, homewares and online gambling showing significant increases in consumption.