An Australian set himself on fire in protest against the restrictions imposed in his country to curb the rising COVID-19 cases. The man, whose name has not been disclosed, suffered serious burns after igniting himself and his car in front of a restaurant in Richmond, Australia.
According to the British newspaper "Daily Star," the man shouted slogans denouncing the lockdowns and strict measures enforced in Australia regarding the COVID-19 pandemic before setting himself on fire. Police officers present at the scene, along with nearby bystanders, attempted to save him.
On Sunday, new COVID-19 cases in Australia declined as testing slowed during the weekend, although they remained above 30,000. Hospitalizations increased in New South Wales amid growing concerns about potential pressures on the public health system.
Health Department figures indicated that newly diagnosed cases in New South Wales, the most populous state, dropped to 18,278 from 22,577 the previous day, with testing numbers on New Year's Day decreasing by a quarter. However, hospital admissions, which authorities say they are monitoring closely more than the overall case numbers as they transition to living with the virus, surged by 18% to 1,066.
In Victoria, daily case numbers remained above 7,000, and Queensland reported a record of 3,587 new cases. Australia registered over 32,200 cases on Sunday, down from 35,327 on Saturday, although Western Australia and the Northern Territory had not yet released their new infection figures.
Five deaths were recorded in New South Wales and Victoria, raising the national death toll to nearly 2,260 since the pandemic began, Reuters reported.
