Australia Goes Under Another Lockdown As Cases Of Delta Variant Begins To Rise

Sydney where the lockdown began on June 26, there are doubts whether further an extension will help in containing the spread of the virus by Aug 28, the date targeted for restrictions to be lifted. 

Representational Image (Source: AFP)

New Delhi: Australian cities have imposed another lockdown following the the spread of Covid-19 Delta variant and the rise in cases. On Wednesday, the country's largest city Sydney in the state of New South Wales, reported 344 new infections a slight drop from Tuesday's figure of 356.

According to a report by PTI, since the latest coronavirus outbreak began mid-June the death toll has reached 34 including two patients who died overnight. 

Fearing the spread of the highly contagious variant, the Victoria state government announced an extension lockdown in Melbourne, until the end of Aug 19, as there were reports of 20 new infections in the latest 24-hour period. 

"This is very challenging, I know, for every single Victorian who would like to be going about their business. They'd like to be open and have a degree of freedom that's simply not possible because of this delta variant. If we were to open, then we would see cases akin to what's happening, tragically, in Sydney right now," said Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews according to the report.

Meanwhile, in Sydney where the lockdown began on June 26, there are doubts whether further an extension will help in containing the spread of the virus by Aug 28, the date targeted for restrictions to be lifted. 

Lockdowns and the slow pace of vaccinations, it is not only making the public frustrated but according to a Reuters report are also affecting the ratings of the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The report says that an opinion poll by the Australian newspaper showed his public approval rating is the lowest since the pandemic began.

According to the Australian Government Department of Health, on Tuesday, about 37,009 cases of COVID-19 had been reported in Australia, including 941 deaths, and approximately 5,333 active cases. 

 

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian is also urging people to get vaccinated or as the state mulls over easing restrictions vaccinated residents of some parts of the city from September.

"I'm really calling out to everybody to say please get vaccinated because ... there will be opportunities in September and October for us to be able to say to the community if you are vaccinated, you might be able to do a certain level of activity which you can't now," said Berejiklian according to the PTI report.