The principles of Australia announced that lockdown in State of Victoria will be extended, despite the slight decrease in cases of the new coronavirus, as the country's two largest cities battle to stop the spread of the highly contagious Delta mutation.
The Premier of the Victorian state government, Daniel Andrews, stressed that the measures will not be lifted because cases of transmission continue to be detected in the community, promising to provide more details tomorrow, Tuesday.
«We might have a few days of sunshine, and then there's a very high chance that we'll be back in lockdown. That's what I'm trying to avoid,» said Mr. Andrews, explaining why the measures will not be lifted as planned.
Victoria, Australia's second most populous state, where Melbourne is located, recorded 13 cases today due to community transmission, down from 16 the previous day. All infections are linked.
Almost half of Australia's population (25 million) has been instructed to stay at home., with the Sydney, the largest urban center on the continent, into lockdown for five weeks, with the entire state of Victoria implementing the same measure as the Delta variant triggered the worst outbreak of the new coronavirus pandemic this year.
Η New South Wales, whose capital is Sydney, announced 98 cases due to community transmission, down from 105 the previous day. At least 20 of the people diagnosed with the infection had community contacts, roughly the same number as in recent days.
This is precisely the number «we want to reduce (...) the closer we get it to zero, the sooner we will be able to end the lockdown,» explained State Prime Minister Gladys Beretziklian.
In New South Wales, the measures have been extended twice. They are now expected to be lifted on July 30 at the earliest.
Although cases have decreased today, Ms. Beretziklian noted that the effects of the lockdown will not be felt for «another four or five days.».
The immediate imposition of restrictive measures, compliance with social distancing rules, and thorough contact tracing of infected individuals are believed to have enabled Australia to control the outbreak comparatively quickly. pandemic and, above all, to keep the death toll low. To date, it has recorded around 31,900 SARS-CoV-2 infections and 914 deaths from COVID-19.
However, experts warn that the country may enter a new cycle of successive lockdowns until the percentage of people who have been fully vaccinated reaches the required level.
A poll published today by The Australian newspaper shows that the slow pace of the immunization campaign—only 13% of the adult population has been fully vaccinated so far—has caused the approval rating of the country's prime minister, Scott Morrison, to fall to its lowest level in over a year. – has caused the approval rating of the country's prime minister, Scott Morrison, to fall to its lowest level in over a year.
Officials have also expressed disappointment at violations of social distancing measures in Sydney, prompting police to begin patrolling beaches, particularly those popular with tourists.
It was also announced today that far-right British commentator Katie Hopkins, who had gone to Australia to participate in a reality TV show, show, will be deported after causing an uproar by posting a video on her Instagram account in which she boasted that she opened the door, naked and without a mask, to staff members who were delivering meals to her while she was supposed to be in quarantine at a hotel in Sydney.
The 46-year-old has repeatedly caused controversy with statements that have been described as racist, anti-Islamic, and anti-immigrant, while she has also spoken out against restrictive measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus pandemic, especially lockdowns.
«It is inconceivable that he thought the measures we have taken to protect our community could be met with such adolescent, foolish behavior,» said New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazard.
