A growing cluster of the highly infectious Delta variant in Sydney
As officials struggle to stamp out a growing cluster of the highly infectious Delta variant in Sydney, Australia’s New South Wales state on Thursday reported its biggest daily rise in locally acquired cases of COVID-19 for the year.
New South Wales (NSW) reported 38 new local cases, as its capital Sydney prepares for a third week of a lockdown.
A strict stay-at-home order had been enforced in Sydney, Australia’s largest city and home to a fifth of the country’s 25 million population
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian asked residents to limit visits to family as data suggested the virus was spreading during such meetings, and urged people with flu-symptoms to take their entire family for COVID-19 tests due to the highly transmissible Delta strain.
Total infections neared 400 amid the largest outbreak of 2021 in the state, since the first case was detected in the city more than three weeks ago in a limousine driver who transported overseas airline crew.
A strict stay-at-home order had been enforced in Sydney, Australia’s largest city and home to a fifth of the country’s 25 million population restricting people’s movements and limiting gatherings. This has been extended until July 16 after restrictions failed to curtail the spread with officials frustrated after finding new infections linked to illegal gatherings and people flouting social distancing rules.
Australia has fared much better than many other developed countries in keeping COVID-19 numbers low, with just under 30,900 cases and 910 deaths, however, the vaccination rollout has been low.
