Sydney residents are expected to remain locked up in their homes for another one week as Australia’s largest city battles with Covid.
The New South Wales government has announced that it had to take “this difficult decision” as it struggles with Delta variant spread
The home stay order was issued on June 26th.
New COVID Cluster
Australia has faired exceptionally well in comparison to other countries. It has recorded 910 deaths and less than 31,000 cases since the global COVID outbreak began.
The new cluster of cases emerged after some people who were diagnosed with the virus left their homes for doing important things.
The outbreak of about 330 cases is the worst in the city this year.
An order to stay at home has been announced that affects more than five million residents in the Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Central Coast areas. It was expected to be withdrawn on Friday. It has now been extended to 16 July. Schools will also remain closed next week.
Pain And Pressure
The New South Wales government has said it sees “pain and pressure” that such closures create for the families and Australian businesses.
However officials believe that the daily rate of cases – with 27 new cases recorded Wednesday – and low immunization rates mean the restrictions need to be tightened across NSW.
Less than 10% of Australians are fully vaccinated. The shortage of jabs, especially the Pfizer vaccine, means that many Australians will not be able to get a jab until the last months of the year.
How Did Sydney Reach Here?
Sydney is the city that has been the worst hit by the Delta cluster and variant in Australia, although cases have spread across the country.
Leaks of the virus from hotel quarantine last week prompted snap lockdowns of state capital cities – including Brisbane, Darwin and Perth – affecting half the population of the country.
Authorities in those regions were able to manage the virus and announced an end to the lockdown restrictions there last week.
Australia has used circuit-breaker closures and rapid detection to fight with the outbreak of the virus while keeping strong border controls too.