Mon 16 August 2021:
More Australians are in lockdown today as a result of a COVID-19 case that traveled from Sydney to the Northern Territory.
As the number of cases in New South Wales, Victoria, and the ACT continues to rise, Queensland is preparing to strengthen its border.
Coronavirus curfew was also announced on Monday in Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city. Residents would now confined to their homes overnight. The measure was taken as a part of authorities’ efforts to stamp out Delta variant ourbreak.
On Monday evening, more than five million residents would not be able to leave their homes between 9 pm and 5 am. Essential workers would be required to get special permits to be on the streets.
“We’ve seen lots of different people flouting these rules, not doing as they should, making really poor choices,” he said.
New COVID restrictions and lockdown extended in Victoria
Victoria announced a two week-extension of its current lockdown and tougher restrictions as the state recorded 22 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases.
The new restrictions include a curfew that will be in force from 9:00pm to 5:00am each day.
Playgrounds, basketball courts, skate parks and outdoor exercise equipment will also close.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the new restrictions would come into effect at 11:59pm on Monday and be in place until September 2. He said they came amid concerns about compliance with current restrictions.
More than eight million people in New South Wales state are under lockdown — including in Sydney where residents have already been under those restrictions for almost two months.
Since the outbreak began in mid-June, Australia’s most populous state has recorded more than 8200 cases.
A snap lockdown was announced for the northern city of Darwin on Monday, with about 150,000 people told to stop non-essential movements for three days after a man tested positive.
“We have made the decision to lock down fast because of what we do not know,” Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner said.
“There is a very real risk that this virus has been transmitted to others.”
Australia’s capital Canberra will also remain in lockdown until September 2 as health officials grapple with a small but growing outbreak in the city.
Australia won global praise for its early pandemic response but strict border closures and other measures have struggled to contain the highly transmissible Delta variant.
(With inputs from agencies)
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