COVID-19 cases are declining in Sydney as restrictions in virus hotspots are relaxed!

The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) confirmed the minimum daily increase in COVID 19 case scenarios in more than three weeks on Monday, following the relaxation of certain lockdown restrictions in Sydney, the state capital, allowing for higher vaccination levels.

The Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, announced that 935 new cases had been discovered in the state, the lowest daily total since August 27 and down from 1,083 on Sunday. Four more people have died, according to the state.

Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney that they’re feeling more hopeful than they have in a couple of weeks, but he doesn’t want anyone to think the worst is over. According to him, because of the large number of cases that have accumulated, they know that October will be extremely difficult for the hospital system.

Because of the Delta variant outbreak in the country’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, approximately half of Australia’s 25 million people are quarantined, prompting officials to abandon a COVID-zero target in favor of rapid vaccinations to ease restrictions.

With 53 % of NSW’s adult population fully vaccinated, a few restrictions were lifted on Monday in 12 of Sydney’s worst-affected suburbs. Time constraints for outdoor activity have been lifted, and fully vaccinated people are permitted to congregate outside, but they must remain in groups of five.

Following the announcement of the guideline to return to liberation once vaccination rates reach 70%, which appears to be around October 26, Victoria state, which includes Melbourne, recorded one new death and 567 new infections, the highest daily increase this year.

In comparison to the national average of 47 %, 44 % of residents in the state have been fully immunized so far.

Meanwhile, according to local media, several construction workers demonstrated outside a Melbourne union office in protest of Victoria’s mandatory vaccination law.

Australia remained COVID-zero for the majority of the pandemic, with 1,167 deaths and 87,000 cases, according to the data. Around 56,000 cases have been reported since the first Delta infection was discovered in Sydney in mid-June.

While the Delta infection primarily affects NSW and Victoria, most other states with little to no community transmission are concerned that opening up too soon will overwhelm their healthcare facilities.

Source: Reuters