Wellington: parts of Sydney will go in lockdown The outbreak of coronavirus continued to grow in Australia’s largest city late on Friday night.
Health officials reported an additional 22 locally transmitted cases and imposed a week-long lockdown in four areas, saying people could only leave their homes for essential purposes.
An outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant was first detected last week, and 65 people have been infected.
“If you live or work in those local government areas, you need to stay at home unless absolutely necessary,” said Gladys Berejiklian, head of state of New South Wales.
He said the lockdown, which was due to come into force just before midnight, would have a significant impact on businesses, especially over 5 million people in the city’s central business district.
“It’s up to us to make sure it doesn’t catch on for weeks and weeks, and we believe it’s a proportional response to risk,” Berejiklian said.
A day earlier, the premier had said there was no need for further restrictions despite the “most scary period” in the state during the pandemic.
Berejiklian himself tested negative for the virus after his agriculture minister Adam Marshall tested positive. Health Minister Brad Hazard self-isolates as close contact with a suspected COVID-19 case Parliament House.
The local council areas headed for the lockdown in Sydney are Woollahra, Waverly, Randwick and the City of Sydney. People can only step out of their homes for essential work or reasons like education, shopping and exercise.
Officials say the cluster originated from a Sydney airport limousine driver. He was not vaccinated, reportedly did not wear a mask and is suspected to have been infected while transporting a foreign air crew.
Australian states have closed their borders to travelers either from parts of Sydney or from anywhere in New South Wales. New Zealand has suspended quarantine-free travel with the state until at least 6 July.
One of those infected traveled to the capital of New Zealand wellington Last weekend, restaurants, bars and sightseeing tours. This prompted some restrictions in Wellington, although no one has tested positive in the city so far.
Australia has been relatively successful in containing the coronavirus clusters, although the delta variant first detected in India is proving more challenging. And the country’s vaccine rollout has been slow compared to many other developed countries, with only one-quarter of the population receiving at least one dose.
The pandemic has claimed 910 deaths in Australia, which has a population of 26 million. The only Covid-19 death since October was an 80-year-old man who got infected overseas and was diagnosed in hotel quarantine.
Health officials reported an additional 22 locally transmitted cases and imposed a week-long lockdown in four areas, saying people could only leave their homes for essential purposes.
An outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant was first detected last week, and 65 people have been infected.
“If you live or work in those local government areas, you need to stay at home unless absolutely necessary,” said Gladys Berejiklian, head of state of New South Wales.
He said the lockdown, which was due to come into force just before midnight, would have a significant impact on businesses, especially over 5 million people in the city’s central business district.
“It’s up to us to make sure it doesn’t catch on for weeks and weeks, and we believe it’s a proportional response to risk,” Berejiklian said.
A day earlier, the premier had said there was no need for further restrictions despite the “most scary period” in the state during the pandemic.
Berejiklian himself tested negative for the virus after his agriculture minister Adam Marshall tested positive. Health Minister Brad Hazard self-isolates as close contact with a suspected COVID-19 case Parliament House.
The local council areas headed for the lockdown in Sydney are Woollahra, Waverly, Randwick and the City of Sydney. People can only step out of their homes for essential work or reasons like education, shopping and exercise.
Officials say the cluster originated from a Sydney airport limousine driver. He was not vaccinated, reportedly did not wear a mask and is suspected to have been infected while transporting a foreign air crew.
Australian states have closed their borders to travelers either from parts of Sydney or from anywhere in New South Wales. New Zealand has suspended quarantine-free travel with the state until at least 6 July.
One of those infected traveled to the capital of New Zealand wellington Last weekend, restaurants, bars and sightseeing tours. This prompted some restrictions in Wellington, although no one has tested positive in the city so far.
Australia has been relatively successful in containing the coronavirus clusters, although the delta variant first detected in India is proving more challenging. And the country’s vaccine rollout has been slow compared to many other developed countries, with only one-quarter of the population receiving at least one dose.
The pandemic has claimed 910 deaths in Australia, which has a population of 26 million. The only Covid-19 death since October was an 80-year-old man who got infected overseas and was diagnosed in hotel quarantine.
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