Sydney broadens lockdown amid surge in Delta variant

The Australian city of Sydney has gone into a two-week lockdown after a rise in the number of Corona virus cases.More than one million people in central and eastern suburbs were already under restrictions imposed on Friday following a jump in cases.The lockdown now covers the whole city and some surrounding areas, and is extended from one week to two. More than 80 cases of the highly infectious Delta variant were confirmed in the city in recent days. 
New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, stay-at-home orders would be in place until 9th of July for all of Greater Sydney - with a population of about five million and the surrounding regions of Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong. When there is a contagious variant, like the Delta virus, a three-day lockdown doesn't work, she added. Sydney’s streets were nearly deserted on Saturday. The flare-up was a shock for Sydney that had returned to relative normality after months with very few local cases.

Australia has been more successful in managing the pandemic than many other advanced economies through swift border closures, social distancing rules and high community compliance with them. But the country has struggled significantly with the vaccination rollout and small outbreaks continue. On Friday, the government granted provisional approval for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, potentially expanding its supply options.  Australia remains largely unvaccinated. The Delta variant is proving to be a very formidable foe,” NSW state Health Minister Brad Hazzard told reporters. New Zealand also announced a three-day suspension of its quarantine-free travel arrangement with Australia citing “multiple” outbreaks in the neighbouring country.