In Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales, there was a significant increase in coronavirus infections in one week, with authorities extending mandatory mask use in Sydney by one week, Reuters.
In New South Wales, ten new infections were identified on Tuesday as authorities work to curb the spread of the highly contagious delta type.
Eight out of ten were injured in one home.
Photo: William WEST/AFP
There is no doubt that the high number of cases is cause for concern, but given the rapid spread of the virus, we expected that people living in the same household could transmit the virus to each other.
Gladys Berejiklian, Prime Minister of New South Wales.
Indoor use of masks will be mandatory for another week in Sydney, Australia’s largest city, after 21 people were infected within 6 days.
According to the authorities, the new wave can be linked to a driver transporting workers from a foreign airline,
who later appeared in several places, including a shopping center frequented by tourists in Bondi.
No new cases were reported on Tuesday from the reopening of neighboring Victoria, which reopened after a strict lockdown, prompting New Zealand to strike a quarantine-free entry agreement with the country.
Low infection data from Victoria has prompted South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland and the Northern Territories to lift restrictions on crossing borders.
Thanks to strict border controls, a rapid monitoring system, remote control rules and social cooperation, coronavirus infection rates in Australia have remained relatively low, with more than 30,350 cases and 910 deaths reported.
Australia closed its borders to arrivals, except for its citizens and permanent residents, in March 2020, and overseas arrivals are required to spend two weeks in a quarantine hotel upon their return.
According to Australia’s Olympic team health chief, the return of vaccinated citizens will also become easier after the return of some of the thousands of vaccinated and professional athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics.
