Sydney locks “overdue”, restrictions, new cases, hot spots

Despite the increase in cases in New South Wales, New South Wales officials still insist that Sydney does not have a lockdown plan, which has raised concerns among health authorities that the state is not doing enough to stop the spread of the epidemic.

The New South Wales Department of Health confirmed 18 new local infections within 24 hours from May to 8 pm last year, 13 of which were announced yesterday.

Six cases were recorded outside the official reporting period, which means they will be included in tomorrow’s figures. There are now 48 infections related to the outbreak in Sydney.

Of the 30 people who attended the “Super Spreader” birthday party in West Hoxton, 11 people tested positive for the virus.

Except for one new case, all other cases are related to known cases or clusters, and an “emergency investigation” is currently underway on how a man in his 40s contracted the virus.

This brings the total number of mysterious cases in New South Wales to six.

Here are the most important Covid-19 updates today:

• Queensland Three locally acquired cases were recorded overnight, Victoria A new locally acquired infection was recorded.

• Secretary of Health Brad Hazzard claimed to have Report the “zero” truth about the lock-in plan.

• Adam Marshall, Minister of Agriculture of New South Wales Tested positive for Covid-19Mr. Hazzard was also isolated after being identified as a close contact of the “probable” case.

related: Sydney’s list of virus-exposed sites exploded

Epidemiologist and World Health Organization consultant Professor Mary-Louis McLoughs warned that Sydney is now “overdue” the implementation of new lockdown restrictions.

She wrote on Twitter: “The management of the epidemic should first be based on the obligation to care for the community.”

“Delta VOC is highly contagious and has an adverse effect on the efficacy of the vaccine. The stay-at-home order has expired.”

The surge in cases on Wednesday prompted Governor Gladys Berejiklian announced a series of restrictions Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shellharbour and Wollongong, and No travel outside of Sydney city Seven Sydney LGAs.

related: The next restriction facing New South Wales

However, Ms. Berejiklian did not announce the blockade. Health Minister Brad Hazzard told news.com.au, Reports say the state may announce the “zero” truth about the lockdown on Friday.

“Contrary to media reports tonight, there is no lockdown plan,” Mr. Hazzard said on Wednesday night.

“The measures implemented this afternoon are proportionate and appropriate. Reports about the blockade have been greatly exaggerated.”

Although officials expressed their belief that the current restrictions matched the risks posed by the epidemic, many epidemiologists expressed concern that they were not doing enough.

Professor Nicholas Talley, an epidemiologist and editor-in-chief of the Australian Medical Journal, believes that the early introduction of strict restrictions is the best way to combat the highly infectious Delta strain currently circulating in Sydney.

“I am worried that the restrictions are not strict enough-this is a variant of Delta, and may be the most serious threat, working hard and early to provide the greatest safety to the community,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Professor Tony Blackley, an epidemiologist at the University of Melbourne, warned that the delay in the announcement of further restrictions means that the lockdown will be “longer and harder”, calling the decision to keep gyms, bars and restaurants open as “crazy”.

“Every day you delay means that if you need to lock down, I think it’s very possible now. If they don’t do it as soon as possible, it will be longer and harder,” he told the ABC News breakfast.

“One of the other measures is to keep the gym open at the moment, even if someone is wearing a mask, frankly, this is crazy.”

Professor Blakely said that New South Wales may have a “50/50” chance to survive the epidemic without lockdown, adding that it was a “very difficult decision”.

Increased concerns about mysterious cases

Yesterday, the authorities tried to trace five mysterious cases of known infections and announced another new unlinked case on Thursday.

Professor Mike Tour, an epidemiologist at the Burnett Institute, said contact tracingists now face the “critical” task of tracing these sources of infection.

“If the five cases are still unconnected tomorrow, I think you will consider stricter restrictions,” he told ABC’s Patricia Karvelas.

He added: “I think the next 24 hours are critical to avoiding further expansion of the epidemic.”

Professor Toole said that one of the main restrictions to consider is to prevent some people from going to bars and restaurants and possibly introduce five reasons to leave home like Victoria did.

“If there are, as I said, there are five unknown cases, and there is still no contact, plus more numbers, no exact number can be given, but more unknown cases, I think this indicates that the core population The existence of transmission outside has been confirmed, we just don’t want this to happen,” he said.

related: How every Sydney covid case gets infected

On Wednesday, Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant said that the increase in mysterious cases was a “cause of concern” for the authorities and that it was clear that there was an unidentified chain of transmission in the community.

“Our main focus is on this vast area of ​​southeastern Sydney, including the Central Business District, to ensure that we detect any unrecognized transmission,” she said.

“Obviously there are some spreading strains that have the ability to amplify. We need those with high detection rates and everyone following public health recommendations.”

Gladys did not want to “bring a burden on citizens”

When asked on Wednesday why the lockdown was not considered, Ms. Berry Jikklian told reporters that she did not want to impose more restrictions on citizens “unless we absolutely must do this.”

The Prime Minister did not take stricter restrictions, but urged all Sydney residents to “abandon unnecessary activities” and not participate in social gatherings unless absolutely necessary.

“We basically know where the super-spreading incident happened, we know where the virus is spreading, and we don’t want to take further action than we do now. It depends on all of us controlling our behavior, and all of us complying from 4 pm Start to implement the sanitation order,” she said.

“I do not rule out taking any further action, but I also believe that if we abide by the health order today, we will have a good chance to contain the epidemic.

“I don’t rule out taking further action, nor what will happen in a week, because we don’t know.”

At yesterday’s press conference, Mr. Hazzard warned that New South Wales is dealing with “very real and real dangers” and the threat of the Delta variant means that there is now “no time to be stupid”.

“We have gone from that immediate danger to a very real and real danger, not only in shopping malls, but throughout Sydney. We all need to take this matter seriously,” he said.

“Each of us has control over the future of residents of New South Wales and residents of Sydney.”