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© Reuters.File photo: On July 22, in Sydney, Australia, in order to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, the stadium was closed during confinement, and a woman exercised on the empty steps in front of the Anzac Memorial in the reflecting pool, 2021. Reuters Agency/Luo
Sonali Paul
Melbourne (Reuters)-The number of local infections of COVID-19 in New South Wales, Australia on Sunday hit the second-highest single-day increase in the year due to fears of a new wave of infections after thousands of people participated in anti-blockade protests.
“Regarding yesterday’s protests, I can say how disgusted I am. It breaks my heart,” Gladys Berejiklian, the governor of the most populous state in the country, told reporters.
“I hope this will not be a setback, but it may be,” she said.
141 COVID-19 cases have been reported, down from 163 cases a day ago. The outbreak started in June and was caused by a highly contagious delta variant of the virus, which has now infected 2,081 people in New South Wales. There are 43 people in the intensive care unit, which is an increase from 37 people a day ago.
Due to the slow introduction of vaccines, Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated that more vaccine supply will not ensure that New South Wales will get rid of the lockdown, but what is needed is an effective and properly implemented lockdown.
Morrison told reporters at a television media conference: “Let me be clear-in New South Wales, there is no other way to control this situation except for blockades. There is no other panacea that can do this.”
He called Sydney’s anti-blockade protests reckless and self-defeating.
Although Berejiklian and other state leaders blamed Canberra for the slow introduction of the vaccine, critics said that New South Wales did not enforce its stay-at-home order, which caused the Delta variant to leak to other states.
State health authorities have stated that at least 38 new cases in New South Wales have been in the community while contagious. Even after the Sydney lockdown for four weeks, the number of such cases remained high and is now expected to extend beyond July 30.
The state reported two deaths overnight, including a woman in her 30s who had no previous medical history.
Despite fighting the peak of infection, Australia has managed to basically contain its epidemic, with approximately 32,600 cases and 918 deaths.
To help expedite vaccination in Sydney, the government’s official adviser, the Australian Immunization Technical Advisory Group (ATAGI), changed its recommendations for the AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:) vaccine on Saturday, urging anyone under the age of 60 in the city to consider vaccination. .
Because of concerns about blood clots, ATAGI had previously advised against vaccinating AstraZeneca for people under 60.
“In the context of the current risk of COVID-19 in New South Wales and the continuing restrictions on Comirnaty ( Pfizer (NYSE:)) Vaccine supply, all adults in Greater Sydney should strongly consider the benefits of using the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for early protection, rather than waiting for alternative vaccines,” ATAGI said in a statement.
Morrison said on Sunday that the government has received another 85 million doses of Pfizer vaccines, but they will only be delivered in 2022 and 2023.
He said: “Ordering these boosters in advance means we can enter 2022 with confidence.”
The Australian state of Victoria reported 11 locally infected COVID-19 cases on Sunday, down from 12 cases a day ago, increasing the hope that the state will end the strict lockdown imposed 10 days ago.
State Governor Daniel Andrews said that it is too early to say whether restrictions will be relaxed on Tuesday, but: “However, at this stage, things are going well.”
The state health department stated that all cases are related to the current outbreak cluster and are in isolation throughout the infectious period.
South Australia reported three new cases on Sunday.
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