- Despite the lockdown, the number of Covid-19 cases in Australia continues to increase.
- Officials suggested staggering the relaxation of restrictions.
- There are plans to increase the vaccination rate.
Australian authorities on Wednesday extended the Covid-19 lockdown in Melbourne for another three weeks as they shifted their focus to rapid vaccination and got rid of the suppression strategy that brought cases to zero.
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The Governor of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, stated that once 70% of adult residents in the state receive at least one dose of the vaccine, strict restrictions will be gradually relaxed. Based on the current vaccination rate, he hopes that at least September 23 This milestone was reached before.
“We have paid everything for this, but now we are very clear that we will not reduce these numbers, but will increase them,” Andrews told reporters in the state capital, Melbourne, nearly a year after the closure. The month failed to quell the epidemic.
The blockade was originally scheduled to end on Thursday.
“We must buy time for the vaccination to continue, and at the same time do this very difficult task. This is a very painful and difficult task. We try to keep the cases confidential as much as possible.”
Target date
The number of new local cases in Victoria jumped from 76 cases a day ago to 120 cases. Of the new cases, 100 have been in the community while being infectious.
Neighboring New South Wales on Wednesday advanced its target date from its initial target at the end of October to the middle of next month, and advanced the target date for 70% of people over 16 years of age to be fully vaccinated because the epidemic has stimulated a surge in vaccination.
“No matter where you live, as long as you get 70% of the vaccines, life will be much better and more free,” New South Wales Governor Gladys Berejiklian told reporters.
So far, 37% of people in the state have been fully vaccinated, while 67% have received at least one dose of the vaccine, which is slightly higher than the national figure but much lower than most comparable countries.
A total of 1 116 new cases have been detected in New South Wales, down from 1 164 a day ago. New South Wales has reported 4 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the latest outbreak to 100.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Parliament on Wednesday that Australians will eventually need to be freed from the blockade.
“Australia can tolerate this virus,” he said in Canberra.
Australia is trying to deal with the third wave of infections, which has blocked more than half of its 25 million population. Its largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, and its capital, Canberra, have imposed strict stay-at-home orders for several weeks.
Despite the recent outbreak, it has managed to keep the number of its coronavirus at a relatively low level, with only more than 55,000 cases and 1,012 deaths.
Among the large economies of the Group of 20 (G20), Australia was the last country to record 1,000 Covid-19 deaths, which is a severe but moderate sign according to the global standards reached this week.
“Old Script”
Several major Asia-Pacific economies have fewer Covid-19 deaths, with only 26 in New Zealand.
Although the Australian authorities were able to put an end to past epidemics through lockdowns, the highly contagious delta virus has forced the country’s two largest states to plan to reopen as the number of infections rises.
Chris Moy, deputy chairman of the Australian Medical Association, told Reuters that Delta’s high infectivity, short incubation period, and asymptomatic transmission meant that “the old script won’t work”.
“In the beginning you have a much smaller window of opportunity to eliminate it. Basically once you pass, Delta Air Lines determines its fate,” Moi said.
The federal government is urging the states and territories to adhere to the national reopening plan after the vaccination rate reaches 70%-80%, although some virus-free states have indicated that they may postpone it in view of the rapid increase in Sydney cases.
Federal Finance Minister Josh Frydenberg (Josh Frydenberg) urged state leaders to follow the national reopening plan.
Friedenberg said: “Stick to the plan…a plan that allows businesses to reopen and plan for their own future…a plan that allows Australia to coexist safely with the virus.”
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