Australia Covid: Outbreaks Emerge Across Country In 'New Phase' of Pandemic

[appalachiablue]

Source: BBC News

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has met national leaders for emergency talks on how to tackle a spike in Covid-19 infections. An outbreak in Sydney linked to the highly contagious Delta variant has grown to 128 cases.

Cases have also been recorded in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. Officials say it is a "critical time". Australia has kept case numbers low with border closures and lockdowns. Reports say the emergency meeting considered measures such as mandatory vaccinations for care home workers and new quarantine rules.

This is the first time in months that cases have emerged in multiple parts of the country at the same time. "I think we're entering a new phase of this pandemic, with the more contagious Delta strain," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told ABC News ahead of the meeting of the Covid-19 response committee.

The escalation in Covid infections has prompted lockdowns in the cities of Sydney and Darwin, as well as restrictions across four states. The situation remains most concerning in Sydney, where some five million residents are subject to a stay-at-home order...


Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-57633457

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- Also: In the BBC Link. 'Dangerous variant exploiting Australia's weaknesses,' BBC News Sydney. Just a week ago Sydney was still in near Covid-free bliss - with people packed into restaurants and dancing in clubs. But the swift spread of Delta has upended the "new normal". The strain is now linked to 3 of 4 clusters affecting Australia. Experts say the nation's defences have been beaten, multiple times, by the powerful variant. It's breached hotel quarantine several times, raising concerns about air transmission...
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- 'NSW sees 30 new Covid cases as Sydney locks down,' June 27, 2021,
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-57621552

Australia has consistently maintained very low rates of Covid transmission and this is the first lockdown in Sydney - its largest city - since December..The latest outbreak has fuelled criticism of the federal government's slow vaccination rollout. So far, just over 3% of the adult population have been fully vaccinated and about 25% of Australians have received a first dose. Government critics have argued that cities will not need to endure lockdowns again if a majority of the population is vaccinated...



- Streets in central Sydney were near deserted on Monday.




- Testing: Sydney residents get tested at drive-through clinic in Bondi Beach.

[SheltieLover]

1. Why is it always reactive, rather than.proactive?

Ty for posting this.

[speak easy]

2. Australia has about 200 active cases of COVID

Their strategy has been elimination while closing the borders.

[SheltieLover]

3. Good ideas!

Hopefully, they will be able to nip this in the bud with these lockdowns!

[speak easy]

4. They lift the lockdowns when there are no cases.

A very different strategy from the States, but there is a big economic cost. New Zealand does the same thing. Both are islands.

[SheltieLover]

5. Sounds like a great plan!

Does New Zealand even have any cases of delta? Last I heard, they were covid free.

[speak easy]

6. New Zealand is Covid free.

So was Australia until two weeks ago. The Australians will squash it. Then have eradicated Covid two or three times before.

[roamer65]

7. It's winter down under.

It will be a harbinger of what’s to come for us in the fall.

[progree]

8. After months of falling, new cases are rising again in the U.S., ditto the world

Both have been faling for months until the 7 day moving average started turning up about a week ago.

U.S.: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=15571073
World: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=15571119

[LisaL]

9. Delta is starting to spread here in US.

NT

[progree]

10. 20% of new U.S. cases are Delta, latest I've seen ...

The Covid delta variant has ‘exploded’ in the UK — and it could be a blueprint for the U.S., CNBC, 6/28/21
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/28/how-the-uk-with-the-delta-variant-is-a-blueprint-for-the-us.html

In the U.K. in mid-June, delta was 90% of new cases.

Oddly though, India, the "home" of the delta variant has had daily new cases down 87% since the May peak, and down 43% in the last 2 weeks (7 day moving averages). Deaths down about 70% from the peak. Only 4% fully vaccinated (19% one or more doses). https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/world/india-covid-cases.html

[LisaL]

11. So many have gotten infected in India that they likely got natural immunity against it.

NT