Delta variant: Australia Covid-19 response team holds urgent meeting amid outbreak
Reuters/Sydney
(AP file)
Around 18 million Australians are now under some form of lockdown.
Australia’s Covid-19 response committee is due to hold an emergency meeting on Monday as outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta variant across the country prompted a lockdown in Sydney and renewed restrictions elsewhere. Around 18 million Australians, or around 70 per cent of the population, are now under some form of lockdown or Covid-related restrictions as officials grapple with Covid-19 flare-ups in almost every state or territory.
“I think we are entering a new phase of this pandemic, with the more contagious Delta strain,” federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Monday, adding Australia was facing a “critical time” in its fight against COVID-19.
IEC wants Wednesday s by-elections postponed after gatherings ban
The Electoral Commission will urgently approach the electoral court to postpone eight by-elections scheduled for Wednesday in the wake of level 4 lockdown restrictions.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday night moved the country to lockdown alert level 4, as Covid-19 cases were spiralling and the third wave of infections wrecked havoc, particularly in Gauteng. The restrictions prohibit all gatherings (except funerals), including political gatherings and threw the hosting of Wednesday s by-elections into turmoil.
The Electoral Commission said it took the decision to seek the court’s approval to postpone the by-elections at an emergency meeting on Monday called after Ramaphosa s announcement.
NSW warns cases could rise considerably Queensland, South Australia announce restrictions (Adds South Australia restrictions, details of penalties for lockdown offenders)
By Renju Jose
SYDNEY, June 28 (Reuters) - Australia s COVID-19 response committee is due to hold an emergency meeting on Monday as outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta variant across the country prompted a lockdown in Sydney and renewed restrictions elsewhere. More than 20 million Australians, or around 80% of the population, are now under some form of lockdown or COVID-related restrictions as officials grapple with COVID-19 flare-ups in almost every state or territory. I think we are entering a new phase of this pandemic, with the more contagious Delta strain, federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Monday, adding Australia was facing a critical time in its fight against COVID-19.