Sydney, Australia, Delta Variant Spreading... Lockdown Expanded Starting Today

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant is spreading in Sydney, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Lockdown orders have also been extended to Sydney and nearby areas.

On the 26th (local time), the Australian daily Sydney Morning Herald reported that Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of NSW, issued a lockdown order for Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast, and Wollongong from 6 p.m. that day until 11:59 p.m. on the 9th of next month, lasting for two weeks.

This expands the partial lockdown previously imposed on four areas including Sydney City, Ulladulla, Randwick, and Waverley.

Premier Berejiklian stated, "The spread of the Delta variant is rapid, with 29 community infections reported in the past 24 hours," adding, "There is no alternative but to impose a lockdown." She also explained, "Based on medical experts' advice that a short-term lockdown of 3 to 5 days cannot achieve zero community transmission, we have decided on a two-week lockdown."

During the lockdown period, residents in the affected areas are prohibited from going out except for four essential purposes: work or education, medical reasons including COVID-19 vaccination, compassionate care, and purchasing essential goods or services.

Additionally, indoor gatherings must maintain 4 square meters of space per person, and home visits are limited to 5 people. Weddings are only permitted until the 27th and must be canceled thereafter until the lockdown ends. Funerals are allowed but limited to a maximum of 100 attendees.

The spread of the Delta variant in NSW is believed to have started on the 16th when a limousine bus driver in his 60s living in eastern Sydney was infected while transporting passengers who had arrived from the United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.