Aug 8, 2021: Australia’s three most populous states, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, reported a total of 282 locally acquired COVID-19 infections on Sunday, prompting authorities to use snap lock downs  to prevent further delta outbreaks. 

New South Wales reported 262 fresh corona virus cases, down from 319 on Saturday, with more than five million people in Sydney’s coastline already under lockdown for six weeks.

“I urge everybody to please stick to the rules, the health advice, and only leave home if you absolutely have to,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.One woman in her 80s has died overnight bringing the total number of deaths in the current outbreak to 28.

There are 362 people in hospital in Australia’s New South Wales, with 58 in intensive care. Of the people in intensive care, 54 were unvaccinated. Neighbouring Victoria reported 11 new locally acquired coronavirus cases, as the state remains under a seven-day strict lockdown imposed earlier this week.

While Queensland recorded nine new local cases, with parts of the state to come out of a lock down on Sunday, but a fresh three-day lock down was imposed on the city of Cairns after a report of a case with unknown origin.

With the highly transmissible Delta variant plaguing Australia’s east coast, states have applied the “go hard, go early” snap lock down approach, suggested by the federal government last week until at least 70% of the population gets vaccinated.

Only about a fifth of people aged over 16 have been fully vaccinated in Australia so far, mainly due to scarce supply of Pfizer shots and public unease about the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Australia Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Sunday the first million doses of the Moderna vaccine are expected in September.

Stay tuned to BaaghiTV for latest news and Updates!

Saudi Arabia opens Umrah pilgrimage to vaccinated foreigners

Afghanistan: Taliban advance on third provincial capital