Australia outbreak grows, spreads to New Zealand
The Hindu
Sydney has been in lockdown since June 26 and the entire state has been locked down since August 14.
Australia's most populous state reported a record 633 new coronavirus infections on August 18 as concerns grew about the delta variant's spread beyond Sydney. The previous record in New South Wales, which includes Sydney, was 466 on August 14. Three people died on August 17, bringing the death toll from the outbreak first detected in Sydney in mid-June to 60. “I can't express enough my level of concern at these rising numbers of cases,” state Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said. “I'm incredibly concerned.” Infections were also reported in towns in the west, north and central regions of the state in recent days, Deputy Premier John Barilaro said. “The delta strain is really putting regional New South Wales on that knife edge,” Mr. Barilaro said.
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