Australia's Covid-19 response team holds urgent meeting amid outbreak

A pedestrian crosses an empty intersection at morning commute hour in the city centre during a lockdown to curb the spread of a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak in Sydney, Australia

* Treasurer says Australia facing 'critical time' * NSW warns cases could rise 'considerably' * Queensland, South Australia announce restrictions 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.