[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] In New South Wales (NSW), the most populous state in Australia, new COVID-19 Delta variant cases have been increasing daily. As a result, an extension of the lockdown, which has been in place for five weeks, appears inevitable.
According to Australia's public broadcaster ABC on the 27th, the daily new COVID-19 cases in NSW reached 172, marking the highest number since the Delta variant began spreading last month.
Notably, more than 79 of the 172 new cases were active in the community during their infectious period, suggesting that additional cases are expected to emerge.
Gladys Berejiklian, Premier of NSW, pointed out that "clusters of the virus are moving from southwestern Sydney to the western region," adding that "infections are mainly occurring at workplaces and then spreading to families."
Regarding whether the lockdown, currently in effect for five weeks across Greater Sydney and nearby areas, will be extended beyond its scheduled end date of the 30th, she avoided giving a direct answer and said an announcement would be made on the 28th.
Premier Berejiklian also indicated the possibility of extending the lockdown, stating, "We have endured difficult times over the past five weeks, including shutting down certain industries, but if restrictions are lifted too early, the virus could resurge."
In NSW, despite strict lockdown measures such as restricting residents in cluster areas like southwestern Sydney from leaving their districts and closing retail stores and construction sites, new cases have remained above 140 for five consecutive days, showing little sign of the virus's spread calming down.
Meanwhile, in Victoria, which borders NSW to the south, all 10 newly reported cases on the day were found to be in quarantine, leading to the lifting of the two-week lockdown at midnight on the 27th.
As a result, the curfew was lifted, face-to-face classes resumed in schools, and restaurants and cafes returned to normal operations.
However, visits to other households remain prohibited for the next two weeks, and wearing face masks outdoors is mandatory.
On the same day, South Australia also reported no new cases, leading to the lifting of its lockdown, which had been in place since the 20th, at midnight on the 27th.
The spread of the Delta variant in Australia began on the 16th of last month when a man in his 60s, working as an airport limousine bus driver in eastern Sydney, NSW, was infected by a passenger arriving from the United States.
Following this, community transmissions surged, prompting lockdowns in Greater Sydney and nearby areas that prohibited outings except for essential purposes such as purchasing necessities, work, medical care, and exercise.
However, as the virus's spread could not be contained, similar lockdowns were imposed in neighboring Victoria and South Australia.
According to data from the Australian Federal Department of Health, as of the 26th, there are 2,272 active COVID-19 cases nationwide, with 2,018 concentrated in NSW, which has been under lockdown for five weeks.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March last year, Australia's cumulative confirmed cases and deaths have been recorded at 33,081 and 918, respectively.
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