Sydney's COVID-19 Infection Cases Decline, Soldiers Start Monday To Help Order Lockdown

JAKARTA - Australian health authorities reported a decline in Sydney's daily COVID-19 infection cases on Friday, amid tighter restrictions with the military engaged to help police enforce lockdown rules.

Millions of people in Australia's biggest city are under one of the strictest lockdowns since the pandemic, as the nearly four-week lockdown failed to contain the spread of the Delta variant. The authorities chose to extend the strict lockdown until August 28.

Although infection cases fell for the first time in almost a week, New South Wales State Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian warned cases could rise again, as the number of people who tested positive for the Delta strain moved through the community.

"We expect to see those numbers bounce," Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney.

New South Wales reported 170 new local cases, mostly in the state capital Sydney, down from a record high of 239 set the day before. Of the new cases, 42 of them spent time in the community while infectious and 53 are still under investigation.

Berejiklian also called on people not to take part in the anti-lockdown protests planned for Saturday in Sydney, warning they might give their loved ones the 'death penalty'.

To support enforcement of the lockdown rules, Australian police have been given new powers to shut down businesses that violate the rules, while the military will begin helping police ensure compliance with restrictions from Monday. Carrying no weapons and under the command of the police, they will join in enforcing the lockdown rules.

Separately, officials are increasingly concerned about the strain on the healthcare system, as hospitalizations and deaths are expected to rise from the fast-moving Delta variant.

A total of 187 cases were hospitalized, with 58 in intensive care, 24 of which required ventilation. Thirteen deaths have been recorded so far in the latest outbreak.

To find a strategy to overcome this epidemic, the national cabinet which is a joint, national and state leaders, will meet today, looking for a way out of the pandemic.

Launching Worldometers, as of Friday the Kangaroo Country recorded a total of 33,909 cases of COVID-19 infection, with 923 deaths and 29,926 patients declared cured since last year's pandemic.