COVID-19 Delta Variant Goes Away, 20 Million Australians Go Under Strict Lockdown

Playgrounds in Sydney are closed due to COVID-19. (Wikimedia Commons/Maksym Kozlenko)

JAKARTA - A number of Australian states tightened restrictions and ramped up vaccinations for COVID-19, to curb the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, Tuesday 29 June.

Successfully battling COVID-19 for months, Australia is now battling to contain the Delta variant in five of eight states, two weeks after a Sydney infection that occurred in a limousine driver for an overseas airline crew.

A total of more than 20 million Australians, or around 80 per cent of the Kangaroo Country's population, were affected by the strict lockdown in three major cities, as well as restrictions in a number of other cities due to the Delta variant.

The state of north Queensland imposed a three-day lockdown on the capital Brisbane and surrounding areas from Tuesday evening. Western Australia's capital, Perth, began a four-day lockdown from Tuesday, joining Sydney and Darwin.

"The risks are real and we need to act fast. We have to work hard, we have to be fast," Queensland Prime Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

Sydney, home to a fifth of Australia's population, is in a two-week lockdown until July 9, while a stay-at-home order in the outback city of Darwin was extended by 72 hours until Friday.

Included in the lockdown and restrictions are the enactment of the law, mandatory wearing of masks, as well as restrictions on gatherings. This provision applies to everyone, with New South Wales Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce being the top government official to be fined A$200 for removing a mask at a gas station.

Despite the lockdown, Australia is in the midst of 'confusion' after the decision to give AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine to those under 60 years of age.

Doctors have complained about the so-called unannounced change, saying medical regulators are still recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for those over 60.

"The phone rang at the GP clinic. We didn't get any warning about last night's announcement and this isn't the first time this has happened," Karen Price, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said on Twitter.

"We didn't get any warning about last night's announcement and this isn't the first time this has happened."

Meanwhile, Australian Medical Association President Omar Khorshid said the change shocked him, caused disagreement and confusion by appearing to go against official advice.

"AstraZeneca is safe, effective, but for those under 60 there is a better vaccine and that is Pfizer," Khorshid told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

To note, border closures, lockdowns and contact tracing have helped Australia contain infections, with more than 30,500 cases of COVID-19 infection and 910 deaths, but the federal government has faced criticism over the speed of vaccination. Only about 5 per cent of Australia's population has been fully vaccinated.