In The Third Week Of Strict Lockdown, Australia Even Records The Biggest Spike In COVID-19 Infection Cases

Illustration of COVID-19 in Sydney, Australia. (Wikimedia Commons/Adam.JWC)

JAKARTA - Australia on Monday reported its biggest daily rise in COVID-19 cases this year, due to the rapid spread of the Delta variant in Sydney, despite the largest city entering its third week of strict lockdown.

The state of New South Wales reported 112 new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19, almost all in Sydney, marking the fifth straight day of record numbers.

However, there was a glimmer of light as the number of newly infected people leaving the community while infectious fell to 34, down from 45 on Sunday.

State Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian said progress on the figures in the coming days will determine whether Sydney's lockdown, which expires on Friday, will be extended or not.

"That's the number we need to get close to zero," Berejiklian said in his daily television briefing.

"It's up to us. Health expert advice will be based on what the numbers look like. I couldn't be clearer than that."

Berejiklian said the majority of Monday's cases were family members or close friends of people already infected.

Lockdown measures in Sydney, home to a fifth of Australia's 25 million people, were tightened over the weekend, limiting residents to only 10 kilometers of mobility from their homes. And, only one person from one house is allowed to go out to buy basic needs.

Australia has previously succeeded in suppressing the spread of sporadic COVID-19 infections through a rapid lockdown, rapid contact tracing and strict social distancing rules.

Launching Worldometers Monday, July 12, Australia recorded a total of 31,216 cases of infection, with 911 deaths, and 29,534 people who were declared cured.

However, the highly contagious Delta variant and the slow rollout of the vaccine have sparked fears of a significant outbreak. Only about 11 per cent of Australia's adult population of more than 20.5 million have been fully vaccinated so far.

Prior to today's increase, the Kangaroo Country also recorded the largest increase in a row throughout the pandemic on Sunday and Saturday. Australia recorded 50 new infections on Saturday, followed by 77 on Sunday.