JAKARTA - Australia is still struggling to control cases of COVID-19 infection, with the State of New South Wales setting another infection record, hospitals at risk of full and a new record of patient deaths.
Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, which is the epicenter of the current COVID-19 outbreak, is expected to peak in intensive hospitalization in October, as cases pile up amid reporting a record daily rise in new infections on Monday.
New South Wales announced a record 1.290 new infection cases, as the country struggles to contain the highly contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the state was preparing for additional hospitalizations due to rising infections before increased vaccination coverage began to ease the pressure.
"We anticipate that the worst month, the worst time for our intensive care unit will be next October", Berejiklian said in the state capital Sydney, cited from Reuters Monday, August 30.
"We need to manage things differently because we are in the middle of a pandemic, but we will deal with it", Berejiklian continued.
In total, there are currently 840 people in hospital for COVID-19 in New South Wales, with 137 in intensive care and 48 requiring ventilation. Nationally, there were a record 1.375 new COVID-19 cases reported.
Meanwhile, four patient deaths on Monday in New South Wales brought Australia now to 1.003 COVID-19 deaths, adding to the list of developed countries that have already surpassed 1.000 COVID-19 deaths.
Indeed, Australia has used a strict lockdown and quarantine system, to keep coronavirus infections and death rates lower than other developed countries. However, the Delta variant is now putting pressure on Kangaroo State's health services.
More than 33 percent of those aged 16 and older had received two doses of the vaccine, well below countries' levels with Australia, according to government data.
The delay was partly due to changes in health advice regarding the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which will form the backbone of the country's immunization program, following rare cases of blood clots among some recipients.
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However, Australia's vaccination rate has risen to more than 250.000 doses a day per week, the fastest rate ever, according to a Reuters analysis.
Australia's second-most populous state, Victoria, reported 73 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, a day after Prime Minister Dan Andrews said he would extend lockdown measures, as daily infections hit their highest level in a year.
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