Canceling Target Zero COVID-19 Cases, Melbourne Focuses On Boosting Vaccination Programs

Illustration of the COVID-19 lockdown in New South Wales. (Wikimedia Commons/Blue Mountains Library)

JAKARTA - Australian authorities on Wednesday extended Melbourne's COVID-19 lockdown for another three weeks, as they shifted focus from their strategy of bringing down COVID-19 cases to zero, to expediting vaccinations.

1, Victoria Prime Minister Daniel Andrews marked an easing of strict restrictions, after 70 per cent of the state's adult population received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, a milestone he hopes to reach by at least September 23, based on current vaccination rates.

"We've put everything into this but now it's clear to us that we're not going to lower these numbers, they're going to increase instead," Andrews told reporters in Melbourne, the state capital, after a month-long lockdown that failed to contain the spread. the outbreak with the lockdown will end Thursday.

"We had to buy time to allow vaccinations to take place while doing this hard work, this very painful and difficult job, to cover as many cases as possible."

New local cases jumped to 120 in Victoria from 76 the day before. Of the new cases, 100 have spent time in the community while infectious.

Neighboring New South Wales state, with the capital Sydney, on Wednesday put forward a target date for vaccinating 70 per cent of people over 16 by the middle of next month, from an initial target of late October as the outbreak prompted a surge in COVID-19 vaccinations.

"Wherever you live, life will be much, much better, much freer, as long as you are vaccinated at 70 percent," Berejiklian told reporters.

So far 37 percent are fully vaccinated in the state, while 67 percent have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, slightly higher than the national figure.

Today, 1,116 new cases were detected in New South Wales, down from 1,164 the day before. As for deaths, the state reported four new deaths bringing the total number of deaths in the latest outbreak to 100.

To note, Kangaroo Country is trying to tackle a third wave of infections that has locked down more than half of its 25 million population. Sydney and Melbourne, its largest cities, and the capital Canberra have been under strict stay-at-home orders for weeks.

Nevertheless, Australia is one of the developed countries that has succeeded in keeping the number of COVID-19 infection cases low, with more than 55,000 cases and 1,012 deaths.

Meanwhile, the federal government is pressuring states and territories to stick to national reopening plans after vaccination rates hit 70 per cent - 80 per cent, although some virus-free states have said they may delay given Sydney's rapidly rising cases.

Berejiklian himself said New South Wales would be open to international travelers when vaccination reached 80 per cent. And, it will allow people living in other states to fly to Sydney, even if other states decide not to open their borders.

Separately, Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg urged state leaders to follow national reopening plans.

"Stay with the plan, the plan that allows businesses to reopen and plan for their own future. The plan that takes Australia forward to living safely with the virus," said Frydenberg.