JAKARTA - Sydney, Australia recorded its lowest daily COVID-19 infection cases in two months on Tuesday, as authorities rolled out support measures for businesses, shifting their focus to economic recovery after the city emerged from a nearly four-month lockdown starting yesterday.
Pubs, cafes and retail shops reopened in New South Wales (NSW), home to Sydney, on Monday after vaccination rates in the state's adult population surpassed 70 percent.
The state's new daily COVID-19 infection cases fell to 360 on Tuesday, with the majority in Sydney, marking a steady downward trend.
"This is going to be a boom time in New South Wales for every business and worker across our state," Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet said during a news conference on Tuesday, as he unveiled a support package for companies to help them prepare for a 'hot summer. sunny', citing Reuters October 12.
Perrottet said businesses would be compensated for any COVID-19 lockdowns in December and January, encouraging them to have some savings ahead of the busy summer holiday period. Under the plan, small companies can access grants of up to A$20,000 (US$14,690) if they are forced to close at that time.
Earlier, Sydney, along with Melbourne and the Australian capital Canberra, was in the grip of a third wave of infections triggered by the highly contagious Delta variant, with all cities looking to start easing restrictions gradually when full vaccination rates hit 70 percent, 80 percent and 90 percent. .
Canberra is on track to come out of lockdown on Friday, joining Sydney, as the city's inoculation is close to 75 percent.
Meanwhile, the vaccination rate in Victoria, which includes Melbourne, is expected to hit 70 percent in people over 16 around the end of October, when some restrictions will be relaxed.
The state of Victoria reported 1,466 new cases of COVID-19 infection this Tuesday, its lowest in six days.
The Australian Federal Government is known to have put pressure on states to start living with the coronavirus, when vaccination rates hit 70 per cent - 80 per cent.
However, some virus-free states have said they could delay reopening, amid fears a spike in cases would overwhelm their health systems.
To note, higher vaccination rates among the most vulnerable populations have helped Australia to keep the death rate from the Delta variant lower than last year's outbreak.
To date, Australia has recorded around 131,400 cases of COVID-19 infection, with 1,461 deaths since the pandemic began.
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