Australia reports 1,684 new cases of COVID-19, but plans a Merry Christmas

MELBOURNE, Sept. 5 (Reuters) – Australia reported 1,684 new coronavirus cases on Sunday as authorities moved ahead with vaccines to try to end closures on the populous south-east coast in hopes of making Christmas as normal as possible.

More than 15 million people in the state of Victoria, neighboring New South Wales and the capital of the Australian capital, have been subjected to house arrest orders as officials struggle to quell the worst wave of Australian coronavirus infections, driven by the Delta variant.

New South Wales reported 1,485 cases of Delta and three more deaths on Sunday. Victoria had 183 new cases, while the Australian Capital Territory had 15. A new infection was also reported in Queensland, which is not closed.

Closures, which keep borders between states and territories closed, are part of a federal counseling strategy to manage outbreaks until at least 70 percent of those over 16 are completely vaccinated.

The plan calls for Australia to be able to begin reopening its international border, which has been closed since March 2020, when 80% of people are shot.

“When we get these vaccination rates, life will look better and feel better, and we certainly won’t have to have a statewide blockade again when we get to 80% dose vaccination rates,” he said. say Gladys Berejiklian, Prime Minister of New South Wales.

Only about 37% of eligible people have been vaccinated nationwide, due to the scarce supply of the Pfizer vaccine (PFE.N) and public unease over the AstraZeneca shot (AZN.L). The pace has skyrocketed with federal government races to get more shots from Pfizer. Read more

According to current rates, the 70% target can be reached in late October and early November.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison reiterated that the Delta outbreak could not be completely eliminated, a successful strategy used by states and territories in previous waves, but that achieving vaccination targets could open up interstate travel.

“And everyone can make plans for a family Christmas, with all of our loved ones at the dinner table, breaking goodies and jokes,” Morrison told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“No one wants COVID to be the virus that stole Christmas and we have a plan and vaccines available to make sure it doesn’t.”

Australia has reported just under 62,000 cases of COVID-19 and 1,040 deaths, far fewer than many other countries.

Report by Lidia Kelly; Edited by Sonya Hepinstall, Robert Birsel

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