Australian COVID-19 cases hit new record as debate over “reopening” heats up

MELBOURNE, Aug. 29 (Reuters) – Australia registered 1,323 local cases of COVID-19 on Sunday as it debated whether the country should start living with the virus in the community, after successfully removing it. the coronavirus.

Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), the epicenter of the Delta-fueled outbreak in the nation, reported 1,218 cases, as authorities will slightly release the restrictions after nine weeks of closure. The blockade is expected to last until the end of September.

NSW Prime Minister Gladys Berejiklian has vowed to reopen the state once 70% of those over 16 are vaccinated.

“Regardless of the number of cases (…) a double dose of 70% in NSW means freedom for vaccinated people,” Berejiklian said.

On Sunday, he said the state has reached halfway to achieving the goal.

In Victoria, the second most populous state in the country, which is in its sixth closure since the start of the pandemic, 92 infections occurred on Sunday, the highest in nearly a year.

Victoria State Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said the closure of his state, which will end on Thursday, will be extended, but would not say how long.

“Today we see too many cases to seriously consider this week’s opening,” Andrews said.

The territory of the Australian capital, home to the national capital Canberra, had 13 new cases.

Australia has fared much better than most developed countries, reporting just over 50,100 COVID-19-related cases and 999 deaths.

After the national government closed its international borders at the beginning of the pandemic, its six states and two territories have used various combinations of state border closures, closures and strict social distancing measures to combat COVID-19.

But the national government now insists that the COVID-zero strategy, which had been successful in suppressing previous outbreaks, is unrealistic after the highly contagious Delta variant reached its shores and was detrimental to the economy. .

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been urging states to reopen their borders once the target of vaccinating 70% of those over the age of 16 is reached, but virus-free Queensland and Western Australia states have hinted that they might not follow them. Read more

Nationally, only 33.7% of those eligible have been fully vaccinated, although in recent weeks Australia has been competing to inoculate its population. At the current rate, 80% could be vaccinated in mid-November.

“Learning to live with the virus is our only hope,” Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Daily newspaper on Sunday. “Delaying and denying this fact is not only incorrect, but incredibly unrealistic.”

Victoria supports the federal reopening plan, but state authorities believe the current outbreak, which already has 778 active cases, can be suppressed with a strict closure, involving a night curfew for Melbourne, the capital of Victoria.

The June quarter economic growth figures to be released on Wednesday may hint at whether Australia would enter its second recession in so many years, as the September quarter is expected to be released later this year. show a contraction, reflecting current outbreaks and blockages.

Report by Lidia Kelly; Edited by Daniel Wallis and Michael Perry

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