Sydney authorities moved to lift curfews for coronavirus hotpots Wednesday, as infection numbers stabilised and vaccination rates surged. Almost three months after activity in Australia’s largest city was frozen by lockdown orders, state authorities announced easing restrictions for the worst-hit areas. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 9 pm to 5 am curfew for virus hotspots would be lifted from Wednesday, in what Sydneysiders hope signals the beginning of the end of a long lockdown.
Infection rates appear to have plateaued at around 1,300 a day and 80 percent of people in Australia’s most populous state have received at least one vaccine dose.
“We’ve seen a stabilisation in the last few days,” said state premier Berejiklian, while urging residents to continue to be vigilant and respect stay-at-home orders. Berejiklian has said many restrictions will lift when 70 percent of residents are fully vaccinated, sometime in October. We know it’s been a struggle but there are only a few weeks left before we get to 70 percent double dose,” she said.
An 18-month-old ban on Australians leaving the country is set to expire in mid-December, raising the prospect that international travel could also resume.
Researchers at the Burnet Institute said this week that it appears that restrictions on hotspots introduced in late August have “worked to halt the rise in cases”. But they warned restrictions would still be needed to stem outbreaks.
Authorities have said reopening will only apply to those who are fully vaccinated. It’s black and white. If you’re not vaccinated, you can’t go to a restaurant. You can’t go to a cafe,” Berejiklian said.
During much of the pandemic, Australia saw some of the world’s lowest infection rates as it pursued a policy of “zero Covid” — suppressing the spread of the virus with aggressive contact tracing, testing and quarantine.
Source: Reuters
In other news – DJ Fresh remembers his late friend HHP
People took the time to remember the late rapper, HHP. He may be gone, but will never be forgotten.
DJ Fresh is one of the celebrities who took time to pen a beautiful message to his friend who could have been celebrating his 41st birthday today. Learn more
