Australia: New record number of cases and anti-lockdown protests

New South Wales, its most populous state Australia, announced today that in the past 24 hours 163 new cases of covid-19 were detected, a record number for this wave of the epidemic and the highest number recorded since March 2020, as the new outbreak of the disease spreads, with the authorities speaking for an “ongoing and growing problem”.

“Unfortunately, cases are still rising in New South Wales,” said State Health Secretary Brad Hazard, urging citizens to stay indoors.

“Citizens, especially in southwestern and western Sydney, really need to stay home, listen to the message and stay home,” he said.

Meanwhile, anti-lockdown protests have taken place in several major Australian cities today.

Thousands of angry citizens, wearing no masks, demonstrated in Sydney’s central business district this afternoon (local time) demanding an end to the lockdown in the city, which is entering its fifth week. The police proceeded to several protesters arrests.

Similar scenes took place in Melbourne and Adelaide, two cities where there is also a lockdown, but also Brisbane where no restrictions have been imposed.

About 15% of adult Australians are fully vaccinated against covid-19, a much lower rate than in other developed countries. The government aims to vaccinate the entire adult population by the end of the year.

But the already slow immunization campaign could face other problems as New South Wales health officials say they may need to increase the interval between two doses of the Pfizer vaccine from three to six weeks in order for more people to get the First installment.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed his support for this proposal yesterday.

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