Covid: Sydney lockdown extended as Delta outbreak spreads

Sydney residents will be in lockdown for another week as Australia's largest city fights to contain a Covid outbreak.

The New South Wales government said it had made the "difficult decision" as it battles the highly transmissible Delta strain.

A stay-at-home order was issued on 26th June.

But clusters have emerged after some people who were found to be infected left their homes for essentials.

The outbreak of around 330 cases is the worst in the city this year.

A stay-at-home order covering more than five million residents in the Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Central Coast areas was due to be lifted on Friday. It has now been extended to 16th July. Schools will also be closed next week.

The New South Wales government said it recognised the "pain and stress" that lockdown was causing families and businesses.

Yet officials said the daily case rate - with 27 new cases recorded on Wednesday - and low levels of vaccination meant the restrictions needed to be extended.

Less than 10% of Australians are fully vaccinated. A lack of supplies, specifically of the Pfizer vaccine, means many Australians can't get a jab until the final months of the year.

Source: BBC