Lockdown in Sydney extended, curfew imposed in some areas

People arrive at a mass vaccination centre to get their dose in Sydney on Friday. Pic/AFP

Australia's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW), the current epicentre of the country's current COVID outbreak, announced on Friday to extend the lockdown on Greater Sydney until the end of September and to impose curfew on some areas of concern.

For residents and businesses in the local government areas of concern, the curfew will be introduced from 9 pm to 5 am except for authorised workers, emergencies or medical care from Monday, August 23, reports Xinhua news agency. Outdoor exercise will be limited to one hour per day.

In Greater Sydney, mask wearing will be mandatory when the residents are outside home, except when exercising, from August 23. The current lockdown on Greater Sydney and surrounding areas, which is scheduled to end on August 28, will be extended until the end of September. The announcement came after the state recorded 644 new locally acquired cases and four deaths in the past 24 hours.

NZ lockdown to continue till Aug 24

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Friday announced that the ongoing top level 4 national lockdown will be extended until 11.59 pm on August 24. The announcement came after 11 new Covid-19 cases of the Delta variant in the community, bringing the total number of infections associated with the current Auckland community outbreak to 31, reports Xinhua news agency.

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