Australia registered a record daily fresh COVID-19 case count this year on Saturday as the highly transmissible Delta variant spreads through New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

With close to 60% of the country’s population under a strict lockdown, Australia also registered five COVID-19-related deaths. New South Wales recorded 319 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases, which is the highest figure since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Victoria reported 29 new cases, representing the highest daily spike in cases this year.

Queensland registered 13 fresh cases. It is hoped that the eight-day lockdown in parts of the state will be lifted on Sunday afternoon. Australia’s vaccination numbers are among the lowest, with a mere 20% of individuals aged above 16 being fully vaccinated… (Reuters, August 7, 2021)