COVID-19 / Australia / 16th July Update

It has now been one month since a COVID-19 infection was reported in a limousine driver from the eastern suburbs starting a virus outbreak, the so called Bondi cluster, that has forced Australia’s two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, to spend this weekend in lockdown as case numbers escalate.
More than 1000 cases have now been recorded across Greater Sydney.
The vast majority of cases have not received a single dose of the AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines, both of which are extremely effective at preventing severe illness and death in people infected with the Delta variant.

Greater Sydney is in the third week of a lockdown of at least five weeks.

Victoria entered a snap five day lockdown from 11.59 last night until 11.59 next Tuesday in a bid to control the spread of COVID-19 across the state. Their total number of cases from this new outbreak is 24.

Sydneysiders are unable to travel to regional NSW. That is expected to remain the case until at least 30 July. Some have been caught doing so (a group of 8 in our region) and issued $1000 fines. Not complying with mask wearing regulations; $200 fine.
Other states and territories have virtually closed their borders to any interstate travellers without special exemption.
Meanwhile the fully vaccinated rate crawls into double digit figures.
It’s a real mess!