Australia’s COVID-19 cases hit new record as ‘reopening’ debate heats up

MELBOURNE, Aug 29 (Reuters)- Australia logged a record 1,323 local COVID-19 cases on Sunday as debate rages on whether the country should start living with the virus in the community, after initially being successful with suppressing coronavirus.

Australia’s most populous state New South Wales (NSW), the epicentre of the nation’s Delta-fuelled outbreak, reported 1,218 cases as authorities there are set to slightly ease restrictions after nine weeks in lockdown. The lockdown is scheduled to last until the end of September.

NSW state Premier Gladys Berejiklian vowed to reopen the state once 70% of those 16 and older get vaccinated.
“No matter what the case numbers are doing (...) double-dose 70% in NSW means freedom for those who are vaccinated,” Berejiklian said.

On Sunday, she said the state has reached the halfway point of achieving the target. In Victoria, the country’s second most populous state which is in its sixth lockdown since the start of the pandemic, there were 92 new infections on Sunday, the highest in nearly a year.

Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews said his state’s lockdown, due to end on Thursday, will be extended, but would not say for how long.