Restrictions back to several Aussie states as authorities struggle to deal with highly infectious variant

Australia's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) recorded a new high on daily increase of new COVID-19 cases.

XINHUA/RSS

Australia's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) recorded a new high on daily increase of new locally acquired COVID-19 cases as Sydney entered the first day of a broader lockdown. NSW recorded 30 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8 p.m. local time on Saturday, all of which were linked to the Bondi cluster in east Sydney.

The total number of local cases in the state's latest outbreak reached 112 since June 16 when the index case for the Bondi cluster, a driver who transported international flight crew, was reported. The driver was confirmed to be infected with the Delta variant.

Among the 112 cases, 110 were linked to this cluster and two remained under investigation. The closest locations with reported COVID-19 cases exceeded 200 and some public transport routes were listed as exposed.

Health authorities were concerned with five Virgin flights between cities in the countries' east coast that were associated with confirmed cases.

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