in the past year Australia has happily escaped the global epidemic, achieving a “covid normalcy” where people can visit restaurants and nightclubs and join crowds at festivals and theaters.
The country’s strong Covid protection – border closures and compulsory quarantines – works 99.99% of the time.
when the case leaks The staff acted quickly. Close the city and pursue every infected contact.
Sydney – Australia’s largest and wealthiest city – was able to bypass the usual lockdowns. which is assisted by a contact tracking system. “Gold Standard”
;But in the last two weeks Delta can attack the city’s defenses. in a week The number of infected people has risen to 100.
By Friday 25 June, authorities recognized the need for a Sydney lockdown. next monday The crisis has become a national crisis. It has spread in four states and territories.
Sydney, Darwin, Perth and Brisbane – all capital cities – are in lockdown.
More than 20 million Australians, or about 80% of the population, live within limits. This was the highest number since the country’s lockdown at the start of the pandemic.
At an emergency meeting on Monday Federal and state governments are trying to fill the loopholes by expanding access to vaccines.
But many Australians ask why they are back to living under the restrictions. Seven months after the world began mass vaccination
How does Delta get past its weaknesses?
Epidemiologists say the delta variant has been proven to be the most contagious and contagious of all strains.
In the event of a crack in the Australian defense system was successful in taking advantage of them.
The country’s border and detention systems are increasingly being challenged. since the first variant appeared in late 2020.
Officials recorded cases of travelers infected with the virus in quarantine. even in separate rooms
Experts voiced concerns about air circulation and lack of fresh air in city hotels.
Approximately 370,000 people have been through the system, but 10 breaches have led to the outbreak.
Two of Australia’s troubling outbreaks now come from hotel quarantines. One of them was a miner in the Northern Territory who contracted the virus in the Queensland quarantine. The other was a Queensland woman whose infection occurred while she was at rest.
Other weaknesses are workers at the border.
Australia used to be very strict about keeping the entrance to those who are allowed to enter the country. There is a limit to the number of citizens returning every week. and prohibit some hotspot virus
when they stepped off the plane Returners will be greeted by a group of soldiers. Police officers and nurses wearing masks and gloves to directly escort incoming passengers to quarantine.
But the same austerity does not apply to other workers, such as drivers who transport inbound passengers.
Patient Zero in the Sydney outbreak was a limo driver in his 60s who was caught by a passenger. He was not vaccinated, wore a mask, or was not regularly tested. and he didn’t have to be subject to the rules at that moment.
Despite these shortcomings Experts note that delta is “Formidable enemy” due to its high infection rate.
in New South Wales which Sydney is the capital of the state. Officials reported nearly 100% of the outbreak in households, compared with 25% for the previous species. People there get the virus just by passing it on to each other in the store.
Prof Nancy Baxter, Head of the School of Population and Global Health at the University of Melbourne, said: “Delta is highly contagious. And even after receiving the vaccine there is a chance of spreading the infection.
She pointed out that before the outbreak Authorities have seen the case of the Delta. “They were unable to determine how the transmission occurred.”
“So I think even if the system is perfect, it is challenging, but the system is not perfect. which just makes us almost sit ducks.”
not vaccinated and exposed
Delta’s dangers also point to a failure in Australia’s vaccine program. Less than 5% of the adult population is fully vaccinated, with 29% receiving their first vaccination.
Australia is the last in the OECD when it comes to vaccine rollouts. Critics say the government has a responsibility.
Prof Raina MacIntyre, from the University of New South Wales, said: “You have more people who are partially vaccinated than people who are vaccinated. And there are also people who are not vaccinated.”
“In that sense, the population is very vulnerable.”
The delay is linked to supply issues. Satisfaction with low Covid rates and concerns about Astra Zeneca’s rare clotting risk.
That made the government earlier this year Limited use for people over 60, although there are not enough alternatives – Pfizer
This confusing message is compounded by sensational media reports that amplify AstraZeneca’s vulnerability.
It scares many Australians. including limo drivers linked to the Sydney outbreak which, according to local media reports, feared that AstraZeneca would be thrashed.
What is Australia doing now?
Experts are unanimous that the current outbreak must be restricted, lockdowns and other restrictions. Even if it’s the first day But they hope the two-week lockdown in Sydney will be enough to contain the spread of the virus.
but to prevent future delta outbreaks Prime Minister Scott Morrison appears to have accepted what experts have demanded for some time: an increase in the speed of vaccination.
He has ordered aged care workers and quarantine workers to enforce the highest-risk locations.
Mr Morrison also opened up access to the AstraZeneca vaccine to young people. by providing indemnity protection to the doctor in case of adverse reactions
End of ‘normal covid’
Experts warn Delta is likely to change Australia’s coronavirus landscape for good.
Experts say this is because mass vaccinations cannot be achieved until 2022 and Australians are still returning home from abroad. Delta’s Threat Will Remain experts say
That could mean measures such as wearing masks in public must be in effect for a period of time.
“Before, it was wonderful. You were out for dinner. You’re going to perform with thousands of people,” said Dr. Baxter.
“But I’m not sure if we can do that again until we have everyone vaccinated. because there are too many risks I just think we can’t live like there’s no more covids.”
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