Delta variant closes Sydney, worries the world

Lockdown measures went into effect in Sydney Sunday in an effort to contain a new wave of coronavirus infections caused by the delta variant that is causing concern around the world.

The delta mutant, which was first detected in India in April, has now spread to at least 85 countries, according to the World Health Organization, which fears new waves of the epidemic that has killed four million people so far, despite vaccination campaigns.

Portugal was the first country in the European Union to announce that the mutant has become widespread among its population. The variant has also spread in Britain and South Africa, and currently accounts for 9-10 percent of all COVID-19 cases in France.

Sunday, Moscow announced a record number of deaths due to Covid in the last 24 hours, as it recorded 144 deaths within 24 hours. Saint Petersburg recorded 106 deaths on Sunday, a day after it recorded a record daily death toll.

The infection rate increased by 25 percent this week compared to the previous week, while the officially registered death toll increased by 33 percent.

In Australia, after orders were issued on Friday to close four neighborhoods in central Sydney, the authorities decided to expand the closure on Saturday to include parts of the largest Australian cities, which number five million people, for a period of two weeks.

"We have the feeling today that we've taken a new kick as we slowly get up," said Chris Cricketos, 32, who works in a bakery in central Sydney.

More than 110 people were confirmed infected with the virus this week in the country, which has controlled the outbreak relatively well so far.

"Given how contagious this mutated virus is, we expect that the number of infections is likely to increase in the next few days beyond what we've seen today," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

While Australia was among the countries that managed to contain the epidemic well, with only 910 deaths recorded among its population of 25 million, the government is currently facing criticism against the background of the slow vaccination campaign, as only about 7.2 million doses of vaccines were administered, with only a small amount of people having received both doses.

As a result, New Zealand announced Saturday the suspension of the “air bubble” that allows air travel without quarantine with Australia, for a period of three days.

New Zealand's COVID-19 minister Chris Hepkins said suspending the "air bubble" would give officials time to consider measures "to make it safer, such as pre-flight checks" between the two countries.

- 'Accelerating phase' in South Africa-

In light of the "serious and worrying" increase in the transmission of the mutant virus, Bangladesh will impose a new strict lockdown from Monday.

Thailand also announced new restrictions, starting from Monday, for a month, in Bangkok and its suburbs, to confront a new wave of infections, including the closure of restaurants and construction sites.

In Portugal, delta infections account for more than 51 percent of new cases and more than 70 percent of those recorded in the Lisbon region.

The European country decided to tighten restrictions in the hardest-hit areas such as the capital, where working hours and the capacity of restaurants and shops were reduced.

As for South Africa, the mutated Delta is also behind the high number of cases, according to scientists, at a time when the government plans to take additional measures to confront the pandemic.

The African country recorded 18,762 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, the highest number since January.

"We are entering an accelerating epidemic phase," warned one of South Africa's leading virologists, Tulio de Oliveira.

In France, two patients infected with the delta mutant died in the southwest of the country, while the government announced an "immediate action plan... to avoid the re-spread of the epidemic."

However, several European countries are pressing ahead with easing restrictions.

For example, it is no longer mandatory to wear masks outdoors in Spain. Still, though, many residents prefer wearing the mask.
"I know I'm protected, but we can still transmit the infection," said Professor Eduardo Marin Valdez, 59, who received the vaccine.

Switzerland also decided to cancel a large part of the restrictions that are still in place since Saturday, including the wearing of masks in outdoor places.

In Italy, too, residents will be able to give up masks outside from Monday.

In the UK, thousands demonstrated Saturday in central London to denounce COVID-19 restrictions after the lifting of restrictions was postponed to July due to high case numbers.

British Health Minister Matt Hancock, who played a pivotal role in the government's plan to deal with the pandemic, announced his resignation Saturday after a newspaper revealed that he had violated the rules to contain the virus.