After suffering the worst day of Covid-19's pandemic, New South Wales was forced to go into snap lockdown. There were 466 new cases and 4 deaths.Australia's most populous state has increased restrictions and imposed new $5,000 penalties for lockdown violations. This is in anticipation of a worsening of the numbers over the coming days.The state lockdown will be in effect for at least seven consecutive days starting Saturday, 5pm. Mick Fuller, the NSW police commissioner, said that the new penalties were some of the most severe I've ever seen. Gladys Berejiklian (NSW premier) announced that 500 additional Australian Defence Force personnel will be deployed in addition to the 300 already deployed in NSW.The current outbreak has resulted in 40 deaths. Nearly 400 people have been hospitalized with the virus. 64 are in intensive care, 29 on ventilators. Since June ended, there have been almost 12,000 cases across NSW.The Delta epidemic is placing more younger patients in intensive medicine. Currently, there are four in their 20s, six of them in their 30s, and seven in their 40s.Berejikilian stated that the situation in NSW was very dire and warned that the state would be locked down for months. Low vaccination rates currently at 26% have been lifted to nearly 70%, while the current rate of 26% has had two doses.She said that this is a literal war. We know it has been for some time, but not to the extent we now. The Delta strain is a scourge.Even if you do everything, there are always cases.It will be challenging to get the vaccine in September and October. We will receive 70% of the vaccine in double doses by October, and two doses to 80% of adults by November.Police have the power to issue $5,000 fines on-the-spot for anyone who violates self-isolation orders. The same penalties apply for lying to obtain travel permits or lying to contact tracers.For exercising in larger groups than two, or violating rules pertaining to trying to enter the regional NSW area, people can face a $3,000 fine.The current Delta epidemic, which started in Bondi, a beachside suburb, has been spreading steadily westward across Sydney and escalated dramatically over the past week.Authorities have attempted to limit it to the greater Sydney area by restricting movement - particularly for Sydney families who travel to the region for holidays.Fuller stated that the movement in Greater Sydney was too large in relation to what we were trying achieve to get NSW Health ahead over the Delta variant.There is a limit of five kilometres between your home and the greater metropolitan Sydney area. This will be enforced.The President of the NSW branch Australian Medical Association stated that the state needed a lockdown because the state's health system cannot handle the alarming rise in cases and the current piecemeal approach is not working.Dr Danielle McMullen of AMAs NSW stated that doctors from all over NSW are tired and worried about their patients. The increased number of cases will put a strain on our already fragile rural and regional healthcare systems.Aside from Sydney, there is serious concern about the spread of the disease in Dubbo, Walgett. Local health services are working hard to increase testing and vaccinations.There are now 42 cases in the region where there was a large Aboriginal population. This area was identified as a priority for vaccination 18-months ago.Scott MacFarlane is the chief executive of Western Local Health District. He stated that the majority of new cases were from Aboriginal peoples, including children.The rates of vaccination in the region's Indigenous communities are only half those of the general population.Naccho, the highest body representing the nation's Aboriginal medical services, stated that less than 20% of Aboriginal people in Western NSW aged 16 or over had received one dose of vaccines and only 8% had been fully vaccinated.A wider range of people in the region have received at least one dose. 16% are fully vaccinated.Australia has a long history of suppressing coronavirus according to international standards. It leverages geographic isolation and hard border locksdowns to keep infection rates low.It is currently struggling to contain the Delta outbreaks due to low vaccination rates, repeated hotel quarantine leaks, and poor sanitation.Only 25% of Australians aged 16 and over have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Demand has been slowed by hesitancy about the AstraZeneca vaccine.Scott Morrison, the prime minister of Australia, has called on Australians to be good neighbours.He said that we have to do right by our neighbors, our cities, and our country. It is possible to do this by adhering to the rules, staying home, getting vaccinated, and being tested.Berejiklian acknowledged that there were errors in government responses but stated that no government had failed to respond effectively to the shifting crises resulting from coronavirus epidemics.She said that there is no one way to go. We will make mistakes, of course, she said. But it is a journey that we all take together. I feel it every single day, and I can assure you of that. I feel the fear and what we are imposing upon our citizens.
