CANBERRA, Sept 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Australia reported more than 2,000 COVID-19 cases in a single day, for the first time as it continues to battle the third wave of infections.
This morning, there were 2,069 locally acquired cases reported across the country, taking the total number of confirmed infections since the start of the pandemic, beyond 70,000.
Of the new cases, 1,599 were from New South Wales (NSW), Australia’s most populous state, with Sydney as the capital city, where the state health department also recorded eight deaths.
“There were 170 related deaths in NSW since June 16,” said the Health statement.
Victoria, the second-most populous state, with Melbourne as the capital city, reported a further 450 new local cases.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) reported 15 new cases today – the 30th day of a lockdown that is due to end on Sept 17, taking the number of active cases in the nation’s capital to 249.
As of yesterday, about 66 percent of Australians aged 16 and over had received at least one vaccine dose and 41 percent were fully inoculated, according to the Department of Health.
Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, recently reiterated that it was time for Australia to “live with the virus,” calling for fellow state premiers and territory chief ministers, to “hold your nerve” and ease restrictions when vaccination targets are met.
Leaders in July signed off on Morrison’s plan to ease restrictions when 70 percent to 80 percent of adults are fully vaccinated.
Today, the federal government announced five million Australian dollars in funding, to find a new COVID-19 antibody treatment that could stop the disease from progressing.
Australia has already approved the use of two COVID-19 treatments, Remdesivir and Sotrovimab, which are currently being used to treat patients with COVID-19 across the country, according to Health Minister, Greg Hunt.– NNN-AGENCIES