SYDNEY, Oct 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Australian state of Victoria’s COVID-19 outbreak continues to accelerate alarmingly, breaking a national daily record of 1,838 new cases and five related deaths, according to figures released today.
As of this morning, there were 16,823 active cases in the state, mostly concentrated in the state capital of Melbourne, putting unprecedented demand on Victoria’s struggling health system.
Ambulance Victoria reported that, daily demands are at an all-time high, and in response, its besieged paramedics will be joined next week in their emergency work by drivers from other services, such as the Australian Defence Force, St John Ambulance Australia, State Emergency Service, or student paramedics.
“We’re in such dire circumstances, we have to do it,” Mick Stephenson from Ambulance Victoria executive team, told local newspaper, the Age.
Despite the escalating crisis, the Burnet Institute, which has been tasked with driving Victoria’s “roadmap” out of lockdown, believes the state remains on track to reach its first target later this month, of 70 percent of people aged over 16 being fully vaccinated.
Today, 84.4 percent of eligible Victorians have received the first of their two doses of vaccine, while 55 percent were fully dosed.
Melbourne’s curfew is due to ease once the 70 percent rate is reached. The city is presently deep into its sixth lockdown since the pandemic arrived in Australia, in early 2020, and its residents have reportedly endured more days in home isolation than any other population in the world.
Meanwhile, the state of New South Wales (NSW) reached its own vaccine milestone this week, and will subsequently start the first stage of its roadmap out of lockdown from Monday.
NSW recorded 646 new locally acquired cases and 11 deaths in the 24 hours up to 8:00 p.m. yesterday.
Queensland, with no new local cases, will ease restrictions on parts of the state from this afternoon.
Under the eased restrictions, residents in these areas, including the capital city Brisbane, could have up to 100 people gathering at home and no limit for public spaces gatherings. The limit for people attending weddings and funerals was also raised to 200.– NNN-AGENCIES
