10/4/21, 12:12 AM Australia's Covid-19 Delta outbreak spreads to new states, Australia/NZ News & Top Stories - The

op Stories - The Straits Times

THE STRAITS TIMES

Australia's Covid-19 Delta outbreak spreads to
new states

Victoria and New South Wales have been under lockdown for weeks. PHOTO: REUTERS

PUBLISHED 11 HOURS AGO

MELBOURNE (REUTERS) - Australia reported more than 1,900 new infections of

the Delta coronavirus on Sunday (Oct 3), health data showed, with authorities
struggling to quell the outbreak in the two most populous states and cases
spreading to new states.

Victoria and New South Wales, which have been under lockdown for weeks,
reported 1,887 cases and 13 deaths.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australias-covid-19-delta-outbreak-spreads-to-new-states 1/5
10/4/21, 12:12 AM Australia's Covid-19 Delta outbreak spreads to new states, Australia/NZ News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

The island state of Tasmania, which has not had a case for 58 days, reported a new
local infection late on Saturday, and there were new cases in South Australia state
over the weekend.

Queensland state has been largely Covid-19-free and reported no new infections,
allowing the National Rugby League grand final to kick off in Brisbane on Sunday
night, albeit with crowd numbers cut to a 75 per cent capacity of around 39,000
people.

Victoria and New South Wales are expected to open up once 80 per cent
vaccination is reached, but authorities have warned case numbers are expected to
soar and hospitals will come under strain as Australia learns to live with Covid-19.

New South Wales expects to reach that target by the end of October or early
November, with Victoria a few weeks later.

ST Asian Insider: Malaysia Edition

Understand Malaysia developments with bureau chief Shannon Teoh and team in weekly newsletter

Enter your e-mail

Sign up

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

"It will be hardest and most challenging time for our nurses, and ambulance
workers and doctors," Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews warned on Sunday.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australias-covid-19-delta-outbreak-spreads-to-new-states 2/5
10/4/21, 12:12 AM Australia's Covid-19 Delta outbreak spreads to new states, Australia/NZ News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

Australia is also set to gradually lift its 18-month ban on international travel from
next month for some states when 80 per cent of people aged 16 and over are fully
vaccinated.

As of Saturday, 56 per cent of Australians nationally were fully inoculated and 80

per cent have received at least one shot.

Australia closed its international borders in March 2020, allowing only a limited
number of people to leave or citizens and permanent residents abroad to return.

All arriving passengers have been subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period
in a hotel at their expense.

Despite the new cases reaching record daily levels in recent months, Australia has
avoided the high caseloads of other developed countries, with just over 110,000
infections total since the start of the pandemic and 1,334 deaths.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC

New Zealand's Delta outbreak spreads outside Auckland, lockdown ordered

China's Sinovac shot approved by Australia ahead of border opening

Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month

Latest headlines and exclusive stories
In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content
Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month* for the first 3
months

Subscribe Now

* Terms and conditions apply

Join ST's Telegram channel here and get the latest breaking news delivered to
you.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australias-covid-19-delta-outbreak-spreads-to-new-states 3/5
10/4/21, 12:12 AM Australia's Covid-19 Delta outbreak spreads to new states, Australia/NZ News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

 E-paper  Facebook

 Instagram  RSS Feed

 Twitter  Telegram

 Podcasts  Youtube

• SINGAPORE • TECH

• ASIA • SPORT

• WORLD • VIDEOS

• OPINION • PODCASTS

• LIFE • MULTIMEDIA

• BUSINESS

Terms & Conditions

Data Protection Policy

Need help? Reach us here.

Advertise with us
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australias-covid-19-delta-outbreak-spreads-to-new-states 4/5
10/4/21, 12:12 AM Australia's Covid-19 Delta outbreak spreads to new states, Australia/NZ News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

 Sign up for our daily newsletter

Enter your e-mail

Sign up

More newsletters
By registering, you agree to our T&C and Privacy Policy.

MCI (P) 031/10/2021, MCI (P) 032/10/2021. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2021
SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/australias-covid-19-delta-outbreak-spreads-to-new-states 5/5