The Australian government on Thursday tightened the lockdown restrictions in Sydney. The authorities have ordered a shutdown of building sites, and banned non-essential retail. On June 26, a two-week lockdown imposed in the city. A total of 111 new local cases of COVID-19 reported in NSW in the last 24 hours. One additional death due to coronavirus recorded in the state. At the same time, more than 1000 people tested positive in Sydney and its surrounding districts.
For the time being, supermarkets, pharmacies and hardware outlets included in the stores and shops that will remain open after the lockdown in Sydney. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, "I can't remember a time when our state has been challenged to such an extent."
On the other hand, Health officials said that the lockdown was necessary as cases of the delta variant are increasing rapidly in the city. Around 31,000 cases of infection and 910 deaths reported in Australia so far. In contrast, Britain is considering lifting lockdown restrictions with 40,000 new infections each day. The city of Sydney has ordered the closure of construction sites, bans non-essential retail and threatens fines for employers who call employees into office as part of a citywide lockdown.
Seeing the situation, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told a televised news conference: "I can't remember a time when our state has been challenged to such an extent". NSW Deputy Commissioner of Police Gary Verboy said the "tempo of the police response will increase" across Greater Sydney and regional areas.