Anger in Australia as almost half of population in lockdowns yet again amid slow vaccine rollout
Anger is brewing in Australia as half the population are put in a series of lockdowns to combat a rising number of Covid-19 cases.
Until recently, the country had been hailed for implementing quick strategies to combat Covid including border closures and quarantine programmes. But the highly contagious Delta variant, first found in India, has challenged these attempts.
As a result of a rise in cases, with 110 recorded on Wednesday, South Australia has now joined Victoria and parts of New South Wales in lockdown.
Those living in the region will have to spend seven days at home after five cases of the Delta variant were found. Victoria, which saw 22 new infections on Wednesday, will keep its lockdown until at least July 27, reported the BBC.
Government guidelines state that residents must not leave their homes for any reason excluding grocery shopping, exercise and other essential reasons.
We don’t want her here either. There are severe petitions to have her deported. The level of anger that @Channel7 has placed ratings & publicity ahead of public health is clear. I am in Lockdown #5 in Victoria, Australia & am furious Hopkins & Jenner & other celebrities are here.
— Anouk72 (@Anouk724) July 18, 2021
The lockdowns, which have caused wide-spread outrage, come at a time when the country has vaccinated just 14 per cent of its population.
One woman said on Twitter she was “furious” that the country was on its fifth lockdown.
Anti-lockdown protesters clashed with police in Sydney’s south-west in a march against the crippling restrictions. The event on Sunday resulted in four men being arrested, reported the Daily Mail.
Despite the backlash from citizens against the lockdowns, Australia’s Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, told reporters on Wednesday that “no country has got their pandemic response 100 per cent. I think Australians understand that.”
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