ADVERTISEMENTTougher restrictions took effect in Sydney, the epicentre of Australia’s outbreak, after seven weeks of stay-home orders failed to stop the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant of the novel coronavirus. With the virus spreading into towns outside Sydney, the capital of New South Wales state, lockdown restrictions were imposed statewide https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-victoria-reports-21-new-local-covid-19-cases-2021-08-13 for a week until Saturday night. In Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, authorities detected 21 new locally acquired cases, down from 25 on Sunday as virus-exposed venues in the city topped 500. Prime Minister Scott Morrison downplayed suggestions that the United States did not volunteer to provide emergency supplies of coronavirus vaccines from its stockpile for Australia, one of its close allies. “We have an excellent relationship with the United States, but you have to focus on what is in front of you and what you need to do.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 15, 2021 23:48 UTC