SYDNEY, Aug 17 (Reuters) – COVID-19 cases are set to “rise substantially” in Sydney in the coming weeks despite a prolonged lockdown, authorities said on Tuesday, warning soaring infections have already put hospitals under enormous strain. New South Wales (NSW) state, whose capital Sydney is the epicenter of the latest outbreak, reported 452 cases in the past 24 hours, the third-biggest one-day jump, and one new death. Australia’s capital, Canberra reported 17 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and authorities warned infections would likely rise in the coming days. A total of 57 people, most of them unvaccinated, have died in the latest outbreak in Sydney since July 11. read more($1 = 1.3678 Australian dollars)Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney and Colin Packham in Canberra; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall and Richard Pullin

Source: Egypt Independent August 17, 2021 04:30 UTC