A general view shows the usually-busy tourist area 'The Rocks' in Sydney on June 26, 2021, as Australia's largest city entered a two-week lockdown to contain an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant. (Photo by Saeed KHAN / AFP)SYDNEY: The streets of this Australian capital started to get deserted on Saturday as Australia's largest city began a weeklong lockdown to contain the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant, with authorities warning broader restrictions could follow. "The Delta variant is proving to be a very formidable foe," he told reporters. Health officials have been alarmed by the rapid spread of the Delta variant first seen in India, noting instances of people passing on the virus during fleeting encounters in shops and then quickly infecting close family contacts. State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said a crisis meeting with public health officials would be held later Saturday to decide whether expanding the lockdown to other areas of Sydney was needed.

Source: Manila Times June 26, 2021 12:54 UTC