Australia has extended its lockdown measures in Victoria for another week to control the growing COVID-19 outbreak.
The latest COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne is raising concerns in Australia. Despite the growing worries, though, the country, alongside its officials, remains vigilant to control the “fast-spreading” virus. This is why the state of Victoria is now on another round of lockdown.
But, as the fight continues, a new concern has emerged earlier this month. This comes after state authorities revealed that they had detected the highly infectious Delta variant on Friday, according to Reuters.
First detection of Delta variant in Melbourne
The publication said that the detection became the first one in the latest outbreak in Melbourne. Upon releasing the information, Victoria state Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton noted that the Delta variant is “of significant concern.”
He asserted, though, that the variant is “not related, in terms of transmission” because it is different from the other cases. It had not reportedly been “linked to any sequenced COVID-19 infections across Australia,” the report added.
Sutton, nevertheless, assured the public that they are “chasing down” all the primary case contacts. He also emphasized that they are looking into the potential source or origin of the variant contraction.
He continued that there is a “possibility” that the contraction of the Delta variant took place in New South Wales. But, more tests are necessary to conclude the notion, he said.
The publication, later on, recalled that Australia’s most populous state has not reported any cases of local transmission in a month. But, the officials reportedly found the Delta variant in two members of a family who traveled to New South Wales two weeks ago.
About the “highly infectious” Delta variant
ABC reiterated that the Delta variant is one of the two strains originating in India. The scientific name is B.1617.2, and has since been classified as “Delta” after the World Health Organization placed a new naming system for the COVID-19 variants.
WHO identifies the variant in question as one of the four “variants of concern.” Officials have yet to find it in communities across Australia until the detection of the two isolated cases in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, the variant responsible for the apparent outbreak in Victoria’s capital is the other strain of the B.1617 variant. WHO now refers to it as the “Kappa” variant.
Australia extends lockdown in its second-most populous state
Victoria entered its fourth lockdown period on May 28. But, as the battle to control the growing outbreak continues, the state has extended its measures by another week.
The lockdown, which would supposedly end on June 3, will now conclude on June 10. BBC said that six new local cases emerged on Wednesday, bringing the overall number of COVID-19 cases in Australia to a total of 30,137.
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