Australian PM Scott Morrison Apologises To Nation For Slow COVID Vaccine Rollout As Cases Surge In Sydney

<p><strong>New Delhi: </strong>Sydney's rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak has been declared a "national emergency," state leaders said Friday, as Australia's largest city reported yet another record number of new infections.</p> <p>The state of New South Wales pleaded for Canberra to send more vaccines and resources immediately after admitting that a month-long lockdown had failed to stop a Delta-variant outbreak.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ |<span style="color: #e03e2d;"> <a style="color: #e03e2d;" title="" href="https://ift.tt/3ePJIXJ" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-toggle="tooltip" data-html="true" data-original-title="Story ID: 1471519">More Than 100 Civilians Killed In Afghanistan&rsquo;s Kandahar, Govt Says Taliban 'Assassinated' Them For No Reason</a></span></strong></p> <p>Declaring the outbreak, a national emergency could pave the way for increased federal government involvement in containing the outbreak.</p> <p>"We have an obligation on behalf of the nation to contain the virus," said New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian as reported by news agency AFP.&nbsp;</p> <p>"There is no doubt that the numbers are not going in the right direction." He added.</p> <p>Her state reported 136 new cases on Friday, a new high for this outbreak, which now has 1,782 cases.</p> <p>Berejiklian said the government must "refocus" its glacial vaccine rollout because the virus is "spreading everywhere" and half of the country's 25 million people are currently under lockdown.</p> <p>Due to shortages of Pfizer vaccines and concerns about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine, only 12 percent of Australians have been fully vaccinated.</p> <p>She also announced that non-essential workers in certain areas of Sydney would be prohibited from leaving, tightening a lockdown that is almost certain to be formally extended next week.</p> <p>On Thursday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison apologised for the country's slow vaccine rollout, admitting that targets had not been met.</p> <p>"I take responsibility for the vaccination programme. I also take responsibility for the challenges we've had," he said. "Obviously, some things are within our control, some things that are not." He added.&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>'Ring of steel'</strong></h3> <p>With the number of cases in Sydney increasing, Victoria state Premier Dan Andrews has called for a "ring of steel" to be erected around the city, prohibiting any travel in or out.</p> <p>Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand announced that a travel bubble between the two countries would be suspended for at least eight weeks.</p> <p>Australians will no longer be allowed to enter New Zealand without being quarantined, and return flights will be arranged for New Zealanders in Australia</p> <p>"There are now multiple outbreaks, and in differing stages of containment, that have forced three states into lockdown," Ardern said as reported by AFP.</p> <p>"The health risk to New Zealanders from these cases is increasing... now is the time for a suspension to ensure New Zealanders aren't put at undue risk from Covid-19 and to ensure we retain our hard-won gains."</p> <p>After more than a year of closed borders, quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia began in April, and tourism operators hailed it as a "saviour for businesses."</p> <p>However, as outbreaks in Australia erupted, New Zealand has repeatedly halted the bubble with individual states and territories.</p>

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