Australia's third wave worsens as Delta continues to spread

Australia’s third coronavirus wave continues to play havoc across the nation with the majority of the population again living in lockdown.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian described her state’s case numbers as disturbingly high with another 478 local infections setting yet another grim record.

Seven more people are dead, while 66 of the 391 people in hospital are in intensive care.
Melbourne and Canberra’s lockdowns have been extended two weeks and will now stretch until at least September 2.

In the Victorian capital, a night curfew — a prominent feature of last year’s second-wave restrictions — has been reimposed and playgrounds closed.

The state’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has warned Melbourne is on the brink of losing control of its outbreak.

The ACT recorded an infection spike with 19 new cases taking the capital’s cluster to 28.

A fortnight of federal parliamentary sittings due to start on Monday appear unlikely to go ahead because of the Canberra outbreak.

Darwin and Katherine are in lockdown after the NT government reacted to a new case, a man who was in the community for four days with the virus.

The Delta strain continues to spread in regional NSW with 35 new cases in Dubbo and Walgett where there is major concerns about the Indigenous population.

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Just 15 per cent of Indigenous Australians over 16 are fully vaccinated against coronavirus, well behind rates for the wider population.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dismissed WA Premier Mark McGowan’s pledge to strive for zero coronavirus cases even when vaccination rates reach 80 per cent.

“The idea that you can just let this thing rip is absurd, just as absurd as the idea you can get to COVID zero,” he told 2GB radio.

“They’re both extreme positions. They’re both absurd.”

Federal, state and territory governments have backed targets of 70 and 80 per cent to reduce the possibility of lockdowns and reopen the country.

But Mr McGowan argues the agreement doesn’t completely rule out targeted lockdowns after the higher target is reached.

“We will keep that as one of our weapons,” he said.

Ms Berejiklian has conceded her state is unlikely to achieve zero cases.