SYDNEY, Oct 25 (US) – Australian officials plan to roll out enhanced COVID-19 footage soon to prevent a resurgence of cases, as residents in Sydney and Melbourne’s two largest cities begin to enjoy more freedoms after months of restrictions.
Australia has abandoned its COVID-zero strategy in favor of suppressing the coronavirus, after largely eliminating the infection for most of this year, and is now aiming to live with the virus with higher vaccines.
Officials are gradually shifting their focus to booster injections as double-dose vaccination levels in Australia’s adult population approach 75%. Nearly 87% of people over 16 have received their first dose since the national rollout in February.
“We believe what will happen is that the booster vaccine will be available six months after the second dose,” the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday quoted Lt. Gen. John Frewin, head of the vaccination team, as saying.
He said that advice from the country’s Immunization Advisory Group on booster injections is “imminent,” adding that the doses will be provided to health workers, staff and residents of care centers for the elderly and the disabled in the initial phase.
Amid an increase in vaccinations, Victoria on Monday recorded the lowest rise in daily infections in nearly three weeks at 1,461, while cases fell for the fourth consecutive day in neighboring New South Wales (NSW) to 294.
Officials in Victoria are looking to ease more restrictions on gatherings and movement on Friday, just one week after Melbourne, the state capital, emerged from its sixth lockdown during the pandemic. Sydney lifted its lockdown two weeks ago.
Double-dose vaccination rates among Victoria’s adult population will exceed 80% by then – a level at which masks will no longer be mandatory outdoors and people are free to travel across the state.
That rate is close to 85% in New South Wales, home to Sydney, and the state is expected to reach 90% next week. The next set of restrictions will be eased on December 1, when lockdown rules are lifted for those not immune, according to the state’s reopening plan.
HF