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Carley Joanou
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian speaks as Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant looks on at a news conference to provide a COVID-19 update on July 23, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mick Tsikas-Pool/Getty Images)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 2:29 PM PT – Friday, July 23, 2021
Australia has gone into stricter lockdowns after a jump in COVID-19 cases. The two largest states in Australia reported an increase in cases this week, which prompted leaders to request more vaccine doses.
This comes after more than half of the country was already on lockdown. After a four week lockdown, the city of Sydney reported 110 new cases. That number was up from 78 cases the day before.
Meanwhile, the city of Victoria reported 22 new cases. This was an increase from nine the day before.
Premier of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian said she was unable to say if the city would exit the lockdown by the July 30 target date.
“Look our freedom day is, when we get really in terms of the Delta strain, is we will be easing restrictions as we can as soon as those infections rate come down,” Berejiklian explained. “But in truth, we won’t live as freely as we need to or would like until those vaccination rates increase.”
Critics blame the rise in cases to vaccine rollout issues and COVID-19 testing difficulties.
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