Health

Thousands protest lockdown in Sydney amid rising Covid cases

Sydney, Australia, Jul 24 (EFE).- Thousands of people protested the lockdowns in force in Sydney on Saturday, resulting in brawls and arrests, as Covid-19 cases increased.

Protesters marched through the central business district of Australia’s most populated city, under lockdown since June 27 and in force until next Friday, violating the order to stay in their homes.

The demonstration, which authorities had denied permission for, blacked traffic on some of the busiest roads in the city and saw clashes break out.

“A number of people have been arrested,” New South Wales Police said in a statement.

“The NSW Police Force recognises and supports the rights of individuals and groups to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceful assembly, however, today’s protest is in breach of the current Covid-19 Public Health Orders,” it said, adding that “the priority for NSW Police is always the safety of the wider community.”

The regional health authority reported 163 new cases on Saturday, the highest figure since the outbreak was detected in the middle of last month.

More than half of the 25 million inhabitants of the country are in confinement due to the spreading outbreak linked to the Delta variant of the virus.

Lockdown is also in place in the state of Victoria until the 27th, and its capital Melbourne on Saturday recorded 12 new infections, while South Australia recorded one.

Australia, which implements a hard and fast lockdown policy when outbreaks are detected, has accumulated more than 32,500 cases and 916 deaths since the start of the pandemic. EFE

aus-nc/tw

Related Articles

Back to top button