Although Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, has extended the lockdown, 239 cases of local infection have been recorded in the past 24 hours, which is the largest single-day increase since the pandemic began.

New South Wales Governor Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney: “Given the number of contagious people in the community, we can only assume that the situation may get worse before it improves.”

Berejiklian said that one more person died from COVID-19, bringing the death toll from the current outbreak to 13 and the total death toll in the country to 921.

There are few signs that the recent restrictions are reducing the number of cases. Berejiklian said that new restrictions will be implemented in the southwest and western areas of Sydney where most COVID-19 cases have been detected.

More than 2 million residents in Sydney’s eight hotspots will now be forced to wear masks outdoors and must stay within five kilometers of their homes.

Request military help

With stricter restrictions beginning on Friday, the New South Wales Police said it has asked 300 military personnel to help enforce the lockdown order.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said in an emailed statement: “With the increase in law enforcement activities in the coming week, I have now formally requested the Prime Minister (Australian Defence Force) personnel to assist in this operation.”

A spokesperson for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Berejiklian extended the blockade in Sydney for another month on Wednesday, but most construction projects can be resumed as long as workers do not come into contact with residents.

These restrictions may cause heavy economic losses, with New South Wales accounting for more than one-third of the Australian economy.

Watch | Sydney’s anti-blockade protest turned into violence:

During the anti-blockade protests in Sydney, Australia, demonstrators threw objects and clashed with the police. In the growing COVID-19 epidemic, they ignored the stay-at-home order. 1:10

Federal Treasury Secretary Josh Frydenberg (Josh Frydenberg) said that he expects the national economy to shrink in the September quarter, but whether a technical recession can be avoided will depend on whether New South Wales can avoid a longer blockade. .

Friedenberg told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: “For the December quarter, this will largely depend on the success of our largest state economy, New South Wales, in fighting this virus.”

Many people are waiting for Pfizer vaccine

Berejiklian has said that with Pfizer’s tight supply of vaccines, too few people are vaccinated in Sydney, and Canberra had hoped to vaccinate everyone under the age of 60.

All adults in Sydney have now been urged to seek AstraZeneca vaccines. But taking the rare blood clot as an example, many people are unwilling and would rather wait a few months because Australia is expected to receive additional Pfizer supplies.

In New South Wales, only about 17% of people over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated.

So far, more than 2,800 cases have been found and 182 people have been hospitalized. 54 people are in the intensive care unit, of which 22 need ventilation. Two new deaths were recorded, bringing the total number of deaths from the most recent outbreak to 13.

The epidemic in Sydney left many people with nothing to do but watch the Olympics. Australian athletes said that they hope their performance can bring them a little happiness.

Spencer Turrin, an Australian rower and gold medalist in the men’s quadruple at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, told reporters at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: “I’m very grateful and happy, because we may have caused some people For some joy, or for people to celebrate during the blockade.” Tokyo.