Sydney Lifts COVID Curfews As Case Numbers Stabilize

Authorities in Sydney decided to lift curfews for coronavirus hotpots, Wednesday, as infection numbers stabilized and vaccination rates surged.

State authorities announced easing restrictions for the worst-hit areas three months after activity in the city was frozen by lockdown orders.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 9 pm to 5 am curfew for virus hotspots would be lifted from Wednesday, in what Sydneysider hope signals the beginning of the end of a long lockdown.

Infection rates appear to have plateaued at around 1,300 a day and 80 percent of people in Australia’s most populous state have received at least one vaccine dose.

“We’ve seen a stabilisation in the last few days,” Berejiklian said while urging residents to continue to be vigilant and respect stay-at-home orders. “We don’t want to see that trend go the wrong way.”

Most Sydney residents can only leave home to buy food, exercise outdoors or seek medical treatment.

On the other hand, schools, bars, restaurants and offices have been closed since late June and residents are not allowed more than five kilometres (three miles) from their homes.

Berejiklian has said many restrictions will lift when 70 percent of residents are fully vaccinated, sometime in October.

“We know it’s been a struggle but there are only a few weeks left before we get to 70 percent double dose,” she said.