(ANSA) - SYDNEY, JUL 28 - Millions of Sydney residents will spend another month in confinement: the authorities have announced this, motivating the decision with continuously growing coronavirus infections and low vaccination rates.
Australia's largest city was expected to come out of the five-week lockdown on July 30, but restrictions will remain in effect until August 28, as the number of cases has continued to rise.
"I am personally convinced of what we are asking people to do for the next four weeks, because we want to keep our community safe and we want to make sure we can recover as quickly as possible," said New South Wales State Premier GladysBerejiklian.
The outbreak, which had been receding, began to spread again in mid-June from a cluster on an international flight.
A rather severe lockdown has therefore been imposed again: people living in the center will not be able to leave their neighborhoods. Those who live alone will be allowed to create a "single bubble" with another person.
Berejiklian said police will step up efforts to ensure compliance with the measures, urging Sydney citizens to report those who break the rules.
In Melbourne, however, the fifth lockdown has just ended.
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