TamilAustralia backs reopening plans amid Delta surge
25 August 2021, 11:48 am
A masked man rides a scooter through the quiet city centre during a lockdown to curb the spread of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Sydney, Australia, August 23, 2021. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
Australia can proceed with its reopening plans when the country reaches 70%-80% vaccination levels, the government’s pandemic modelling adviser said, even as some states hinted they may not ease border curbs if Sydney fails to control its Delta outbreak.
The Melbourne-based Doherty Institute said the country’s focus must shift to limiting the number of COVID-19 deaths and hospitalisations, from its current zero-cases strategy, when at least 70% of the country’s population above age 16 is fully vaccinated.
This level of vaccination will make it easier to live with the virus, as we do with other viruses such as the flu, it said in a statement late on Monday. Once we reach 70% vaccine coverage, opening up at tens or hundreds of cases nationally per day is possible. Currently, 30% of Australia’s adult population has been fully vaccinated while 53% have had at least one dose.
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