For the next four months Australians should expect to endure more snap lockdowns with experts predicting further outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta coronavirus variant.
Scientists warn suppressing Delta, which is thought to be twice as infectious as the Wuhan strain circulating last year in Victoria, is a near-impossible feat in a vastly unimmunised population.
Quiet Melbourne roads on Tuesday morning. Credit:Jason South
They argue each new Delta outbreak must be crushed back down to zero cases with “accelerated” public health measures, including snap lockdowns.
Victoria’s stay-at-home orders were extended on Monday after 16 infections were detected. NSW is enduring a prolonged lockdown and other states have restrictions in place as the nation struggles to contain a spread of fast-moving Delta.
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Spending across NSW has fallen below levels recorded in 2019 as the lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus hits the nation’s largest state economy.
Data compiled by the Commonwealth Bank based on its card network showed household spending in NSW for the week ending July 16 was 0.6 per cent down on its 2019 level.
Spending has fallen across Sydney due to the extended lockdown. Credit:Renee Nowytarger
A week earlier, household spending in NSW was 2.1 per cent up on its 2019 level, highlighting the impact of the lockdown that is affecting the Greater Sydney area.
Nationally, household spending is 10.5 per cent up on 2019 levels. But this is well short of the average 17.5 per cent lift recorded so far through 2021.
Particular sectors in NSW have been hard hit. Spending on alcohol services, such as bars, is almost 60 per cent down on ..
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