Delta variant forces new lockdowns across world as Europe eases curbs

Australia’s largest city Sydney entered a two-week lockdown on Saturday to contain a sudden coronavirus surge and Russia’s Saint Petersburg announced a record death toll, as several European nations lifted restrictions despite the global spread of a highly contagious variant. While vaccination drives have brought down infections in numerous — mostly wealthy — countries, the rise of the Delta variant, which first emerged in India, has stoked fears of new waves of a virus that has already killed nearly four million people.

Bangladesh announced that it would impose a new national lockdown from Monday over the variant, with offices shut for a week and only medical-related transport allowed. Sydney’s normally bustling harbourside centre was nearly deserted after people were ordered to stay home except for essential trips.

New Zealand, citing “multiple outbreaks” in Australia, announced a three-day suspension of its quarantine-free travel arrangement with its larger neighbour. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the suspension would give officials time to consider measures "to make the bubble safer, such as pre-departure testing for all flights” between the two countries. Russia’s Euro 2020 host Saint Petersburg on Saturday reported the country's highest daily Covid-19 death toll for a city since the start of the pandemic. Official figures said the city, which has already hosted six Euro 2020 matches and is due to host a quarter-final next Friday, recorded 107 virus deaths over the last 24 hours. Russia has seen an explosion of new cases since mid-June, driven by the Delta variant, which has now spread to Europe.

Spain nonetheless brought an end to mandatory outdoor mask-wearing on Saturday, a year after the rule was first introduced during Europe’s devastating first wave of the virus. The Netherlands also ended its rules on outdoor mask-wearing. And Switzerland scrapped most of its remaining Covid curbs. AFP