Sydney residents will be in lockdown for another week as Australia's largest city fights to contain a COVID outbreak. The New South Wales government said, it had made the difficult decision as it battles the highly transmissible Delta strain.
 
A stay-at-home order was issued on 26 June. Australia has recorded 910 deaths and fewer than 31,000 cases since the pandemic began. Clusters have emerged after some people who were later found to be infected left their homes for essentials.
 
The outbreak of around 330 cases is the worst in the city this year.

A stay-at-home order covering more than five million residents in the Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Central Coast areas was due to be lifted on Friday. It has now been extended to 16 July. Schools will also be closed next week.

 
Australia has used lockdowns and swift contact tracing to combat outbreaks of the virus when it has breached the nation's strict border defences.