Nearly 1000 new cases of Covid-19 have been found in Australia as outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne worsen.
Health authorities in New South Wales on Wednesday announced 919 new locally acquired cases, marking Australia’s highest total since the coronavirus pandemic began.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian also confirmed two deaths, including a woman in her 30s and a man in his 80s.
NSW has reported more than 800 new local cases each day since Sunday.
Meanwhile, the state of Victoria announced 45 new Covid-19 cases as the spread continued in Melbourne.
The new cases announced on Wednesday take the state’s total number of active coronavirus cases to 538.
Health authorities worry Victoria is on course to fall into the same widespread crisis crippling New South Wales after staggering scenes showed thousands protesting in city’s CBD on Saturday.
More than 750 exposure locations, largely in Melbourne, have now been listed across the state.
Of the new cases announced on Wednesday, only 17 were in isolation their entire infectious period.
Queensland reported no new community cases on Wednesday.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday made headlines after criticising New Zealand’s approach to combating the pandemic, saying it was like “living in a cave”.
