Source: Need To Know
Mainstream media claimed a Delta outbreak that began in June has produced nearly 3,000 infections and led to nine deaths. Since only 17% of Australia’s adult population has been vaccinated, Australian soldiers will begin patrols in Sydney, the country’s largest city, to enforce the lockdown that bars people from leaving their home except for essential exercise, shopping, and caregiving. Lawmakers in New South Wales have proposed imposing fines of $20,000 on protest organizers, $5,500 against people who attend the protests, and $11,000 fines against “people sharing information on social media about illegal rallies and inciting others to illegally attend”. Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott bragged that more than 15,000 calls had been received from people snitching on others for attending “illegal” protests. A pregnant woman was arrested in her own home for planning a protest on Facebook, while the state gave itself the power to seize children from their parents and enter homes without a warrant under COVID-19 rules. -GEG
Australia has deployed hundreds of soldiers to Sydney to help enforce a Covid lockdown.
A Delta outbreak that began in June has produced nearly 3,000 infections and led to nine deaths.
Australian Defence Force soldiers will undergo training on the weekend before beginning unarmed patrols on Monday.
But many have questioned whether the military intervention is necessary, calling it heavy-handed.
The lockdown – in place until at least 28 August – bars people from leaving their homes except for essential exercise, shopping, caregiving, and other reasons.
Despite five weeks of lockdown, infections in the nation’s largest city continue to spread. Officials recorded 170 new cases on Friday.
Soldiers will join police in virus hotspots to ensure people are following the rules, which include a 10km (6.2 miles) travel limit.
