The national cabinet, a group of federal and state leaders, will meet later in the day against a backdrop of concerns by some states given the persistently high daily infections in Sydney even after two months under lockdown.

New South Wales recorded 882 new cases, most of them in state capital Sydney, down from the record 1,029 on Thursday as officials struggle to quell the Delta outbreak.

Two new deaths were reported, while 117 people are in intensive care, 103 of them unvaccinated.

Even as infections surge, state authorities revealed a staggered back-to-school plan from late October, when they expect its vaccination rate to hit 70 percent from 32 percent now.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would be focusing more on vaccination rates and the number of hospitalizations rather than daily case numbers as the rollout picks up speed.

"They are the two things that will matter even when we start to live life more freely at 70 percent and then obviously at 80 percent [...] we are starting to make that mind change in New South Wales," Berejiklian said during a televised media conference.

 

Victoria mystery cases

A national reopening plan was agreed between leaders of Australia's eight states and territories and the federal government last month, when Sydney cases were much lower, but virus-free Queensland and Western Australia have hinted they may not follow it.

More than half of all Australians are under strict stay-at-home orders as Sydney and Melbourne, its largest cities, and capital Canberra, battle outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta variant.

The lockdowns are hitting economic activity with some economists predicting Australia's A$2 trillion (US$1.45 trillion) economy on the brink of a second recession in as many years as data on Friday showed a plunge in July retail sales.

In Victoria state, officials detected 79 new local cases, down from 80 cases on Thursday. Of the new cases, 26 are mystery cases — those whose source is unknown — raising prospects of an extension to the lockdown beyond Sept. 2.

With some 48,600 cases and 991 deaths, Australia has kept its coronavirus numbers relatively low. Officials expect fewer deaths from the latest flare-up versus last year as vaccination rates rise.

So far, 32 percent of people above 16 has been fully vaccinated and based on current rates, Australia should hit 80 percent by mid-November. Australia's expert vaccination panel on Friday approved the use of vaccines for children aged 12-15.

 

Economic revival

Thailand will lift most coronavirus restrictions on retail and dining from next month and permit gatherings of up to 25 people in Bangkok and other highrisk areas, its COVID-19 task force said on Friday.

Easing restrictions and adjusting measures were necessary to revive the economy safely, the task force said, as the country battles its worst coronavirus outbreak and struggles to ramp up vaccinations, with only 1 in 10 people inoculated so far.

From Sept. 1, shopping malls, salons, barber shops, foot massages and sports fields in 29 high-risk provinces including Bangkok, are allowed to resume operations, while restaurants can open to diners, the task force said.

Authorities asked business operators to ensure service staff are fully vaccinated and regularly tested with antigen kits, and to require customers to show proof of vaccination and negative tests.

Thailand reported 18,702 new cases and 273 new deaths on Friday, among some 1.14 million cases and 10,587 deaths overall, the overwhelming majority since April.

Its current struggle is with the highly transmissible Delta variant of the virus, which has seen record deaths during August.

"We need to adjust the way we handle and live with the disease safely [...] by adjusting strategy and build confidence so disease control measures are in line with reviving the economy safely," task force spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangsan told a briefing.