ew South Wales’ leader has warned this is “the worst situation Australia’s been in” since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said restrictions would be tightened in Sydney, where there is currently a lockdown, and Covid fines will also increase to AU$5,000 (£2,656).
“This is literally a war, and we’ve known we’ve been in a war for some time, but never to this extent,” Ms Berejiklian said.
It comes as locally transmitted infections hit 466 and four deaths were reported on Saturday.
Live updates
UK records 29,520 new Covid cases
There were 29,520 new Covid-19 cases reported in the UK on Saturday, according to the latest government figures.
A further 93 people have died with the virus – taking the total number of coronavirus deaths in the UK to 130,894.
China administered 1.84 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines as of August 13
China has administered a total of 1.84 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines as of August 13, the National Health Commission said on Saturday.
On August 13, about 11.93 million doses were administered, according to a Reuters calculation.
Carrie Johnson urges other pregnant women to get vaccinated
Carrie Johnson has received her second Covid-19 vaccine dose and has urged other pregnant women to come forward for their own jabs.
On her private Instagram, the Prime Minister’s wife said: “I know there are lots of pregnant women who are anxious about getting their Covid vaccine but the evidence is incredibly reassuring.
“Most importantly, the data shows there is no increased risk of miscarriage, something I was definitely concerned about.
“Nearly 200,000 pregnant women across the UK and US have received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines recommended during pregnancy, without safety concerns.
“The Royal College of Midwives has said that expectant mothers are at greater risk of serious illness if they get Covid so being vaccinated really is the best way to keep you and your baby safe.”
Mrs Johnson is expecting her second child with Boris Johnson in late December.
Queues at vaccine centres as children in Ireland receive jabs
Queues formed at vaccine centres in Ireland as children aged 12 to 15 received their jabs.
About 75,000 children in the age group had registered for a vaccine appointment by Saturday, 48 hours after the online portal opened to the cohort.
A number of centres administered vaccines to 12 to 15-year-olds on Friday but the main rollout began in earnest on Saturday.
The children, who need the consent of a parent or guardian to get vaccinated, are receiving Pfizer or Moderna jabs.
More than 80 per cent of the adult population in Ireland is now fully vaccinated and about 90% partially vaccinated.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has said it wants to vaccinate the 12-15 age group “rapidly and quickly”.
Iran to impose one-week lockdown and travel ban
Iran will impose a one-week lockdown and a ban on road travel amid a surge in Covid-19 cases.
All non-essential businesses and offices will have to close under the nationwide lockdown, which comes into effect from Monday to August 21, in an effort to curb the spread of the Delta variant.
Authorities are also imposing a driving ban from Sunday until August 27, with the exception of essential vehicles.
Alireza Raisi, a spokesman for the national coronavirus task force, said: “All roads will be closed except for trucks carrying food and essential goods and ambulances. This traffic ban will be very strictly imposed.”
New Orleans and San Francisco to introduce Covid passes
New Orleans and San Francisco have become the latest US cities to require proof of vaccination against Covid-19 to teach in schools, work at a hospital, attend live music events or visit indoor hospitality.
New York City became the first to implement mandatory vaccination for certain settings recently when it imposed its Covid pass to attend gyms and cinemas and to sit inside restaurants.
Los Angeles is reportedly considering the measure.
More than 75,000 Irish children sign up for Covid jabs
More than 75,000 children aged 12 and over signed up to receive a Covid-19 vaccination within 48 hours of Ireland opening registration for that age group, according to the head of the healthcare service.
Health service executive’s CEO Paul Reid said the first jabs were given on Friday, with the rollout set to continue throughout the weekend.
He said: “Children have sacrificed so much in this pandemic too and they have shown maturity beyond their years.”
A parent’s consent is required for a child to be vaccinated.
Egypt receives 1.7 million Covid vaccines via COVAX
Egypt received another 1.7 million doses of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine through the global COVAX programme, the health ministry said.
The doses make up the third shipment under COVAX, with Egypt having received around 4.3 million shots.
The country has also received doses of the Sputnik, Sinopharm, Sinovac and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
The government said in June it aims to vaccinate 40 per cent of its 100 million population by the end of this year.
Russia releases worst pandemic death numbers to date
Russia’s daily Covid-19 deaths hit a new record of 819 on Saturday, a day after Moscow’s health department reported the highest number of monthly deaths in the city since the start of the pandemic.
Russia’s daily coronavirus deaths are on the rise after infections peaked in July. Authorities blame the infectious Delta variant and a slow vaccination rate.
Moscow said late on Friday that the mortality rate in the city in July was 70 per cent higher than before the pandemic in 2019 and 60 per cent higher than in the same month last year.
A total of 17,237 deaths in Moscow in July is the highest monthly death toll since the pandemic began. Most of the excess deaths were caused by the coronavirus outbreak, the Moscow health department said.
Russia reported 22,144 new coronavirus infections on Saturday. Daily cases have so far declined in August after the July peak.
Australia: NSW records 466 new cases
New South Wales reported a record 466 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, as Australia’s most populous state remained in tight lockdown.
“This is the largest jump we have seen in a night,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in Sydney. “It’s fair to say that we are extremely concerned about the situation that we’re in, in New South Wales.”
Officials warned the state’s infections could surge further in coming days as they reported four more people had died, taking the number of deaths in the latest outbreak to 42.
Of the new cases, at least 60 are people who spent time in the community while infectious, Ms Berejiklian said.