Panic buying as Australian capital enters lockdown
There was panic buying at the supermarkets in Australia's capital Canberra on Thursday (August 12) after it was announced that the city would go into a snap week-long lockdown.
Canberra has reported it's first locally acquired case of COVID-19 in more than a year.
Authorities said the new measures were needed as they were unsure how the man is his 20s acquired the virus.
Capital Territory Chief Minister, Andrew Barr.
"We do not currently know the source of the infection, but extensive investigation has been under way for many hours. This is the most serious public health risk that we have faced in the territory this year, really since the beginning of the pandemic."
Australia's two largest cities - Sydney and Melbourne - are already in hard lockdowns as the country tries to get on top of the fast spreading Delta variant.
The government has announced it may deploy extra military personnel in Sydney to ensure compliance with the rules.
Despite seven weeks of lockdown, daily infections in the city continue to hover near record highs.
New South Wales on Thursday reported 345 new locally acquired cases, up from 344 a day earlier.
In neighboring Victoria, 21 new cases were reported and residents in Melbourne are preparing to enter their second week of lockdown.
Experts see Australia heading into a cycle of stop-and-start lockdowns until a higher vaccination coverage is reached.
