Sydney has reported 177 new cases of COVID-19 as the state’s premier Gladys Beijiklian extends the city’s lockdown by 4 weeks to combat a growing surge in case numbers.

Up to 130 of today’s cases were infectious within the community.

There are growing concerns that transmission is occurring in essential working environments and at private gatherings.

However, students will return to the classroom by August 16, with plans for daily testing and a vaccine drive among school-aged students.

Ben Oquist from the Australia Institute says Sydney would have gone into lockdown sooner if they had their time again.

Meanwhile – Melbourne wakes up to freedom

Residents in Melbourne and the state of Victoria are waking up to a little bit more freedom this morning after Premier Daniel Andrews announced a relaxing of Covid restrictions.

Hospitality and retail venues will reopen, students can return to school and office buildings can have up to 25 percent of workers.

Masks are still required both indoors and outdoors and crowds will not be allowed back at big events like this weekend’s football.

However, it’s a different story for Sydney and the state of New South Wales after the government announced a four-week extension to lockdown restrictions last night.

The state recorded 172 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday, the biggest daily increase since the current outbreak began, 61 of these individuals were in the community whilst infectious.

Meanwhile, Melbourne and Victoria is the first location in the world to bring the Delta variant under control following an outbreak.