Australian prime Minister Scott Morrison has said that the country “has to move forward” and ditch lockdowns as soon as it reach 70 percent vaccination rate

The Australian Prime Minister has lashed out at state leaders who have threatened to enforce restrictions beyond 70% vaccination.

Several states have threatened to keep their borders closed even after achieving this vaccination rate amid the country’s Delta outbreak.

‘It does puzzle me – it puzzles me – why anyone would want to go against a plan that has been so carefully prepared,’ he said. 

‘This is not a sustainable way to live in this country, without those freedoms that we all cherish,’ he said about lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney.

“We will live with this virus, like we live with other infectious diseases”

“There will be risks,” he said. “If not when we hit 70 or 80 per cent, then when?”

This comes after Morrison saying this morning that Australians should start to change their perceptions about Covid-19.

He also said that the nation should expect a rise in infections once vaccination levels increase and restrictions are eased.

Today, Melbourne and the state ofVictoria recorded 71 new local COVID-19 cases, the highest daily number in this outbreak

On Sunday, Sydney and the state of New South Wales recorded 830 new coronavirus infections – the highest daily number ever for Australia during the pandemic.

Compared with many other nations, Australia has had a fairly successful Covid strategy – with around 44 thousand positive cases and just under 1 thousand deaths.

But frustration is growing around lockdowns and coronavirus-related restrictions.

Protestors gather in Australia’s major cities to rally against the nation’s lockdown measure

Over the weekend, thousands of protestors gathered in various locations right around the country, demanding change.

Morrison says he recognises the “heavy toll” that the strict coronavirus elimination measures have on residents and businesses… but the end is in sight.

He says that lockdowns are “sadly necessary for now”, and his government will “keep providing health and income support to get people through”.