Frustration is growing across Australia as more than half of the population suffers through further lockdowns to curb the growing Covid-19 outbreaks
18 months into the lockdown, many are questioning why they are subjected to tough stay-at-home orders, as countries like England and the US open up.
Less than 14 percent of the entire population is vaccinated – which is the worst rating out of the OECD nations
It comes as Prime Minister, Scott Morrison acknowledges the nation’s struggles but refuses to apologise.
He says “no country has got their pandemic response 100%” and spoke of the nation’s low overall infection rates compared to many other countries.
915 people have died as a result of Covid-19 in Australia since the pandemic began.
Border closures, hotel quarantine programmes and lockdowns have all helped keep case numbers low in the past, but the increased prevalence of the Delta strain has authorities concerned.
‘This is a dangerous time’ – three Australian states in lockdown
Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia all remain subject to strict stay-at-home orders today as residents wait to see if all of their hard work is paying off.
“This is a dangerous time,” Mr Marshall said.
“I’m 100 per cent convinced that South Australians will rise to the challenge, will make sure they can abide by these new restrictions, and make sure we get through this in as short a time as possible.”
Victoria is currently in an extended lockdown, reporting its highest number of locally acquired covid cases to date this year on Thursday morning.
“As promising as our progress has been avoiding a New South Wales-style long, lengthy, very challenging lockdown, where you just lose control of cases, we’ve avoided that, but we need more time,” Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, NSW is in the midst of a 5-week lockdown.
Where did it all begin?
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant confirmed on Thursday that the Sydney driver who tested positive for COVID-19 had the Delta variant.
According to the ABC, while the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria also involved the Delta variant, that outbreak was linked to a different source of infection.
The Delta variant was first detected in India in October last year.
UK authorities have estimated the Delta variant is 40 per cent more infectious than the Alpha variant that sent Britain into lockdown at the start of the year.
William is an Executive News Producer at TICKER NEWS, responsible for the production and direction of news bulletins. William is also the presenter of the hourly Weather + Climate segment.
With qualifications in Journalism and Law (LLB), William previously worked at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) before moving to TICKER NEWS. He was also an intern at the Seven Network's 'Sunrise'.
A creative-minded individual, William has a passion for broadcast journalism and reporting on global politics and international affairs.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has reassured passengers following a series of incidents involving the carrier’s aircraft.
Amid growing safety concerns, CEO Kirby has stated that thorough investigations are underway to determine the root causes of the incidents and to implement necessary changes to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The questions remains, will the public’s trust in the airline be restored and how effective are United’s safety protocols and training programs? #TICKER TODAY #featured
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has moved to reassure passengers following a series of incidents involving the carrier’s aircraft, ranging from engine and structural issues to a wheel falling off during takeoff.
In a letter addressed to United customers, Kirby emphasized the airline’s commitment to safety and pledged to thoroughly investigate each incident.
“Safety is our highest priority and is at the center of everything we do,” Kirby stated in the letter.
“Unfortunately, in the past few weeks, our airline has experienced a number of incidents that are reminders of the importance of safety.”
The incidents, which occurred on both Boeing and Airbus planes, were all unrelated but have raised concerns about safety standards within the airline industry.
Kirby acknowledged the seriousness of the incidents and emphasized that they have prompted United to intensify its focus on safety protocols.
Recent incidents
Among the recent incidents cited by Kirby were a Boeing 777 forced to return to Sydney midflight due to a hydraulic leak, an Airbus A320 making an emergency landing in Los Angeles due to reported hydraulics issues, and a Boeing 737 veering onto the grass after landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston.
Additionally, a Boeing 777-200 bound for Japan experienced a tire loss shortly after takeoff from San Francisco, and a flight from Houston to Fort Myers, Florida, had to make an emergency landing due to an engine issue, with flames seen spewing from one of the engines in a video captured by a passenger.
In February, a Boeing 757 operated by United diverted to address an issue with the wing slat, prompting concerns from passengers about the integrity of the aircraft.
United Airlines is currently conducting a comprehensive review of each incident to gain insights into what happened and to inform safety training and procedures across all employee groups.
Kirby announced plans to provide pilots with an extra day of in-person training starting in May and to implement a centralized training curriculum for new-hire maintenance technicians. Additionally, the airline is dedicating more resources to supplier network management.
Confusion and criticism erupted among shoppers in response to the latest offering from fashion brand Free People, as they unveiled their “micro shorts” collection on Instagram earlier this month.
The controversial post, featuring a series of images showcasing the ultra-short denim shorts, sparked a wave of bemusement and disapproval from Instagram users.
“We are wearing micro shorts this season. Link in bio to shop the styles,” read the caption accompanying the post.
However, instead of sparking excitement for the upcoming season, the micro shorts received a barrage of mocking comments, with many expressing bewilderment at the impracticality and extreme tightness of the garments.
Comedian Nicole Aimèe Schreiber quipped, “If you look closely enough, you can see her ovary release an egg,” while fellow comedian Ellen Skrmetti simply stated, “No ma’am…no ma’am.”
Lifestyle blogger Lee Anne Benjamin concurred, stating, “Ya it’s gunna be a no for me dawg,” echoing the sentiments of many who felt the micro shorts were simply too extreme for everyday wear.
Among the chorus of disapproval was Andrea Allen, founder of Deliciously Fit N Healthy, who said, “Who is ‘WE’? We are not. Leave the micro anything for the baby section at target. Bring back adult size clothes!!!”
Similar sentiments were echoed by social media influencer Mandi Lidgard, who humorously remarked, “Nothing like a good ol jean diaper.”
Micro bottoms
The Free People website currently features a range of “micro bottoms” products, including pants, shorts, skirts, and jumpsuits, with sizes ranging from XS to XL and prices spanning from $30 to approximately $400.
Interestingly, the trend of “micro shorts” for men gained traction in 2021, with predictions of their popularity among fitness enthusiasts during the summer months.