The leader of New South Wales has warned this is “the worst situation Australia’s been in” since the start of the CPOVID-19 pandemic.

“If the objective was to frighten the hell out of the community, I can guarantee you they have done that.”

Victoria has recorded 11 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 as the state battles another wave of Delta infections.

Australians living overseas could be “trapped” in Australia if they return, after the nation’s government tightened its border rules without notice.

NSW has reported 262 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and at least 72 of those people were circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period.

Millions more Australians are now in lockdown as the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread.

Australia has deployed hundreds of soldiers to Sydney to help enforce an extended COVID lockdown.

NSW has reported a record 239 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and at least 88 of those people were circulating in the community for all or part of their infectious period.

Victoria will cautiously exit its statewide lockdown, but health authorities say the war with the highly-infectious Delta coronavirus variant is not over.

Demonstrations have taken place in Australian cities against tight restrictions imposed to tackle a rise in COVID cases.

NSW is bracing for another rise in COVID-19 cases today after a record rise yesterday and a state of emergency being declared.

There were 12 new locally-acquired cases recorded in Victoria in the 24 hours to midnight.