Canberra, August 7: Australia witnessed a record daily number of new COVID-19 cases this year on Saturday, with the country's populous states of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland reporting 361 cases of the Delta variant.

With about 15 million people in the three states, or 60 per cent of Australia's population, under a strict lockdown, the country also reported five coronavirus-related deaths, among the highest this year, Dawn reported citing Reuters. Also Read | California Forest Fire: Dixie Fire in Northern California Grows to Become Largest Wildfire in 2021.

NSW suffered its worst pandemic day, reporting 319 new locally acquired Coronavirus cases, with Sydney and neighbouring regional centres spanning 200km (120 miles) of coastline under a stay-at-home order for six weeks already. Also Read | Anthony Flynn Journey From Born in Poverty to Becoming America's On of the Top Business Consultants & Coaches.

With a total of 36,000 COVID-19 infections and 937 deaths, Australia has avoided the high caseloads of other developed countries, but its vaccination figures are among the lowest, with only 20 per cent of people aged over 16 fully vaccinated, Dawn reported further.

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