The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) saw another destructive day with a record daily high of 356 new local cases and four deaths on Tuesday. What is more concerning is around one-third of the new regionally received cases were in the community while infectious. Among the four deaths, three cases were associated with the current outbreak triggered by the Delta variant and one case got infected overseas, NSW Health said. Despite the climbing local transmission, the government is reluctant to further tighten restrictions. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would not take "Any strategies that aren't going to work" and is against the idea of imposing a ring of steel around the epicentre areas in southwest Sydney.

Berejiklian said the current limitations for the eight local government areas in western and southwest Sydney had stopped a more skyrocketing of new infections, saying strong elimination works as there are no hundreds of thousands of cases and deaths. "That gives us a chance to see what people can do in September and October but it is really important to ensure we provide the vaccine, targeted strategy to reduce the spread especially among key worker groups."

In the adjacent state of Queensland, police have advised residents living in the bordering areas with NSW to expect greater enforcement of border constraints facing the growing transmission. Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Steven Gollschewski said residents would be aware of the situation and not travel unless absolutely necessary. "We will increase operational capabilities there to ensure we are intercepting higher numbers of people coming across," he said. Meanwhile, the state of Victoria recorded 20 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, as its regional areas enjoy the first day out of lockdown.

Odisha bars devotees from assembling at puja pandals during festive season

Rahul visited Kheer Bhavani temple, also visited Hazratbal Dargah

Security beefed up at Lucknow's Mankameshwar temple after terror threat