By Renju Jose

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Australian doctors warn that a rapid easing COVID-19 restrictions could cause pressure on the health system and put lives at risk. This is as Sydney, Australia’s largest city, prepares to end more than 100 days of lockdown.

After New South Wales reached a target 70%, stay-at-home restrictions will be lifted Monday. On Thursday, authorities raised the limits on home gatherings as well as weddings and funerals.

However, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) representing doctors in the country stated that opening too fast or too soon could lead to unnecessary deaths, and the reintroduction lockdowns.

Omar Khorshid (AMA President) said late Thursday that New South Wales cannot be careless at this crucial moment.

Dominic Perrottet is the state premier and defended his plan to ease restrictions as a result of the steady decline in infection rates. Perrottet also stated that this pandemic has created an economic crisis.

Officials are working out a plan that will gradually ease the restrictions over coming weeks. Full inoculation is expected to reach 70%, 90%, and 80% of adult population. It’s a step in Australia’s attempt to avoid another recession.

After falling over the previous seven days, daily infections in New South Wales increased on Friday as people aged 16 and older received their first dose of inoculations. There were 646 reported cases, most of them in Sydney (up from 587 Thursday). On Thursday, eleven new deaths occurred.

Kerry Chant, the State Chief Medical Officer for Health said that genetic sequencing had revealed a new Delta virus in eight cases. More tests are being done to determine where it came from.

She stated that there is not evidence to suggest the new strain has any different transmission or vaccine effectiveness.

On Friday, Victoria saw a record 1 838 cases, surpassing the 1,763 recorded three days before. Five new victims died.

Australia is facing a third wave infected by the Delta variant. This has resulted in the lockdown of Sydney and Melbourne as well as Canberra.

COVID-19 statistics for the country are lower than those in comparable countries. There were approximately 122,500 new cases and 1,405 deaths.

Nearby New Zealand reported 44 additional cases on Thursday, after 29 of its neighbours had been vaccinated.

($1 = 1.3678 Australian dollars)