“This is not a sustainable way to live in this country,” declared Scott Morrison, Australia’s prime minister, on Aug. 23. He was defending a dramatic shift in COVID-19 strategy. Since the start of the pandemic Australia has used an approach dubbed “COVID zero”, stamping on outbreaks down to the last case, whatever it takes. From now on, cases will be allowed to rise as long as hospitals can cope with them. The plan is to drop most restrictions once 80% of adults are vaccinated, which looks achievable by the end of the year.
Coronavirus
The Economist: Australia is ending its zero-COVID strategy
Vaccination campaign signage is seen in downtown Melbourne on August 6, 2021, amid a sixth lockdown for the city in efforts to bring the Delta outbreak to heel.
