Australia's New South Wales sees surge in local COVID cases, despite lockdown

Australia’s New South Wales state reported on Thursday five deaths and 262 locally-acquired cases of COVID-19, up from 233 a day earlier, Report informs via Reuters.

The numbers continued to climb despite state capital Sydney nearing six weeks in a hard lockdown.

Of the new cases, at least 43 have spent time in the community while infectious, the state’s health department said.