In Australia's largest city Sydney, the restrictions have been in place for five weeks, and are now being extended for another four weeks.
- The spread of infection has not decreased, the number of cases continues to increase every day, says Susanna Persson Öste in SVT's Morgonstudio.
In the past, it has been quite easy to get the residents to agree to a shutdown, because otherwise it has been possible to live a relatively ordinary life.
- Now you are in a more difficult situation with the spread of delta and few vaccinated.
It is easy for some protests because you see other parts of the world open up.
Faster to pay fines
From being behind the authorities' decisions, more and more people are starting to question their actions instead.
- The authorities in Australia can have quite hard pinches.
It will be even tougher to ensure that people comply with the restrictions, for example with police efforts, in order to be faster in imposing fines on people who do not behave.
People are also asked to report to the authorities about those who break the rules.
US and Europe examples of horror
During the pandemic, Australia has chosen a different path than, for example, Europe and the United States.
- Here they have had zero tolerance for the virus and were very early in closing the borders.
And with quick and short shutdowns, they have largely managed to keep the infection away for most of the pandemic, says Susanna Persson Öste.
Australia has repeatedly expressed its pride in its strategy.
- The United States and Europe have been seen as an example of horror.
Just under a thousand deaths
Although the closure in Sydney continues, other subsets of the country are easing their restrictions.
In South Australia and Victoria, they are starting to open up after a week of closure as there has been a reduction in the spread of infection.
Australia has more than 900 deaths in a population of 25 million.
With just over 13 per cent of the Australian population vaccinated, the ongoing closure in the Sydney area risks being prolonged.