Two weeks into lockdown, Sydney has its worst day for virus cases this year

Sydney: Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state on Thursday reported its biggest daily rise in locally acquired cases of COVID-19 this year as officials struggle to stamp out a growing cluster of the highly infectious Delta variant.

The spike in cases after two weeks of a hard lockdown in Sydney, Australia's largest city, raised the prospect of a further extension in restrictions, with officials blaming illegal family visits for a continuing rise in infections. NSW reported 38 new local cases, up from 27 a day earlier, with 11 of those having spent time in the community while infectious.