Some previously relaxed places are reimposing restrictions because of new COVID-19 outbreaks

New COVID-19 Outbreaks Are Driving Some Places Back Under Lockdown And Behind Masks Health officials around the world have announced renewed restrictions this week as they see clusters of outbreaks from the delta variant of the coronavirus. NPR.org

An increase of coronavirus infections around the world is forcing some governments to reimplement lockdown measures to control the spread of the virus.

From Australia to Israel and around Europe, health officials announced new restrictions ahead of the weekend as they report clusters of outbreaks and try to mitigate further transmissions. These decisions come as the more transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus becomes the dominant strain in several countries.

The picture looks very different in the U.S., where many places are still reopening despite warnings from health officials.

This week Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health warned that the delta variant poses a serious threat to unvaccinated people. At the same time, President Biden announced that the White House will miss its goal of getting 70% of Americans vaccinated by July 4.

Restrictions in Hawaii for vaccinated travelers, for example, will be lifted next month even though the immunization rate currently remains under the state's goals.

Hawaii Gov. David Ige had previously said Hawaii would lift these travel restrictions when the state reached 60% vaccination levels. The figure went from 53% June 4 to 57% as of June 21, but Ige said the state will reach its goal by July 8. ...

Authorities in Australia's New South Wales region announced Friday that due to an evolving COVID-19 outbreak in the region, restrictions on nonessential travel will be in place until July 2.

People living in the city of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside and Woollahra can't travel outside metropolitan Sydney for nonessential reasons, the government announced. ...

In Israel, the government will require residents to wear masks indoors again after first canceling the mandate a week ago. The country will also postpone plans to allow certain international visitors into the country.

The country was lauded for vaccinating large swaths of its population and returning largely to normal in May. But Thursday, more than 180 people tested positive for the coronavirus — the fourth day in which infections exceeded 100. ...

In Portugal, where the delta variant now accounts for more than 7 in 10 new infections in the capital, government officials announced new restrictions starting this weekend....