Covid-19: in Australia, more than 200 arrests during demonstrations against the reconfinement – franceinfo

Tensions in Australian streets. More than 200 people were arrested on Saturday, August 21, during demonstrations against containment, set up to fight against Covid-19, the police announced. Violent clashes have taken place between residents opposed to the extension of the restriction measures and the police, in Sydney and Melbourne, the two most populous cities in the country.

Thousands of people expressed their anger in Melbourne at the protest on Saturday. The rally came after local authorities decided to extend containment throughout the state of Victoria to fight the resurgence of the epidemic. Police used pepper spray in violent clashes with protesters.

Seven police officers were injured and more than 200 people arrested, during this demonstration described as “violent and illegal” by Victoria State Police in a statement. “While there were peaceful demonstrators present, the majority of those who participated had violent intentions.”, said the police.

A demonstration also took place in Sydney, the day after the extension until the end of September of the confinement, imposed in June, to stop the spread of the Delta variant. More than 1,500 police officers were mobilized, in particular they erected several roadblocks and arrested 47 of the approximately 250 participants in the rally, specified the local police (English content). The state of New South Wales, where Sydney is located, recorded 825 new cases of Covid-19 in 24 hours, a level for the country.

“No matter how hard we try, even though 99% of people are doing the right thing, there is one element of the Delta variant that no one is controlling.”New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.