Australia’s most populous state New South Wales has reported a record number of COVID-19 cases as the Omicron explosion turns holidays into chaos. The state, home to Sydney and a third of Australia's 25 million population, reported 6,394 new infections, up from 6,288 a day earlier.

Omicron update: Australia’s most populous state reports record cases

Australian authorities began doling out emergency COVID-19 vaccine supplies on Thursday in the Sydney suburbs worst hit by an outbreak of the fast-moving Delta strain, as the country reported its biggest one-day rise in COVID-19 infections.

Sydney vaccine rollout sped up as Australia's COVID-19 cases hit high

Australia expanded a COVID-19 lockdown as Victorian authorities described Melbourne’s northwest as an area of concern. Victoria's COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said several new coronavirus cases were reported around the Caroline Springs Square shopping centre with half of the cases linked to the retail area.

Australia expands Covid lockdown amid surge in new virus cases

Australia on Monday reported highest number of coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, with almost all the new infections coming from the southeastern state of Victoria.

Day after reporting most COVID-19 deaths, Australia confirms record infections

Australia's second-most populous state of Victoria, which is already witnessing a surge in coronavirus cases, on Thursday reported 317 new cases, its highest rise in infections in the 24-hour-period.

Australia: Victoria reports record coronavirus infections

Australian state, Victoria, has reimposed stricter restrictions in the state to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus as the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise.

Don't pretend this is over: Australian state reimposes strict restrictions amid rising COVID cases

An Australian court on Friday banned a Black Lives Matter protest planned in Sydney, backing government claims it could risk spreading the coronavirus. Up to 10,000 people were expected to march in Sydney on Saturday to express solidarity with US protestors and demand an end to frequent Aboriginal deaths in custody in Australia.

Australia bans anti-racism protest citing coronavirus pandemic

Australia on Sunday called for an independent investigation into the global response to the coronavirus pandemic, including the World Health Organization's handling of the crisis.

Australia calls for independent probe into global virus response