Report: Australia's most populous state to reinstate some COVID-19 curbs – Reuters

“Australia's New South Wales state, home to Sydney and a third of Australia's 25 million population, will reinstate restrictions including shutting nightclubs and canceling non-urgent surgeries because of record coronavirus infections, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Friday,” per Reuters.

The news adds that the measures are expected to be approved by the state government's economic recovery committee on Friday in a bid to ease pressure on hospitals, the report said, citing senior government sources.

Key quotes

People admitted to NSW hospitals with COVID-19 have nearly doubled to a record 1,609 in just over a week. There were around 150 daily cases in the state in late November, when the first Omicron case was detected. That shot up to 35,000 on Thursday.

Neighboring Victoria state a day earlier brought back restrictions that would limit people at pubs and clubs.

FX reaction

AUD/USD remains on the back foot around a two-week low, recently taking rounds to 0.7165 amid early Friday morning in Asia. The pair’s lack of reaction to the news could be linked to the pre-NFP caution.

Read: AUD/USD slams into weekly support ahead of critical NFPs