New South Wales reported at least 11 new cases overnight, as the governor of the state hinted that if the rise continues, a new lockdown may be imposed.

The government of New South Wales (NSW), Australia’s most populous state, warned people on Thursday to prepare for more COVID-19 cases because a state minister tested positive and the health minister began self-isolation, new restrictions The measures came into effect to slow the spread of Delta variants.

At least 11 new cases were recorded overnight in the state, bringing the total number of current outbreaks to 49.

At least 36 cases can be traced to an incident in the coastal suburb of Bondi.

Among them was the Minister of Agriculture of New South Wales, Adam Marshall, who confirmed his positive test result in a statement on Thursday.

His colleagues in the state legislature expressed concern and shock at the news.

At least three other state legislators also attended an event held in a restaurant with Marshall on Monday night, and people who were later confirmed to be connected to the Bundy infection group also ate at the restaurant.

Earlier on Thursday, New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazard told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that more cases are expected.

Hazard told the Public Service Broadcasting Corporation that he had been instructed to self-quarantine after he was thought to be in close contact with the positive case.

“On the brink of another blockade”

on Wednesday, New South Wales Governor Gladys Berejiklian said that Sydney is on the brink of another lockdown Officials tried to trace the missing link in the city’s newly diagnosed cases.

As part of the state’s contact tracing efforts, the state government has stepped up large-scale testing, with 48,402 tests conducted on Wednesday, up from 44,640 the day before.

Berejiklian told parliament that her government “will go further and work harder without hesitation if it must,” and take restrictive measures.

Sydney is the state capital and has one-fifth of Australia’s 25 million population. After some states closed their borders and others tightened entry regulations, Sydney has effectively been isolated from the rest of the country.

Passengers taking public transport in Sydney on Wednesday wear masks [Saeed Khan/AFP]

On Wednesday, Queensland closed its land border with New South Wales due to the emergence of new cases.

Also on Wednesday, the New South Wales government implemented new movement restrictions, banning travel in areas outside the Sydney metropolitan area, and requiring residents to continue to wear masks in public places until next week.

Visitors to private residences are also limited to five people, while the capacity for sports events is halved.

New South Wales officials warned that the Delta variant, which was originally found in India, could spread faster and occur even with minimal contact with infected people.

So far, fast lock-in, strict social distancing rules and fast contact tracing Helped Australia successfully curb past epidemics.

The country is one of the most successful countries in the world in containing the pandemic, so it can reopen its border with New Zealand.

But the new cases are testing the travel bubble between neighboring countries.

Since the start of the 2020 pandemic, as of Thursday, Australia has recorded more than 30,300 cases and 910 deaths.

According to our world data, Australia has received 6.72 million doses of vaccine so far, and 1.09 million people (4.3% of the country’s total population) have been vaccinated.