<span style="color: #222222;">Australia's COVID-19 Response Committee is due to hold an emergency meeting today as outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta variant across the country prompted a lockdown in Sydney and renewed restrictions elsewhere.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Around 18 million Australians, or around 70 per cent of the population, are now under some form of lockdown or COVID-related restrictions as officials grapple with COVID-19 flare-ups in almost every state or territory.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the media today that they think, they are entering a new phase of this pandemic, with the more contagious Delta strain, adding Australia was facing a critical time in its fight against COVID-19.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The National Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, will be briefed by the country's Chief Medical Officer later today, Mr Frydenberg said.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Australia has so far fared much better than many other developed countries in tackling the spread of the Corona virus, with just over 30,450 cases and 910 deaths.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Sydney, Australia's most populous city, was plunged into a two-week lockdown over the weekend, while the northern city of Darwin entered a two-day shutdown, as officials grapple to contain the outbreaks.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Australia's Queensland state today reintroduced mandatory masks and limited home gatherings in several areas, including state capital Brisbane, following a similar move by Western Australia officials for state capital Perth. Restrictions remain in place in Victoria state capital Melbourne and national capital Canberra.</span><br />''  <br />