More military personnel deployed to enforce Sydney Covid restrictions as entire state locks down

It comes as the country continues to battle the Fines for noncompliance are being increased, including a 5,000 Australian dollar (about $3,680) penalty for breaching home quarantine or giving false information on a exemption permit or to a contact tracer, according to state officials.Fines for exercising in groups of more than two people and traveling into regional parts of the state will also increase to 3,000 Australian dollars (about $2,200).Lockdowns have also been imposed in other major Australia’s largest cities — at least 10 million people nationwide now face restrictions, making up about 40% of the country’s population.Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under fire for a sluggish vaccine rollout, with 19.65% of its population fully vaccinated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. This is far below numbers seen in the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union — despite Australia’s smaller population.Reuters contributed to this report.