On Thursday, authorities confirmed another 3 cases, all linked to the first case. Meanwhile, health authorities in Australia have been tightening restrictions on travel, leaving some Aussies who live abroad trapped in their home country because of a few hundred COVID cases.

The Capital Territory's Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced earlier this week that the "hard" seven-day lockdown would begin at 1700 local time on Thursday (meaning it started a few hours ago). But judging by the repeated extensions in Sydney and Melbourne, the capital territory lockdown will likely remain in place for weeks, if not months.

"This is by far the most serious public health risk the ACT has faced in the past 12 months, and that's why the ACT is entering a strict lockdown in response to this positive case," Barr said.