In an effort to contain the spread of the Delta strain of the new coronavirus (COVID-19), many countries on Thursday resumed or strengthened anti-epidemic restrictions. The mutant strain also threatens Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia, and the World Health Organization is warning countries not to let down their guard.

According to the website of the Japan Times on June 24, just days after the state of emergency in the capital was lifted, Tokyo showed signs of a resurgence of COVID-19.

Infectious disease experts warn that Tokyo is seeing a steady increase in new cases, that human movement has increased since containment measures were relaxed, and that a highly contagious strain of the virus is spreading rapidly.

Scientists fear that the Delta strain could overwhelm all the others and trigger a spike in cases that could then spread to neighboring counties and across the country.

Tashkent, June 25 (AFP) - Uzbekistan on Friday recorded its highest number of new infections in a day so far this year. The local government has introduced new measures in the capital to prevent a resurgence of the disease.

According to official figures, 476 new cases have been confirmed in the Central Asian country.

This week, the government announced it had found a delta variant in the country, raising fears of a new outbreak, reports said.

The country's health ministry announced on Friday that buses and cars would be allowed into the capital, Tashkent, for two weeks from next Monday only for "emergency" reasons.

The report said a government committee charged with preventing the epidemic had advised worshippers to worship outside mosques in Uzbekistan, where the majority of the population is Muslim.

Sydney and some surrounding areas imposed a strict two-week lockdown on Saturday to control the highly contagious Delta strain of the virus. There has been a marked increase in the number of infections.

SYDNEY (AFP) - Australia and Israel, which had successfully fending off the novel coronavirus, have reimposed restrictions because of a surge in cases of the highly contagious Delta strain. The strain is also threatening Africa, Central and South-East Asia.

Reports say many parts of Sydney have been put on lockdown, which is a blow to local residents. Local people have returned to a relatively normal life, as local cases have been rare for months. Meanwhile, Israel, which successfully vaccinated against the outbreak, reintroduced indoor masks less than two weeks after it lifted the measure.

In Australia, about two weeks ago, a driver was infected with Novel Coronavirus when he picked up a flight crew member from Sydney Airport to an isolation hotel. Dozens of cases have now been linked to the driver.

Israel's vaccination campaign is one of the most successful in the world, the report said. Ten days ago, it lifted its rule on wearing masks in public places, and the number of infections has soared since then.

In a four-day period, the country recorded more than 100 new cases every day, with 227 new cases on the 24th. As a result, the Israeli Ministry of Health changed the relevant regulations.

Germany has declared Portugal and Russia "mutated virus zones", a measure that will result in severe restrictions on travel between the two countries.

The Robert Koch Institute in Germany made the announcement late Friday, the report said.

The Delta variant is already circulating in Britain, the report said. Britain has been declared a "mutated virus zone", meaning travellers from the country will face a mandatory quarantine for two weeks.