Australia: Victoria reports first COVID-19 deaths this year

Australia's Victoria state on Wednesday reporteded its first COVID-19 deaths this year, as the government conceded that the infection numbers of the delta variant of the coronavirus will continue to rise.

The state reported two deaths Wednesday, the first since last Oct. 18.

Neighboring New South Wales reported four deaths, bringing the death toll from a delta variant outbreak that started in June to 102.

Victoria and New South Wales are both locked down and are now counting on getting their residents vaccinated to contain the outbreak.

With 120 new infections reported Wednesday, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said: "We will not see these case numbers go down. They are going to go up."

New South Wales reported 1,116 infections in the latest 24-hour period.