SYDNEY: Australian officials have warned Sydney residents to brace for a surge in Covid-19 cases as the country's largest city logs record infections for the second straight day despite a weeks-long lockdown to stamp out an outbreak of Delta variant, reports Reuters.

Sydney has reported a record 279 locally acquired cases of Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, up from the previous high of 259 the day before. New South Wales has reported a record 291 cases, up from 262, with one new death, raising the state total to 22 in the latest outbreak, all in Sydney.

"Just based on the trend in the last few days and where things are going, I am expecting higher case numbers in the next few days and I just want everyone to be prepared for that," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney, the state capital.