Not enough Sydneysiders are practicing social distancing, according to new modelling from the University of Sydney (USyd)—which claims that increased compliance with the restrictions will see a significant reduction of cases. A group of USyd professors released the findings on July 13, claiming that currently, only 40 percent of the Sydney population was observing social distancing rules, and it was impacting the government’s efforts to suppress the virus. Professor Mikhail Prokopenko from the Faculty of Engineering said the Delta variant of COVID-19 appeared to be twice as virulent as previous strains and could spread faster. The modelling explored the measures being deployed to contain the virus, including both mitigation (isolation and home quarantine) and suppression (school closures and social distancing). It ultimately found that an increase in social distancing measures was needed, and if 70 percent of the Sydney population were to comply, it would see a “sufficient reduction” of …