Five deaths have been reported as being linked to the CCP virus Delta variant outbreak in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), as authorities move to extend the lockdown measures beyond the boundaries of Greater Sydney to the Hunter region north of the city. From 5 p.m. Thursday, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton, and Muswellbrook will go into lockdown after high loads of viral fragments and new infections were detected in the Hunter region on Wednesday. The lockdown will remain in place until midnight next Thursday. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has previously said that the harsh lockdown restrictions her government has imposed are a result of low vaccination rates, and on Thursday enticed residents to get vaccinated, saying the lockdown would end if 6 million doses are administered by Aug. 29—that is 80 percent of the state’s population. “I am urging everyone to come forward …