But they have also caused widespread concern by referring to a "new world order" in post-lockdown Australia.

New South Wales state Premier Gladys Berejiklian said during a media briefing in Sydney on Thursday that Sydney's cafes, restaurants and pubs are set to reopen in the second half of October after months of strict COVID-19 lockdown.

In keeping with Australia's modest shift away from the "COVID Zero" ideology, Berejiklian said leaders must "hold their nerve" as cases are almost guaranteed to rise after the reopening (though mostly continued to climb despite the lockdown, anyway). Some restrictions for the fully vaccinated will be lifted on Monday, as the first step toward reopening for businesses will arrive shortly afterward.

Despite its lockdown efforts, Australia has seen cases continue to climb in the two months since Sydney started what was supposed to be a temporary "snap" lockdown.

While this might seem like the light at the end of the tunnel, there's a catch: Berejiklian said she expects cases to rise when restrictions ease, and warned that more "localized" lockdowns would follow.

"If there is a concentration of disease in any suburb." Lockdown rules in several regions outside greater Sydney have been lifted from Saturday due to low case numbers out there.

Another NSW official triggered a backlash on Thursday when she referred to a "New World Order" that will be established after the lockdown conditions hsve been lifted. Dr. Kerry Chant, the Chief Health Officer of New South Wales made the remark while outlining new vaccine requirements for workers and customers when the city reopens.