SYDNEY, Australia: For much of 2020 and 2021, Australia and New Zealand fared remarkably well in containing the spread of SARS-CoV-2—a function of factors including their geographic isolation and the near cessation of international travel. Recent months have seen both nations face outbreaks of the highly contagious delta variant, leading to widespread lockdowns and reduced access to dental services. Since leading governmental figures have admitted that elimination of this variant is impossible, state and regional governments have slowly begun to ease certain restrictions, including those placed on healthcare personnel.
