Covid in Australia: Wild clashes as Victoria is thrust into sixth lockdown
Anti-lockdown protesters have clashed with police in Melbourne after a sixth lockdown was declared for Victoria.
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Hundreds of of unmasked protesters have descended on Melbourne’s CBD and clashed with police just hours after Victoria was thrust into its sixth snap lockdown.
The large group met at Flinders St at 7pm on Thursday and marched into Swanston St shortly after and circled the CBD, the Herald Sun reports.
At least two flares were lit, with the crowd chanting “no more lockdowns”, according to the newspaper.
Police were seen clashing with protesters and there are reports of at least 15 arrests and another 16 people fined.
The late-night anti-lockdown rally erupted after the state’s Premier Daniel Andrews said there was “no alternative” to get on top of the latest Covid outbreak other than to impose another seven-day stay-at-home order on the state, which started at 8pm on Thursday.
“I can’t tell you how disappointed I am to have to be here doing this again. But with so few in the community with one vaccination let alone two, I have no choice but to accept advice and we collectively to make this important decision to keep Victorians safe,” Mr Andrews saids.
“The alternative is we let this run that gets away from us, and our hospitals will be absolutely overwhelmed. Not hundreds of patients but thousands.”
Victoria went from zero new cases to another lockdown in just over a day. It is just over a week since the fifth lockdown ended.
The state’s health department confirmed six new local virus cases on Thursday morning, but one case was previously announced on Wednesday afternoon.
That case – a teacher at Al-Taqwa College in Truganina – was announced just hours after a doughnut day in a fresh blow for Victorians as they emerge from their fifth coronavirus lockdown.
The health department said the acquisition source of the woman’s infection remain a mystery and household contacts of the case were being urgently tested.
The department said two of the remaining cases were mystery infections, with the three others linked to existing outbreaks and in isolation for their entire infectious period.
Victoria’s Covid-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said health officials believed the teacher may have been infectious while teaching at the school on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week.
All staff, students, families and visitors who attended the school on July 28, 29 and 30 have also been ordered to get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days.
Al-Taqwa College spokesman Terry Barnes said in a statement the campus had been “completely shut down” and would likely remain closed for 14 days.
“The college campus will be completely shut down with no staff members or students permitted to attend the college premises (and) deep cleaning is being arranged,” he said.
Victoria has recorded more than 220 cases linked to the two outbreaks that jumped the border from Sydney’s deadly Delta cluster – one from a team of Sydney removalists who transited through the state and the other from a family who returned to Melbourne’s north from a NSW red zone.
No new cases were recorded in hotel quarantine, with the number of active infections in the state falling to 80 – down from 99 on Wednesday.
PM’s WARNING AS 5 DEATHS, 262 NSW COVID CASES
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued a warning to those in NSW, saying compliance with the lockdown rules in NSW will get the state out of its paralysis because of the Delta outbreak.
“The primary tool to end the lockdown in Sydney is the success of the lockdown in Sydney,” he said.
“The virus doesn’t move by itself. People staying at home ensures that the virus doesn’t move.
And I can only reinforce the importance, as was achieved in Melbourne last year over a long period of time. Different variant, the Delta variant, as opposed to the Alpha variant last year, the earlier variant. And that makes the challenge so much harder.”
Mr Morrison said 20,000 of the new doses of Pfizer being sent to NSW to help vaccinate the population would go back into the regional communities, where jabs were taken for school students.
Mr Morrison said they hadn’t taken those doses from other states or territories.
“We haven’t done it in a way that would mean that the vaccination program would be slowed in other parts of the country,” he said.
“That would be dangerous, because the whole program needs to go forward. And so we didn’t want to have appointments cancelled in other parts of the country.
“What we did on top of the 200,000 doses we had already additionally provided to New South Wales for Pfizer, and over a million doses are available to New South Wales of AstraZeneca, in addition to that we have brought forward these other 180,000 doses.
“And it means that later on they won’t have to be changing any appointments either. That’s what the premier and I discussed. The other thing is, I’m very pleased — and I made it really clear — those 20,000 doses in New South Wales of Pfizer have to go back into those regional communities.”
He also urged everyone to get vaccinated now to avoid hospitalisation and protect their loved ones and themselves against Covid.
While he is still against Labor’s $300 cash incentive to get people to get the jab, he said he was open to “good ideas”.
It comes as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said her state would get 180,000 more Pfizer vaccines from the federal government.
“After a number of conversations with the Prime Minister, I was advised by him directly that NSW will receive an extra 180,000 doses of Pfizer, which is good news, in the next fortnight, commencing in the week August 9 and August 16.
“This is very positive news. It means that in the week of 16 August, we can redirect those doses we had taken from the regions for the HSC students and it also means we can put the balance into those eight local government areas in Greater Sydney of concern in particular.
“So I’m relieved about that.”
FIVE DEATHS IN NSW AND 262 COVID CASES
NSW has had five deaths with 262 new Covid cases as the lockdown in Greater Sydney was extended to regional parts of the state.
There were also 45 people infectious in the community and more than 107,000 tests.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed four out of the five people who died were unvaccinated.
Two men in their 60s died at Campbelltown and Westmead hospital, one man in his 70s died at Concord hospital, and one woman in her 80s died at Liverpool hospital. Another man died at Royal Prince Alfred hospital.
Ms Berejiklian said that there would be a one-week lockdown in the Hunter and Upper Hunter Region to try to stop the spread of the Delta outbreak there.
The local government areas impacted are Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton and Muswellbrook.
“These community leaders and local leaders are being advised of this. That will commence at 5pm Thursday night and go until midnight next Thursday,” she said.
“I want to confirm the arrangements in the eight local government areas will be exactly the same as exists in Greater Sydney, including the Central Coast. So that means no school and the same stay at home provisions apply.”
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said there were currently 290 Covid cases
in hospital and 251 people in intensive care and 24 of whom require ventilation, and young people were being admitted to ICU.
“We are seeing people in their teens, in their 20s and their 30s, as well as older individuals,” she said.
“But my comments are that please now is the time to strongly consider getting vaccinated if you’re over 18 and, for the elderly, who have not been vaccinated, again, I put out a plea to you — make an announcement. Get vaccinated.
“Even one vaccine reduces hospitalisation and death by Pfizer and AstraZeneca by 70 per cent. And two doses achieves about a 90 per cent effectiveness against hospitalisation and death. We have the tools to allow us to protect ourselves and our loved ones from Covid. I call on everyone to act now.”
16 NEW CASES IN QLD
Queenslanders are “so far in front” of the virus that they have been given their surest sign yet that lockdown could end on Sunday, despite 16 new local cases of Covid-19 reported on Thursday.
The state’s Delta cluster, which began at a west Brisbane high school last week, now stands at 79.
But, of the new cases announced on Thursday, all were “directly linked” to the Indooroopilly outbreak, and only four people were infectious while in the community, which Deputy Premier Steven Miles said was “encouraging news”.
Three are children from Ironside State School, nine are close contacts linked to Ironside State School, one is a teacher at Brisbane Grammar School, one is a student at the school and the others are linked to the school.
“It’s encouraging that of the cases reported today, only three were infectious in the community for one day, and one was infectious for two days,” Mr Miles said.
“The other 12 were in quarantine throughout their entire infectious period … the fact they are all linked is a positive development as well.”
Chief health officer Jeannette Young said it was “excellent” news.
“The fact that we only had five days being infectious in the community between four people is the most encouraging part,” she said.
“Those five days were while we were in lockdown. That’s what you want to happen.”
Dr Young said she didn’t expect Queensland to be “so far in front of the virus” at this stage.
“It doesn’t mean we’re through it yet, we’ve still got a long way to go but we have done really, really, really well until now so let’s see how we go in the next few days,” she said.
“Let’s see if we can lift those restrictions on Sunday. That would be extremely special … I am hopeful we can.”
Mr Miles said a decision on whether the lockdown would end on Sunday is “difficult to say at this stage” because he doesn’t know what the next few days will look like.
“We will need to see those play out before we can advise Queenslanders what the arrangements will be,” he said.
“My absolute focus is on doing everything that we need to do today and tomorrow and Saturday to hopefully be able to lift the lockdown on Sunday, that is the goal right now.”
In the past 24 hours, 52,350 tests were recorded.
“That level of testing gives the chief health officer a chance to be confident,” Mr Miles said.
There are currently 7766 people in home quarantine.
‘DO NOT WAIT FOR PFIZER’
A group of top medical professionals has urged Australians not to wait for Pfizer and to have the AstraZeneca vaccine if they can.
“Our strong recommendation to all Australians in an outbreak setting is to get a first dose of AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine as soon as possible,” the leading doctors and other health professionals wrote in The Australian.
“This is consistent with the latest Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation advice.
“Do not wait for the Pfizer vaccine if the AstraZeneca vaccine is available to you.
“AstraZeneca is an excellent vaccine that has already saved millions of lives and will save many more.
“Covid kills, and by the time you or someone you love is infected, hospitalised or in ICU it is too late.”
It came as The Australian reported that short, sharp lockdowns could be a reality for some time to come if vaccination rates stall.
Treasury analysis that showed Australians would be forced into “five lockdowns every quarter” if vaccination coverage flatlined at 50 per cent.
‘VACCINATE UNDER 40S’: FREWEN
Vaccination commander Lieutenant-General John Frewen said the federal government would not start giving Covid jabs to under 40s, despite warnings that age group were high coronavirus transmitters.
Speaking at a press conference, Frewen said vaccine incentives may be discussed later in the rollout as currently “demand is still exceeding supply”, The Australian reports.
“I have said incentives is something we will consider but right now Australians are coming forward, in the last seven days.”
Frewen reiterated that AstraZeneca was already accessible for younger age groups, but said the main reason for not opening up mRNA to all cohorts was expectation, which was undermined by constrained supplies.
“The idea for 30-39 – we will open mRNA towards the end of this month, early next month – means that when people are told they can access the vaccine, they can do it in a reasonable period of time,” Frewen told reporters on Wednesday, according to The Australian.
“AstraZeneca is available right now under informed consent. People need to make a decision whether they have the available vaccine now or whether they wait.”
The Doherty Institute recommended that vaccinating under 40-year-olds offered the “greatest potential to reduce transmission” given that a high proportion of vulnerable Australians were already vaccinated.
Frewen said the reason younger people, such as those in their 30s, were not yet eligible for Pfizer is to manage “public expectation” because demand is too high among older age groups, The Australian reported.
Frewen expects that will change “towards the end of this month (or) early next month”, according to The Australian.
STATE OF PLAY IN SA
Just as South Australia starts to shake the shackles of lockdown, another locally acquired Covid-19 case has been recorded.
But, the plan to ease some restrictions from 12.01am on Thursday will go ahead.
The man in his 20s was already isolating at home after one of his family members previously tested positive to the virus two weeks ago.
He has since been shifted to the state’s dedicated coronavirus facility, Tom’s Court Hotel.
Premier Steven Marshall confirmed the infection was linked to the Modbury cluster, bringing the total number of connected infections to 22.
SA chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said the man had quite a long incubation period and did not display any symptoms.
His positive test was a “late pick-up” on day 13.
Three of his family members were also taken to medi-hotels and will need to complete a further 14 days of quarantine.
Professor Spurrier said there was no reason to suspect community exposure.
But she said testing rates had dropped across the state and stressed anyone with even the mildest of symptoms needed to get tested.
There were 7163 tests conducted on Tuesday.
FREWEN OPEN TO CASH FOR JABS
Lieutenant General John Frewen is not ruling out cash incentives to encourage people to get the Covid vaccine.
It comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday labelled Labor’s cash for jabs proposal “an insult”.
“We will look at all positive alternatives. There is cash, there is the ideas of lotteries, all these things are being discussed,” he said, but added demand is still outstripping supply, so now is not the time to look at it.
He said there is no plan to open the Pfizer vaccine program to under 30s earlier, despite the Doherty Institute reporting they are a critical group for vaccinations in its modelling released on Tuesday.
“All age groups can access AstraZeneca, those age groups. The main reason for not opening up all cohorts to mRNA is expectation, filling up looking systems and not realistically be able to access the stuff. The idea for 30-39 we will open mRNA towards the end of this month, early next month means that when people are told they can access the vaccine they can do it in a reasonable period of time,” he said.
PM’S Covid CRACK TEAM PLAN
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has another part to his Covid-19 battle plan — a vaccination unit targeting infection outbreaks.
According to the National Covid Vaccine Campaign Plan for Operation Covid Shield, The Australian reports a new crack National Response Option “is an opportunity to increase vaccination capacity when and where required” in the event of an outbreak.
The new unit will be sent out nationally and be on call to move quickly.
The co-ordinator general of the National Covid-19 Vaccine Taskforce, Lieutenant General John Frewen, said “while there are many factors involved in reducing the spread of Covid-19, vaccination is the most effective means we have to build nation resilience”.
The new unit would support the “states and territories in achieving or exceeding targets either by reinforcing success or addressing delay in extraordinary circumstances”.
“Once we reach threshold vaccination rate levels, we will be able to live with this virus and begin our recovery,” the plan said.
“The National Response Option will be dedicated solely to the task of administering vaccinations and will maintain a high level of readiness in the event of a call-out, being dispatched to the location directed to provide between 2000 and 3000 additional vaccinations daily over the course of a two-week campaign.”
It comes as carparks at major sporting stadiums could become vaccine hubs as early as next month.
The federal government is considering the move to help get the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to Australians aged 30 and over, Nine News reported on Tuesday.
While Westfield is already on board to give jabs nationally, other shopping centres will also reportedly be involved in the drive-through plan.
“Flying squads” of nurses will reportedly go to workplaces to vaccinate employees as early as October.
PM LASHES CASH FOR JABS; NEW MODELLING REVEALED
Scott Morrison has dismissed Labor’s cash for jabs proposal, describing it as “a vote of no-confidence in Australians”.
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese put forward the $6b plan on Tuesday to give Australians fully vaccinated by December 1 $300 in cash. But Mr Morrison distanced himself from cash incentives.
“This is a serious public health crisis, it is not a game show,” the prime minister told reporters on Tuesday.
“So if they do have hesitancy about vaccine, I am not going to pay them off.”
The prime minister was taking questions following the release of the Doherty Institute’s modelling for Australia’s National Covid-19 response.
In an opening speech, Mr Morrison praised the nation’s handling of pandemic saying 30,000 Australians or more would be dead if we had not responded the “Australian way”.
“I have great faith in the Australian people to get this country vaccinated,” he said.
The modelling shows vaccinating 70 per cent of the population aged 16 plus may allow Australia to transition to phase B of Australia’s response.
At 70 per cent, the number of strict lockdowns would be significantly reduced.
Fifty to 60 per cent doesn’t come anywhere near enough reaching that point, the modelling shows.
The Prime Minister noted: “When you get it down to 80 per cent, the sort of death hospitalisation and infection rates is what you expect to see with something like a flu.”
As vaccine rates increase, less stringent public health and social measures will be needed.
Allowing vaccinations for under 40s offers the greatest potential to reduce transmission now that a higher proportion of vulnerable Australians are vaccinated, the modelling shows.
We need to increase the uptake of AstraZeneca to combat the challenge the Delta strain presents.
“What we are delighted to see and what really supports the use of both of the vaccines that we have in Australia is both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses are highly effective at reducing severe disease outcomes following two doses,” the Doherty Institute’s Professor Jodie McVernon said.
“For Pfizer, reduction in hospitalisation is 87 per cent, ICU admission 87 per cent, mortality 92 per cent. For AstraZeneca, corresponding numbers are 86, 86 and 90.
“We have two very highly effective vaccines and this work really encourages their best strategic use.”
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the key economic message out of the modelling is that until we get to 70 per cent and above vaccination rates the economic imperative is that governments need to move fast to get on top of those cases.
“If they don’t, we see lengthier and more severe lockdowns which have a much more significant economic cost,” he said.
He said early interventions, short, sharp lockdowns, are the most cost effective way to handle the virus.
Mr Frydenberg said at 50 per cent vaccination rates, if governments were getting on top of those early cases, it was costing the economy $570 million a week. At 60 per cent vaccination rates, if governments were getting on top of the cases early, it was costing $430 million a week. At a 70 per cent vaccination rate it’s costing the economy $200 million a week. And at 80 per cent vaccination rates it’s costing the economy $140 million a week. And that’s base
line-type restrictions, light or moderate restrictions.
HALF-PRICE PLANE SEATS EXTENDED
The federal government has thrown a lifeline to the aviation sector as it struggles with the impact of worsening lockdowns, with the popular half-price fares initiative extended until the end of November.
The government will also enable airlines to access $750 weekly payments for 50 per cent of their pilots and cabin attendants, if the business has taken a hit of more than 30 per cent since the Sydney hotspot declaration was made.
The Domestic Aviation Network Support (DANS) and Regional Airline Network Support (RANS) programs would also be extended until the end of the year, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announced.
The half-price seats initiative, which prompted a huge flurry of sales when it was announced in March, was being extended “to ensure travellers impacted by lockdowns or border closures can access these tickets and benefit key tourism regions as soon as possible,” Mr Joyce said.
Initially 800,000 half-price seats were offered to 15 destinations most impacted by the downturn in tourism.
Mr Joyce, who is also Minister Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, described the aviation sector as “absolutely seminal,” especially for the tourism industry.
“This is a crucial sector of the economy,” he said.
“It is crucial to keep a sovereign airline capacity, crucial that as soon as the economy opens up, this sector of the economy is up and running and able to deliver.”
“We are laser-focused on keeping the nation connected and supporting economically critical freight movements as we continue to manage the ongoing challenges of this global pandemic and move into a recovery phase.”
A spokesperson for Mr Joyce confirmed that while the half-price seats program was being extended, it was not an increase on the initial allocation of 800,000 seats, and the 15 destinations within the program were not being changed.
Tourism and Transport Forum CEO Margy Osmond welcomed the extended support measures, but said the tourism industry’s biggest challenges were the “devastating impacts of ongoing lockdowns and border uncertainty”.
She also called for timelines to be set against national vaccination targets, saying they would restore confidence to the industry.
Parts of the industry dependent on international arrivals had “effectively been in lockdown for 16 months,” Ms Osmond said, and the domestic sector “continues to be decimated by these extended lockdowns and border restrictions.”
PFIZER OPEN TO TEENS
Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced more PPE will be sent to southeast Queensland after it was declared a Commonwealth hotspot, and the Pfizer vaccine will be made available to children aged between 12 and 15 who are immunocompromised.
This change in the vaccine rollout will occur on August 9.
“ … for 12-year-olds to 15-year-olds, as foreshadowed just over a week ago, the Pfizer vaccine will now be made available on ATAGI’s advice for immunocompromised children, or children with underlying medical conditions, indigenous children, and children in remote communities aged 12-15,” he said.
“Although, if any GP wishes to administer before then, then it is free for them, or states, to do so.
“But that’s the commencement of that program. They will be included under phase 1B, which means that they will have access as part of that program going forward.
It includes approximately 220,000 children who will be given access now as a consequence of that decision.”
Mr Hunt said this last week saw a record vaccination week with 1.18 million Australians coming forward, taking us to almost 12.4 million vaccinations.
HANSON SLAMS QLD LOCKDOWN
Senator Pauline Hanson has criticised Prime Minister Scott Morrison claiming he had “lost control of Australia” as part of Queensland went into a three-day snap lockdown.
In a video posted online on Saturday, Ms Hanson described the lockdown as “bloody ridiculous”.
“Like a lot of Aussies I was out enjoying my weekend but now we are going to have to be locked down,” she said.
“It is bloody ridiculous for only six cases of Delta. I’m sorry this is over the top.”
“The prime minister said yesterday it would get no worse than what it is at this point, he’s supposed to guide us through this with the premiers.
“As I’ve said all along the prime minister has lost control of the country and the premiers are doing whatever they want to do. I feel sorry for small businesses.”
Ms Hanson went on to say lockdowns were being called “at the drop of a hat”.
“Give people clear direction and what’s going on,” she said.
It came after Mr Morrison explained Australia’s four-step road map out of Covid-19 lockdowns on Friday, where he said Australia had to get to a vaccination target of 70 per cent before restrictions would ease.
He also said premiers had agree to this in principle, with international travel to open after the country had achieved a vaccination target of 80 per cent.
On Saturday, Mr Morrison delivered a pointed reference to wild conspiracy theories during an interview on talkback radio as he pleaded with Australians to follow scientifically supported medical advice – not fake experts on Facebook.
The odd remark comes after the Prime Minister revealed lockdowns would be discouraged and international borders would begin to reopen once 80 per cent of eligible Australians are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Morrison said he hoped the agreement on the target would encourage the population to get the jab as vaccine hesitancy persists and disenfranchised citizens take to the streets in anti-lockdown protests.
“By getting vaccinated, you're getting a step closer every single day to getting us back to about as normal as you can be when you’re living with Covid-19,” he told 2GB on Saturday morning.
When discussing the prevailing rate of vaccine hesitancy across the country, Morrison urged Australians to resist following views of conspiracy theorists and to “go and talk to your doctor”.
“If you are concerned, don't talk to Doctor Google, go talk to your doctor,” the Prime Minister said.
“Don’t talk to someone who’s going to tell you you’re going to turn into a magnet or, you know, don’t go on Facebook to listen to people who don’t know what they’re talking about.”
The bizarre magnet reference is likely in relation to the unusual theory among alternative communities who fear the substance of the vaccine, with some even believing it will allow the recipient to connect to the internet.
The theory originated because some mRNA vaccines, a new type of jab used to protect against infectious diseases, include a material called hydrogel, which is used to help disperse the vaccine slowly into the recipient’s cells.
The fear of being a vessel to connect to Wi-Fi is, of course, nonsense and flatly rejected by the federal Health Department.
“Bioengineers have used similar hydrogels for many years in different ways,” the health authority said earlier in the year. “For instance, they’ve used them to help stem cells survive after being put inside our bodies.
“Because of this, some people believe that hydrogels are needed for electronic implants, which can connect to the internet.”
But the Pfizer mRNA vaccine doesn’t even contain hydrogels as a component, instead using a piece of mRNA that is “coated in a lipid (fatty) droplet”.
“The lipid helps the vaccine enter our cells, as the membrane holding our cells together is also made mostly of lipid,” the Department of Health said.
“The vaccine and the membrane can fuse easily, depositing the mRNA inside the cell.”
According to the Centre of Disease Control in the US, no ingredient in any Covid-19 vaccine is capable of producing electromagnetic force – at the injection site or anywhere else in your body.
“COVID-19 vaccines do not contain ingredients that can produce an electromagnetic field at the site of your injection,” official advice states.
“All COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals.”
Morrison said he was ambitious the threshold for vaccinations would be reached by Christmas so the country can attempt to return to normalcy by 2022.
“There’ll be enough vaccines,” he said in regards to 80 per cent of the population being vaccinated by the end of the year.
“There’ll be enough pharmacies, enough GPs, enough clinics, enough of all of that to achieve that.
“So it’s all up to all of us now.”
– with Zoe Smith, James Hall, Nadia Salemme, Amanda Sheppeard, Anthony Piovesan, David Mills
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Originally published as Covid in Australia: Wild clashes as Victoria is thrust into sixth lockdown
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