Our reporters on the ground have began to file their reports on the latest news today and the implications.

Queensland bureau chief Mark Ludlow reports the end is in sight for snap lockdowns as cases ease. A limited spread of the coronavirus from the Northern Territory gold mine outbreak has raised hopes snap lockdowns in Queensland, Western Australia and the NT will be lifted on Friday night.

While Queensland recorded two new cases on Thursday, there were no new cases in WA and only one in the NT (a miner from the Tanami gold mine) improving prospects of an easing of restrictions.

Sydney-based Finbar O’Mallon reports that health experts say the weekend will give the first proper glimpse of whether Sydney’s lockdown is working.

NSW recorded 24 new locally acquired cases in the 24 hours up to 8pm on Wednesday, pushing the Sydney outbreak to 195. Seven of the new infections are unlinked and only half were already isolating.

“This still means that we are seeing cases in the community infectious,” NSW’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, says.

Canberra political correspondent Andrew Tillett finds that Queensland has relied on foreign doctors on temporary visas more than any other state, as the QLD Palaszczuk government will demand cuts to the international arrivals cap on Friday.

Federal Labor seized on a newspaper report claiming that “thousands” of people were visiting Australia to visit friends, have a holiday or conduct business visiting Australia.

However, closer analysis of the data showed the number of people who declared they were visiting Australia for a holiday in their incoming passenger arrivals in April was just 653.

While national columnist Jennifer Hewett warns that the political blame game is now deafening. “Fingers crossed” was the parting comment of QLD Premier Annastacia as she left her daily press conference, how apt.