Here is a snapshot of the biggest news of the day, it’s been a busy one.
NSW recorded 65 new locally transmitted cases of Covid-19, but at least 35 people were out in the community for part or all of their infectious period. Authorities want that number at zero.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the number of new Covid-19 infections is stabilising thanks to lockdown rules in Greater Sydney and surrounds.
Ms Berejiklian has issued a stern warning for people to remain diligent, saying she expects numbers to rise again.
Three major Sydney hospitals are on alert after a nurse and patients were diagnosed with the virus, but authorities say they aren’t worried.
An anaesthetist who worked at Liverpool Hospital also worked at Campbelltown Hospital while infectious.
Another nursing home, this time in Rooty Hill, has been exposed to Covid after a contract cleaner worked there on July 13 and 14.
Elsewhere in the country, Victoria is entering a five-day snap lockdown from 11.59pm tonight – its fifth since the pandemic began last year – in a desperate attempt to stop the outbreak of the Delta variant.
Victorians can only leave home for five essential reasons – food shopping or essential item shopping, provide or receive care, exercise, work or study, and to get vaccinated.
Masks are compulsory indoors and outdoors in Victoria. All non-essential retail is closing, but supermarkets, bottle shops and pharmacies will stay open.
Parts of regional Victoria may be released from lockdown earlier.
Victoria recorded two new cases of Covid today, bringing the total number in the state to 18. There are currently 75 exposure sites, including the MCG which could lead to superspreading.
Queensland is hoping to avoid another lockdown in Brisbane after three cases of Covid-19 were reported today. They include a 12-year-old boy who flew into the state on July 9 and his father, as well as a fully vaccinated Brisbane Airport worker.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that all federal help for every state and territory will be identical to what is currently offered to NSW.
Families currently affected by the lockdown will receive childcare fee relief.
Anyone wanting to access disaster relief payments can do so from tomorrow if they are from the seven original LGAs locked down, other areas will be able to access it from Sunday.
Thanks for following along with The Daily Telegraph’s live coverage, we’ll be back bright and early tomorrow morning. Stay safe.
NSW Covid updates: 65 new cases, 10 million in lockdown
A limousine driver health order lapse has turned into a full-blown car crash, with more than 10 million people in Australia’s two biggest states now in lockdown. It comes as three major Sydney hospitals were placed on alert. Read our Thursday blog.
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A limousine driver health order lapse has turned into a full-blown car crash, with more than 10 million people in Australia’s two biggest states now in lockdown, as two Premiers fired barbs across the border over competing strategies to contain the virus.
On Thursday, 929 locally-acquired Covid cases had been detected in NSW since a limo driver caught the virus.
Victoria last night had 18 cases from two outbreaks, both originally sourced back to people who went to Melbourne from Covid-ravaged Sydney.
Two people have died with Covid amid the Sydney outbreak - the only deaths from locally-acquired Covid in Australia this year – and there are 73 people in hospital in NSW.
The NSW lockdown is estimated to be costing $1 billion every week.
With Victoria now in its fifth lockdown - this time for five days - the national cost is set to skyrocket.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday night announced a five-day “hard lockdown” for his whole state in bid to shut down Covid-19 spread.
Restrictions will mirror the June lockdown, which imposed strict rules on what businesses could open.
"We have got a list of those people who can work, a list of those businesses that can be open, and a list of who cannot,” Mr Andrews said.
“That was successful then, and this will be successful now,” he said, in a veiled swipe at his NSW counterpart, who has repeatedly refused to define which workers are “essential”.
In thinly disguised jabs at NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Mr Andrews said his state’s lockdown rules had “absolute clarity” and “will be successful”.
“Nothing about this virus is fair. Nothing about the fact that this virus has travelled from Sydney is fair,” he said. “These cases started in NSW, but I’m determined they will end here.”
NSW recorded 65 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/tW6Zxiitm6
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 15, 2021
The comments came after Ms Berejiklian scoffed at the Victorian government’s rules on what businesses could and could not open.
Ms Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard both dismissed suggestions Victoria had “very successfully” outlined what essential services could remain open in a lockdown. “No they didn’t,” they both said. Ms Berejiklian on Wednesday said the Victorian rules had led to “absolute chaos”.
Mr Andrews denied he was directly criticising Ms Berejiklian, but repeatedly made comments that would have been seen as an indirect attack.
“We will not wait around – and if this offends the sensibilities of anybody else in any part of the country, I really don’t care,” Mr Andrews said.
Earlier, Ms Berejiklian urged locked-down residents to “respect the intent” of her health orders, amid confusion over what constituted essential work.
NSW reported 65 new local cases on Thursday. More than 28 of those cases were infectious in the community. The source of 25 cases was still unknown.
“There are still 28 people who are infectious in the community. Unless we get that down to zero, or close to zero, we can’t get out of the lockdown,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Chief health officer Kerry Chant said the number of new cases infectious in the community was stabilising, but needed to come down. “We’re wanting to further decrease mobility and interactions,” she said.
After telling “essential workers” they should “think twice” about whether they needed to go to work, Ms Berejiklian on Thursday shifted her language to declare people “must” work from home if they can. “However, if you cannot do that, you are able to leave home for work,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian said the “vast majority of retail shops aren’t open”.“There may be legitimate issues for why (shops that are open) are essential,” she said.
The Premier also admitted there was not “perfection” in her lockdown rules.
By the end of Thursday, three major Sydney hospitals were on Covid alert after a nurse and pregnant woman tested positive.
The nurse, who was fully-vaccinated, had been working in a Covid ward at Westmead Hospital before testing positive on Tuesday. They had no symptoms and wore full protective equipment during shifts at the hospital.
A NSW Health spokesman said the employee was isolating at home and "no further transmission" had been linked to them."
A pregnant woman visited Liverpool Hospital for a caesarean procedure on Wednesday also tested positive to Covid, forcing staff into isolation.
A spokeswoman from the hospital said everything but emergency surgery had been paused and close and casual contacts were being identified.
On Thursday nnight, South West Sydney Local Health District onfirmed that a Covid-positive anaesthetist who visited a ward full of expectant mothers at Liverpool Hospital also worked at Campbelltown Hospital while infectious.
Contact tracing is continuing but theatres at both Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals have undergone deep cleansing and non-urgent procedures at both locations have been postponed.
All close contacts are being tested and are isolating for 14 days.
Follow our live updates below.
Updates
Snapshot of today's Covid news
Covid-positive doctor worked at Campbelltown and Liverpool Hospital
The Covid positive anaesthetist who visited a ward full of expectant mothers at Liverpool Hospital also worked at Campbelltown hospital while infectious.
South West Sydney Local Health District confirmed the doctor returned a positive test on Wednesday night.
“This follows a patient testing positive at Liverpool Hospital yesterday. Contact tracing is continuing in relation to both cases,” a spokeswoman said.
“More than 60 close contacts have been identified in relation to the patient who tested positive after arriving at Liverpool Hospital. The numbers are still being finalised relating to the healthcare worker.”
Emergency surgery will continue but non-urgent procedures have been postponed at both hospitals.
Theatres at both hospitals have also undergone deep cleaning and all close contacts are being tested and isolating for 14 days.
Casual contacts are also being tested and are self-isolating until a negative result is received.
TikTok star predicts NSW Covid cases correctly — twice!
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has wished repeatedly she “had a crystal ball” for NSW’s outbreak but a local TikTok star seems to be using one to get NSW’s daily Covid-19 numbers.
Comedian Jon-Bernard Kairouz is causing a stir on the social media platform by correctly revealing NSW’s number of Covid cases hours before the official press conference.
Mr Kairouz’s apparent psychic powers were first revealed on Tuesday night, when he claimed in a TikTok video the state would record 97 new cases. He did it again with Thursday's 65 new cases.
Read more about his predictions here.
MCG Covid cases are stranger's with "fleeting transmission"
People who contracted Covid-19 at the MCG during an AFL match likely involved “fleeting transmission” between strangers, health authorities confirmed as Victoria’s number of infections grew to 18.
Covid-19 testing commander Jeroen Weimar told reporters on Thursday evening that the latest case was a man aged in his 20s.
Mr Weimar said authorities were working with all of the cases identified at the MCG to determine exposure sites.
“We do not at this point in time believe there are any direct links between that individual and the other two cases we’ve identified today or, indeed any known contacts with the index case that visited,” he said.
“(It’s) very early in this investigation but at this point in time … it’s people who have not had any known contact with each other.
“This is fleeting transmission, this is stranger-to-stranger transmission — it’s exactly what we saw when we dealt with this Delta strain only a few weeks ago.”
Read more on the Victorian Covid spread here.
New Zealand stops quarantine-free travel with Victoria from tomorrow
The New Zealand Government has announced it will be pausing quarantine-free travel from Victoria to New Zealand from 1.59am Friday.
The pause will be reviewed again on Monday.
"Anyone who has been in the state of Victoria after 1:59am (NZT) on Friday, July 16 cannot travel to New Zealand from anywhere in Australia until further notice," a statement read.
"If you have been at a location of interest, you cannot travel to New Zealand from anywhere in Australia until 14 days after you were at the location of interest."
Positive Covid cases at Liverpool Hospital and Rooty Hill nursing home
An anesthetist that visited a maternity ward at Liverpool Hospital has tested positive to Covid-19 following another positive case in a pregnant woman who underwent a c-section.
Health authorities said it was too early to establish who started the chain of transmission but did confirm the two cases were "potentially linked".
A major contact tracing operation is now underway at the hospital.
It comes as a cleaner at Minchinbury Manor nursing home in Rooty Hill also tested positive.
The contract casual cleaner was not vaccinated and five close contacts – who are all staff – have been put in isolation.
Western Sydney Local Health District confirmed that the cleaner was infectious on July 13 and 14. "Close contacts have been identified and isolated.
All residents are now being tested on site," a spokesman said.
About 90 per cent of the staff and residents at the facility are vaccinated.
"We have isolated all residents and staff throughout the facility and our outbreak management plan has been implemented," Minchinbury Manor said in a statement.
"Daily testing will be undertaken of both residents and staff, while the cleaner and five close contacts of her in the facility have been immediately isolated."
"We anticipate the remaining few residents and staff, who are not vaccinated, will be offered the vaccine again in the facility following the positive case. To date, no other staff member or resident in the facility has shown a positive result."
Punchbowl McDonald's employee worked while infectious
An employee at McDonald's in Punchbowl seems to have worked while infectious, new NSW Health venues of concern have revealed.
The employee worked in the drive-through on Thursday July 8 from 6am – 4pm while infected, meaning everyone who went through drive-through that day is a close contact.
This means they must get tested and isolate immediately for 14 days, regardless of the result.
Everyone in the main area of McDonald's – so not in the drive-through – is also considered a casual contact and is being urged to get tested.
Chemist, Service NSW on alert - new venues of concern for NSW
NSW Health has released a number of new venues of concern, including a Chemist Warehouse, McDonald's and Service NSW branch.
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:
- Fairfield – Star Sweet Patisserie on Sunday July 11 from 4.20pm to 4.30pm
- Punchbowl – Chemist Warehouse on Thursday July 8 from 2.30pm to 3pm
- Punchbowl – McDonald's (Drive through only) on Thursday July 8 from 6am to 4pm
- Liverpool – Service NSW on Monday July 12 from 10.10am to 10.25am
It has also upgraded its health advice for a previously announced venue. Anyone who attended the following venue at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result:
- Hay – Shell on Saturday July 10 from 7.30am to 8am
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received:
- Alexandria – Bunnings – Thursday July 8 from 12.25pm to 12.40pm
- Punchbowl – McDonald's (not drive through) – Thursday July 9 from 6am to 4pm
- Edensor Park – Coles – Sunday July 4 from 10.10am – 10.50am and Saturday July 10 from 10.10am – 10.50am
- Miller – Blooms the Chemist – Monday July 12 from 12.30pm – 1.30pm
- Miller – Aldi – Monday July 12 from 12.pm – 12.30pm
- Merrlands – Priceline Pharmacy – Monday July 12 from 1pm-2pm
- Fairfield – Chemist Warehouse – Monday July 5 from 1.45pm – 2pm and Monday July 5 from 12pm – 2pm
- Liverpool – Krispy Kreme – Saturday July 3 from 1pm – 1.15pm
- Auburn – Woolworths – Monday July 12 from 8.30pm – 9pm
- Fairfield Heights – The Boulevarde Pharmacy – Tuesday July 13 from 10am – 11am
- Fairfield – Sushi Hub, Fairfield Neeta City Shopping Centre – Saturday July 3 – 2pm – 2.30pm
- Jamisontown – Bunnings – Saturday July 10 from 9am – 10am
- Hurstville – Coles – Wednesday July 7 from 5am – 10am, Friday July 9 from 10.30am – 3pm, Saturday July 10 from 12pm – 5pm and Sunday July 11 from 12pm – 5.15pm
- Vineyard – United Petrol – July 11 from 12.10pm -12.30pm
- Merrylands – Mansours BBQ – Wednesday July 7 from 7pm – 8pm
- Merrylands – Red Lea – Saturday July 10 from 2pm – 2.30pm
- Auburn – Woolworths, Auburn Central – Monday July 12 from 8.30pm – 9pm
- Revesby – TerryWhite Chemist – Wednesday July 14 from 10.05am – 10.10am
- Fairfield Heights – Fairfield Heights Pharmacy – Monday July 12 from 5.30pm – 6pm
- Smithfield – Speedway Petrol Station – Tuesday July 13 from 11.45am – 12pm
See the full list here.
Retail shut in Victoria
Dan Andrews has confirmed retail is definitely closed for Victorians during the five day lockdown to stop any confusion about "browsing".
"People who are working in authorised industries can go to work, people who are not authorised cannot go to work, so just for clarity sake, like, retail is shut. It's not open.," he said.
"There will be no browsing, it's click and collect."
"That's what it has to be. That's what is safe. That's what has worked before in Melbourne and it is what will work again."
When questioned if he was happy with the Sydney lockdown Mr Andrews said he was "consistent".
"Retail is shut, closed, click and collect, contactless."
When asked about the response in NSW and recent comments made by Gladys Berejiklian, Mr Andrews said he did not want to respond.
"I’m not here to grade other states, to pass judgement, that’s not my job … " he said.
"I don’t operate that way. You’re not drawing me into smearing or making comments or being a marker, grader of others. That’s not my job. You can do that if you choose."
Dan Andrews shuts down questions on NSW counterpart
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has shut down questions about his NSW counterpart Gladys Berejiklian making comments on past Victorian lockdowns.
"I don't have a response. I'm not here to scoff or sneer at anyone. That doesn't work against this virus. It doesn't work. This virus doesn't care if you've got a big ego or not. It doesn't care. Just get on and get the job done," he said.
"That's what I'm paid to do, that's what I'm here to do. People know with me, like, if I say it, I mean it. To my last breath, to my last breath, I will work to keep this state safe.
"I can't control what happens and doesn't happen in NSW. These cases started in NSW, but I'm determined they will end here. We will put this out, with the help of every single Victorian."
Covid cases surge in NSW as 2023 death toll revealed
Covid cases are on the rise in NSW, and the true toll of the virus this year has been revealed, with almost 4000 Australians dying from the virus in 2023.
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