Malcolm Turnbull tests positive to Covid-19, as Victorian virus cases surge past NSW
Victoria has recorded 51,356 new cases and nine Covid deaths surpassing record figures in NSW, as former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull tested positive.
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Victoria has recorded more than 50,000 new virus cases and nine Covid deaths surpassing record figures in NSW, as former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull tested positive.
Victoria recorded a massive 51,356 new cases and nine Covid deaths in the past 24 hours.
That number surpassed the latest figures from NSW, where a record 45,098 new cases and nine Covid deaths in the past 24 hours were announced.
The latest figures came as Mr Turnbull said he had coronavirus.
Mr Turnbull confirmed he is currently in isolation after contracting the virus and testing positive this week.
It comes just hours after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg confirmed he was isolating in Victoria with his family after he tested positive for the virus.
“Like hundreds of thousands of other Australians I have tested positive for Covid. Symptoms moderate so far. Isolating as required,” Mr Turnbull wrote on Twitter.
“This pandemic and especially this latest wave has put our health professionals under enormous pressure - please be polite and considerate when dealing with the front line health workers.
“Whatever failures there have been in planning and preparation are not their fault. They have had two years of relentless pressure and it’s now at its most intense. So give them the love and respect they deserve, please.”
There are now 644 infected people in Victorian hospitals, with 106 active in intensive care and 24 on ventilators.
Of the new cases, 26,428 were recorded via a rapid antigen test while 24,928 were recorded via a PCR test.
Health Minister Martin Foley said recently more than one in fifty people in Victoria were likely infected.
It’s the first time rapid tests were included in the daily tally, which also helps to explain the skyrocketing number.
Most people who reported a positive rapid antigen test got that result earlier in the week, and reported it when the web form opened on Friday.
The number of people who actually received their positive rapid antigen test result on Friday was 5923.
Victoria is the first mainland state to set up a reporting system in which anyone who tests positive rapid antigen tests is now considered a probable case of Covid and must immediately isolate for seven days and notify their contacts - just like those who test positive on a PCR test.
It is mandatory to report the positive rapid test result to the Department of Health via an online portal that opened on Friday or phone.
The goal is to ensure people spend less time at testing centres and focus on isolating and recovering from Covid.
It also means Victorians who test negative on a RAT and are not a household contact will be able to resume their lives straight away instead of quarantining while waiting on a negative result.
In NSW, there are now 1795 infected people in the state’s hospitals, with 145 in intensive care as of Saturday morning.
It comes after NSW broke its daily record for Covid cases again on Friday, reporting 38,625 infections and 11 more deaths of people with the virus.
Queensland has suspended non-urgent elective surgeries as Covid-19 takes out thousands of health workers amid a daily record of 11,174 new cases.
There was also another death overnight - an unvaccinated Brisbane man in his 30s - taking the toll since the start of the pandemic to 10.
It is the third consecutive day new infections have topped 10,000 in the Sunshine State, although the daily tally has not yet included people who have tested positive on rapid antigen tests (RATs) at home.
South Australia has recorded five more Covid-19 deaths and 4274 new cases overnight, with the Premier calling a rise in infections among health workers and remote Aboriginal communities “very concerning”.
Steven Marshall told reporters on Saturday the deaths were one person aged in their 50s, one in their 60s, one in their 70s and two in their 90s.
“We are very sad with this number that we need to report today and our condolences with their families and friends,” Mr Marshall said.
He said hospitalisations had risen to 164, but this figure remained “well within our capacity to process”.
JOSH FRYDENBURG TESTS POSITIVE TO COVID-19
The Federal Treasurer announced his Covid-19 positive status on Twitter on Friday night.
“Like thousands of Australians, I tested positive today to COVID-19,” he wrote.
“I have the common symptoms and am isolating with my family.
“My thoughts are with all those who have Covid — this is a difficult time but we will get through this.”
Like thousands of Australians, I tested positive today to COVID-19.
— Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) January 7, 2022
I have the common symptoms and am isolating with my family.
My thoughts are with all those who have COVID - this is a difficult time but we will get through this.
NSW HAS 38,625 CASES, 11 DEATHS
It comes as NSW has reported 38,625 new Covid-19 cases and 11 new deaths on Friday.
There are 1738 people in hospital with the virus, with 134 of those in intensive care.
Of the over 16 population, 93.6 per cent are double-dose vaccinated, while 95.1 per cent have had at least one shot.
Premier Dominic Perrottet has also reintroduced some restrictions which include:
*Suspending elective surgery for non-urgent surgeries in the next 365 days until mid-February.
*A positive rapid antigen test will be treated as if it was a positive PCR test
*No singing and dancing in hospitality venues. That does not include weddings or performers or classes that people may be conducting.
*People are encouraged to minimise mingling with possible.
*When in a hospitality venue, sit down while drinking where you can.
*Minimise mingling and minimise household visitations and as well when you’re having events inside. Hold them outdoors where possible.
*Mandatory booster jabs will be given to certain frontline staff including teachers, nurses etc
50 million RATs are expected to arrive next week and NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said if someone cannot get a RAT then they can go and get a PCR test instead.
She also said they were setting up a system where positive RATs can be registered.
There were 112,725 PCR test processed on Thursday, as lengthy queues persist at some testing centres and the government urges people to avoid taking one unless absolutely necessary.
State and territory leaders agreed at a national cabinet meeting on Wednesday to scrap the requirement for people to who test positive on a rapid antigen test (RAT) to follow it up with a PCR test.
VIC RECORDS 21,728 CASES, CHANGES RULES
Victoria has recorded 21,728 new Covid cases and six deaths as new rules came into force overnight to deal with the spread of the Omicron variant.
There are 644 people in hospital, with 58 in intensive care. Of those, 24 were ventilated, health officials announced on Friday.
It’s a slight drop on the 21,997 cases and six deaths recorded on Thursday.
Victorians who test positive to a rapid antigen test (RAT) will also now be considered probable cases of Covid and be subject to the same requirements as confirmed cases from a PCR test.
They must isolate immediately for seven days, notify their contacts and report their result to the Department of Health using an online portal that opened on Friday.
Acting Premier Jacinta Allan said Victoria was the first mainland state to set up such a reporting system as the nation enters the “next iteration” of the pandemic.
It follows Scott Morrison’s announcement that people who returned a positive RAT would not longer have to take a PCR test.
The Prime Minister revealed the new rule on Thursday as state and territory leaders try to reduce the immense pressure on PCR laboratory testing across the country.
The goal is to ensure people spend less time at testing centres and focus on isolating and recovering from Covid.
Ms Allan said there was “no doubt” Victoria would see an increase in hospitalisations in the coming weeks if Omicron continued to drive up coronavirus infections.
She said the number of people presenting to hospital, coupled with staff shortages as healthcare workers have to isolate, was already creating “unprecedented challenges”.
“The government and health system as a whole is preparing for increased hospital admissions. And a huge amount of work has gone on, as it has throughout the pandemic, that our health staff are equipped with what they need,” she said.
Ms Allan said that some hospital workers who were household contacts of Covid-19 cases were being granted exemptions to return to work within their isolation period.
Victorians woke on Friday to new density rules that came into effect at midnight, with indoor venues, excluding cinemas and theatres, now required to abide by limits of one person per 2sq m.
The latest results come after government officials revealed an estimated one in 50 Victorians had Covid and 40 per cent were in their 20s.
Community sample testing of positive cases for the Omicron variant also indicates it’s now the dominant strain of Covid in Victoria.
QUEENSLAND CASES SOAR AMID TESTING CHAOS
Queensland Covid-19 cases have hit a new high 10,953 but experts fear the data on infection rates is severely under-reported, making it almost impossible to make predictions on the impact on hospitals.
Friday’s new record daily tally comes even as people are being steered away from PCR testing unless absolutely necessary, a move designed to ease pressures on a gridlocked testing system.
There are now more than 53,000 active Covid cases in Queensland – a 25-fold increase on the 2100 active at Christmas – with chief health officer John Gerrard warning it could climb into the “hundreds of thousands” by the end of January.
Queensland hospitalisations rose from 265 to 327 people in the 24 hours to 7pm Thursday, with 14 people now in intensive care, up from 12.
Dr Gerrard conceded the state’s official statistics are believed to be a “gross underestimate of the true numbers”, with hospitalisations expected to peak “in their thousands”.
“The number of patients in hospital wards with COVID-19 is increasing steadily,” Dr Gerrard said.
“It‘s expected in the next two-to-three weeks to increase very substantially and hospitals are now preparing.
“We are going to be stepping up to a major emergency in the coming two-to-three weeks.”
The demand for testing has become so high in the state’s metro south east region, some Queenslanders have reported waiting up to nine hours for a PCR test.
Others have been turned away from testing sites before they open at 7am.
A number of people are choosing to stay home and use rapid antigen tests (RATs) instead of battling huge testing queues, despite there being no system in place for the government to know the true testing numbers.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said her department was working on a system to allow residents to notify authorities of their at-home results.
However, she would prefer a national solution to the issue.
“That will help us model and understand the growth of the virus in the community and the likely hospitalisation rate — I think it is really important,” Ms D‘Ath said.
“We don’t want to take our eye off the ball as far as having an idea of the volume of the virus spreading through the community.”
Fully vaccinated young people with mild flu symptoms have been asked to assume they have Covid, and to stay home instead of heading out for a PCR test.
Meanwhile, Queensland has also removed the requirement for freight workers and truck drivers to provide a negative Covid-19 PCR test to enter the state.
SNAP LOCKOUT OF UNVACCINATED
The Northern Territory has gone into a lockout until at least Monday after recording a further 256 cases of Covid-19.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said there were 27 cases of community transmission, 10 were known close contacts of previous cases, 88 were interstate arrivals, 19 were international travellers, and 112 remained under investigation.
Twenty-three people are in hospital, with eight of them considered “acute cases” and two in intensive care.
“Today’s escalation in cases is concerning,” Mr Gunner told reporters on Thursday.
“One positive case in the community usually sees more than one person infected.
“We need to keep our case numbers steady.”
Under the rules of the lockout, fully vaccinated people can live normally within the lockout area but must use masks.
Today, a Territory-wide lockout came into effect until midday Monday, 10 January 2022. Indoor mask mandate continues. Visit: https://t.co/9TlyTNxHVl. pic.twitter.com/oVUfsitOU2
— Michael Gunner (@fanniebay) January 6, 2022
Unvaccinated people aged 16 years and over, including anyone who has received one dose of the vaccine, must stay at home.
They can only leave for the following three reasons:
- Medical treatment, including Covid-19 testing or vaccination;
- Essential goods and services, like groceries, power tokens and medications; and
- To provide care and support to a family member or person who cannot support themselves.
People cannot travel more than 30km from their home unless it is to go to a hospital.
Businesses must ensure employees, customers and visitors are fully vaccinated.
Unvaccinated people may access essential services only including supermarkets, hospitals or takeaway food.
Anyone caught breaching the directions faces a $5000 fine.
NSW VAXXED MAN IN 20s DIES OF Covid
NSW Health has revealed a fully vaccinated man in his 20s with no underlying conditions has died from Covid in hospital as Omicron continues to spread across the state.
The state recorded 34,994 and six deaths on Thursday, including the young ACT man who died at St Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst.
“He had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and had no known underlying health conditions,” NSW Health said in a statement.
“NSW Health expresses its sincere condolences to their loved ones.”
A further four men and one woman aged in their 60s, 80s and 90s also died from the virus overnight.
Two were from the Lake Macquarie area and three from Western Sydney.
There are now 1609 people in hospital with Covid, 131 of which are in intensive care and 38 on ventilators.
Hospitalisations have increased by 118 from 1491 patients on Wednesday and ICU presentations have increased by 12.
At the peak of the Delta variant outbreak on September 21, 1266 people were hospitalised, with 244 patients in intensive care and 118 people on ventilators.
Almost one in three people whose tests were processed in the latest reporting period tested positive to Covid-19.
‘MOVING QUICKLY’: PM’S PLAN TO GET SCHOOLS OPEN
Getting kids back to school is “very important” and classes will resume as scheduled Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asserted, amid concerns the beginning of the school year could be pushed back due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Queensland doctors have also warned of a “perfect storm” as kids’ eligibility for Covid-19 jabs clashes with surging demand for boosters.
Mr Morrison, speaking in Canberra on Thursday, made assurances the supply and distribution of vaccines for the 5 to 11-year-old rollout was on track and would be ready to kick off on Monday.
He also said “there are enough vaccines in the country to vaccinate every single child 5 to 11 between now and school going back”, contrary to rising cases of parents being unable to find appointments.
National cabinet agreed the target was for schools to come back on day one of term one, with the rollout of the jab to young children a major pillar.
The Prime Minister also said states were “moving quickly” to formulate detailed plans on how to ensure the safe return of schools.
The top public servants of each jurisdiction are meant to get together and “harmonise” those plans in the coming week.
“Getting kids back to school is very important,” Mr Morrison said.
DISABILITY, CHILD CARE IN CRISIS
It comes as the disability sector is the latest industry to find itself in crisis following a surge of Omicron cases across the country.
The industry, which was already facing critical staff shortages, has seen support workers calling in sick, isolating and unable to work – leaving vulnerable people with no-one to look after them.
The aged care and child care sector have also reported similar issues due to Covid.
Disability support platform Kynd, an online platform which matches support workers with NDIS participants, has been inundated with people trying to find care.
“We are being smashed – requests for support worker services are up 110 per cent in the last 48 hours,” Michael Metcalfe, founder of Kynd, said.
“It’s a catastrophic problem, unfortunately the perfect storm for Australia, and especially NDIS participants and providers.”
Brisbane mum Sue Grier said her son is 36, has Down’s syndrome, autism and suffers from chest infections, and lies on his own with carer support.
She said he has had support workers walk out mid-shift after testing positive, meaning no one is looking after him.
She said the government was “never prepared for what was going to happen in the disability sector”.
“Now we feel they have let us down.”
SA HAS 3707 CASES
South Australia has recorded two deaths and 3707 new cases of Covid-19 overnight.
Premier Steven Marshall told reporters that one of the deaths was reported by some media on Thursday night.
“So two deaths in South Australia over the last 48 hours,” Mr Marshall said.
“Both of these people had underlying health issues – one person in their 60s, one person in their 90s.”
Mr Marshall said SA was doing better than most other states regarding the number of cases.
“It’s pleasing to see that we’re still in the 3000 range,” he said.
“We’re seeing some pretty big escalations right around the country.”
The Premier said there had been a “slight uptick” in hospitalisations, jumping to 144 people compared with 123 the previous day.
There are 16 patients in intensive care, with one person on a ventilator.
More than 20,000 tests were conducted on Thursday.
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