Covid-19 Australia latest: 17K new cases in NSW, Vic and 32 deaths

Cases of Covid-19 have dropped in NSW and Victoria over the past 24 hours, but there have been more lives lost to the virus, as WA revealed when its border will reopen.

Cases of Covid-19 have dropped in NSW and Victoria over the past 24 hours.

NSW recorded 7615 new infections, down from Friday’s 9243 cases while Victoria reported 6280 new cases, down from the 6935 on Friday.

Twelve people died with the virus in NSW but the number of people in hospital has fallen with 1297 people receiving care for Covid with 81 of those are in intensive care.

Twenty more people died in Victoria with 365 in hospital, a huge drop on the 451 receiving care on Friday. Of those, 64 were in ICU.

The figures come as new freedoms have be introduced.

Several restrictions eased at 6pm on Friday in Victoria including scrapping density limits in hospitality venues.

The latest cases numbers have been revealed in Victoria and NSW. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dylan Coker

People no longer need to check-in at supermarkets and retail venues, and dancing at venues is back on the cards.

But Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said residents still needed to check-in at restaurants and pubs.

Meanwhile in NSW, restrictions were eased early with new freedoms coming into force yesterday.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was about taking a “measured approach”.

There are no longer density limits in hospitality venues and QR check-in is not mandatory, except at nightclubs and music events with more than 1000 people.

Hospitals, aged and disability facilities will also continue to use check-in systems.

Singing and dancing at venues is also back on.

More restrictions will ease on February 25.

DATE SET FOR WA

Western Australia’s hard border will finally come down on March 3.

Premier Mark McGowan told reporters on Friday that quarantine-free travel would be allowed for triple-dose vaccinated people aged 12 and over if eligible.

They must declare their vaccination status through the G2G pass and take a rapid antigen test, which will be provided to them at the airport, within 12 hours.

A positive result must be reported to WA Health.

Unvaccinated returning Australians from overseas must complete seven days of hotel quarantine.

Mr McGowan said he had written to the Prime Minister to indicate those arrivals would be capped at 70 per week.

Premier Mark McGowan has finally decided to reopen his states border. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tony McDonough

WA recorded 194 local cases and eight travel-related infections overnight, including 18 self-reported positive rapid antigen tests.

It brings the state’s total number of active cases to 724 but none are in hospital.

The Premier will travel to Sydney next week to testify at a defamation trial involving billionaire Clive Palmer. He will be there from February 26 to 28.

Meanwhile, Southern River MLA Terry Healy has reportedly been identified as a close contact of a confirmed case and is now awaiting the result of his PCR test.

The Labor MP delivered a lengthy speech in Parliament House on Thursday.

If he tests positive, other MPs may also be forced into seven days of self-isolation.

QLD: 5795 CASES, 9 DEATHS

Queensland has recorded nine new Covid deaths and 5795 fresh cases on Friday.

Of the 5795 cases, 1702 were from rapid antigen tests recorded from school-aged children.

The death toll is down significantly from the 39 fatalities announced on Thursday, the state’s deadliest day of the pandemic.

Chief health officer John Gerrard said of the nine deaths, all were over 70.

Three of the fatalities had received a booster shot, three were unvaccinated, and three were double dosed.

Hospitalisations in Queensland are on a steady decline as the state records 392 Covid patients in public hospitals. Thirty-three people are in intensive care.

Chief health officer John Gerrard says Covid restrictions are under review. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The passing of the Omicron peak means a suite of Covid mandates are under review in Queensland, including indoor mask wearing and restrictions on unvaccinated patrons.

A steady drop in case numbers and hospitalisations has already allowed the Sunshine State to abandon Covid check-ins for most venues – including supermarkets, gyms, salons and indoor sporting arenas.

Dr Gerrard confirmed on Tuesday that several other restrictions were now being looked at.

“All of them are currently under review given that this Omicron wave is coming to an end,” he said on Tuesday.

“If some of these restrictions were to be withdrawn … such as masks, then that would be purely on the understanding that if there was a resurgence of infection, then masks will be reintroduced,”

“We’ll still see cases, and the virus isn’t going to go away – we’re still going to see the transmission of the virus heading into winter.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is set to ease Covid restrictions.

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has eased restrictions.

MODERNA VACCINE GETS TICK OF APPROVAL FOR AUSSIE KIDS

Australia’s medicines authority has approved the use of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine in children aged six and older, making it the second jab available for the younger cohort.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on Thursday announced it had approved the use of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine after carefully considering data from a clinical trial in Canada and the United States involving 4000 kids.

“The study demonstrated that the immune response to the vaccine in children was similar to that seen in older age groups,” the TGA stated in its decision.

“Clinical trials also showed that the safety profile in children is similar to that seen in adults.

Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for children aged six and over in Australia. Picture: AFP

“The most frequent adverse events seen in clinical trials in children aged 6-11 years were short-term and included injection site pain, redness and/or swelling, axillary (groin) swelling or tenderness, fatigue, headache, fever and muscle pain.”

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) will need to greenlight the jab before it can be offered to children as young as six.

The Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine remains the only jab for five-year-olds.

The Moderna Covid-19 jab for children involves two doses administered 28 days apart, though the volume of the dose is half that administered to people older than 12.