Australia Covid news: Victoria to introduce changes for international arrivals

A massive change is coming to the way Victoria manages its international borders as the state rips up its current quarantine rule book.

Welcome to Thursday’s coverage of Australia’s Covid-19 situation.

Fully vaccinated Victorians will enjoy a raft of new freedoms from 11.59pm tonight after the state reached its 70 per cent double dose vaccination goal.

Victoria recorded its second highest number of Covid cases on Thursday, with 2232 infections and 12 deaths.

NSW has seen a rise in infections, with 372 new cases and one death recorded on Thursday.

This is a jump from the 283 new infections and seven deaths yesterday and follows warnings that numbers will likely rise due to the state’s eased restrictions.

The live blog has finished for the day but you can read on for the day’s biggest talking points.

Big changes to Victoria’s quarantine system

Victoria will make changes to its quarantine system that align the state with NSW from November 1.

The changes include scrapping requirements for overseas arrivals to quarantine either at home or in a hotel, according to the ABC’s Raf Epstein.

All arrivals will be required to have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Breaking

Big news

Victoria will scrap quarantine requirements for international arrivals.

(Double dosed and test neg here of course)

Arrivals will not have to quarantine at home or in a hotel

Likely to happen same day it happens in NSW - Nov 1

— Raf Epstein (@Raf_Epstein) October 21, 2021

Separately, from midnight tonight, Victoria will have updated isolation protocols for new and existing close contacts who have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and who don’t live in the same house as someone who has Covid-19.

In a statement on Thursday night, the Department of Health said “non-household primary close contacts who are fully vaccinated will only need to quarantine for seven days, instead of 14.

“To be released, they will need to return negative test results from a test taken on day 6 of their quarantine.”

Household and/or unvaccinated primary close contacts, including children, will still be required to isolate for 14 days.

‘You don’t have 10 days’: Urgent warning for Queenslanders

Queenslanders had only 10 days to get their first Covid jab in order to make sure they were fully vaccinated when the borders reopen on December 17, Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young told them.

But that advice changed today when the state recorded a concerning new case of Covid-19 in a man in his 30s who had been infectious in the community for 10 days.

With the new case on the Gold Coast, Dr Young warned people in the area they can no longer afford to wait 10 days.

“There are plenty of capacity in the Gold Coast to get vaccinated, as there is across our entire state. That is the most important thing. Every single person needs to do it,” she said.

“Gold Coast, you do not have 10 days. You need to do it immediately.

“The rest of the state, we have a 10 day window to get everyone vaccinated because then you will be fully protected when we open up our borders in December. This is so important.”

Dr Young also urged everyone to go and get tested even if they have the slightest symptoms, begging people not to wait “like this poor gentleman has and is so breathless that he can hardly talk to us”.

Why Victoria’s cases keep peaking on Thursdays

Another week, another spike in local Covid-19 cases in Victoria.

The state recorded 2232 new cases and 12 deaths today after 1841 cases yesterday.

It was a similar story last Thursday where Victoria recorded 2297 new cases — up more than 700 cases on Wednesday’s daily figure of 1571.

It is a strange phenomenon but epidemiologists say it can be explained.

Nancy Baxter, the head of Melbourne University’s School of Population and Global Health, told the ABC on Thursday afternoon that cases were being driven by weekend activity.

“You are talking about the peaks happening on Thursdays and they do likely reflect things that happen on the weekend and we’ve had other press conferences that they are identifying a lot of the small gatherings at homes so it’s definitely driving the outbreak.

“That’s concerning because it’s going to continue to drive the outbreak and likely more so once we relax some restrictions.”

She said it was not ideal to be reopening the state with more than 2000 cases a day.

“I would dearly have loved the numbers to have been coming down and for us to have several weeks of them coming down, similar to (the situation) NSW was fortunate to find themselves in when they came out.”

WA reacts to Queensland’s one covid case

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan’s hard border stance is going nowhere.

On Thursday, when Queensland reported one new local case of Covid-19, the WA Premier acted quickly to pause reclassifying the Sunshine State as “a low risk jurisdiction”.

Queensland was set to be reclassified as a 'very low risk' jurisdiction under WA's controlled interstate border tonight.

However, following the new case detected in Queensland today, we have now received updated health advice, and will be pausing this reclassification. pic.twitter.com/ffCH3RIdI7

— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) October 21, 2021

Frydenberg turns up heat on Andrews again

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is not content with his home state reopening at midnight tonight.

In an interview with The Australian, published on Thursday, Mr Frydenberg once again argued Victoria’s easing of restrictions does not go far enough.

“The sooner we ease restrictions and give the people of Victoria the same freedoms enjoyed by the people of NSW at 70 per cent vaccination rates, the sooner our economy will get moving again,” Mr Frydenberg told The Australian.

“We know that once restrictions ease, businesses will reopen and the jobs will come back. This is what we are seeing in NSW, with spending up and job ads up as they come out of lockdown.”

To give you an example of the different rules in both states, NSW will allow 100 people at weddings and funerals when the state hits 70 per cent double dosed while Victoria will cap that number at 10 during the same phase of its vaccination rollout.

Congratulations, Victoria. After 77 days, we’re reopening & not looking back.

Thank you health workers for supporting our community.

Thank you small business owners for supporting your staff.

Thank you teachers for supporting your students.

Thank you to every Victorian. pic.twitter.com/1ceFcCel42

— Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) October 21, 2021

‘Wake up call’: New Covid case in Qld

Queensland has recorded one new community Covid-19 case, with authorities saying they are “concerned” about the new infection detected on the Gold Coast.

“Now this is a wake up call for the Gold Coast,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“The issue with this gentleman is that they were not vaccinated. They were potentially infectious in the community for up to 10 days.”

The Premier urged anyone with the slightest symptoms to go and get tested.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk provides a Covid update. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young revealed the unvaccinated man in his 30s is an Uber driver, saying he had become so sick that he was struggling to even speak with contact tracers.

“He is so sick that we are having difficulties talking to him and getting information from him Dr Young said.

The man lives at an apartment complex in Broad Beach and is understood to have been in Melbourne on October 10 before coming back to Queensland.

“He started to develop symptoms on October 11, which means his infectious period goes back to October 9, but we believe he was in Melbourne at that stage,” Dr Young said.

“He became increasingly unwell, presented to the emergency department.”

Authorities are working closely with Uber to get information about whether the man had passengers during his infectious period.

Dr Young also revealed the man hadn’t used his QR code check in system when visiting venues since September.

“It is hard to work out where he has been in the community, “ she said.

NSW parents to get $250 voucher

Households with children across NSW will receive a $250 voucher as part of the government's almost $3 billion Covid recovery package.

Premier Dominic Perrottet revealed the new voucher for parents can be used under the discovery part of the NSW Dine & Discover program.

“This is a big thank you to every single mum and dad right across the state,” he said.

“We know it has been an incredibly difficult time juggling family, kids and work life, but we all owe you the mums and dads of this state, a great deal of gratitude.”

Victoria hits 90 per cent vax milestone

Victoria has hit its second major vaccination milestone for the day, with 90 per cent of residents over the age of 16 now having their first dose.

“I am pleased to announce that we have reached 90% first dose in the 16 and over population,” Deputy Premier James Merlino said.

“That is quite incredible and that means we are on track to become one of the most highly vaccinated jurisdictions in the world.

“So well done to all Victorians and most importantly, in terms of where we will be at midnight tonight, I can confirm we have reached our target of 70 per cent double dosed in the 16 and over.”

Woolies, Coles and Aldi reveal new vax mandates

Woolworths, Coles and Aldi have announced all staff will be required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to continue working in their stores.

The three supermarket giants are the latest in a string of Australian major corporations that have announced compulsory vaccinations for staff in recent weeks.

All three publicly released their new rules within minutes of each other on Thursday morning.

For Woolworths staff, unless public health orders come into effect sooner, the proposed timeline for the full vaccination requirement of staff in the ACT, NSW, the Northern Territory, Victoria and Western Australia is January 31 next year and March 31 in the other states.

The Woolworths Group said it expects to make a final decision and release its policy in November 2021.

Woolworths, Coles and Aldi have announced new vaccine mandates. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Coles said it would require team members to be vaccinated over coming months as a condition of working at any of our stores, distribution centres and other sites in NSW, the ACT and Victoria, unless they have a valid exemption.

Government health orders also require Coles team members in the NT and Coles supermarket team members in WA to be vaccinated in order to work.

Coles staff have until November 26 to be fully vaccinated in Victoria, December 17 in NSW and the ACT, Christmas Day in the NT and January 31 in WA.

ALDI Australia chief executive Tom Daunt said it was their view that requiring all employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in the future is the best measure to ensure the health and safety of our teams and our customers.

He said they had commenced consultation with all of our employees to gather their input on the proposal.

– Additional reporting NCA NewsWire

$109k fines on the line as Vic set to reopen

With Victoria’s long-awaited ‘Freedom Day’ just hours away, businesses have been warned ignoring the state’s strict mandatory jab rules could result in a whopping $109,000 fine.

A team of Covid inspectors will be patrolling venues across the state tomorrow, checking whether they are complying with Victoria’s double vaccination restrictions.

Melbourne will come out of lockdown at 11.59pm tonight, with fully vaccinated residents once again allowed to visit hospitality venues.

The Herald Sun reports the Covid inspectors have the power to conduct audits of the vaccination status of employees via a business’ records.

This means individual employees and customers won’t be asked to proof of vaccination to the officers, with the onus instead remaining with the businesses to check everyone’s vaccination status.

The joint operation between the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS) and Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) will see up to 100 teams of officers deployed at any one time.

These officers will monitor compliance, including ensuring that venues are correctly collecting, recording and keep vaccination information.

These Covid officers will have the power to issue infringement notices to venues that flout the rules, the publication reports, including fines of up to $109,000 for serious noncompliance.

Vic records 2232 cases and 12 deaths

Victoria has recorded 2232 locally acquired Covid-19 cases and 12 deaths in the 24 hours to midnight last night.

This is the second highest number of cases recorded anywhere in Australia throughout the pandemic, coming in under the 2297 infections recorded in Victoria on October 14.

Reported yesterday: 2,232 new local cases and 3 cases acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
- 37,824 vaccines administered
- 79,544 test results received
- Sadly, 12 people with COVID-19 have died

More later: https://t.co/OCCFTAchah#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/XHK2glmqsh

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) October 20, 2021

NSW records 372 cases and one death

NSW has recorded a rise in Covid-19 cases, with 372 infections and one death in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

The Premier said this week they were expecting cases to rise over the next two weeks in response to the state’s eased restrictions.

It comes after the state recorded 283 new infections and seven deaths on Wednesday.

NSW COVID-19 update – Thursday 21 October 2021

In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night:

- 92.5% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 82.3% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 86,235 tests pic.twitter.com/NZBcVB4Ome

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 20, 2021

NSW makes $96m vaccine announcement

The NSW government has revealed it will begin making its own RNA and mRNA vaccines locally, with the development of a new $96 million facility.

The facility is expected to include clinical spaces and laboratories that will be used to trail vaccine manufacturing capabilities.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said today’s announcement “demonstrates the shift of the NSW government over the last few years” to a focus on research and development, particularly around medicine and medical research.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet speaks to the media during a press conference. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“We believe NSW can be world leading in this space, but we can’t do it alone,” he said.

“From these investments today, many great things will come.”

The announcement comes three months after the NSW government entered into a partnership with the RNA Bioscience Alliance which is made up of all universities in the state.

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean described the investment as a “$96 million booster shot in the arm of our economy in our medical research and bio science sectors”.

“By investing in our best researchers and scientists we are investing in a future for NSW,” he said.

“We want to see that grow and we want to great the jobs of the future. We also want to make sure that we’re protecting our economy from future threats like a pandemic.”

Victoria and Tasmania reaches exciting vaccine milestone

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed Victoria has surpassed it’s 70 per cent vaccination milestone, with 70.51 per cent of residents over 16 now fully vaccinated.

Mr Morrison made the announcement on Sunrise, also revealing that Tasmania has reached the 70 per cent double vaccination target as well.

“The longest road has been journeyed in Victoria and that long road really starts to open up tonight. But as always, all states and territories, coming from a different starting point, will all cautiously find their way back,” he said.

“This is not a big opening in that first step. In the Australian way we move cautiously but deliberately so we can safely open up so we can remain open, safely. That is the key. We want to stay open once we get open.”

Well done Vic and Tas - both states have today hit the 70% fully vaccinated target and the NT has just hit 60%.

Across the country, we are at 70.83%. Thank you to every one of you who has rolled their sleeve up for their jab.

Let’s bring it home and hit 80% across the country.

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) October 20, 2021

Victoria’s restrictions set to ease tonight

Victoria is set to hit a major vaccination milestone today, which will trigger a raft of new freedoms for fully vaccinated residents tonight.

At least 69.3 per cent of Victorians over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated, with this number expected to hit 70 per cent some time today.

Reaching this milestone will see a range of restrictions ease from 11.59pm tonight, including an end to Melbourne’s lockdown.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews speaks to the media. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The new freedoms include:

• Removing the reasons to leave home and curfew for Melbourne

• Up to 10 visitors to a home per day, including dependants

• 15 people can gather outdoors in Melbourne (20 in regional Victoria)

• Community sport training returns

• Pubs and clubs can open to 20 vaccinated people indoors and 50 outdoors. Entertainment venues can open to 50 vaccinated people outdoors

• In regional Victoria, Pubs, clubs and entertainment venues can open indoors to 30 vaccinated people

• All school students return onsite at least part time in Melbourne and full time in regional Victoria

• Funerals and weddings are allowed with 20 people indoors and 50 outdoors in Melbourne and 30 indoors and 100 outdoors in regional Victoria

• Hairdressing, beauty and personal care services can open to five vaccinated people indoors

When announcing the eased restrictions over the weekend, Premier Daniel Andrews said this would mark an end to widespread lockdowns.

“Today we’re moving beyond [statewide lockdowns] – we’re not locking people down any more across the board, instead we’re locking people out who have not got vaccinated,” he said.

Hundreds protest huge vaccine mandate

Hundreds of people took to the streets in to protest the Western Australian Government’s announcement that most of the state’s workforce will have to be vaccinated against Covid.

Anti vaccination protesters gathered outside the front of Perth’s Dumas House with a heavy police presence on hand yesterday.

Vaccination against Covid-19 will be compulsory for about 75 per cent of Western Australia’s workforce, including in “high risk” jobs in teaching, hospitality and construction.

Premier Mark McGowan said anyone who does not comply could face hefty fines of up to $100,000 for employers and up to $20,000 for individual workers.

Protestors outside Dumas House - rallying against mandatory vaccination ⁦@10NewsFirstPER⁩ pic.twitter.com/K8T2Kk7pEK

— Natalie Forrest (@nat_forrest) October 20, 2021

Mr McGowan on Wednesday announced the sweeping mandate would be introduced in three separate stages, with each stage including a different cohort of workers.

He said the policy was “proportionate and reasonable” and would prepare WA residents for the eventual community transmission of coronavirus when the state reopens its borders.

“We don’t want to fall down at the last hurdle. We’ve come too far, we’ve made too many sacrifices to throw it all away now,” he told reporters.

“It’s important to note that our new policy follows other wide-ranging policies that have already been in place in other jurisdictions.”

Australia hits major vaccine milestone

Australia has reached a huge vaccination milestone, bringing us closer to becoming one of the most vaccinated countries in the world.

Health Minister Greg Hunt announced 70 per cent of the eligible Australian population was now fully vaccinated against Covid-19, with first dose rates sitting at 85.5 per cent.

“That is continuing to grow and this is a testament to the work of Australians and it is a testament to our health professionals and everybody that has been involved in the vaccination program so to Australians, I want to say thank you and congratulations, but keep going,” he said on Wednesday.

“There are many people still to come forward for first doses and there are many people still to come back for their second doses and that second dose program is providing real and significant protection.”