Australia Covid news live: ‘Hundreds of thousands’ of Victorians hit with mandatory vaccines
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has announced tough new rules, with Covid jabs to be mandatory for hundreds of thousands of people.
Welcome to Friday’s coverage of Australia’s Covid-19 situation.
Victoria has recorded 1143 new Covid cases and three deaths. It follows an alarming surge in cases on Thursday, with a 1438 infections and five deaths.
Queensland confirmed two new locally acquired cases on Friday, a drop from the six infections recorded on Thursday.
On a day in NSW that was dominated by the resignation of Premier Gladys Berejiklian, the state also recorded 864 new Covid cases and 15 deaths.
The live blog has closed for the day. Catch up on the biggest stories of the day below.
Another NSW region sent into snap lockdown
Casino, in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, has been sent into a snap lockdown that will last until at least October 11.
In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, NSW Health confirmed the lockdown will be introduced from midnight tonight “due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk”.
“This stay-at-home order will also apply to anyone who has been in Casino since 24 September,” the statement read.
“Everyone in this suburb must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, which includes shopping for food, medical care, getting vaccinated, compassionate needs, exercise and work or tertiary education if you can’t work or study at home.”
STAY-AT-HOME ORDER INTRODUCED FOR CASINO
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 1, 2021
A stay-at-home order for the suburb of Casino will be introduced from midnight tonight until 11 October due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk. pic.twitter.com/YuNdEUDa6O
Anti-vaccination rally underway in Perth
Around 200 people have come together to protest against vaccinations in Perth.
At least one person was arrested as a smaller group of pro-vaccination supporters turned up to counter protest outside the WA Health Department offices.
You might remember a week ago WA Premier Mark McGowan made his feelings known about those who are protesting in his state.
“Grow up. Act like adults. We are free,” he told them.
“We don’t have lockdowns, everyone’s going to work, having a great life. We’ve got the Royal Show starting, the grand final, people about to go on school holidays all over WA.”
New mandatory vaccinations for thousands of Victorians
Premier Daniel Andrews has announced “hundreds of thousands” of authorised Victorian workers will soon be required to be vaccinated in order to keep working.
From October 15, all workers on the Authorised Worker list will be required to have their first dose of a Covid vaccine in order to continue working on site. They will need to be fully vaccinated by November 26.
This rule applies to both Melbourne and regional Victorians.
“We want to take you through some important decisions that have been made this morning and they will relate to literally hundreds of thousands of Victorians,” Mr Andrews said when making the announcement on Friday.
“They are not about stopping people going to work. They are about making sure we can open up. They are about making sure people can go to work, that they can be safe, and that we can defend and deliver our roadmap for opening. That is what the national plan is all about.”
The current Authorised Worker list covers dozens of different professions, such as firefighters, marriage celebrants, healthcare workers, personal trainers, interpreters, some retail workers, and road side assistance workers.
A full list of authorised workers can be found here.
Mr Andrews said many of the workers on the list will have already had their Covid vaccines.
“The good news is that many, many of those around one million to 1.25 million authorised workers will already have had a first dose. A bunch of them will have had two doses,” he said.
“This is about going the extra mile to protect the roadmap to opening."
The October 15 deadline will not apply to workers who already have existing vaccine requirements, such as those in construction, freight, healthcare, aged care and education.
ACT records record high Covid cases
The ACT has recorded its highest daily increase of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic begun.
The state’s health department announced 52 new cases on Friday two deaths, bringing the total Delta outbreak deaths to three.
Both individuals were in their 80s and receiving paliative care at the Calvary Haydon aged care facility.
Three residents have now died after contracting Covid, with the home now linked with 19 cases.
The state currently has 11 people in hospital being treated for the infection.
Gladys Berejiklian resigns as NSW Premier
Gladys Berejiklian has revealed she has “no option” but to resign as the NSW Premier following the announcement that she is now the subject of an investigation by the ICAC.
Ms Berejiklian said it “pains her” to make the decision, which comes after “challenging weeks of the most challenging times in the state’s history”.
“I have made it clear on numerous occasions that if any of my ministers were the subject of allegations being investigated by an integrity agency or law enforcement, then he or she should stand aside during the course of the investigation until their name was cleared,” she said.
“The reason for my stance was not to have made any presumptions, as to their conduct, but rather to maintain the integrity of the public office which has held, which that person is held whilst An investigation was completed, that same standard must always apply to me also as the premier however standing aside is not an option for me as the premier of New South Wales, the people of this state. The certainty as to who the leader is during the challenging times of the pandemic.
“I cannot predict how long it will take the ICAC to complete this investigation, let alone deliver a report in circumstances where I was first called to give evidence in a public hearing nearly 12 months ago.
“Therefore, it pains me to announce that I have no option but to resign from the Office of Premier, my resignation will take effect as soon as the New South Wales Liberal Party can elect a new parliamentary leader in order to allow the new leader and government, a fresh start.”
Aus government confirms international travel to resume in November
The Australian government has confirmed that international travel is set to resume in November.
Following the completion of home quarantine pilots in NSW and South Australia, fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents will be able to quarantine at home for 7 days after returning from international travel.
Unvaccinated Australian residents will still be required to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine.
“Australian citizens and permanent residents who cannot be vaccinated – for example if they are under 12 or have a medical condition – will be treated as vaccinated for the purposes of their travel,” the government said in a statement.
“States and territories will begin this program at different times given their varying vaccination rates but we expect the system to commence in November.
“The Government’s intention is that once changes are made in November, the current overseas travel restrictions related to Covid-19 will be removed and Australians will be able to travel subject to any other travel advice and limits, as long as they are fully vaccinated and those countries’ border settings allow.”
Gladys to make ‘significant announcement’, ICAC investigation looms
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will make a “significant announcement” at 1pm this afternoon with speculation the state Liberal leader could be on the verge of resigning.
The bombshell comes after the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) announced on Friday that it would hold a further public inquiry in Operation Keppel to begin from Monday October 18.
The inquiry will investigate Ms Berejiklian’s relationship with former romantic partner Darryl Maguire MP.
In a statement the ICAC said the investigation will look into whether the Premier, between 2012 and 2018, engaged in conduct that “constituted or involved a breach of public trust” relating to her relationship with Mr Maguire and “grant funding promised and/or awarded to the Australian Clay Target Association Inc in 2016/2017; and grant funding promised and/or awarded to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga in 2018.”
Construction to reopen in Victoria
The controversial shut down of the Victorian construction industry will ease from 11.59pm on October 4, with the government releasing a Construction Sector Roadmap on Friday.
In order to work onsite, all workers will need to continue to carry an Authorised Worker Permit and have had at least one vaccine dose.
Every construction site in Victoria must also have a designated fully trained Covid Marshal to ensure compliance with the chief health officer‘s directions.
Prior to reopening, operators will be required to attest that they have implemented the chief health officer’s directions and every site will need to have an up to date vaccination register available for compliance checks at all times.
Up to five workers and a supervisor will be able to work onsite for small scale construction projects, and large scale sites can have up to 25 per cent of workers onsite.
If crib rooms meet best practice and the entire workforce is fully vaccinated, large scale construction sites can have up to 50 per cent of workers onsite.
When Victoria reaches its 70 per cent double dose vaccinations, large scale construction can return to 100 per cent of its workforce.
All caps will be removed when Victoria reaches its 80 per cent target, and in addition, all onsite workers must be fully vaccinated by 13 November.
New Vic LGA plunged into lockdown
The LGA of Moorabool, in Victoria’s west, will be sent into a seven-day lockdown from 11.59pm tonight.
Premier Daniel Andrews said it was “the only option” given the rise of Covid cases in the region.
“We will stand with that community with additional testing capacity and support for anyone who needs them, just like Ballarat, Shepparton and so many other communities, Latrobe Valley,” he said.
“These lockdowns have been effective in bringing stability to case numbers and driving case numbers down. But on advice and very careful analysis, this is unavoidable that a lockdown must be applied to that community.”
Moorabool residents will be under the same restrictions as metropolitan Melbourne, apart from the curfew.
‘Won’t hesitate’: One case could trigger lockdown
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has revealed the “fundamental reason” Queensland isn’t in lockdown, before warning one case is all it will take to trigger tough restrictions.
While Friday’s Covid numbers of just two new community cases are promising, the Premier said the threat of lockdown was still looming.
“What’s really important at the moment, and the fundamental reason we are not in lockdown is because we do not have any seeding or unlinked community transmission,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“If we do see any unlinked community transmission, I’m quite sure that Dr Young will not hesitate to recommend a lockdown.”
NSW records 864 cases and 15 deaths
NSW has recorded 864 locally acquired Covid-19 cases and 15 deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Of the deaths, three people were in their 50s, two were in their 60s, two were in their 70s, six were in their 80s and two people were in their 90s.
Nine people were not vaccinated, one had received one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, and five people had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
NSW recorded 864 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/kdlEaHxV5b
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 1, 2021
Decision on NRL Grand Final still looming
No decision has been made on whether the NRL Grand Final will go ahead, but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk reiterated that if the advice was to go into lockdown, then that is what would happen.
“But can I just make it very clear – if the advice is to go into lockdown, we will go into lockdown. OK! So there’s no ifs and buts here, people. This is serious,” she said.
“I will have no qualms. People know me. They know Dr Young. We will act swiftly and we will go hard and fast and no ifs and no buts.”
Chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young said authorities needed to see what happens over the next few days before a decision is made, adding that some restrictions had already been put in place.
“So we’ve put in place those restrictions. The 75 per cent capacity limit. And that people must wear masks at all times – except when they’re in their allocated seated ticketed seat, when they can take them off if they’re having something to eat or drink,” she said.
Victoria records 1143 cases and three deaths
Victoria has confirmed 1143 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases and three deaths in the 24 hours to midnight last night.
There was a delay in reporting today’s numbers. It comes after the state confirmed a record 1438 cases on Thursday.
Reported yesterday: 1,143 new local cases and 0 cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) September 30, 2021
- 34,935 vaccines administered
- 62,883 test results received
- Sadly, 3 people with COVID-19 have died
More later: https://t.co/OCCFTAchah#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/ieNjF3sl43
Two new cases in Queensland
Queensland has recorded two new locally acquired cases in the past 24 hours.
One of the new cases is linked to the aviation cluster and was in the training offices from September 20 to 24.
“Then he went with his family down to the Gold Coast and stayed in Kirra at the Iconic Kirra Beach Resort for four days and he was infectious during the four days,” chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young said.
“So it’s important that anyone who has been in Kirra over that period. Those four days of concern, are the 25th onwards.
The second case is a “new cluster” and is a man who travels up and down from NSW picking up animals and relocating them.
He was infectious for a “short period” in the Gold Coast, where he was picking up an animal.
“He was contacted by NSW Health that he was a positive case and NSW Health then has let us know,” Dr Young said.
“So he was in the Gold Coast on the 29th for a short period. So I don’t think that he’s a risk. He’s unrelated to any of our other cases.”
Friday 1 October – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 1, 2021
2 new locally acquired cases.
1 new overseas acquired case - detected in hotel quarantine. #covid19pic.twitter.com/n0Adj055QQ
Doctor fears Vic could hit 6000 daily cases next week
A Melbourne doctor has made a grim prediction following Victoria’s case spike yesterday, warning infections could “double and double again” if people don’t follow the rules and key infection control practices are relaxed.
“I would not be surprised if we see 6000 cases a day towards the end of next week or the week after,” Dr Mukesh Haikerwal from Altona North Respiratory Clinic told Today.
He said he hoped the daily cases wouldn’t get much higher than what was seen on Thursday, but “in reality, they will probably double and double again”.
Dr Haikerwal said cases will likely rise as the state gets closer to the 80 per cent double dose vaccination target, adding vaccination rates need to go beyond that and strong testing rates and contact tracing need to remain in place.
However, he said there was a way to avoid cases soaring into the 6000s.
“The way of stopping that is to remember we have put the hard yards in already, 230 days in lockdown. We have to keep far away from each other and get to the end of the golden mile,” he said.
International travel bans to be lifted next month
Australia is set to officially green light international travel today bringing forward the plan to scrap the international border bans to November in states that hit vaccination targets.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will later today announce the new framework the states will need to meet before they can agree to reopen international travel.
The Prime Minister first announced the border closure on March 20, 2020 to all non-citizens and nonresidents. Even Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family needed to apply for an exemption to travel and to quarantine at a hotel for 14 days on arrival at a cost of more than $3000.
NSW is expected to be first cab off the rank and travellers will be able to trial a 7-day home quarantine option. Victoria is also in talks to reopen international travel.
The international border ban is currently in place until December 17 but that will now be lifted a month earlier than previously planned.
But with states including Western Australia proposing to keep even state borders shut, the decision means Australians are likely to be able to fly to Paris before they can travel to Perth.
– Samantha Maiden
Victoria case spike could put reopening at risk
Victorians have been warned that Thursday’s surge in Covid cases could see residents kept in lockdown even when the 80 per cent double dose vaccine target is reached.
Infections jumped from 950 cases on Wednesday to 1438 on Thursday, with an infectious disease expert warning the spike could put the state’s reopening plan at risk.
Head of University of Melbourne’s School of Population and Global Health, Professor Nancy Baxter, told the ABC that the planned easing of restrictions as vaccine rates get higher may be delayed if yesterday’s numbers turn out to not just be a one-off event.
“Things that we do now have a direct effect on what life is going to be like when we reach that 80 per cent,” she said.
Premier Daniel Andrews said that the plan was still to reopen the state, though he hinted that the rise in cases could mean the government would have to hit “pause” on the reopening.
“We are not turning back, we are finding a way to push through and get this place open, we’ve got to do it. This is a plan to open up,” he said on Thursday.
“However, it would be irresponsible for me to say that we wouldn’t for instance have to pause, we wouldn’t have to modify things. It isn’t sustainable for people to act like we’ve hit 70 per cent double dose when we’ve yet to hit 50 per cent double dose.’’
Dutton blasts Qld Premier over lockdown delays
Defence Minister Peter Dutton has accused Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk of not using “common sense” and purposefully delaying lockdown until after the NRL Grand Final.
Speaking to Today, Mr Dutton said Ms Palaszczuk needed to put the health of Queenslanders first, rather than “holding out” on lockdown because of the NRL Grand Final, which is set to go ahead in Brisbane on Sunday.
“There is a lot of cynicism there and understandably so. Everyone wishes the Premier well in her decision making but there have been a lot of decision at odds with common sense,” Mr Dutton said.
“We’re turning people away from funerals, not allowing kids to repatriate with their parents across the border. We have businesses going broke, people starved from seeing families and loved ones.
“Then we see the Premier holding on because of the NRL Grand Final on Sunday. I think that rubs people up the wrong way.
“All of us are NRL fans and want to see it go ahead, but the health of people in Queensland is paramount and I don’t think the Premier should be treating us like mugs.”
Mr Duttons accusations come as Ms Palaszczuk rejected suggestions she was delaying a lockdown to enable the NRL Grand Final to be hosted in Brisbane.
“Absolutely none,” she said on Thursday when asked if the major event factored into her decision-making.
“Let me make it very clear that the health of Queenslanders comes first and as soon as Dr Young says we need to move into a lockdown, we will.”
One thing that will send Qld into lockdown
Queenslanders have so far avoided a new lockdown, despite the rising number of locally acquired Covid cases.
New restrictions around gatherings and capacity limits were introduced for Brisbane, Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Logan, and Townsville and Palm Island at 4pm on Thursday, though the government has held off on imposing stay-at-home orders.
Cases are on the rise in these regions, but the major reason a lockdown has so far been avoided is because all the cases have been linked, government sources told The Courier Mail.
However, they warned if any mystery cases arise in the coming days then a snap lockdown could be on the cards.
Yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the next 24 hours would be “absolutely critical” in controlling the outbreak.
Australia to announce ‘no jab, no pay’ rules
Australia is set to announce new “no jab, no pay” rules for all health workers in a move that is set to inflame tensions with anti-vaxxers.
The Prime Minister will discuss the issue at Friday’s national cabinet amid calls for a national approach to the controversial ban on unvaccinated workers.
News.com.au understands the new national definition will include public hospitals, ambulance services, private hospitals, GPs, private nurse offices and consulting offices.
Even pharmacies and private pathology centres will be covered by the new requirements that all health workers are vaccinated.
The rules will also apply to student nurses and doctors on work experience placements and Defence Department health services.
While some states have already announced vaccine mandates, Victoria, South Australia and the NT are yet to finalise the mandatory vaccination guidelines in their own states for health care workers.
NSW’s own deadline for all health workers to be vaccinated with a first dose expired on Thursday and some workers could be stood down from Friday.
Around 94 per cent of NSW health workers have been vaccinated, but over 5,000 workers remain unvaccinated.
– Samantha Maiden
Protests likely contributed to Vic spike
Premier Daniel Andrews said yesterday’s the cases were “avoidable” and are the result of people doing the wrong thing — namely visiting friends and family members at home.
Covid-19 Response Commander Jeroen Weimar said AFL Grand Final parties also contributed to the number.
However, epidemiologist Adrian Esterman, from the University of South Australia, says construction workers and anti-vaccination protesters are also likely to blame.
“As Jeroen Weimar has already pointed out (a large number) of today’s cases are likely due to AFL Grand Final parties. On top of that, we are still likely seeing some impact from the protests,” he said.
“Until about the 18th September, the Reff (effective reproduction number) for Victoria had been steadily decreasing, indicating that a peak was at least in sight.
“However, 4-5 days after the construction workers sit-in and protests, the Reff started going back up again.”
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