Australia news as it happened: ‘Code brown’ declared for Victorian hospitals as COVID-19 cases grow across nation; day two of 2022 Australian Open continues in Melbourne

Good evening and thank you for reading our live coverage of the day’s events. If you are just joining us now, here’s what you need to know:

• The COVID-19 death toll has hit a new daily record in Australia, with 77 deaths reported across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the ACT today. It surpasses the former record of 59 COVID-related deaths reported on September 4, 2020. A total of 72,860 new COVID-19 infections were reported across the country – a combination of PCR test results and self-reported positive rapid antigen tests.
• Federal and state leaders and health experts have again urged adults who received their second dose of a coronavirus vaccine at least four months ago to book in for their booster shot as soon as possible. From January 31, booster shots will be available three months after a second dose.
• The Victorian government has declared a “code brown” for the state’s overstretched hospital system, Timna Jacks reports. Under a code brown, which is typically reserved for shorter-term emergencies such as a train crash or bushfire, hospitals can cancel the leave of healthcare workers to address staffing shortages caused by COVID-19 infections among workers and their close contacts. The measure, which started at midday today, will last for four to six weeks.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

• Later today, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced that up to 57,000 nurses and more than 100,000 staff from private hospitals would be diverted to public health systems in the states and territories to assist in parts of Australia hit hardest by the first wave of Omicron infections. Mr Hunt said the government had activated the private hospitals agreement, which was struck in early 2020 to ensure private hospital resources were available to support the public sector during times of peak demand. “We have planned, prepared, and now we’re activating our next stage today,” Mr Hunt said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

• Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned the anti-vaccination comments of government MP George Christensen, as he comes under fire over the government’s decision to deport unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic while saying little about anti-vaccination comments by some MPs within Coalition ranks. The Morrison government had argued the decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa was based on the risk he may stoke anti-vaccination sentiment in the community.
• Mr Morrison said Mr Christensen’s comments were “dangerous” and he “strongly” disagreed with the Nationals MP’s views that children should not be vaccinated against COVID-19. “It is contrary to the official professional medical advice provided to the government, and I urge parents to disregard his dangerous messages in relation vaccines,” Mr Morrison said. Children aged between 5 and 11 have been eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 since January 10, while older children became eligible last year.

ATAGI has tweaked the rules for children’s COVID-19 vaccinations. It now recommends children with severely weakened immune systems get a third dose of the vaccine.Credit: Joe Armao

• Australia’s expert vaccination group has recommended a third coronavirus vaccine dose for severely immunocompromised children. Under updated Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation guidelines, five- to 11-year-olds with specific medical conditions or drug therapies affecting their immune system will be eligible for a booster shot two to four months after their second dose. Children in this age group only became eligible for vaccination from January 10, meaning their third dose will not be until later this year. You can read ATAGI’s full advice here.
• Some immunocompromised adults have already received, or are eligible to receive, a third coronavirus vaccine dose as part of their primary vaccination course. They are then eligible for a booster dose, a fourth shot, four months after their third dose. The general adult population is eligible for a third dose as a booster shot four months after their second dose. (That four-month interval will drop to three months for both categories of adults on January 31).

Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Premier Dominic Perrottet at Tuesday’s COVID-19 media gathering. Credit: Nick Moir

• NSW has reported 29,830 official cases of COVID-19 and a record 36 deaths. Of today’s cases, 13,763 are self-reported positive rapid antigen test results, the majority of which were conducted over the past seven days, and 16,067 are positive PCR results. While NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said yesterday that “the best way through this pandemic is to push through”, his language changed today. He said it was “a very difficult day for our state” and “behind every one of those numbers is a loved one who passed away”.
• There are 2850 people in NSW hospitals with the virus. Of those, 209 are in intensive care. That’s up from yesterday’s 2776 hospitalisations, when there were 203 people in ICU. Mr Perrottet thanked residents of the state for taking steps to limit the spread of the virus, including isolating if they contract COVID-19, “wearing masks [indoors], having gatherings outdoors ... [and having] more people sitting outdoors ... at restaurants and cafes”. Residents are also encouraged to work at home where possible.
• The NSW Premier reiterated his government’s commitment to children returning to school “on day one, term one”. “I also expect as we have kids go back to school, and as we move through this next period of time, case numbers may increase again, but our sole focus is ensuring that there is downward pressure on our health system,” Mr Perrottet said. NSW and Victoria are working together to develop a shared back-to-school plan to present to national cabinet on Thursday. Mr Perrottet defended his government’s response to the highly transmissible Omicron variant, saying Victoria was adopting the same approach. “As we move through this wave, sadly, we will see more deaths. That is a difficult reality. That is the difficult reality of the pandemic,” he said.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant on Tuesday.Credit: Nick Moir

• Thirty-three of the 36 people who died in NSW had received at least two doses of a coronavirus vaccine, but Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said that “generally” they had not received a booster dose. Dr Chant continued to urge residents to get a booster shot if their second dose was four months ago. “For Omicron, we know that the protection is lower and we need that next boosting to get that higher level of protection. We know that the boosters take about seven to 14 days to work and so I really want the community to have a sense of urgency in going and getting boosted,” she said.
• Dr Chant said that while “all of us would just like COVID to be gone”, we “won’t be able to achieve that with the vaccines available. We’re going to have to tailor a series of responses. We’re always going to have those protective measures for the people most vulnerable in the community.” She added there would be a “recalibration” of the response to the virus in 2022 and a range of tools would be used, including oral antiviral medication and potentially new vaccines.

• Victoria has reported 20,180 official cases of COVID-19 and 22 deaths, as a state-wide “code brown” was called for the Victorian hospital system after record-high hospital COVID-19 admissions and wide-scale furloughing of staff. Today’s coronavirus numbers in Victoria are down on yesterday’s total of 22,429. Of the total number of cases, 8433 were positive PCR results and 11,747 were from positive self-reported rapid antigen test results. There are 1152 people in Victorian hospitals with the virus. Of those, 127 cases are in intensive care.

Deputy Premier and acting Health Minister James Merlino announces the code brown.Credit: Jason South

• Victorian Deputy Premier James Merlino said half of today’s 22 reported deaths occurred over the past two days, Marta Pascual Juanola reports. Mr Merlino did not release the ages of those involved. He said there were approximately 175,000 appointments available for people aged 12 and over to get their COVID-19 vaccine over the next month, including 44,000 bookings for children aged five to 11, after additional slots were added. Victorians made 115,000 bookings to get a dose of the coronavirus vaccine over the past week. About 77,0000 of those were for booster shots and 36,000 for children getting their first dose, he said.

This is Michaela Whitbourn signing off on the blog for this evening. Broede Carmody will be back with you early tomorrow morning.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has condemned the anti-vaccination comments of government MP George Christensen, as he comes under fire over the government’s decision to deport unvaccinated tennis star Novak Djokovic while saying little about anti-vaccination comments by some MPs within Coalition ranks.

The Morrison government had argued the decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa was based on the risk he may stoke anti-vaccination sentiment in the community.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Children aged between 5 and 11 have been eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19 since January 10, while older children became eligible last year.

Mr Christensen has urged parents not to vaccinate their children against the virus. Mr Morrison said in a statement:

I strongly disagree with the message sent out by Mr Christensen regarding children’s vaccinations.

It is contrary to the official professional medical advice provided to the government, and I urge parents to disregard his dangerous messages in relation vaccines.

Vaccinations are our primary weapon against this virus. More than 90 per cent of Australians aged over 16 are fully vaccinated. If you are not vaccinated against the virus you are more likely to experience severe illness and die.

Getting vaccinated saves lives. This is the clear advice to all Australians, who are eligible to have a vaccine, from the Australia’s Chief Medical Officer.

This includes 5 to 11 year olds who are provided with a special children’s vaccine that has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.

These are the same medical experts who approve all other vaccines for children in Australia. They are the world’s best medical regulators.These are the experts that have the knowledge, accountability and experience to provide the credible and reliable advice that parents need to make important decisions about their child’s best interests.

The boss of a major Melbourne health and hospital network says Victoria’s “code brown” declaration for the state’s hospitals means some patients may have their care deferred.

As Timna Jacks reports, a code brown – typically reserved for shorter-term emergencies, such as a train crash or bushfire – is aimed at relieving pressure on the hospital system and will apply to all metropolitan hospitals and six regional hospitals.

Hospitals can cancel the leave of healthcare workers to plug massive shortages due to workers getting infected or isolating because they are a close contact. The measure, which started at midday today, will last for four to six weeks.

Speaking on ABC Melbourne radio on Tuesday afternoon, Monash Health chief executive Andrew Stripp said that under the declaration, some people who receive Monash’s community services may experience delays.

“It may be that rather than receiving the same level of intensity of service, it may be reduced,” he said.

“It may be that we need to discharge you a bit earlier, so we need the support of families and others for you to leave hospital so that we can get other people in.”

Mr Stripp said it was “possible” patients would not get the same level of care under code brown conditions.

“We’re not at that stage, although we have had to sort of balance what we are providing, but yes, it may come to that,” he said.

Mr Stripp said code browns were not unusual for hospitals, and Monash would probably do a “uniform call” for staff to return voluntarily from their leave soon.

“It is important that people have a break so we will try and facilitate that and not be cancelling leave unless it’s absolutely necessary, and at this stage I don’t think that’s the case,” he said.

“We are seeing our staff numbers of healthcare workers infected [with COVID-19] coming down, which is positive, and the number people furloughed coming down, so there’s some positive signs there.

“But our hospitalisations are still going up, which is the concern.”

Australian planes and a naval supply ship are being loaded with medical and engineering equipment for the battered Pacific island nation of Tonga, but it may take until Thursday to clear the airport for landing after a volcano blanketed the ground in thick ash.

There are three reported deaths, with two locals and a UK national losing their lives in the tsunami that inundated the Tongan capital Nuku’alofa after the undersea Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted on Saturday.

HMAS Adelaide on its way to Brisbane to be loaded with emergency supplies to take to Tonga.Credit: Defence media

Communications are still largely cut off due to the damaged undersea cable, which is expected to take weeks to repair.

Reconnaissance flights and satellite images have revealed significant damage to coastal infrastructure from a tsunami following the volcano blast and a two centimetre layer of ash.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia and New Zealand would work together to respond to the “absolutely devastating event”. She expects to receive detailed advice from the Tongan government soon, following their Cabinet meeting, which will guide aid efforts.

Read the full story here.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is investigating reports retailers are selling repackaged rapid antigen test kits for a premium, despite warnings of multimillion-dollar penalties for companies that breach labelling rules.

The tests, often bought in bulk initially, are resold inside zip-lock bags at some petrol stations, convenience stores and small supermarkets, and are sometimes missing crucial components for their correct use, such as vials or instruction sheets.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is investigating reports that retailers are selling repackaged rapid antigen test kits for a premium.Credit: Justin McManus

A spokeswoman from the Therapeutic Goods Administration confirmed the watchdog was investigating allegations testing kits had been repackaged and relabelled illegally.

Under current regulations, COVID-19 tests can only be removed from their original packaging with the authorisation of the manufacturer.

“This includes opening bulk boxes of kits not intended for individual resale, and supplying them in smaller quantities,” the spokeswoman said.

Breaching the rules carries fines of up to $888,000 for individuals and $4.44 million for corporations, or civil penalties of $1.11 million and $11.1 million respectively.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims said on Monday it was “beyond outrageous” for retailers to be selling single rapid test kits for more than $30.

The consumer watchdog revealed it had received nearly 2000 reports of rapid tests being sold for as much as $100 per test. This was despite the tests costing between about $4 and $8 at a wholesale level.

Individuals re-selling RATs for more than 120 per cent of the price they paid a retailer may also be prosecuted under anti-price gouging laws introduced by the federal government earlier this month.

Read the full story here.

You might recall that the Australian Council of Trade Unions warned yesterday that employees may consider industrial action if employers do not provide a safe place of work, amid the first wave of the highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variant.

“For workplaces where working from home is not an option, the provision of free RATs by employers to all workers will be necessary once supply is resolved, alongside upgraded masks and improved ventilation,” the ACTU said in a media release yesterday.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus. Credit: Paul Jeffers

“Where employers do not fulfil their [legal] obligations [to provide a safe workplace], the union movement determines to do everything within its power to ensure the safety of workers and the community. This may include ceasing work or banning unsafe practices.”

ACTU secretary Sally McManus had this to say earlier today in an interview on ABC News 24:

We totally accept that at the moment it is not reasonable for employers to provide [RATs]. We accept that, but we have been told by the government, if you can believe it, that there will be enough supply in a couple of weeks.

And when there is enough supply, if you are working closely with someone all day and in customer-facing [roles] as well, it is likely that those tests will become what is absolutely required in a workplace.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said “strikes at this time would be the wrong action at the wrong time. It would punish workers, it would punish businesses, and ultimately it would punish Australian families.”

Australia’s second busiest gateway, Melbourne Airport, wants COVID-19 testing requirements for inbound international travellers relaxed, arguing they do little to protect public health at a time Australia is recording tens of thousands of new cases a day.

Melbourne Airport’s chief of aviation Lorie Argus said Australians were reluctant to travel overseas in case they could not return due to a positive pre-flight PCR test, which the federal government requires to be taken within three days of an inbound journey.

Australians are reluctant to travel overseas for fear of being stranded there due to a positive COVID-19 result. Credit: Paul Jeffers

“What we’re calling [for] is the removal of that requirement because they [vaccinated inbound travellers] are no higher risk to the community, given we have so many cases within the community already,” Ms Argus said.

“We want to remove that pre-departure test, so that Australian residents or the skilled workers that are also able to enter, can arrive into Australia and if testing positive on arrival, can go into seven days isolation as anyone would here in the community.”

Travellers were at risk of being unnecessarily stranded abroad by returning a positive PCR test even after they were no longer contagious due to “viral shedding”, Ms Argus said.

Read the full story here.

Earlier this month the world’s oceans recorded their hottest temperatures in more than 60 years.

In December, the ocean off Sydney peaked more than 3 degrees above average, and temperatures remain above average in Sydney and Melbourne.

The temperature of the ocean impacts everything from marine life relied on by ocean communities for fishing; to the Great Barrier Reef; to the stability of fragile arctic and antarctic ecosystems; to significant weather events including cyclones and floods.

Today on our podcast, Please Explain, environment reporter Laura Chung joins Nathanael Cooper to look at the impact of the recent heating of the ocean.

As we reported earlier, another 22 people have died in Victoria with COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths in the state since the pandemic began to 1718.

The people who died were aged in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, and 11 were reported as having died in the last two days.

Of Victoria’s 20,180 new COVID-19 cases today, 11,747 were self-reported from positive rapid antigen tests.

Of those people who reported they had tested positive, about 62 per cent took their tests on Monday, while about 16 per cent took their tests on Sunday. The remainder of people took their tests over the previous five days.

Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has urged Australians to get their COVID-19 booster vaccination doses when they are eligible and to follow other public health directions.

People aged over 18 are eligible for a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine if their second dose was at least four months ago. That interval will drop to three months from January 31.

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Some immunocompromised adults have received, or are eligible to receive, three doses as part of their primary vaccination course. They are eligible for a fourth dose as a booster shot if their third jab was at least four months ago. That interval will also drop to three months at the end of January.

“People probably are wondering what can I do? What can I do for myself and my family at this time? I think that’s important,” Professor Kelly said.

“We all have an ability to consider what to do during this pandemic. The first one very importantly the [Health] Minister has already mentioned: if you are due for a booster, go and get it.

“If you have a child that is five years or older, get them vaccinated. Vaccination is definitely something you can and should be doing and should be doing that today.

“Wear a mask when asked; follow the public health directions. They are still important, and we’re still trying to decrease the transmission of the virus.

“In terms of testing, if you are asked to get a test or if you are close contact, make sure you do get that test and follow the instructions and the advice from public health officials. I think this is very reasonable.”

In case you missed it earlier today, Australia’s expert vaccination group has recommended a third coronavirus vaccine dose for severely immunocompromised children.

Under updated Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation guidelines, five- to 11-year-olds with specific medical conditions or drug therapies affecting their immune system will be eligible for a booster shot two to four months after their second dose.

Children in this age group only became eligible for vaccination from January 10, meaning their third dose will not be until later this year. You can read ATAGI’s full advice here.