As it happened: NSW records 110 new local COVID-19 cases as Victoria records 22 local cases; Orange, SA cases jump from six to 12

Good evening and thanks for reading our live coverage of the day’s events. If you’re just joining us now, a lot has happened in the past few hours. Here’s everything you need to know:

• South Australia, which entered its first full day of a week-long lockdown today, recorded an additional six local cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday evening (to be counted officially in tomorrow’s numbers). That brings the total number of cases in the state’s current cluster to 12. Among the new cases announced at a second press conference with Premier Steven Marshall late today were a child under five who attended The Greek on Halifax restaurant in Adelaide’s CBD on Saturday between 6pm and 10pm, and five adults who visited the Tenafeate Creek Winery in Yattalunga on Sunday afternoon between 1.45pm and 4.30pm.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

• South Australia’s Chief Public Health Officer, Nicola Spurrier, has described both venues, associated with a combined eight cases to date, as super-spreading events and said authorities are worried about the very short time between people being exposed to the virus and becoming infectious.
• NSW recorded 110 new local cases of COVID-19 in the community, at least 43 of which were in the community during their infectious period. Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the Delta strain of the virus “is much more contagious, and it’s a cruel disease where any form of human interaction is causing transmission”. Greater Sydney is in the fourth week of a lockdown that will run for at least five weeks, and very likely longer. Residents at an aged care facility in Sydney’s Sutherland shire are in isolation and visitors are banned after a staff member tested positive to COVID-19 last night.

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on Wednesday.Credit: Penny Stephens

• Victoria has recorded 22 new local cases of COVID-19, 16 of which were in isolation during their entire infectious period. The state’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said he believed the number of community infections had peaked, but expected to see more household contacts return positive tests. He said more cases in intensive care are also likely, given the severity and transmissibility of the Delta variant of the virus.
• Queensland has closed its border to travellers from three more areas of NSW – Orange City Council, Blayney Shire Council, and Cabonne Shire Council in the state’s central west – after those areas joined Greater Sydney in lockdown at midnight on Tuesday.
• Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympic Games, it’s been confirmed. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk signed the official paperwork in Tokyo on Wednesday evening.

We’re closing the live blog now. Broede Carmody will be back with you at 6am tomorrow.

Staff at a council in Sydney’s north are isolating after a ranger who reportedly had minimal contact with the public tested positive to COVID-19.

In an email to staff and councillors on Wednesday afternoon, North Sydney Council’s general manager, Ken Gouldthorp, said the employee got tested after falling ill on Sunday and had returned a positive test on Wednesday morning.

The individual concerned is part of the rangers team and has been attending work ... Appropriate action has been implemented in respect to deep cleanse of the workplace, staff notification and advice,” Mr Gouldthorp said.

The recent duties of the officer concerned was identifying kayaks/small craft left in council harbour foreshore parks/bushland. Contact with the public has therefore been minimal.

Initial advice indicates the individual had observed sound personal COVID practices including wearing a mask indoors and outdoors and restricted movements over the last weekend.

Mr Gouldthorp said the council was following the advice of NSW Health workers who were providing advice to any contacts or suspected contacts on an individual basis. He said the employee was the first case of the virus detected among the council’s staff.

Mr Gouldthorp was among a small number of staff who got tested for the virus and were self-isolating because they were near the person at the council’s depot last Friday.

Victorian health authorities have identified more than a dozen new COVID-19 exposure sites, bringing the state’s total to 377.

Six of the new sites that dropped late on Wednesday are “tier 1″, meaning anyone who visited them during the specified timeframe needs to immediately get tested for COVID-19 and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of the result.

One, the Solunar Cafe in Mildura, goes as far back as July 12. The new tier-1 sites are:

• Sunbury Square Medical Centre, Sunbury - Monday, July 19 between 6pm and 8.30pm
• Solunar Cafe, Mildura - Monday, July 12 between 2.15pm and 2.30pm
• Yarra Trams Route 109, Glenferrie Road and Cotham Road, Stop 36 to, Narrak Road and Whitehorse Road, Stop 51) - Thursday, July 15 between 3.20pm and 3.38pm
• BWS Caulfield North - Thursday, July 15 between 3.25pm and 3.50pm
• TK Maxx Craigieburn - Thursday, July 15 between 3.15pm and 4.40pm
• Marcos IGA Narre Warren North - Friday, July 16 between 11.25am and 12.10pm
• New Star Nails Roxburgh Village, Roxburgh Park - Wednesday, July 14 between 4.10pm and 6pm

The rest of the new sites are “tier 2″, meaning anyone who visited them during the specified timeframes has to get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until they return a negative result. They are:

• Rec Xpress 24/7 Fitness, Bentleigh - Thursday, July 15 between 5am and 6.40am
• Fifth Chapter, Bentleigh - Thursday, July 15 between 12.50pm and 1.15pm
• Coles Bentleigh - Thursday, July 15 between 6.15am and 6.45am
• Coles Bentleigh - Thursday, July 15 between 6.20am and 6.45am
• Craigieburn Central, Craigieburn - Thursday, July 15 between 3pm and 6.15pm
• Australia Post Shop, Narre Warren North LPO - Friday, July 16 between 12.05pm and 12.30pm
• Shell Coles Express, Endeavour Hills - Thursday, July 15 between 4.38pm and 4.55pm
• Woolworths Metro, Caulfield North - Thursday, July 15 between 3.25pm and 3.50pm
• Red Door Corner Store, Northcote - Thursday, July 15 between 7.23am and 8.30am
• Red Door Corner Store, Northcote - Wednesday, July 14 between 8.14am and 9am
• Coles, Roxburgh Village, Roxburgh Park - Wednesday, July 14 between 5.30pm and 6.30pm
• Roxburgh Village Shopping Centre, Roxburgh Park - Wednesday, July 14 between 4.05pm and 6.30pm

Victorian Liberals leader Michael O’Brien says stricter border controls could have prevented Victoria’s fifth lockdown and has called for quicker closures, in a departure from the state Opposition’s frequent warnings against disproportionate public health measures.

Victoria recorded 22 coronavirus cases on Wednesday, the highest daily total since September last year.

Michael O’Brien wants Victoria’s borders closed to other states sooner if there is a COVID outbreak.Credit: Justin McManus

However, all have been linked to current outbreaks. Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said he was encouraged that 16 of those cases were isolated for their entire infectious period and predicted the number of community infections had peaked.

Mr O’Brien told The Age that if the Sydney removalists who sparked one of the state’s two Delta outbreaks were forced to undergo a rapid COVID test at the border, “we wouldn’t be where we are today” and criticised the speed at which the government tightened rules to prevent COVID-positive people travelling to Victoria.

“I thought they were quite slow in terms of closing the border with NSW,” Mr O’Brien said.

Read the full story here. 

Residents at aged care facility The Palms in the southern Sydney suburb of Kirrawee are in isolation and visitors are banned after a staff member tested positive to COVID-19 last night.

A spokesman for The Palms, Mathew Hafford, said all residents are vaccinated and had been swabbed by Wednesday morning.

A Google Street view shot of The Palms in Kirrawee. Credit: Google Maps

Tonight, half have received their results, all negative so far. A statement on The Palms website said on NSW Health advice, no visitors or non-essential staff are permitted to enter until further notice.

“Our nursing staff will have the recommended personal protective equipment to allow them to care for our residents while preventing any spread of the infection,” the statement says.

All residents are being treated as close contacts of the positive staff member “out of an abundance of caution” as the situation is assessed, the statement said.

“Staff will be implementing strict infection control measures, and carefully monitoring residents for any symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.”

Mr Hafford said approximately 80-85 per cent of staff at the facility have been vaccinated, but could not comment as to the vaccination status of the infected worker.

The Olympic Games are coming to Australian shores for the third time, with Brisbane being officially named as host of the Olympic and Paralympic Games for 2032 just a few minutes ago.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been among those celebrating the news, saying the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Queensland will forge an enduring legacy for our entire nation.

President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach announces Brisbane as the 2032 Summer Olympics host city.Credit: Getty

“They will support economic growth and investment, deliver lasting community benefits and inspire the next generation of Australian athletes,” he said in the AOC’s press release.

“I am proud of Australia, proud of Queensland and proud of our team that secured this win for our country.

“The Commonwealth Government has supported Brisbane’s candidacy for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games right from the very start. We believe in this bid.

“We know it’s a huge opportunity for our nation, just like the Melbourne Games in 1956 and the Sydney Olympics in 2000.”

You can read all about the win here, and we have live coverage of Olympics updates over on the Tokyo Olympics live blog with Dominic Bossi and Vince Rugari.

A Victorian pub owner who openly flouted COVID-19 lockdown rules says he’ll refuse to pay a fine of close to $22,000.

Trevor Andrews, who owns the Pastoral Hotel in Echuca, threw open the doors to the pub on Monday, serving people at the bar and some in the bistro.

Speaking to Nine News on Tuesday, he pointed to business expenses and no COVID cases in the area as a reason for defying the lockdown rules.

Nine reported police issued Mr Andrews a formal warning on Monday night and fined some patrons. On Wednesday night, Nine reported police had since fined the pub owner close to $22,000 - an amount Mr Andrews said he was unwilling to pay. Nine also reported police fined 40 of Mr Andrews’ patrons.

Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympic Games, it’s been confirmed.

It comes after Queensland recorded one new coronavirus case yesterday: a fully-vaccinated woman in her 20s who returned to the Sunshine State after visiting a Melbourne exposure site. Authorities say she was infectious in the community for a couple of days.

NSW Health has issued its latest list of venues of concern, with 24 new sites listed and an update to an existing site.

The list includes a number of medical practices and businesses in Sydney’s west and south (Auburn, Merrylands, Lakemba, Punchbowl and Mascot), and the Illawarra (Wollongong and Fairy Meadow), with tier one level exposure.

People who attended the following are close contacts and must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days regardless of their test result:

• Merrylands: Cincotta Chemist, 185 Merrylands Road, Thursday July 15 8pm – 9pm
• Auburn: Cincotta Chemist, 47-51 Auburn Road, Friday 16 July 11am – 12pm
• Auburn: Australia Post, Shop 5, 57 Queen Street, Monday 12 July 11.30am – 11.50am
• Lakemba: Haldon Street Medical Practice, 101-103 Haldon Street, Wednesday 14 July 12.30pm – 1.30pm, Saturday 17 July 2.30pm – 4.30pm, Sunday 18 July 3.50pm – 4.40pm
• Lakemba: Street Gear, 108 Haldon Street, Friday 16 July 3pm – 5pm
• Punchbowl: INDOmarket, 250 The Boulevarde, Saturday 17 July 9.30am – 9.50am
• Mascot: Flower Power (landscape station), 84A Wentworth Avenue, Saturday 17 July 8.30am – 11.30am
• Wollongong: Wollongong Dermatologist, 193 Church Street, Thursday 15 July 9.30am – 11am
• Wollongong: Bubbleberry Yoghurt Wollongong, 78 Market St, Saturday 17 July 6pm – 6.05pm
• Fairy Meadow: BP Truckstop, 224 Princes Hwy (corner of Mount Ousley), Thursday 15 July 10am – 10.05am

People who attended the following are casual contacts and must get tested immediately and isolate until obtaining a negative result:

• Mascot: Flower Power Mascot (everywhere excluding the landscape section), 84A Wentworth Avenue, Saturday 17 July 8.30am – 11.30am
• Greenfield: Greenfield Pharmacy, Shop 7 Greenfield Park Shopping Village, Greenfield Road, Monday 12 July 11.45am – 12.15pm
• Penrith: Bunnings, 2169 Castlereagh Road, Sunday 18 July 3.35pm – 3.45pm, Sunday 18 July 5.15pm – 5.35pm
• Revesby: McDonalds, 2 The River Road, Thursday 15 July 8.45am – 9am, 10.45am – 11am, 3.15pm – 3.30pm; Friday 16 July 9.15am – 9.30am
• Milperra: Milperra Newsagency, 6 Bullecourt Avenue, Friday 16 July 12pm – 12.15pm
• Milperra: Amcal Pharmacy, 6 Bullecourt Avenue, Friday 16 July 12pm – 12.15pm
• Green Valley: Kim Ngoc Grocery, Shop 33-35 The Valley Plaza, 187 Wilson Road, Saturday 17 July 2.55pm – 3.15pm
• Green Valley: Woolworths, 187 Wilson Road, Friday 16 July 3.15pm – 3.45pm
• Parramatta: Bartelli Café, 1/2-12 Macquarie Street, Friday 16 July 12pm – 12.30pm
• Campsie: Breadtop, 14-28 Amy Street, Friday 16 July 7am – 2pm
• Campsie: Woolworths, 68-72 Evaline Street, Thursday 15 July 4.10pm – 4.30pm
• Cecil Hill: Mili and Co Café, 3/1 Lancaster Avenue, Friday 16 July 10.30am – 11am
• Liverpool: Freechoice, 267 Biggie Street, Friday 16 July 5pm – 5.30pm
• West Pennant Hills: 7-Eleven, 552 Pennant Hills Road, Thursday 15 July 6.30am – 6.40am
• St Peters: Procycles, 140 Princess Highway, Thursday 15 July 12pm – 12.20pm

In addition to the new venues listed, NSW advises of additional exposure times at the previously-announced Chemist Warehouse in Fairfield. Anyone who attended at the times listed is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

If your date of exposure at this venue occurred in the past four days, you must get another test on day 5 from the date of exposure. Wear a mask around others and limit your movements until you get another negative result.

• Fairfield: Chemist Warehouse, 8 Kenyon Street, Friday 16 July 3pm – 3.15pm, 4.40pm – 5.30pm

A Chilean taekwondo competitor and a Dutch skateboarder have both been removed from competition in Tokyo after testing positive to COVID-19.

They are the first athletes forced to withdraw form competition after recording positive tests. Other athletes who have tested positive have been isolated but not yet forced out of the Games.

According to Games website Inside the Games, the Dutch skateboarder Candy Jacobs was in the village when she returned a positive test and will not compete.

Fernanda Aguirre twice tested positive at the airport as she was preparing to fly to Tokyo and will now have a 10-day quarantine.

Jacobs was the fourth athlete to test positive while inside the Olympic Village.

South African footballers Thabiso Monyane and Kamohelo Mahlatsi and Czech beach volleyball player Ondřej Perušič have all also tested positive. It also emerged this morning that a Czech coach tested positive.

“I’m devastated,” the 31-year-old Dutch skateboarder said. “We were ready for the Games, I feel fit and now it’s over. I need time to process this but I wish my team all the strength and success in Tokyo.”