That’s it for tonight. Thanks for reading – here’s a recap:
- NSW recorded 452 local COVID-19 cases as Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced a looming “vaccination blitz” in south-west and western Sydney with 530,000 extra Pfizer doses going to people aged 16 to 39 in hotspot areas. Health professionals are urging the government to reverse a temporary closure of breast screening services across the state, saying it is “playing with women’s lives”.
- Victoria recorded 24 local cases as health authorities worry about unlinked cases emerging in the suburbs. Experts say it’s difficult to measure whether the 9pm curfew is effective in reducing transmission as the measure is criticised by the Opposition and police union.
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison is optimistic Australians stranded in Afghanistan will be able to be rescued. A senior Afghan diplomat fears the Taliban “will execute me” as he seeks asylum in Australia. Mr Morrison said no Afghans on temporary visas will be sent home, but stopped short of offering permanent protection.
- New Zealand will enter a three-day lockdown at midnight after a single case was recorded in Auckland, where the lockdown will last seven days.
We’ll be back again tomorrow morning. Enjoy the evening.