Coronavirus Australia live news: PM backs NSW on tougher lockdown; Sydney restrictions tighten as cases surge to 44
As Sydney tonight enters tighter restrictions and possibility of longer lockdown, Scott Morrison supports move amid 44 new cases.
- PM backs NSW on tough new lockdown restrictions
- Restrictions tightened across Sydney
- NSW records new peak of 44 local cases
- Qld records no new local cases
- Qld Health under fire over hotel quarantine
- NSW lockdown likely extended to 4 weeks
- Alerts over string of Sydney shopping outlets
Welcome to rolling coverage of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has emerged from national cabinet to say he “strongly” supports the NSW government’s tightening of lockdown restrictions, and Sydney would get “through it together”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has tightened restrictions on Sydney as cases surge to 44. Sydney lockdown will likely be extended to four weeks with this weekend’s case numbers crucial to decision. NSW Health has added a string of shopping outlets across Sydney’s western suburbs to the list of exposure sites.
Rhiannon Down11.00pm:Queensland hospital added to list of exposure sites
A Queensland hospital has been added to the state’s list of exposure sites, as the state remains on track to reverse strict Covid rules by next weekend after it recorded zero local cases on Friday.
The Logan Hospital including the main entrance the the main corridor to the Antenatal Clinic on Monday June 28 between 8.30am and 8.40am and between 9.20am and 9.30am has been added to the list as a low risk site.
Staff and visitors who were onsite during the time period asked to get tested and isolate if they experience any symptoms.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said earlier today that authorities were “very confident going forward”.
“The lockdown that we had allowed us to contact trace and to contain those contacts into quarantine so that they are already away from the community when they were infectious,” she said.
Rhiannon Down10.30pm:University rowing club among new exposure sites
SW Health has identified a string of new exposure sites stretching across Sydney’s western and eastern suburbs, including a university rowing club.
Lab Bakery Cafe in Strathfield, Direct Trade in Merrylands, Beacon Lighting at Home Central in Bankstown have been added to the list as close contact sites, as well as the 309 Bus from Redfern to Beaconsfield.
University of Technology Sydney Haberfield Rowers Club has been identified as a casual contact venue, with anyone who was at the club on Sunday July 4 between 12.15pm and 12.45pm urged to get tested and isolate until they return a negative result.
Multiple shopping and food outlets scattered across Sydney’s suburbs have also been added to the list, including: KFC Rockdale, Morning Glory Café Coogee Pavilion, Woolworths Ashfield and Georges Hall Pharmacy.
Michel’s Patisserie Liverpool Westfield, Barzura Coogee, Big W Liverpool Westfield, Woolworths Mascot have also been added and a monitor for symptoms warning issued for shoppers at Ashfield Mall on Wednesday July 7 between 1.15pm and 2.15pm.
Aldi stores in Hoxton Park, Ashfield and Quakers Hill have also been added as exposure sites.
Two Maroubra cafes, Ek’sentric Café and My Local Café both in Maroubra, as well as the Coles in Maroubra Junction have also been added to the list.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 9, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern which have been visited by confirmed cases of COVID 19. pic.twitter.com/34j8g322aw
Rhiannon Down8.30pm: Mark Butler hits out at Sydney’s rising case numbers
Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler has sounded the alarm about the concerning rise of Covid-19 cases in NSW, criticising the federal government for the pace of its vaccine rollout.
“This is a very substantial outbreak… it has risen to well over 400 cases now, and the disturbing thing is that it has risen to 400 cases much more quickly than other outbreaks,” he told the ABC.
“It’s got to 400 cases in about three weeks, in Melbourne last year that big outbreak got to 400 cases in five weeks, the crossroads cluster got to 400 cases and 6 weeks.
“So this is happening quite quickly.”
Mr Butler also expressed concern at the number of cases who had been out in the community, after 29 out of the 44 cases detected were revealed to be outside isolation.
“Today it appears that three quarters of the cases had been in the community while infectious,” he said.
“So this is starting to become a very serious concern, I think one of the questions that people around the country are asking about NSW is why there is still such a substantial amount of the retail sector operating.
“I think the government needs to be careful about mixed messages.”
Mr Butler said the federal government should have arranged for more mRNA vaccines sooner, following the announcement that the arrival of 4.5 million Pfizer jabs would be brought forward to August.
“It’s a great thing to have more doses come in August, (but) we need doses right now,” he said.
Rachel Baxendale7.24pm:Victoria clarifies rules on shots for aged care workers
The Andrews government says Victoria remains committed to a national cabinet agreement to make Covid-19 vaccination for all aged care workers compulsory by September, despite Scott Morrison telling a press conference on Friday that the state was the only jurisdiction which had not confirmed to him that it would be introducing public health orders to mandate the vaccine for aged care workers.
The Prime Minister stressed that Victorian law was such that only the state’s chief health officer, and not the premier or health minister, could sign off on a public health order, in contrast with other states.
All states and territories agreed at national cabinet a week ago to mandate vaccines for aged care workers from September, and a spokeswoman for the Andrews government said that timeline had not changed as far as Victoria was concerned.
The Australian understands there was disagreement between states, territories and the commonwealth over the mechanism for implementing the requirement, with some states unsuccessfully arguing that the commonwealth should use its powers to mandate vaccines for workers in the private aged care sector it regulates.
Vaccination rates among staff at Victoria’s state-run aged care facilities have so far been much higher than those among staff working in private sector facilities.
It is understood several states including NSW sought assurances from the commonwealth that vaccine supply would not present an obstacle to reaching the September deadline.
Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton is currently on leave, but it is expected he or one of his deputies will soon provide advice on how Victoria will mandate vaccinations for aged care workers.
Rhiannon Down6.30pm:More exposure sites added to Sydney list
A Homebush construction site, a Service NSW centre and a string of retail and food outlets across Sydney have been added to the list of exposure sites, as health authorities battle to contain an outbreak that grew by 44 cases today.
Workers at the Decode Group Construction Excavation site on Parramatta Road in Homebush on Wednesday July 7 between 7am and 3pm have been put on high alert, with NSW Health urging them to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Burwood Oporto, Tempe IKEA, Terry White Chemmart in Revesby, Speed Medical Practice in Liverpool, St Andrews Pharmacy and Wetherill Park Medical Centre have also been put on the list of close contact sites.
The Miranda Service NSW centre has also been added as a venue of concern, with anyone who visited the hub on Friday July 2 between 1.30pm to 2pm asked to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
It was among 21 casual contact locations listed this afternoon, including multiple furniture outlets in Campbelltown, including: Oz Design Furniture, 1825 Interiors, Fair Price Furniture, Johnny’s Furniture, Nick Scali Furniture and its clearance outlet and Harvey Norman.
Randwick Bunnings, Mosman BP Connect, Maroubra Beach Pavilion Beachfront Cafe, Hoxton Park Bunnings, Taren Point McDonalds and Pagewood Kmart were also among the venues added to the list.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸ NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern across metropolitan Sydney which have been visited by confirmed cases of COVID 19. pic.twitter.com/Zn7ZsVelpV
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 9, 2021
READ MORE:Sydney’s new lockdown rules explained
Rhiannon Down 5.30pm:National vaccine dose number tops 8.8 million
The nation’s vaccine rollout has surpassed 8.8 million doses after 164,773 jabs were administered in the last 24 hours, as NSW tightens its restrictions after 44 cases were recorded today.
The commonwealth has now surpassed half a million jabs after it administered 92,441 jabs in the last 24 hours, bringing its total to 5,044,200 doses.
Some 4,586,917 of those jabs were administered by primary care, while 3,827,372 were delivered by the states and territories.
NSW continues to lead the pack with 21,609 jabs being administered in the past 24 hours, bringing the state’s total to 1,004,162 doses.
Victoria retains the highest total with 1,238,347 jabs, after 15,528 shots were administered in the past day.
Some 3088 jabs were delivered in disability and aged care facilities, bringing the sector’s total to 457,283.
This daily infographic provides the total number of vaccine doses administered in Australia as of 8 July 2021. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccine information here: https://t.co/vqZuOLzB2Ppic.twitter.com/cIRLh16efA
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) July 9, 2021
Rachel Baxendale 5.00pm:Vic eases rules for residents returning from Qld, Vic, NT
Victorians returning from holidays in parts of Queensland the NT and WA have been granted a reprieve from test and isolate requirements, with restrictions in a string of locations set to be downgraded on Saturday night.
The news comes ahead of school resuming after the holidays from Monday.
From 11:59pm on Saturday, Brisbane, Moreton Bay and the Sunshine Coast will be downgraded from a red to an orange zone, meaning returning Victorians will only have to isolate until they receive a negative test result, rather than quarantining at home for a fortnight.
Queensland local government areas including Townsville, Palm Island, Ipswich, Logan, Redland, Gold Coast, Lockyer Valley, Noosa, Scenic Rim and Somerset, as well as Alice Springs and Darwin in the Northern Territory and Perth and the Peel Region in WA will all be downgraded from orange to green zones on Saturday night, meaning Victorians can return without needing to get tested.
From Saturday the NSW regions of Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shoalhaven and Wollongong will be the only areas classified as red by Victoria.
Ahead of the end of school holidays, Victoria Police have on Friday relocated their NSW border traffic management point previously located on Anzac Avenue in Wodonga to the Hume Highway.
“The new site on the Hume Highway is in the process of being established ahead of the end of the school holidays, with police checking permits of returning travellers from New South Wales to ensure no one is entering from a designated red zone,” a police spokesman said.
“There are over 300 police officers dedicated to roving border patrols, traffic management points, spot checks, vehicle intercepts, transportation hub, and Airwing patrols to identify vehicles who may have travelled from NSW, including those who may have been in a red zone.
“All our activities have an intelligence led focus as we continue to assess and reassess our logistical and personnel requirements.”
READ MORE:No win for under 40s in Pfizer ramp-up
Paige Taylor 4.55pm:Hard border with NSW, but WA may go even further
The McGowan government may block West Australians trying to get home from New South Wales.
West Australian premier Mark McGowan told reporters on Friday afternoon that WA police commissioner Chris Dawson was currently investigating whether it was possible to further tighten travel restrictions with NSW if the Delta outbreak in Sydney continues to grow. Already, WA has a hard border with NSW but some people are still allowed in including returning West Australians who fit a category of exemption called “compassionate grounds”.
“If that particular category had to be tightened further ... that is what we will do,” Mr McGowan said.
WA is gradually emerging from restrictions since a four-day lockdown called when a Perth physiotherapist flew in from Sydney unknowingly infected with Covid-19. Mr McGowan said he expected all restrictions, including a requirement to wear masks indoors, would be lifted by Monday.
More than 50 people are currently in isolation in the midwest port town of Geraldton after an international crew member infected with the Delta variant was brought to the local hospital. The crew member is understood to have been in an open area of the hospital for hours and contact tracers have since identified 55 casual contacts. So far, 46 of those contacts have returned negative test results. Mr McGowan said the state’s chief medical officer considers the risk to the community in Geraldton to be “extremely low”.
The WA government will also give $3000 to each small businesses in Perth and regional Western Australia that lost income as a result of the recent four-day lockdown.
READ MORE:SA to pilot home quarantine for returned travellers
Adeshola Ore 4.00pm:New vaccination status rules for inbound travellers
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also announced changes to inbound travel requirements.
From next Friday, any traveller entering Australia will be required to declare their Covid-19 vaccination states.
“Those who are vaccinated have a much lower risk of infection than those who are not vaccinated,” the Prime Minister said.
Data from the declarations will be sent to states and territories.
Mr Morrison says all states and territories except Victoria have agreed to implement public health orders to mandate vaccinations for aged-care workers.
The Prime Minister said under Victoria’s legislation, only the Chief Health Officer could authorise a public health order.
“I will refer you to the Chief Health Officer in Victoria regarding mandating vaccines for aged care workers,” he said.
Mr Morrison also said the medical expert panel were not yet recommending mandated vaccines for disability care workers.
READ MORE:Police probe Hollywoods stars’ lockdown trip
Adeshola Ore 3.40pm:Fast-tracked Pfizer won’t change under 40s timetable
Scott Morrison says the fast-tracking of the Pfizer vaccines will not change Australia’s vaccine rollout timetable for under 40s.
The Australian revealed today the federal government had secured a deal to triple its access to Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines to one million doses a week from July 19
Asked if under 40s could receive a Pfizer dose in August, the Prime Minister said the priority remained inoculating the over 70s population.
“Older Australians are still the most vulnerable,” he said.
Adeshola Ore 3.30pm:National vaccination ad campaign starts Sunday: PM
A home quarantine pilot program for vaccinated Australians is due to commence “as soon as possible.”
South Australia will run the trial program which will include two-weeks of isolation at home.
“It will be a two-week trial based on the advice from the medical panel,” Scott Morrison said.
The Prime Minister also announced a new national advertising campaign for Australia’s vaccine rollout will begin on Sunday, to align with the fast-tracking of Pfizer doses.
The Prime Minister said Australia had 2020 ICU ventilators and stressed that NSW’s hospital capacity was “more than up to the task.”
Mr Morrison said the commonwealth’s “strong preference” was for Australians travelling overseas with an exemption to be vaccinated.
He said doing so would reduce the risk to the person and to the wider Australian community on their return.
“For those who are unable, for medical reasons, to receive a vaccination or at this point in the cycle they may not have access to a vaccination, these are issues that will be taken into account by the Border Force Commissioner in considering those arrangements,” he said.
Adeshola Ore3.23pm:PM backs NSW on tough new lockdown restrictions
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he “strongly” supports the NSW government’s tightening of restrictions after the state recorded 44 new coronavirus cases today.
Speaking after today’s national cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister said Sydney would get “through it together”.
Mr Morrison also said the coronavirus outbreak linked to the Tanami mine in the Northern Territory had been contained.
“That was seriously concerning us over the last couple of weeks but beef practices put in place by the mine operators there proved to be very effective and helpful,” he said.
Jess Malcolm2.15pm:Fresh venue alerts for locked-down Sydney as cases spiral
NSW Health has issued a fresh alert for several new exposure sites as the outbreak grew by 44 cases today.
The number of close contacts in NSW has exploded overnight, growing from 7,000 to 14,000 people after positive Covid-19 cases visited a number of large venues.
Several new venues were listed in Merrylands on Monday July 5, including a post office, Aldi, Kmart and Sadaqat supermarket.
Auburn Fresh City Fruit and Vegetables, Sahar Market and New Star Kebabs were all listed in Auburn on Monday July 5.
Two sites were listed in Burwood, including a Kathmandu shopping store, an Indian restaurant in the Westfield shopping centre and also a Beds R Us store in Wetherill Park.
Anyone who visited any of those venues are now close contacts and must get tested and isolate for 14 days.
âš ï¸STAY AT HOME ORDER – ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONSâš ï¸ pic.twitter.com/wcQxee0jIk
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 9, 2021
Jess Malcolm2.05pm:NZ extends travel bubble pause amid NSW case surge
New Zealand authorities have extended its pause on the quarantine free travel bubble with NSW amid a surge in Covid-19 cases and tightening of lockdown measures.
The travel bubble was set to be lifted at midnight tonight, but the widespread community transmission in NSW has delayed its reinstatement.
Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins said the pause would remain in place until the outbreak was under control.
“We won’t be resuming green flights from [NSW] until we’re confident that the risk there is contained,” he said.
Mr Hipkins discouraged travellers from NSW to try and fly home from a state where the bubble isn’t paused, warning there will be strict border patrols and checks in place.
READ MORE:Police probe Hollywood stars’ lockdown boat trip
Jess Malcolm1.50pm:‘Thousands’ of small businesses ‘won’t survive lockdown’
Restaurant and Catering Australia CEO Wes Lambert says the unfolding Covid-19 crisis in Sydney will crush the hospitality sector, warning “thousands” of small businesses will not survive another extension of lockdown.
Mr Lambert has called for more targeted support payments from federal and state governments, with the surge in cases today threatening to blow out the lockdown past next Friday.
“Hospitality businesses are now facing the possible catastrophe of a month of lockdown,” he said.
“There is a genuine risk that thousands of small businesses in the hospitality sector will not survive the cold dark winter.”
“The entire restaurant, cafe and catering industry across NSW is facing a desperate and uncertain future.
“Debts are piling up with no support for another week, while the state and federal government sit on their hands.
READ MORE: The new rules explained
Jess Malcolm 1.05pm: AMA: Lockdown started too late, too light
The Australian Medical Association has backed the move to tighten restrictions in NSW, but has cautioned the public health system runs the risk of being overwhelmed.
AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said restrictions needed to be tightened because of a high level of noncompliance with stay-at-home orders.
“Its clear the lockdown started a little bit too late and the restrictions were not enough,” he told Sky News.
“There was a sense in the community that things weren’t that bad which has led to people not following the rules.
“Clamping down is the right move.”
When asked about international borders opening up, Dr Khorshid said he was worried about the extent to which public hospitals will be able to cope with normal influenza and Covid coming in at the same time.
“We will have to treat (Covid) like the flu, but it is far more dangerous than the flu,” he said.
“Right now our hospitals are already full and there is zero influenza going around.
“This is one of the biggest challenges for our health system, is when borders open up and we have both influenza and flu entering.”
READ MORE:Global deaths top four million
Rachel Baxendale12.55pm:Vic ‘will do what it has to’ over NSW border
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley has again refused to rule out a hard border closure with NSW, as that state recorded 44 new coronavirus cases in the 24 hours to Friday.
Currently Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Shellharbour are designated as red zones by Victoria, meaning non Victorian residents may not enter the southern state from those areas, and returning Victorian residents must quarantine at home for a fortnight.
The rest of NSW and the ACT are orange zones, requiring those returning to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative test result.
Mr Foley said Victoria would do “what Victoria needs to do based on public health advice to keep the virus and the community transmission of the virus out of our state.”
It has been nine days since Victoria last recorded a new case of community-acquired coronavirus.
“The Victorian approach was to go in hard and to go in early, and that has been successful. We know it’s come at a huge cost and a huge price, but as we’re seeing in New South Wales, the cost of not moving quickly is significantly higher, so Victoria will do what it has to do to keep these chains of transmission out of Victoria from New South Wales,” Mr Foley said.
He said the border status was being reviewed daily.
“Either through the chief health officer’s media release or through a dedicated announcement, if there are any changes, we will immediately let Victorians know,” Mr Foley said.
“There’s the daily AHPPC meeting at 12:30 where the specific details are shared among state health authorities, and the Victorian government is briefed after those meetings by our chief health officer, if there are any changes.”
Mr Foley said the 44 cases in NSW represented the highest daily number of community-acquired cases since the end of Victoria’s second wave.
“New South Wales’ fight is our fight. We need them to be successful. Victoria stands ready to do whatever it can to assist New South Wales as do all the other jurisdictions,” he said.
“What it does indicate is the growing seriousness of the matter. I’m sure that our public health team will look very closely at that, and if further measures need to be taken to keep Victorians safe from community transmission of the virus, then we won’t hesitate to do so.”
Adeshola Ore 12.45pm:NSW, arrivals, quarantine on Nat Cab agenda
National Cabinet will convene this afternoon to discuss international passenger arrivals and alternative quarantine arrangements for vaccinated Australians, as NSW tightens its restrictions amid a surge in cases.
NSW reported 44 new cases of coronavirus today, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian warning case numbers in the state will grow in the coming days.
Today’s national cabinet meeting will also focus on vaccination strategies for disability, aviation and fly-in, fly-out workers.
READ MORE:Australia ‘talks softly, carries vaccine stick’
Jess Malcolm12.20pm:Hazzard ‘alert and alarmed' over Sydney crisis
Health Minister Brad Hazzard says he is both “alert and alarmed” watching the unfolding Covid-19 crisis in Sydney, referencing a comment made by former Prime Minister John Howard.
Mr Howard once said that people should be “alert but not alarmed”, but this morning the health minister said he was both.
“I can’t tell you how concerned I am now, as health minister, about the latest viruses moving through our community,” he said.
“I have seen the figures of people who are out and about in the community. I have seen what health is concerned about and I share that concern.”
Mr Hazzard said everybody now has a responsibility to “stop the virus in its tracks”.
“The only way that we can do that is not leave our homes unless we absolutely have to, and don’t visit our family.
“Don’t visit our friends. Keep them safe. That is the one thing that is in everybody’s power.”
READ MORE:Global death toll passes four million
Rachel Baxendale 12.05pm:Foley calls on PM to clarify Pfizer claims
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley has called on the Prime Minister to clarify his claims that Australia will triple its access to the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to a million doses from July 19, after Pfizer issued a statement indicating there had been no change to its weekly delivery schedule.
Mr Foley said no mention had been made of any acceleration of the delivery of Pfizer at a meeting of state and federal health ministers on Thursday night, with no change to the vaccine rollout schedule outlined by the federal government’s Covid-19 task force leader Lieutenant General John Frewen a fortnight ago.
“All the states met last night with a commonwealth about the vaccine rollout program, and this supposedly extra vaccine from Pfizer was not foreshadowed at that meeting,” Mr Foley said on Friday.
“In fact the states sought clarification as to what would be provided, and we were told there would be more information provided.
“I note the Prime Minister’s comments about extra Pfizer vaccine in the media this morning, but I also note that Pfizer themselves have put out a statement saying that there is no extra material coming forward from them.”
Mr Foley said he hoped this issue would be clarified in Friday’s national cabinet meeting.
“What our national vaccine rollout program has suffered from is too much confusion, too much mixed messaging, and what we need is consistent, accurate, provision of information that builds confidence in the program,” he said.
Asked whether he believed the federal government had deliberately withheld information from health ministers on Thursday night, Mr Foley said that was a matter for the commonwealth.
“But what we need is clear, consistent information from the commonwealth to the states, to the GPs, to our primary healthcare providers, because the status of being 34th out of 34 OECD nations (for COVID-19 vaccination rates) is not a position that any of us should hold our head up with some sense of achievement. To be last in the OECD world is a condemnation,” he said.
READ MORE:Housing market hinges on lockdown length
Jess Malcolm12.00pm: We need more vaccine doses: Berejiklian
Gladys Berejiklian said she was exasperated at the levels of vaccine available in the state as the Sydney outbreak grew to the largest number of cases in a year.
The NSW Premier reiterated that the state is ready to administer more doses but is currently constrained by supply.
“We need to be vaccinated,” she said. “We have more than 100 NSW Health sites, we have many GP practices, what we need are the doses. That is what we need.”
In addition to ramping up the rollout to more mass vaccination hubs, the NSW government is currently engaging with pharmacists to administer doses when they arrive.
Ms Berejiklian said pharmacists could be leaned on to help roll out the AstraZeneca jab currently available.
“I do want to encourage absolutely everybody over 60, obviously there are about two million people in that category, if you are over 60 and have not had AstraZeneca, make sure you get it.”
READ MORE:Faster flood of Pfizer doses
Jess Malcolm11.50am: ‘Don’t stick head in sand if you have symptoms’
Health authorities are considering opening more testing sites across Sydney in order to find any undetected chains of community transmission.
While officials are encouraged by the high levels of testing, Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said they must increase, urging anyone with symptoms to come forward for testing.
Vulnerable Australians will also be prioritised in testing queues.
“It’s important that you actually don’t put your head in the sand and think: “If I just stay at home, I’m OK, I don’t really want to know, I will get better.
“The reason for that is knowing your diagnosis that you have Covid means that we in NSW Health can provide better care if we know what diagnosis you’ve got and your condition deteriorates, we know how to treat you and respond to you and also, which is probably even more important to you, you may have exposed other people.”
Police will also be ramping up visibility across all places where the virus is spreading.
“Police movement is the virus movement,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“They are there to keep everybody safe and the previous question asked about how long it will take to reach zero, is up to all of us,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“On many occasions, people don’t do the right thing because they don’t understand what the rules are or how serious the situation is.”
READ MORE:Australia ‘talks softly, carries vaccine stick’
Jess Malcolm11.40am:Business ‘wants zero rate of transmission too’
Gladys Berejiklian said the extension of lockdown and the tightening of restrictions today is based on a combination of health and economic benefits.
Referring to feedback from the business community, the NSW Premier said they were in favour of achieving zero rates of community transmission as much as the health experts.
“Our response is as much based on our economic position as well as the health and safety,” she said.
“Health and safety is always obviously top of mind because if you don’t address health and safety, you cannot address the economic consequences.”
When asked whether the government is increasing hospital capacity in the event they become overrun, Ms Berejiklian said hospitals would be ready but she hoped it would not get to that.
“At the beginning of the pandemic NSW quadrupled its capacity to hospitalise people who might need ICU or need to be in hospital because of Covid so the capacity is there but I don’t want us to have to go to it.
“I don’t want to subject thousands of people to that scenario. It is not a pretty picture”.
READ MORE:Global death toll passes four million
Jess Malcolm11.30am:Berejiklian: lockdown decision based on ‘best data’
Gladys Berejiklian has refuted claims that the lockdown should have been harsher from the start, saying the decision was made at the time based on “the best statistics and data”
Non-compliance with the current settings has left the state grappling with a surge of cases, the NSW Premier has confirmed.
Ms Berejiklian said the most important priority is ensuring people understand the rules, revealing the state government was still getting questions from the community about how many people were allowed to visit people’s houses.
“The answer is none,” she said.
“We must ensure that the settings we have in the community, at any time, bring the community with us,” she said.
“The issue is that all of us need to be aware, and our challenge is making sure that people understand the rules.”
Ms Berejiklian said the only way to get out of this lockdown was to bring the number of infected cases in the community down to zero.
READ MORE: Elimination strategy a war no one can win
Jess Malcolm11.25am:Nine mystery cases among latest numbers
Of the 44 new cases recorded, 35 of those are linked to a known cluster, 25 are household contacts and 10 are close contacts.
There are nine currently still under investigation.
Health authorities are on high alert with a number of people being treated in hospital for the virus, worried that an explosion of cases could put huge pressure on the hospital system.
NSW Health is currently treating 43 people in hospital, with 10 people in intensive care and four under investigation.
Of the 10 people in ICU, one is in their 20s, one is in their 30s, one is in their 50s, five are in their 60s, and two are in their 70s.
Dr Kerry Chant said people must stay home in order to prevent further hospitalisations and death.
“This trend has to be turned around, and the only way we can do so is by seeing a decline in numbers,” she said.
“Covid cannot affect people if you do not come in contact with them. And therefore, that is the basis of the stay at home orders.
The number of close contacts outlined by NSW Health has surged from 7,000 yesterday to 14,000 today.
Jess Malcolm11.10am:Premier tightens restrictions across Sydney
Gladys Berejiklian has tightened restrictions on Sydney as she warned the case numbers in NSW will surge in the coming days.
The NSW Premier said “I need people to be shocked,” as she warned there could be “thousands and thousands” of deaths if authorities ease restrictions too early.
She has introduced a raft of tighter restrictions in a bid to curb the spread in response to the exponential spread of the Delta variant.
Only two people will now be able to exercise outdoors, down from 10 previously. Households will be excluded from this, including parents with children.
People must now only exercise within a 10 kilometre radius from their house.
Carpooling with people outside the household is now forbidden.
Only one person must now be able to leave the household for essential items, with people encouraged to shop online.
Funerals will also now be restricted to 10 people.
These restrictions will be enforced from 5pm today.
“Do not leave your home unless you absolutely have to,” she said. “This is the scariest time of the pandemic.”
Ms Berejiklian added: “I appreciate the message I’m delivering today is quite shocking for a lot of people but I need everyone to be shocked because when I said just a few days before we had to go into lockdown that this was the scariest period for New South Wales during the pandemic, unfortunately those words are absolutely the case,” she said.
“New South Wales is facing the biggest challenge we have faced since the pandemic started and I don’t say that lightly.”
Jess Malcolm11.02am:NSW records 44 new locals
NSW has recorded 44 cases in the past 24 hours, with 29 infectious in the community.
The highest daily total so far has dashed hopes of the number of cases dropping in coming days, and almost certainly means Sydney residents won’t be freed from lockdown on time next Friday.
There were over 42,000 tests conducted yesterday.
More to come.
Lydia Lynch10.50am:Qld set to reverse restrictions by next weekend
Queensland is on track to reverse strict Covid rules by next weekend after zero new cases were reported on Friday.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said she would be able to declare the latest outbreak over once the 5000 close contacts of confirmed cases returned negative test results after isolating for two weeks.
“I would hope by next Friday,” she said.
Restrictions were expected to relax on July 16, allowing patrons to stand in bars and restaurants, visitors at aged care facilities and hospitals and dancing.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the decision to lockdown early was the reason authorities were “very confident going forward”.
“The lockdown that we had allowed us to contact trace and to contain those contacts into quarantine so that they are already away from the community when they were infectious.”
Jess Malcolm10.45am:Pfizer statement clarifies rollout
Pfizer has released a statement clarifying some details about the scheduled delivery of vaccines heading to Australia.
The Australian exclusively reported on Friday the Morrison government has secured a potentially game-changing deal to triple its access to the Pfizer vaccine to one million doses a week from July 19, with a dramatic acceleration of the vaccination program. However some have interpreted this as meaning the number of jabs would be increased.
Pfizer clarified that, as The Australian stated, the rate of rollout would be sped up, but the number of doses has not changed.
“Pfizer is committed to delivering 40m doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine to Australia over 2021,” it read.
“The total number of 40m doses we are contracted to and continue to progress is in line with our weekly delivery schedule.
“We expect the remainder of the 40m doses to be delivered by the end of 2021.”
READ MORE:Faster flood of Pfizer doses
Lydia Lynch10.30am:Palaszczuk ‘looking closely’ at closing NSW border
Annastacia Palaszczuk is looking “very closely” at reinstating a hard border closure with NSW.
“The eyes of Australia are on Sydney, the epicentre of the Delta strain at the moment,” she said,
“Our biggest concern is if that is not contained and brought under control, it will spread right throughout the country.”
Ms Palaszczuk said case numbers during the next week would be crucial but could not say what it would take to slam the border shut.
“I do not want to speculate, so I just want to make sure that we are monitoring it over the next week and see what actions the NSW government take.”
READ MORE: Powers to stay unfettered for months
Jess Malcolm10.25am:All NT restrictions lifted at 1pm today
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has announced a raft of Covid-19 restrictions that will be lifted from 1pm today.
Mandatory mask wearing will no longer be compulsory, gyms will be able to reopen and dancing at nightclubs is now allowed.
Mr Gunner congratulated all Territorians for coming forward for testing and self-isolating when required.
He also confirmed the Territory is “leading the nation” with its vaccination rate.
“Territorians, this is all down to you,” he said.
“You masked up when you had to and you kept your distance, you checked in.
“Over 1.2 million times in the last week alone. Thank you to 99.9 per cent of you for being the best.”
Lydia Lynch 10.10am:Qld records no new local cases
Queensland has recorded zero new locally acquired Covid cases on Friday.
Annastacia Palaszczuk said more than 14,000 tests were conducted on Thursday.
Mandatory mask wearing and density restrictions will remain for another week.
The state government’s contact tracing app is now mandatory for all Queensland businesses including gyms, hotels and hospitals.
There are 45 active cases
No new cases in Queensland overnight ðŸ‘
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 9, 2021
Thank you to everyone who's been wearing a mask, checking in and getting tested.
We want case numbers to stay low so please keep staying safe. pic.twitter.com/Is8d6ZKByb
Adeshola Ore10.05am:Vaccine rollout catching up ground: PM
Scott Morrison says Australia’s vaccine rollout is “catching up ground” after the government secured a deal to triple its access to Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines to one million doses a week from July 19.
The deal comes as Sydney almost certainly faces another seven-day lockdown extension, with authorities struggling to contain the outbreak in the city’s southwest.
The Prime Minister said it was “absolutely achievable” that every Australian who wanted to be vaccinated would be offered a first dose by the end of the year.
“We’ve also got 1300 more GPS coming on stream this month. So we’ll have well over 6000 points of presence all around the country. Those 1300 specifically being brought on to be able to do Pfizer,” Mr Morrison told 2GB radio.
READ MORE: Pfizer deal secured
Jess Malcolm 10.00am: Berejiklian to give NSW update at 11am
Gladys Berejiklian will address the media at 11am this morning, alongside Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant and Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys.
Several new exposure sites were added by health authorities overnight stoking fears there could be high numbers again today.
Twelve days into the lockdown the state recorded 38 cases yesterday, the highest number since the Bondi outbreak began.
A further extension of Sydney’s three week lockdown could be on the cards, with the next few days’ infection data critical.
READ MORE: Powers to stay unfettered for months after rollout
Jess Malcolm9.40am:Get second AZ dose early: expert
Infectious diseases expert Mary Louise McLaws has backed Scott Morrison’s recommendation for people to come forward early for their second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine as Sydney battles its latest outbreak.
The Prime Minister said on Thursday Sydney-siders should consider getting their second dose at the eight week mark rather than 12, which is similar advice given by experts in the UK.
Professor McLaws told Today it will help boost immunity faster across the population and help to curb the spread of infections in Sydney.
“He was recommending the second dose be at eight weeks and quite frankly that is a really good idea,” she said.
“It is not as good as waiting 12 weeks but this is Delta, so waiting for eight weeks only reduces the efficacy by a small amount and that amount is negligible when it comes to hospitalisation and death protection.
Professor McLaws also said the government should consider rolling out the vaccine to young people who are more likely to spread the virus through the community.
READ MORE: Payments deferred by banks
Adeshola Ore 9.25am:Kathryn Campbell confirmed as DFAT Secretary
Scott Morrison has confirmed senior public servant Kathryn Campbell will replace Frances Adamson as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Australian reported in May that Ms Campbell was tipped as a frontrunner to be Australia’s new top diplomat. Ms Campbell has also held senior roles in the Australian Army Reserve and was the first woman appointed to the rank of Major General.
The Prime Minister also revealed Ray Griggs – formerly second-in-charge of Australia’s military – will become the Secretary of the Department of Social Services.
Department of Defence associate secretary Katherine Jones has been appointed Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department.
“I congratulate Ms Campbell, Mr Griggs and Ms Jones on their appointment,” the Prime Minister said.
“I have every confidence that they will lead by example and ensure the Australian Public Service continues to play an integral role in our nation’s COVID-19 recovery and provide high-quality services to all Australians.”
All three appointments are five-year terms.
READ MORE:Closed border ‘to drive up wages’
Jess Malcolm8.40am: Police response in S-W Sydney ‘fair, balanced’
NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon says officers will have a “fair and balanced” approach to the operation in southwest Sydney now underway cracking down on unnecessary movement and family visits.
Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said the officers were working fairly to ensure community safety, alongside multicultural liaison officers to ensure effective communication.
“This is about seeking compliance,” he told ABC News Breakfast. “We want the community to work with us and we will work very closely with them as we have over the last two weeks.”
“Our police in those areas do an outstanding job of working with local communities right through the year.”
“We obviously build on those networks to ensure those messages get out. We have disseminated information about the health orders in a wide range of languages as have
Health.”
“We will continue to work with those communities to make sure they can understand the nature of the orders.”
READ MORE:Elimination a war no one can win
Adeshola Ore8.25am:Payne: We won’t leave Afghan officials behind
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has vowed Australia will not leave behind any Afghan officials who helped the nation’s troops, after former prime minister John Howard said the country had a moral obligation to provide asylum.
But Ms Payne said any officials needed to pass eligibility tests to be successful in applying for a special humanitarian visa.
Mr Howard, who committed Australian troops to Afghanistan in 2001 said Australia has a “moral obligation” to provide asylum to Afghans who worked with the country’s troops, declaring their fate must not be decided by “narrow legalism” as they face near-certain death from a resurgent Taliban. It comes after The Australian this week revealed hundreds of Afghan interpreters, aid workers and security guards who worked for the Australian government during the two-decade conflict have been left in limbo, including many with multiple character references from ADF personnel.
Senator Payne said she agreed Australia had a moral obligation to do so but had to ensure all locally engaged staff met “meet rigorous health, character and national security requirements.”
“I can’t talk about individual cases – there are both privacy and security reasons for that. But I can absolutely assure you, and Australians, that we’re not going to leave behind anyone who worked for us and who is properly eligible and checked to come here,” she said.
“We do have this separate category of special humanitarian visas. They are open only to Afghans and indeed, Iraqis who had an especially close relationship with the Australian government,” she told the ABC.
“Those applications from certified locally engaged staff are given the highest processing priority within our humanitarian program.”
READ MORE: We can’t abandon Afghans: Howard
Jess Malcolm8.20am:Victoria in ninth day of no new local cases
Victoria has recorded zero new locally acquired cases of Covid-19, marking nine consecutive days free from community transmission.
There was one new case recorded in hotel quarantine, and 25,590 tests conducted in the past 24 hours.
The state administered 15,665 vaccines yesterday, bringing the total number of doses to 1,238,347.
There are currently 21 active cases in the state.
Reported yesterday: 0 new local cases and 1 new case acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 8, 2021
- 15,665 vaccine doses were administered
- 25,590 test results were received.
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/vZx18Daz78
Jess Malcolm8.05am:AMA: Pfizer flood ‘will boost vax rollout’
The Australian Medical Association is confident Pfizer will deliver the vaccine supply as promised, and has forecast the extra jabs will give the nation’s rollout a needed “boost”.
AMA President Omar Khorshid told Sunrise the pharmaceutical giant has been reliable when delivering on vaccine agreements with other countries around the world.
.@AMAPresident Dr Omar Khorshid says the federal government's new deal with Pfizer is "great news" and the extra jabs will give "a real boost" to the nation's lagging vaccine rollout. pic.twitter.com/DXXb7N4hmk
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) July 8, 2021
“It’s great news that there will be more of the Pfizer vaccine coming earlier than expected and Pfizer has got a good track record,” he said.
“It delivered the doses promised to the Israeli government, so as long as the doses haven’t come from another country where they’re needed to save lives, it’s overall great news.
“It’ll give our GPs and mass vaccination clinics around the country a real boost, and give our overall vaccine numbers a real boost as well.”
Dr Khorsid also said governments cannot risk opening up and living with the Delta variant until the population is fully vaccinated, following controversial comments made by some NSW MPs that it could be considered.
“New South Wales does not have the option of opening up Sydney next week as planned, unless those cases have gone down to zero. We simply can’t live with the Delta virus in this country until we are fully vaccinated.”
READ MORE:Australia ‘talks softly, carries big vaccine’
Jess Malcolm7.50am:PM praises Pfizer, backs NSW lockdown strategy
Scott Morrison has praised pharmaceutical giant Pfizer for increasing its vaccine supply as Sydney struggles to contain its latest outbreak.
The Australian exclusively reported on Friday the Morrison government has secured a potentially game-changing deal to triple its access to the Pfizer vaccine to one million doses a week from July 19.
Australia received 1.7 million Pfizer doses in June and it is expected to receive 2.8 million in July, and more than 4.5 million in August under the new agreement.
Mr Morrison said the increase in vaccine supply in conjunction with allowing more GPs to administer the jab will help speed up the rollout.
“That is a real uplift in what we are seeing with Pfizer,” he told Sunrise. “We are just ensuring we can get as much as we can from Pfizer, bringing that forward.”
He also backed the Berejiklian government in their approach to the NSW outbreak, including its initial resistance to lockdown measures.
“Putting those instructions in obviously comes at a great cost and I think resisting that always, which has been a NSW government policy, I think has probably been welcomed,” he said.
“I also support her strongly now in the measures that she is taking now, based on the evidence we have before us and whatever additional measures in its attack.”
READ MORE: PM secures faster flood of Pfizer doses
Jess Malcolm7.30am:Elliott: We need zero tolerance approach
NSW Police David Elliott has hosed down fears officers will be cracking down unfairly on residents in southwest Sydney this morning, reassuring the community that they do not need to be concerned.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Elliott said the decision was taken because officials saw high levels of noncompliance in that area and police have been sent in to ensure people are safe.
“We don’t decide what sort of blitz is going where depending on the demographics,” he said. “I’m from southwest Sydney, we saw a high number of people doing the wrong thing.”
“People don’t need to be concerned that there will be overreach. The officers just want to keep the community safe and we want people to get back to normal.”
Mr Elliott also said the government is taking a “zero tolerance” approach due to the rapid transmission of the Delta strain.
“The medical experts are saying the Delta strain is so dangerous we need to have a zero tolerance approach,” he said.
“Particularly in those areas where people are most vulnerable.”
READ MORE: Cops unleash Covid crackdown
Jess Malcolm7.10am:Shorten canes heavy handed response to S-W Sydney
Bill Shorten has attacked the decision to send 100 police officers into South West Sydney to enforce compliance to Covid restrictions, saying it is too heavy handed.
The former Labor leader said the same approach was taken in his electorate of Maribyrnong in Melbourne during the city’s second wave which created confusion and fear for residents.
The decision has also sparked some controversy as it wasn’t used during the northern beaches outbreak.
“We had the public housing towers lockdown where in the space of an hour there were 600 police doing their job but when you wake up or when you go to your window and see hundreds of armed police, you think, well, where has this come from?” he told Today.
“What’s happened is there has been poor communication, I suspect, but of course the people in some of these suburbs feel the double standards.
“It’s almost like a seesaw. When there’s too little reaction to begin with, then you get too much reaction.”
Mr Shorten also attacked the federal government for its differing approaches in economic support to the states.
“When it came to economic support in Melbourne, the bloke couldn’t even find Melbourne on the map. He would probably need to do some work in Sydney because in Melbourne he was just MIA.”
READ MORE: Pandemic response needs compassion
Jess Malcolm6.50am:Qld Health under fire over hotel quarantine gaps
Queensland Health authorities are under fire over gaps in its hotel quarantine system after reports there are cleaners working across multiple floors and drivers interacting with aircrew.
Nine News is reporting cleaners in a Gold Coast hotel work across multiple hotel rooms and do not wear masks.
The Voco Hotel in Surface Paradise is not a formal quarantine hotel but has been nominated by the state government for use by aircrew as an isolation facility, Nine reports.
Drivers transporting aircrew are also suspected of interacting with flight crew, and not wearing masks, which is the same failure that sparked the current Sydney outbreak.
Nine is reporting a 57-year-old pilot who flew with an air hostess who later tested positive to the Delta variant was allowed to stay within the hotel for four days before he was ordered to change hotels and move to the Sofitel.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young denied responsibility for the issue on Thursday.
“This is not a Queensland Health or a Queensland Government quarantine hotel, so I’d need to get some more information,” she said on Thursday.
Jess Malcolm6.20am:Sydney lockdown likely extended to 4 weeks
Health officials have warned the Sydney-wide lockdown could likely extend another week past next Friday as NSW Covid-19 infections ballooned to a 38 cases on Thursday.
The duration of the Sydney lockdown is hinging on this weekend’s case numbers, with the admission from Gladys Berejiklian that the state did not have this outbreak under control.
“We’re still aiming for that, don’t get me wrong, but also know that that is dependent on all of us doing the right thing,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We just need people to stop interacting for this lockdown to work, and I don’t just mean in one part of Sydney – this applies to all people and stay-at-home areas.”
One government official told The Australian that a further extension remained a distinct possibility, with the weekend’s infection data to prove a deciding factor.
The transmission across southwest Sydney has triggered a police crackdown with 100 extra officers on patrol from 7am this morning. Police will be targeting anyone not wearing a mask or outside their home without a valid excuse.
Officials’ one priority over this week is reducing the number of infectious people who have spent time in the community, as they attempt to curb the spread of the virus and give contact tracers enough time to find infections and their source.
READ MORE:Flood of Pfizer doses finally here
Will Glasgow 5.45am: Australia ‘talks softly carries big vaccine’
It’s Australia’s other vaccine rollout – and this one’s not going too badly.
On Friday, a third plane in two days will fly from Australia to the Pacific carrying lifesaving doses of the Melbourne-produced AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
Its cargo follows two flights on Thursday carrying 70,000 doses to Fiji and 40,000 doses to Timor-Leste.
Those 120,000 doses are the first since the Morrison government’s decision to send up to 15 million vaccines to its near neighbourhood before mid-2022.
“Supporting our neighbours through this pandemic is a moral and economic responsibility,” said Zed Seselja, Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific.
Jane Halton, co-chair of the global vaccine fairness initiative COVAX, calls it a “game-changer” for the region.
It’s the silver lining of the decision to reduce the amount of AstraZeneca in Australia’s domestic rollout.
READ the full story
Rhiannon Down 5.30am:Alerts over string of S-W Sydney shopping outlets
NSW Health has added a string of shopping outlets across Sydney’s western suburbs to the list of exposure sites, as authorities announce a crackdown on the city’s southwest amid a spike in infections.
Auburn Fresh City Fruit & Vegetables, Sahar Market and New Star Kebabs in Auburn, Beds R Us Wetherill Park and Oregano’s Lebanese Bakery and Cafe in Smithfield, have been added to the list of close contact venues.
This daily infographic provides a quick view of the current coronavirus (#COVID19) situation in Australia. https://t.co/YcsPBOTHZDpic.twitter.com/ESx07luMfY
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) July 8, 2021
Sadaqat Supermarket, Aldi, Australia Post and Kmart in Merrylands have also been added with anyone who visited during the exposure times asked to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Mehfil North Indian Cuisine in Westfield Burwood Shopping Centre and Kathmandu Burwood in Sydney’s inner west have also been added.
NSW Health has also added more venues to its list of casual contact venues, including: Country Growers and Coles Westfield in Parramatta, Wetherill Park JB HiFi Wetherill Park,
Pendle Hill Woolworths Metro, Kmart Westfield Eastgardens, Kmart Burwood, Wetherill Park Chemistworks and Carlingford Chemist Warehouse.
Hurstville King Tea, Bonnyrigg Bunnings, The Valley Pharmacy in Telopea, Carlingford Court Shopping Centre and Merrylands Stockland Shopping Centre, were also added to the list.
Shoppers at Emerald Square Burwood and Westfield Burwood have also been put on high alert with any shoppers present during the window identified asked to monitor for symptom.
READ MORE: Closed border ‘to drive up wages’
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