Coronavirus Australia live news: Treasurer hits back at China’s ‘bully’ warning; NSW lifts rules
Josh Frydenberg has responded to Xi Jinping’s declaration that the ‘strong should not bully the weak’, saying Australia will not ‘compromise on our values’.
- Treasurer hits back at China’s ‘bully’ warning
- NZ cases ‘evolving rapidly’: no decision on bubble ban
- Covid immunity test plan to kickstart travel
- Restrictions lifted in NSW
- EU vaccine row threatens Aus supplies
- Vaccine efficacy for elderly questioned
- Trans-Tasman bubble in trouble: Ardern
- Virus traces found at seven Qld sites
Welcome to live updates on Australia’s response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
Josh Frydenberg has responded to Xi Jinping’s declaration that the ‘strong should not bully the weak’, warning Australia will not ‘compromise on our values’.
Australians could have their COVID-19 immunity tested by a simple finger prick – with results in 15 minutes – by the end of the year.
Gladys Berejiklian has announced the lifting of restrictions as NSW records its 10th day of zero local cases.
The EU reveals much tougher processes on exporting COVID-19 vaccines amid a row with AstraZeneca, potentially limiting the supplies available to Australia.
Reports out of Europe have questioned the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for the elderly, prompting pharmaceutical companies and Australian health officials to move to calm fears.
Nicholas Jensen 11.04pm: French company Sanofi to produce rival’s vaccine
French pharmaceutical company Sanofi has agreed to produce 125 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by its rival Pfizer-BioNTech.
Sanofi has said it will use its factory in Frankfurt in a rare act of co-operation in an industry usually dominated by intense competition.
After its own vaccine failed to produce results last December, the company began to consider how it could work with competitors, said Olivier Bogillot, CEO of Sanofi France.
“We looked at how we could show solidarity,” he said.
“When you look at the technological and industrial capacities of Sanofi, our expertise, I’m very proud that Sanofi has made this choice.” The jabs are projected to be ready from the middle of this year and be distributed across the EU bloc, Mr Bogillot said.
The company has recently been criticised by French politicians over planned job cuts, while others have expressed disappointment over the country’s failure to produce its own vaccine.
READ MORE: Concern over vaccine evidence for elderly
Nicholas Jensen 10.26pm: EU official rejects AZ’s delay explanation
A senior EU official has rejected AstraZeneca’s explanation of a delay in its vaccine deliveries, saying that Brussels expects the drug company to fulfil its contract.
AstraZeneca has an agreement with the European Commission to supply the bloc 400 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine, which is anticipated to get EU approval by the end of the week.
But due to an apparent shortfall in production at the firm’s European plants, it has warned that it will miss its target, while still meeting a separate contract it signed with the UK.
In an interview company CEO Pascale Soriot said the UK had signed its contract three months earlier than the EU and this had given the firm time to iron out “glitches” in British plants.
“As for Europe, we are three months behind in fixing those glitches. Would I like to do better? Of course,” he said.
It comes as the EU’s demands now put pressure on the delivery of vaccines to Australia.
READ MORE: EU threat to Australia’s vaccine rollout
Nicholas Jensen 8.16pm: WA records two cases in quarantine
Western Australia has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the state’s total to 897.
WA Health says it is monitoring 15 active cases of the virus.
The new cases are two males who have returned from overseas and are currently in hotel quarantine.
Today’s results come as WA Premier Mark McGowan said he would not consider a proposal from Jacinda Ardern for a state-by-state travel bubble.
“We copped a lot of criticism over our interstate borders and then the commonwealth goes and does it with one case in New Zealand. Our model works, our model is right, our model has been effective,” Mr McGowan said earlier today.
READ MORE: Backs against the walls? Not us, say galleries
Jacquelin Magnay 6.11pm: EU threat to Australia’s vaccination program
A new threat by the European Commission to impose licence conditions on the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine could create a fresh hurdle to Australia’s vaccination program, which is currently on track for rollout at the end of February.
The arrival times of both the Pfizer BionTech vaccine and the first batch of the AstraZeneca Oxford vaccine may be impacted by an unseemly stoush between Britain and Europe, with the EU believing that Britain is preferencing vaccination of its own population, ahead of fulfilling a large EU order.
AstraZeneca has told the EU there will be a four month delay to supply most of its order because of supply issues.
Instead of 80m doses being distributed to the EU by March (out of total 300m order), AstraZeneca has told the EU it can only supply 31m because of problems of the cells dividing in the company’s Belgium plant.
But the EU has demanded that it’s AstraZeneca order be filled ahead of all of countries – perhaps pushing Australia’s order of 3.8m doses from the UK down the list. As well, the EU has threatened that any non-EU exports of the Pfizer BionTech vaccine will require a special licence and will be regulated. If these licensing conditions are imposed, it may delay the export of the 10m doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine to Australia.
The Pfizer BioNTech vaccine was to arrive into Australia in staggered shipments, with 80,000 expected in the first tranche next month.
Geoff Chambers 6.07pm: Treasurer hits back at Chinese President’s ‘bully’ comments
Josh Frydenberg has hit back at Xi Jinping’s declaration that the “strong should not bully the weak” and warned Australia will not “compromise on our values”.
The Treasurer said he agreed with Mr Xi’s sentiment that “big nations should not bully small ones” but called out the “disconnect between the words and the actions”.
“The reality is, Australia has been on the receiving end of some pretty harsh actions when it comes to trade, but we won’t compromise on the national interest, we won’t compromise on our values,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“As you know, China released a list of various demands that they had on Australia, those are non negotiable issues for us.”
“The fact that a politician, elected democratically into the Parliament should have a right to speak as they see fit, the fact that we are taking decisions on foreign investment that are very much in our national interest and of course on human rights we continue to speak out when there are injustices as we’ve done in the past, as we’ll do in the future.”
READ MORE: Xi’s pitch abounded with irony
Lachlan Moffet Gray 5.47pm: AstraZeneca CEO leaves CSL board
AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot will resign from the board of CSL just months after his appointment, over concerns that a billion-dollar corporate acquisition may promote a conflict of interest.
On Wednesday, CSL informed the market that Mr Soriot would resign as a non-executive director of the company “regretfully, but with mutual agreement,” effective February 1.
Australia’s largest listed company said the decision was made to avoid a conflict of interest over AstraZeneca’s $US39bn ($50.28bn) acquisition of Boston-based biotechnology company Alexion, which operates in the same market as CSL through the treatment of various heart and blood conditions.
Jess Malcolm 5.05pm: No promises on AstraZeneca, but enough vaccines for all
The federal government was unable to confirm if and when the AstraZeneca vaccine would be approved by the TGA, but said there would be enough supply to vaccinate all Australians.
Professor Kidd also reiterated that the Pfizer vaccine will arrive at the end of February, despite global pressure on supplies.
“We are keen to see every person in Australia receive the COVID-19 vaccine,” Professor Kidd said.
“We are working very closely with many community leaders including the representatives of culturally and linguistically diverse communities across Australia with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders and with many others so we can get the information out about the safety and the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine.”
“The great advantage we have with the AstraZeneca vaccine is that it is being produced onshore in Australia by CSL and this means we will not be subject to some of the concerns about the supply of vaccines that we have seen affect people in some of the countries overseas.”
“I can’t tell you the exact number of AstraZeneca vaccine doses that we will be expecting to arrive in the country at what time.”
Jess Malcolm 4.50pm: No decision on lifting New Zealand bubble ban
Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd has flagged concern about the emergence of the South African strain of coronavirus in New Zealand which has led to the suspension of the travel bubble arrangements for 72 hours.
The federal government has not made any further decisions about whether to lift the ban — the 72 hour deadline ends at 2pm Thursday — awaiting advice from New Zealand health authorities about further testing.
“Today, we have been advised by the New Zealand authorities that two more positive cases have been identified in New Zealand in people who had also been in hotel quarantine at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland,” he said.
“The situation is evolving rapidly.”
“This has meant that anyone arriving into Australia from New Zealand since 2pm on Monday has been required to go into hotel quarantine on arrival,” Professor Kidd said.
On the potential extension of the suspension of the travel bubble, Kidd says the authorities are expecting further advice overnight from New Zealand, and that a decision will be made tomorrow.
Prof Kidd says the situation is “evolving rapidly”, and that the government is waiting to hear further details from authorities in New Zealand on further tests.
READ MORE: How to huff, puff and blow away Covid padding
Jess Malcolm 4.45pm: Ten-day zero transmission milestone
Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd says Australia is celebrating a milestone of 10 days of no community transmission.
It is the second longest stretch free from COVID-19 the nation has had, the longest being 12 days in early December.
“Over the past 10 days 100 per cent of the new cases of COVID-19 in Australia have been in overseas arrivals and all these people have been either in hotel quarantine or at the Howard Springs facility in the Northern Territory,” Professor Kidd said.
Mr Kidd also backed the federal government rollout of the vaccine following its approval from the Therapeutic Goods Association this week, calling it the “largest mass immunisation program” the country has ever seen.
“While the vaccine program rolls out it is still essential that we all adhere to the public health measures that we have been adhering to over the past year in order to keep ourselves, our families and the people of our country are safe,” he said.
Rosie Lewis 4.00pm: 15-minute finger prick tests for COVID immunity
Australians returning home or travelling overseas could have their immunity to COVID-19 tested in just 15 minutes at airports and quarantine hotels by the end of the year, under a business plan being pitched to federal and state governments.
The companies hoping to roll out immunity testing, which tests whether a traveller is immune to the coronavirus after receiving a vaccine or being infected with the disease, say it could be used to help reopen economies and restart the international travel industry.
The test is done via a finger prick and up to 30 people can have their results processed at the same time within 15 minutes.
New Zealand medical diagnostics company Orbis Diagnostics has partnered with IDEMIA, which is developing a smartphone app and “digital identity” system to connect people with their test results, to commercialise the tests.
They expected immunity testing could be available in Australia between July and September, pending government approvals.
Rachel Baxendale 3.20pm: Woman, boy test positive in Vic hotel quarantine
Victoria’s two new coronavirus cases on Wednesday are in a woman in her 20s and a boy aged under 10, both of whom are international return travellers in hotel quarantine who are not linked to the Australian Open.
Yesterday 0 locally acquired cases were reported, 2 in hotel quarantine. 21 days since the last locally acquired case. 13,612 test results were received, thanks #EveryTestHelps.
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) January 26, 2021
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco #COVID19VicData #COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/H1avVTR9Sm
The latest information from the Department of Health and Human Services comes as Victoria reached its 21st consecutive day with no new local cases of coronavirus and as the active case linked to the Black Rock cluster was deemed to have recovered.
There are currently 31 active cases of coronavirus in Victoria, all of whom are recently arrived international travellers in hotel quarantine, including nine people linked to the Australian Open tennis tournament.
READ MORE: Positive corona side effect
Paul Garvey 3.13pm: McGowan ‘would oppose WA travel bubble with NZ’
WA Premier Mark McGowan says he would oppose a proposal from New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for a state-by-state travel bubble.
Ms Ardern has floated the idea of individual travel arrangements between New Zealand and each Australian state after being left “disappointed” by Australia’s decision to shut down its border for three days following the detection of a COVID-19 case of unknown origin in the NZ community.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr McGowan rejected the idea.
“There should be a national approach with other countries, I don’t think there should be a state by state approach,” he said.
“We will work with the Commonwealth on these things but we will be ultra cautious.”
Mr McGowan noted that while Western Australia had been criticised over the pace with which it has shut its borders to other states in response to COVID-19 outbreaks, the federal response to the single case in New Zealand was an endorsement of the WA approach.
“The Commonwealth shutting down travel to New Zealand shows the value of borders,” he said.
“We copped a lot of criticism over our interstate borders and then the Commonwealth goes and does it with one case in New Zealand. Our model works, our model is right, our model has been effective.”
WA has recorded two new COVID-19 cases in its hotel quarantine system among returned international travellers originally from Queensland and South Australia.
“Once again, WA is taking care of people from other states in our hotel quarantine system. They’ve returned from overseas, they are being managed by our health department as they have for the past year,” Mr McGowan said.
READ MORE: trans-Tasman bubble in trouble, Jacinda Ardern says
Rachel Baxendale 3.01pm: Time to bring Victorian police back from borders?
Senior Andrews government Minister Martin Pakula says the issue of police station closures in Victoria is a matter for Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, despite police attributing the issue to state government demands for offices to patrol state borders and hotel quarantine.
Suburban police stations in inner Melbourne crime hot spots including Collingwood and Richmond were closed on Tuesday due to officers being seconded to control crowds attending Australia Day protests.
Approximately 800 police are currently engaged in patrolling Victoria’s borders, despite NSW not having had a locally acquired coronavirus case for nine days.
Hundreds of others have been deployed to fulfil security roles in the hotel quarantine program for returned travellers and Australian Open participants.
Asked whether it was time to bring the police back from the borders, Mr Pakula said the question was “a matter for the Chief Commissioner and for force command.”
“They will be making their resource allocations based on what they believe is necessary on the border and what is necessary at police stations,” Mr Pakula said.
“Also it’s probably worth bearing in mind that yesterday there were a significant number of events that required police presence, including the protests in the CBD, so I don’t think it’s reasonable to assume that any police station closure is necessarily a reflection of their operations on the border.”
Challenged over the fact that police command is responding to government policy on borders, Mr Pakula said: “Well we’ve still got one zone in New South Wales which is red. There is still a permit process which is in place for the border crossings.”
“As soon as police can be reasonably redeployed from the border to other duties they will be, but as I say it’s not a matter for me. It’s a matter for the chief Commissioner as to how he deploys police officers and I’d simply encourage you to direct those questions to the Chief Commissioner,” Mr Pakula said.
READ MORE: Jack the Insider — Labor’s courage, time in short supply
Charlie Peel 2.14pm: Queensland to limit first vaccine rollout to cities
The Queensland rollout of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine will initially be restricted to the state’s major cities until more travel-friendly variants are created.
Speaking from Townsville where she hosted a community cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the timing of the distribution of the COVID vaccine would depend on when the federal government can acquire it.
“We are still waiting on the supply from the federal government but we are getting ready,” she said.
“It will be over a staged process.”
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said all steps had been taken to ensure Queensland was ready to rapidly administer the vaccine in stages, starting with cities with international airports.
“Our first six hubs will be in our major cities that are in the highest risk of having any cases because that’s where international border entry comes through,” Dr Young said.
“Cairns, here in Townsville, the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and north and south Brisbane, we will start there with our first six hubs.
“Then, as we get those newer vaccines that can be distributed more easily because they don’t need to be managed at those very low temperatures as the Pfizer vaccine does, we will be able to spread that vaccine throughout the state.”
The commonwealth expects the Pfizer vaccine to arrive in late February.
Queensland has recorded one new case of coronavirus overnight, from a returned overseas traveller in hotel quarantine.
The state has 12 active cases of the virus.
READ MORE: Meet Australia’s Fastest CEO
Ellie Dudley 1.55pm: ACT investigates breach by western Sydney visitors
ACT authorities are investigating a possible COVID-19 breach after reports emerged of a group of people from Sydney’s Cumberland local government area who visited Parliament House.
ACT Health was made aware of the alleged breach by the COVID-19 Taskforce at Parliament House. The territory’s police force is now investigating.
The Cumberland region is the only Sydney LGA currently banned from entering the ACT.
READ MORE: Durie — Future Fund cashed up and ready to invest
Ellie Dudley 1.34pm: What you can and can’t do in NSW from Friday
As restrictions in NSW ease from 12.01am Friday the following list of limits will be applied.
– Visitors to households will be increased to 30 guests – including children
– Outdoor gatherings will be increased to 50 people in total.
– Weddings and funerals will be capped at 300 people (fully seated) subject to the one person per 4 sqm rule with no singing or dancing (except 20 nominated people in the wedding party can dance).
– All other venues including hospitality venues, places of worship and corporate event venues (fully seated with no singing or dancing) will be subject to the one person per 4 sqm rule.
– Smaller hospitality venues will be allowed at least 25 people.
– Singing indoors including choirs or places of worship will be limited to five people.
– Masks will be recommended but no longer compulsory at retail shopping venues.
– Masks will remain compulsory for front-of-house hospitality staff, on public transport, in places of worship, hairdressers, beauticians and gaming rooms.
– Aged care facilities and other health settings such as hospitals will receive tailored advice from NSW Health specific to their locations in relation to requirements around mask wearing.
It is anticipated that all settings requiring the 4 sqm rule will revert to the 2 sqm rule in two weeks’ time if current trends continue, subject to expert health advice.
Once the 2 sqm rule applies, authorities anticipate fines will increase to reduce the risk of super spreading events.
READ MORE: The Mocker — Change the day activists get one thing right
Ellie Dudley 1.28pm: Family who contracted virus still unlinked to cluster
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says authorities are still yet to link a family of six who contracted the virus in western Sydney to the Berala cluster.
“Any unlinked cases are concerning,” she said.
“At this stage we don’t have a clear link. That’s why any case of unrecognised acquisition causes a lot of concern, because it raises the possibility that there may have been other chains of transmission we’re missing.”
She also urged anyone who had any symptoms to get tested, saying “in 2021 we need to sort of have a bit of a pact with the community for you to continue to come forward and get tested.”
Ellie Dudley 1.15pm: ‘Get tested after vaccination if symptoms show’
Gladys Berejiklian has said anyone who develops symptoms after receiving the vaccine will still need to get tested.
“No matter what circumstance you’re in, no matter what circumstance you’re in, during the pandemic, whether you have had a vaccine or not, if you have any symptoms, you need to come forward and get tested. That will be the advice,” she said.
When asked about the process of the vaccine roll out, she said it depends on decisions made by the federal government.
“That very much depends on the advice we get from the federal government as to how many doses NSW will get and which categories of workers will be in line first. They are all things subject to the federal government’s policies,” she said.
READ MORE: Raise a tinnie to Aussies: Boris
Ellie Dudley 1.10pm: Dancing, singing ‘still too dangerous’
Health minister Brad Hazzard has said the increased capacity at weddings does not mean an increase in the number of people allowed to dance.
“I have heard reports of – at some weddings – people have chosen to ignore the limit of 20 people dancing. The bridal party and whoever are acknowledged as being in the bridal party … they can all get up there and dance,” he said.
“Unfortunately, dancing, singing is amongst the most dangerous things you can do with this rather evil virus.”
“People must understand – we all want you to have a wonderful wedding. We all want to have fantastic weddings. But for the time being in a Covid environment, dancing will be limited to 20 people in the bridal party.”
Ellie Dudley 12.48pm: State’s testing numbers ‘still inadequate’
Health minister Brad Hazzard has described NSW testing numbers as “not adequate” after the state reported 9723 tests over the past 24 hours.
“We need to have clear information as to whether or not the virus is still circulating in our community, particularly in the west and south-west of Sydney,” he said.
“If we want to move to these next steps, and we are obviously doing this first step at 12.01am on Friday, but if the community wants to see us move to the next step, around one person per
2 square metre, we need to have the community out there in great numbers.”
Gladys Berejiklian said there was a “high probability” that businesses will move to the 2 square metre rule soon, but says health authorities need another two weeks to be certain.
“We would rather be in a situation where business can act with confidence,” the Premier said.
“With the easing of restrictions from Friday, that gives them a great leap of confidence for the next couple of weeks and then beyond that.”
Ellie Dudley 12.32pm: Berejiklian announces lifting of restrictions for NSW
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced COVID-19 restrictions will be eased for the state from 12.01am: on Friday.
“In relation to household gatherings, you will be able to welcome 30 people into your household, including children,” she said.
“In terms of outdoor gathering, you will be able to have a picnic or a barbecue or something of that effect up to 50 people in an outdoor setting.
“In relation to weddings and funerals, you will be able to have 300 people, so long as they comply to the 4 square metre rule.
“For all other hospitality, all other corporate events and other places of gathering, including places of worship, it will be one per 4 square without any maximum cap.”
Ms Berejiklian also announced that masks still must be worn for those on public transport and front facing hospitality workers.
In retail stores, masks are recommended but no longer mandated.
Masks must also be worn when attending places of worship and in a gaming venue.
Ms Berejiklian has also said restrictions may ease further in two weeks if the state remains on its current trajectory.
“In all likelihood, if we continue the current trends, if we continue to see zero cases and reasonable rates of testing, that in two weeks’ time all the settings that we’ve currently described as being set to the 4 square metre rule will revert to the 2 square metre rule,” she said.
Chief health officer Kerry Chant has pleaded for anyone who presents symptoms for COVID-19 in western Sydney come forward for testing, after fragments of the virus were found in a sewage treatment plant in Liverpool.
“Our focus is particularly on Western Sydney and southwestern Sydney. So, as a special call-out to those communities – please come forward for testing,” she said.
“That will allow us to block any unrecognised chains of transmission.”
Dr Chant added the health authorities are “confident” the Avalon cluster is now under control, but need “ongoing assistance” from the community in ensuring there is no transmission related to the Berala cluster.
David Rogers 12.07pm: CPI beats expectations in strengthened economy
Australia’s CPI data for the December quarter were stronger than expected as the economy strengthened after unprecedented policy support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Headline CPI quarter-on-quarter slowed to 0.9 per cent from 1.6 per cent in the September quarter, but exceeded a 0.7 per cent rise expected by market economists.
A 0.9pc rise in the headline CPI on a year-on-year basis also beat a 0.7 per cent rise expected by the market.
The Australian dollar rose slightly after the report but later fell back to 0.7752.
At the All groups level, seven capital cities saw rises ranging from 0.6 per cent in Darwin to 1.5 per cent in Melbourne for the quarter, the ABS said.
Perth was the only exception, recording a fall of 1 per cent due to the $600 household electricity credit introduced by the state government from 1 November.
Tobacco rose in all capital cities, due to the annual excise tax increase of 12.5 per cent and the bi-annual excise tax increase based on Average Weekly Ordinary Time Earnings indexation, both applied on 1 September 2020.
Furnishings, household equipment and services rose in all capital cities due to child care, following the cessation of free child care on 13 July.
Out-of-pocket expenses for child care have now returned to pre-COVID levels in all capital cities, the ABS noted.
Melbourne recorded a higher rise in the December 2020 quarter due to the increase in the out-of-pocket expenses for child care as attendance levels returned following stage 4 lockdown in the September quarter.
Health rose in all capital cities due to increases in private health insurance premiums on the 1 October 2020, following a six-month price freeze.
FOLLOW live ASX updates at Trading Day
Ellie Dudley 11.40am: All known contacts of NZ case test negative
NZ COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins has confirmed that all known close contacts of the case found earlier this week have been tested and are negative.
The case was discovered to be of the more infectious South African variant and had been out in the region of Northland, north of Auckland.
Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield described the negative tests of the close contacts as “encouraging” but said “we’re not breathing out yet.”
READ MORE: Pandemic cartoons – where do you draw the line?
Joseph Lam 11.28am: Parents warned over back to school photo posts
Parents are being urged not to post back-to-school pictures online as the increased presence of children online during the pandemic has given child offenders “more opportunities to target potential victims.”
Australian Federal Police calling on parents to lock down privacy settings before posting images after revealing that instances of grooming have occurred from images shared online from parents and carers.
AFP Child Protection Operations commander Hilda Sirec said while the first day of school is a milestone for many parents, there’s potential for harm in images circulating online.
“It is more important than ever to ensure parents, carers and our young people are educated about online safety,” she said.
“The increase of children being online during the pandemic year has also meant offenders have more opportunities to target potential victims.”
READ MORE: Why home ownership is more important than super
Ellie Dudley 11.13am: NSW eyes easing limits as zero cases recorded
New South Wales has recorded no new cases of locally acquired COVID-19 for the tenth day in a row.
Two new cases were reported in overseas travellers in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The state currently has 63 active cases.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 27, 2021
A total of 9723 tests were recorded yesterday, slightly up from 7819 the day prior.
“The continuing low testing numbers is a concern, as the virus may still be circulating in the community,” NSW Health worker Dr Jeremy McAnulty said.
“It’s vital that everyone comes forward immediately for testing if they have even the slightest of symptoms.”
Dr McAnulty also addressed concerns regarding fragments of COVID-19 that were found in a sewage treatment plant in Liverpool, asking anyone who lives or works in the area to come forward for testing.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this morning that state health authorities are meeting for crisis cabinet today, and will be looking to ease restrictions later this week.
“We are looking forward to hopefully … making an announcement later this week,” she told Today.
“We will be having meetings today and tomorrow and working out what the new settings should be. I am hoping to do that tomorrow or the day after at the latest, to give the community that hope and confidence that we’ve been doing very well and we are able to take the next step.“
Restrictions that will be addressed include limits on people gathering in homes, outdoor gatherings and mask mandates.
Ms Berejiklian has also urged NSW residents to come forward for testing, as it gives health authorities a greater degree of confidence that all strains of transmission are being captured.
“If you wait and you see somebody or unintentionally spread it you will feel guilty for a long time,” she warned.
READ MORE: Future Fund warns of economic shocks ahead
Ellie Dudley 11.00am: Praise for police on ‘difficult’ Australia Day
NSW Police Minister David Elliott has praised the work of the police force in monitoring crowds on Australia Day amid “very difficult circumstances” due to the weather and large crowds.
“I can’t believe that anybody in January 2021 isn’t aware of the risks and they certainly were warned that these sorts of gatherings would be dispersed by the police if they were breaching public health orders,” Mr Elliott told Sky News.
A number of fines were handed out to people who failed to follow coronavirus restrictions, many of which were at illegal beach parties across the state.
One of the beach parties in Lilli Pilli rapidly dispersed when the police arrived on the scene, Mr Elliot said.
“The police more than anybody want to see people getting back to enjoying their lives because the mental health and the anxiety and the concerns that are raised in communities when these sorts of restrictions are imposed, create more problems for the police than they would normally have,” he added.
READ MORE: From backyard to capital, a country tells its stories
Richard Ferguson 10.49am: US, Australia to ‘remain mates’: Defence Secretary
Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and new US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin have spoken for the first time, with the two agreeing on the need for a “free and open” Indo-Pacific.
Mr Austin — a former four-star US army general who led operations in ISIS — tweeted on Wednesday that the US and Australia would remain “mates” under his leadership of the Pentagon.
“Excellent introductory call with Australia’s Minister for Defence @lindareynoldswa Reaffirmed The Unbreakable Alliance. The U.S. and Australia stand together as mates, as we have for over 100 years, ready to face the challenges and threats to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said.
Excellent introductory call with Australia’s Minister for Defence @lindareynoldswa. Reaffirmed The Unbreakable Alliance. The U.S. and Australia stand together as mates, as we have for over 100 years, ready to face the challenges and threats to a free and open Indo-Pacific. pic.twitter.com/k65W3j4IR6
— Secretary of Defense Austin (@SecDef) January 26, 2021
The Austin-Reynolds call is the second major Australian discussion with Biden officials since Energy Minister Angus Taylor and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate John Kerry agreed this week to set up a joint working group on low emissions technology.
Josh Frydenberg and Foreign Minister Marise Payne have also this week welcomed the confirmations of their new US counterparts Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken respectively.
Senator Reynolds said today her focus in their new partnership would to be to progress force posture exercises and co-operate on defence industry and technology.
“During our call, I conveyed to Secretary Austin my focus this year on progressing bilateral force posture initiatives, defence industry co-operation, and enhancing our regional activities including with regional and global partners,” she said in a statement.
“We reaffirmed the Indo-Pacific as a key Alliance focus, and that Australia and the United States will continue to work side-by-side with allies and partners to maintain a region that is secure, prosperous, inclusive and rules-based.
“We agreed it is vital that we continue working together across the breadth of our relationship as the Indo-Pacific region evolves and faces new challenges.”
READ MORE: Editorial — Xi’s pitch abounded with irony
Ellie Dudley 10.25am: Getting virus under control ‘helping economic recovery’
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says Australia’s economic recovery hinges on the success of its vaccine roll out.
Today, the International Monetary Fund adjusted Australia’s economic forecast, predicting the country will experience a 3.5 per cent growth this year.
The organisation’s previous outlook cited only a 0.5 per cent growth.
“The fact that our economy is recovering and the jobs are coming back significantly … is a function of us getting the virus under control,” Mr Frydenberg told ABC radio. “The vaccine and its rollout is going to be critical to maintaining that momentum.”
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers said while parts of the Australian economy are recovering, the IMF’s predictions highlight challenges of high rates of unemployment and underemployment.
Mr Chalmers also noted the IMF warns that governments must “maintain support until a vaccine is broadly deployed”.
“The Morrison government should not and cannot congratulate themselves while more than two million Australians are either without a job or don’t have enough hours and wages are stagnant,” he said in a statement.
TRADING DAY: ASX slips in early trade
Ellie Dudley 10.18am: Queensland goes another day with zero local cases
Queensland has recorded no new cases of locally transmitted coronavirus in the past 24 hours.
One new case was detected in hotel quarantine and was acquired overseas.
A total of 4638 tests were conducted yesterday. The state now has 12 active cases.
Adeshola Ore 10.12am: Payne welcomes new US Secretary of State
Foreign Minister Marise Payne has congratulated the new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken after he was confirmed by the Senate in Washington DC this morning.
“Will continue to work closely to uphold the rules based order, defend human rights & promote a stable, prosperous & secure Indo-Pacific,” Senator Payne tweeted.
Warm congratulations to @ABlinken on your confirmation as US Secretary of State. 🇦🇺 & 🇺🇸 will continue to work closely to uphold the rules based order, defend human rights & promote a stable, prosperous & secure Indo-Pacific.@AusintheUS@USAembassyinOZ
— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) January 26, 2021
Mr Blinken served as President Joe Biden’s top foreign-policy adviser during his election campaign. He also held the role of deputy secretary of state during President Barack Obama’s second term and as national security adviser to Mr Biden while he served as vice president.
READ MORE: Gottliebsen — High Court asked to back tax unfairness
Ellie Dudley 9.38am: Retail workers ‘essential’, says Zahra
Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra says retail workers should be considered essential service workers as part of the vaccine roll out.
“What the retail industry is looking for is being prioritised as part of essential service,” Mr Zahra told the ABC this morning.
“You want to give customers confidence that when they are shopping in a story, that they are dealing with people who have been vaccinated.
“Confidence does drive retail spending, so it is a really major aspect of the recovery plan.”
Mr Zahra said he did not know what would happen once the JobKeeper and JobSeeker wage stimulus ended in March, but said the retail industry needed “greater support” in order to survive.
“We understand it is not an open cheque book, but there is a requirement for some specific categories,” he said.
“If you are a CBD operator, a sole operator, cafe, restaurants who was either in complete shutdown or in shutdown for most of the year last year — those are particular industries that will need strong government help.”
READ MORE: IT sector forecast to rebound
Ellie Dudley 9.18am: Biden promises transparency in vaccine ramp up
Joe Biden says his government will increase the transparency with states, cities and partners when it comes to vaccine supplies.
Aiming to deliver 100 million doses of the vaccine within 100 days across the nation, the US President today said the country needs to “ramp up the vaccine supply as fast as we can.”
“This is the most difficult operational challenge we’ve ever undertaken as a nation,” he said.
“It’s no secret that once our government arrived the vaccine program was in worse shape than anticipated. That’s why I directed my COVID team to step up the vaccination efforts immediately.”
Mr Biden said his government would increase weekly distribution of vaccines to states from 8.6 million doses to a minimum of 10 million doses.
This effort is a part of a wide $1.9 trillion US pandemic recovery plan.
READ MORE: Peter Jennings — Xi’s window of opportunity to exploit Covid, new presidency
Jade Gailberger 9.10am: Ad blitz to promote vaccination to all Aussies
The safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines will be splashed across the nation as part of the federal government’s $24m advertising blitz.
The information campaign starting on Wednesday will include when, how and where Australians can get the jab as the vaccines become available.
Priority groups such as the elderly, healthcare workers, quarantine and border staff will be among the first to get a dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
The campaign follows the jab gaining provisional approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
“This campaign will help every Australian to understand how the vaccine works and how it will keep them and their family safe,” Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
“I am confident, given Australia’s high vaccination coverage rates, that Australians will take up a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine in equally high numbers.”
Mr Hunt said the information in the three-phase campaign was based on advice from independent medical experts.
The ads will reaffirm that COVID-19 vaccines have been put through Australia’s world-leading independent approvals process to ensure they are safe and effective.
They will also inform people about dosage requirements.
The campaign will run across platforms including television, radio, newspapers and social media.
READ MORE: Victoria, NSW lag in economic rebound
Adeshola Ore 8.43am: Trump supporters’ anti-Semitic views ‘frightening’
Josh Frydenberg says the anti-Semitic ideologies promoted by Donald Trump supporters in the recent storming of Capitol Hill in Washington was “truly frightening.”
Images of the violent riots earlier this month showed protesters wearing T-shirts with anti-Semitic slogans.
The Treasurer described the event as “frightening, despicable and disgusting”.
“To see that in the nation of the United States, in their capital, was truly frightening and I think it should for all of us send a very chilling message that we need to redouble our efforts to ensure we say never again,” he told the ABC.
The Morrison government has marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day today by pledging $750,000 towards the establishment of a museum in the nation’s capital.
“We have seen a rise in that anti-semitisim and I think an understanding of The Holocaust but also the importance of tolerance and diversity across our community is very important,” Mr Frydenberg told the ABC.
“Understanding The Holocaust and learning the lessons of the past is critical to a better future for us all.”
READ MORE: Senate now to deal with Trump
Ellie Dudley 8.39am: Australia’s economy to grow faster than forecast
Australia’s economy will grow faster than previously forecast this year, as global growth accelerates following the rollout of coronavirus vaccines, the International Monetary Fund says.
In new forecasts released overnight, the Washington-based organisation said it now expects global output to increase 5.5 per cent this year, higher than the 5.3 per cent it expected in October. The global economy shrunk 3.5 per cent, less than the 4.4 per cent forecast, it said.
The Australian economy is now projected to grow 3.5 per cent this year — 0.5 per cent higher than forecast in October – and 2.9 per cent in 2022.
The IMF also upgraded the US economy, from the 3.1 per cent growth in 2021 forecast in October to 5.1 per cent, as well as India, Brazil and Japan.
China, the only economy which grew last year despite the pandemic, is expected to grow 8.1 per cent this year, a slight decrease in earlier projections.
READ the full story here
Rachel Baxendale 8.32am: Happy 21st for Victoria with another zero day
Victoria has recorded its 21st day with no new locally acquired coronavirus cases.
There were two new cases detected in Internation return travellers in hotel quarantine in the 24 hours to Wednesday.
Yesterday 0 locally acquired cases were reported, 2 in hotel quarantine. 21 days since the last locally acquired case. 13,612 test results were received, thanks #EveryTestHelps.
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) January 26, 2021
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco #COVID19VicData #COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/H1avVTR9Sm
The state currently has 32 active coronavirus cases, at least nine of which are linked to the Australian Open tennis tournament.
The latest figures come after 13,612 tests were processed on Tuesday.
READ MORE: ‘Birdwatchers’ to help Twitter take on fake news, misinformation
Ellie Dudley 8.25am: Pregnant pause on vaccine advice for expectant mums
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan says federal health authorities are waiting for more advice before recommendations are given to pregnant women about the vaccine.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation will provide clarity on the safety of vaccinating women who are pregnant, thinking of getting pregnant or breastfeeding, Professor McMillan said.
“They’re not part of the target group right now but we’ll make sure we give them the best information so they can make the right choices about themselves and their baby,” she told the ABC this morning.
Professor McMillian also said the government does not have a target for the vaccine rollout, but Australians should be reassured by the uptake of the flu vaccination last year.
“It was the greatest uptake. We do know that Australians are great at having vaccines, so we want to get as many of those people we can get vaccinated … but we don’t have a figure in mind,” she said.
READ MORE: Landlords urge workers to return to city offices
Adeshola Ore 8.11am: ‘We’re not about to fund a new coal-fired power station’
Josh Frydenberg has ruled out funding coal-fired power stations after National MPs proposed a sector blueprint to support manufacturers, reigniting divisions on climate change within the Coalition.
City-based Liberal MPs have criticised the Nationals’ proposal and rejected the need for new coal-fired power stations subsidised by the federal government.
“We’re not about to fund a new coal-fired power station,” Mr Frydenberg told the ABC.
“What we are in the process of doing is encouraging security of supply, more affordable power and reducing our carbon footprint.”
“Decisions about coal-fired power stations are going to be commercial ones.”
READ MORE: Barnaby Joyce — Coalition ‘marriage’ is not working for the Nationals
Adeshola Ore 8.00am: No expectations vaccines will be delayed: Frydenberg
Josh Frydenberg says he does not expect the delivery of Australia’s COVID vaccines will be delayed, despite the European Union’s recent export threat.
The EU says it may tighten vaccine export controls on jabs made in its region. AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech have both said they face production issues which will hinder supply.
The Treasurer said the arrival date for Australia’s 10 million doses of Pfizer and four million of AstraZeneca were still on track. The government will begin rolling out the Pfizer vaccine in late February.
Asked if he was worried about the EU’s warning, Mr Frydenberg said “obviously we wouldn’t welcome that.”
“As the World Health Organisation has said, the vaccine needs to be spread as broadly and as widely as possible,” he told the ABC.
READ MORE: Doctors slam TGA for critical shortages
Ellie Dudley 7.45am: Berejiklian looks to easing restrictions this week
NSW health authorities will discuss the loosening of restrictions this week, after the state recorded its ninth day in a row with no community transmitted cases yesterday.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she hoped to make an announcement by the end of the week.
“I think perhaps people will be looking forward to welcoming more people into their homes, and we will look at mask policy moving forward. The hospitality sector also wants certainty moving forward,” Ms Berejiklian told the ABC.
Ms Berejiklian also said fragments of the virus detected in sewage surveillance in western Sydney this week could be an old case, or an undetected strain.
“The health experts always say to the public when there is detection of the virus in sewage, come forward and get tested if you live in those suburbs,” she said.
When asked about Liberal backbencher Criag Kelly’s questioning of the necessity of the vaccine and recommendation of alternative medicines, Ms Berejiklian said “I just focus on what I need to focus on.”
“My view is that all of us should always follow health advice,” she added.
READ MORE: Businesses push for office return
Ellie Dudley 7.35am: Global Covid cases top 100 million
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases around the world passed 100 million on Tuesday, as nations race to vaccinate their populations against the deadly virus.
Health experts say the true count could be much higher due to different countries’ varied testing capabilities and reporting protocols.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the US leads the world in both infections and deaths, recording 25 million cases since the pandemic began and over 423,000 fatalities.
Globally, more than half a million new cases were recorded nearly every day since late October 2020, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Johns Hopkins University data.
More than 2.14 million deaths from the virus have been recorded worldwide since the pandemic began, although the true toll is likely far worse.
READ MORE: This is the hour for multilateralism: Merkel
Ellie Dudley 7.25am: $24m vaccine ad campaign rolled out
A $24 million advertising campaign encouraging Australians to get the COVID-19 vaccine has begun its roll out today.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the campaign would be rolled out across traditional and social media, and would give everyone all the information they need about the efficacy, the safety and the availability of the vaccines.
The Head of the Therapeutic Goods Association Professor John Skerritt features in the advertisements, saying the vaccine won’t be approved unless there is enough evidence proving it is safe and it works.
The campaign comes just after the approval of the Pfizer vaccine earlier this week. The vaccine is expected to arrive in Australia in mid-February.
READ MORE: trans-Tasman bubble in trouble
Ellie Dudley 7.15am: US toll climbs above 423,000
The US COVID-19 death toll has climbed above 423,000, as President Joe Biden prepares to implement his trillion dollar pandemic response plan.
The President has set his target for daily vaccinations to 1.5 million Americans a day, up from 1 million previously.
On Monday Mr Biden signed an executive order to increase government purchases of vaccines from US manufacturers.
The US continues to lead the world by reported cases, at more that 25 million, according to data aggregated by Johns Hopkins University.
Mr Biden has urged Congress to pass his proposed $1.9 trillion financial aid package, saying the US was in urgent need of relief.
A national vaccination program, aid to reopen schools, direct payments of $1,400 to individuals, and financial relief for state and local governments are all included in the plan.
“Time is of the essence,” Mr Biden said. “I am reluctant to cherrypick and take out one or two items here.”
READ MORE: Positive corona side-effect
Ellie Dudley 6.45am: Poorest nations ‘watch and wait’ for vaccinations
None of the world’s 29 poorest nations have started mass COVID-19 vaccination drives, while the richest countries have given more than two thirds of the 69 million jabs administered so far.
Sixty-nine per cent, or 47.5 million doses, have been given to the world’s wealthiest populations, an AFP tally found on Tuesday.
“Rich countries are rolling out vaccines, while the world’s least-developed countries watch and wait,” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday.
“Every day that passes, the divide grows larger between the world’s haves and have nots,” he told a press conference at which he warned against “vaccine nationalism”.
For developing countries Guinea is leading the charge, having vaccinated a couple of dozen as a trial.
Middle income countries are not faring well either, with only the richest among them – including China, Russia, Turkey and Brazil – getting 28 per cent of the total jabs on offer.
Ellie Dudley 6.30am: Britain death toll passes 100,000
Britain has passed 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, becoming the first country in Europe to mark the grim milestone.
Around 1,631 deaths were reported on Tuesday, bringing the total to 100,162 from nearly 3.7 million positive cases.
Despite rolling out vaccines across the country, Britain’s daily death toll has remained over 1000.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a news conference after that it was “hard to compute” the loss felt by families across the UK.
“I am deeply sorry for every life that has been lost and of course as prime minister I take full responsibility for everything that the government has done,” he said.
But he said the government, which has been criticised for its initial response to the outbreak, “did everything that we could to minimise suffering and minimise loss of life”.
The first cases of the virus were reported in Britain almost a year ago on January 29 2020, but Mr Johnson was initially relaxed about the outbreak, despite widespread calls for a lockdown.
A lockdown was introduced in March as cases rose. Questions have remained about the government’s approach, however, particularly its testing and tracing regime.
Since then, the country has endured another two waves of the virus, and is currently mired in its third and deadliest bout, blamed on a new variant that hit before Christmas.
National Health Service England chief Simon Stevens said around 250,000 people had so far required hospital treatment after catching the virus.
“This is not a year that anyone is going to want to remember nor is it a year that anyone across the health service will ever forget,” he said.
READ MORE: Calls to set for foreign students’ return
Ellie Dudley 6.15am: EU vaccine row threatens distribution to Australia
The European Union has revealed much tougher processes on exporting COVID-19 vaccines amid a row with AstraZeneca, potentially limiting the supplies available to Australia.
Last week, AstraZeneca informed the EU it was behind its supply target because of major obstacles in production.
Pfizer has also said supplies of its vaccine will be lower than first projected and will potentially slow the EU’s vaccination drive.
Under the EU’s new “transparency” system, all vaccine manufacturers will have to ask for permission before vials can be sent outside the region, potentially slowing down the distribution process or stopping it entirely.
While Australia intends on producing the AstraZeneca vaccine on home turf in Melbourne, the 10 million doses purchased from Pfizer will be manufactured in Belgium.
The AstraZeneca row could also impact supplies to the UK of the Pfizer vaccine, which has been developed by the US and Germany.
Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said the EU would “take any action required to protect its citizens.”
“The European Union wants to know exactly which doses have been produced by AstraZeneca and where exactly so far and if or to whom they have been delivered,” she said.
Both Pfizer and AstraZeneca have blamed production and supply chain problems for lowering the expected shipments of vaccines to the EU’s 27 countries.
READ MORE: Doctors slam TGA for critical shortages
Natasha Robinson 5.10am: Concerns over vaccine efficacy for the elderly
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is assessing “all of the evidence” on how well the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine works in the elderly as medical researchers expressed concerns that older people were not included in clinical trials in large enough numbers.
But Australian health officials said they were confident both the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines would be effective against new variants of COVID-19 that have swept through the UK, South Africa and Brazil.
The TGA was assessing a tranche of data not yet publicly revealed by AstraZeneca, which provides greater detail on the efficacy of the vaccine in those over 65, with the company’s first phase three trial only testing the vaccine on limited numbers of elderly.
AstraZeneca on Tuesday dismissed as “completely incorrect” reports in two separate German newspapers that suggested officials in Europe were concerned the vaccine had low efficacy in the elderly. German authorities also said the reports were not correct.
Read the full story here.
Robyn Ironside 5am: trans-Tasman bubble in trouble, Ardern says
Australia’s reaction to a highly infectious COVID-19 case in New Zealand could dash hopes of a trans-Tasman bubble being established before Easter.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday described Australia’s three-day halt to quarantine-free travel by New Zealanders as disappointing, and a potential threat to a trans-Tasman travel arrangement.
Australia had allowed New Zealanders to visit without the need to quarantine since late last year, but the same privilege has not been afforded to Aussies.
Read the full story here.
Jade Gailberger 4.45am: COVID-19 traces found at seven new Qld sites
Traces of COVID-19 have been detected in sewage at seven more Queensland sites.
Viral fragments of the virus were found at wastewater treatment plants at Cairns South, Cairns Marlin Coast, Nambour, Maroochydore, Pulgul at Hervey Bay, Condon at Townsville, and Yeppoon.
Queensland recorded no new coronavirus cases on Tuesday.
However, chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young said authorities were treating the detections seriously.
Read the full story here.
Add your comment to this story
Power giant reaches ‘greenwash’ settlement
A first of its kind case in Australia has targeted ‘carbon-neutral’ marketing claims, marking the first time a major energy provider faced legal action for alleged greenwashing.
Sin City pips rivals as culture king
Sydney took the national crown in cultural rankings, but local musicians and artists say more needs to be done to increase the sector’s financial viability.
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout