Coronavirus Australia live news: Gladys Berejiklian announces modest lifting of Christmas restrictions
Despite just eight new cases recorded in NSW today, Gladys Berejiklian has kept the restrictions on most households to 10 adult visitors.
- Qantas staff member tests positive
- Warning over Covid test scam texts
- Virus alert for NSW regional town
- Stranded Aussies face fear, loathing
Welcome to live coverage of Australia’s response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
Gladys Berejiklian has announced small changes in Christmas restrictions for the northern beaches and Greater Sydney, with up to 10 people plus children allowed in most homes, as the state records eight new cases.
AFP 11.45pm: Macron doing better after Covid infection
French President Emmanuel Macron, who contracted COVID-19 last week, is doing better, his office said on Wednesday.
Mr Macron tested positive for the virus on Thursday showing symptoms of fatigue, coughing and muscle pains.
The president, who self-confined in an official residence near Paris from where he is running meetings remotely, had promised daily updates on his health.
He is now “showing signs of improvement,” his office said, without giving details.
All previous daily updates had said that the 43-year old president was in a “stable” condition.
The French authorities are concerned that the holiday period could see a new spike in infections, after the country’s total COVID-19 death toll went above 60,000 last week.
Authorities said late Tuesday that nearly 12,000 new cases had been reported in the previous 24 hours, and 386 deaths.
A vaccination campaign is to start on Sunday, with health workers and older people among the first to get COVID-19 shots, the government said.
The EU gave the green light for the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Monday, paving the way for the first inoculations to start across 27 countries soon after Christmas.
Yoni Bashan 10.45pm: Fireworks still on to say ‘good riddance 2020’
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve festivities are almost certain to proceed as planned but under tightly managed restrictions and extensive crowd control measures, with key ministers supporting the fireworks and other CBD events continuing despite the spectre of COVID-19 transmissions present on the northern beaches.
A final decision is expected to be made next Wednesday in relation to NYE celebrations, when the crisis committee of the cabinet once again meets to discuss the state’s progress against the COVID-19 cluster and whether end-of-year events should continue.
The Australian understands senior members of cabinet are in favour of events proceeding as scheduled as long as they are conducted under tight controls and no significant upticks of COVID-19 cases are detected.
One official said the monitoring of cases would continue over the coming days, with discussions around the fireworks display — a seven-minute event to be held at midnight — likely to proceed without issue. They said initial discussions would be held after Christmas.
The NSW government has previously announced that a permit system would be used to control access to key vantage points, while other areas of the city will have restricted entry using ticketing and passes for residents, frontline workers and others who hold event bookings.
Eight fresh cases of the virus were recorded in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, all of which were linked to the Avalon cluster on the northern beaches. One additional case involving a Qantas aircrew worker came to light during the Premier’s press briefing.
READ THE FULL STORY
AFP 10pm: Swiss start vaccinations
Switzerland started its COVID-19 vaccine rollout on Wednesday, with a care home resident in her 90s becoming the first person to receive an approved shot.
The woman, who lives in the Lucerne region in central Switzerland, was given the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine just four days after it was approved by national regulators.
Switzerland is battling stubbornly high coronavirus cases.
“I am very satisfied that we have now been able to start vaccinations in the canton of Lucerne,” the region’s health services chief Guido Graf said.
“These vaccinations are an important element in the fight against the coronavirus.”
Switzerland is battling high levels of new cases and deaths. The country of 8.6 million people has seen a total of more than 415,000 infections and over 6300 deaths since the pandemic began.
The Swissmedic regulatory authority announced on Saturday that it had approved the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine following a two-month rolling review.
“After a meticulous review of the available information, Swissmedic concluded that the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech is safe and that its benefit outweighs the risks,” Swissmedic said.
The elderly and those with pre-existing conditions — two million people in total — will be first in line for immunisation.
More elderly and nursing home residents in Lucerne will receive the first of the two required vaccine doses in the coming days, the canton said. The second jab is administered three weeks after the first.
READ MORE: A bridge not far enough for Christmas
Jamie Walker 9.15pm: Festivity-lite maybe, but we’ll celebrate with gusto
You couldn’t blame anyone for wanting to see the back of a year that challenged Australians with bushfires, COVID and then more COVID. We’re so over that virus.
But this is Christmas, a time to count our blessings and hold close loved ones, to be thankful we not only survived but mostly thrived despite all that was thrown at us.
We will gather in happy groups, big and small, to cut the ham and devour prawns, those staples of an Australian festive spread. The plum pudding will be served al dente with ice cream, washed down by a glass or two of chilled white wine, maybe a soft drink. We’ll settle in for the duration.
Sarah Elks 8.30pm: Public servants’ super at risk of deficit
Queensland’s public service superannuation fund has been hit hard by COVID-19 and Treasurer Cameron Dick’s debt-reduction scheme, and has a near-50 per cent chance of plunging into deficit any year in the next four.
The state has the only fully funded bureaucrat super fund in the country, but an investigation reveals the fund’s surplus has dived from $7.3bn in mid-2019 to $3.6bn at June 30 this year.
On some measures — including the accounting basis that the government uses in its budget papers — the fund has an accrued deficit of $2.8bn and an actuarial deficit of $6bn.
Angelica Snowden 7.45pm: Lobster is the new ham
Queen Victoria Market’s George the Fishmonger has not seen a spike in sales of crayfish on the scale of the past few weeks in years, after completely selling out of lobsters on Wednesday.
“(Christmas Eve) is a very big day … but the lead-up was almost an 80 per cent rise on last year,” said George Milonas.
At least half a tonne of lobsters have already sold this week, and after his store sold out of them on Wednesday Mr Milonas said he would try to fly in more stock for Thursday for the Christmas Eve rush.
Daniela Hernandez, Joanna Sugden, Betsy McKay 7pm: New Covid strain splits scientists
Scientists around the world are racing to assess the dangers posed by a new variant of the coronavirus that has spread rapidly in Britain, as more countries shut their borders to travellers from the UK in an effort to keep it out.
Epidemiologists and virologists advising the British government say initial evidence indicates the new strain is more contagious than older variants, but that so far there are no signs that it causes more severe disease.
Transmissibility — how easily the virus spreads from one person to another — and the seriousness of the illness it causes are both important metrics for gauging the potential threat. And scientists say there is still much they don’t know.
Viruses mutate naturally, particularly RNA viruses like the new coronavirus. Many variants of the new coronavirus have surfaced since it raced around the world.
AFP 6pm: Elephant Santas spread virus awareness
Christmas and Thailand’s love of elephants combined on Wednesday when four of the giant creatures dressed as Santa turned up at a school just outside Bangkok, complete with huge coronavirus masks.
Excited children from Jirasat Wittaya School in Ayutthaya, an hour’s drive from the capital, sang Christmas carols and lined up to have their photos taken with the animals in the annual tradition.
The elephants, Sri Mongkon, 14, Sri Raya, 6, Peter, 15, and King Kaew, 18, used their trunks to carry baskets of face masks to the youngsters and motorists outside the school.
English and science teacher Brett Baxter said the event brought a special kind of Christmas spirit coupled with a flavour of Thailand.
“It’s fantastic for the children. It mixes two cultures together. It’s not just about Santa Claus... the culture of Thailand is based around elephants,” he said.
Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam, the country now known as Thailand, is considered the birthplace of the kingdom’s Catholic community.
European Catholic missionaries built a church on the banks of the Chao Phraya River three centuries ago.
Ittipan Paolamai, the manager of Ayutthaya’s elephant palace, where the animals are cared for, said the school visit had been held for 17 years.
“This year due to the pandemic as well as the recent outbreak, we used this opportunity to raise public awareness about the spread of COVID-19,” he said.
Thailand, a country of 70 million people, has registered more than 5700 coronavirus infections and in the past week there has been a spike of more than 1000 cases linked to an outbreak at a Thai seafood market.
READ MORE: Warning after Qantas flight COVID case
AFP 5pm: UK ferry passengers disembark in Calais after deal
Passengers from Britain disembarked from ferries in the port of Calais on Wednesday following Britain and France’s deal easing a cross-border travel ban imposed over the discovery of a new coronavirus variant.
Much of Europe swiftly banned entry by British travellers and UK freight after a more transmissible strain of the coronavirus was found in Britain.
The “Cotes des Flandres” ferry — the first ship to leave Dover after the restrictions were lifted — arrived at around 3.30am (1.30pm, AEDT), followed shortly afterwards by P&O’s Spirit of France.
A handful of passenger vehicles disembarked from the two ships but port management said traffic was not expected to pick up until later in the day.
UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced Britain and France had agreed to a deal that “will see the French border reopen to those travelling for urgent reasons, provided they have a certified negative Covid test”.
However, he urged truck drivers not to head towards Channel ports hoping to be able to board ferries or trains.
French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebarri also confirmed that air travel, ferries and Eurostar trains would “resume service as of tomorrow morning”.
“French nationals, people living in France and those with a legitimate reason will have to be carrying a negative test,” he said.
More than truckslorries have been stranded in southern England, unable to make the crossing to France.
READ MORE: Palaszczuk fires latest shot at Berejiklian
Ben Packham 4.15pm: Payne weighs more repatriation flights
The Morrison government will consider organising new repatriation flights for Australians stranded in Britain who have been affected by Singapore and Hong Kong travel bans on passengers from the country, Foreign Minister Marise Payne says.
The transit countries have announced bans on all UK flights due to the country’s new fast-streading COVID-19 strain, leaving routes through Middle East stop-over countries as the only option for Australians trying to come home.
Senator Payne said her department would help Australians stranded in Britain to access alternative flights home, including — potentially — new government-organised repatriation flights.
“Our global diplomatic network is assisting Australians who have been affected by flight restrictions put in place by Singapore and Hong Kong in response to the new COVID-19 strain in the United Kingdom,” she said.
“This includes help to rebook on alternative flights, including Australian government-facilitated flights.
“The government will consider operating further facilitated flights for Australians whose flights have been cancelled due to border closures.”
The government was organising flights from a range of countries including Britain, Senator Payne said.
The next official repatriation flights from London are due to arrive in Darwin on December 30 and January 16.
Passengers on the flights will undergo 14 days of mandatory quarantine at Howard Springs.
READ MORE: 36 suburbs out of Sydney placed on high alert
AFP 3.45pm: Mexico to start vaccinations
Mexico will begin COVID-19 immunisations on Thursday, a day after the country receives its first batch of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, Undersecretary of Health Hugo Lopez-Gatell says.
“Tomorrow the first consignment of the Pfizer vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 arrives,” he said on Twitter.
“There will be a press opportunity and then the vaccine will be safeguarded until its use on Thursday, December 24, the day vaccinations start.”
READ MORE: Boomers an albatross around taxpayers’ necks
Jack Paynter 3.10pm: Christmas divided: Modest easing of restrictions
Sydneysiders will be allowed to have Christmas with up to 10 visitors at their home under new coronavirus restrictions announced on Wednesday, not including children.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced “modest changes” to Sydney’s coronavirus restrictions over the Christmas period.
The Premier said the risk was too high to make greater changes.
GREATER SYDNEY:
From Christmas Eve until Boxing Day residents in greater Sydney will be able to have 10 guests to their home.
Children aged under 12 are not included in the total of 10 people.
After Boxing Day the restrictions will revert back to 10 guests in a home, including children under 12.
NORTHERN REGION OF NORTHERN BEACHES:
Applies to residents north of the Narrabeen Bridge and east of the Baha’i Temple at Mona Vale Road.
People can have five visitors, including children, in their homes from December 24 to 26 but they must also be from the northern region of the northern beaches.
Residents cannot visit the southern region of the northern beaches.
SOUTHERN REGION OF THE NORTHERN BEACHES:
Applies to residents south of the Narrabeen Bridge.
Residents can have 10 guests in their homes from December 24 to 26, including from greater Sydney. Children aged under 12 are not included in the total of 10 people.
Local residents cannot leave the area to visit other parts of greater Sydney.
REGIONAL NSW
Current restrictions remain.
The Premier will announce new rules for the southern northern beaches region on Boxing Day.
Ms Berejiklian said on December 27 the restrictions would revert back to the current lockdown provisions for greater Sydney and the northern region of the northern beaches.
There will no changes to restrictions in regional NSW.
“We don’t want people from the northern beaches mingling in other parts of Sydney at this stage but you can welcome people in,” the Premier said on Wednesday morning.
“If you’re a resident of the northern part of the northern beaches, if you live north of the Narrabeen Bridge and east of the Baha’i Temple at Mona Vale Road, you cannot leave your area.
“You can’t accept anybody from outside your community and I apologise for that but we have to maintain a lockdown in that area.
“For all of greater Sydney, for all of the northern parts of the northern beaches, we will revert back to existing conditions on December 27.”
Ms Berejiklian warned residents could not have different groups of 10 people during the day.
“It’s one group of 10 and you have to stick that group of 10, plus kids under 12,” she said.
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said if a person had been designated a close contact they could not have visitors.
“If you have been designated as a close contact, you need to be in isolation,” she said.
“What isolation means is being in a room, going out for exercise, but not coming into
contact with anyone.”
Ms Berejiklian met with health officials on Wednesday morning to decide what the new restrictions would be from Christmas Day in Sydney.
The northern beaches lockdown was set to end at 11.59pm on Wednesday.
— NCA Newswire
Ellie Dudley 2.44pm: More venues added to NSW list of Covid concern
A number of new places have been added to the growing list of Sydney venues that may be a concern of COVID-19 threat, including sites at Auburn, Kings Park two more on the city’s upper north shore.
.@NSWHealth has been notified of a number of new and updated venues visited by confirmed cases of #COVID19. Read more: https://t.co/P7EWWIajXM
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 23, 2020
USA Nails & Footspa Gordon and Anytime Fitness Berowra have joined the list of venues people who have the virus have visited.
This comes after eight new cases were reported by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian at this morning’s press conference.
Anyone who attended the following venues are considered a close contact and must immediately get COVID tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether a negative result is received.
Hair By Erika, Lane Cove. The Village Shopping Centre, Burns Bay Road, Lane Cove: Friday December 11 2.30pm to 4.30pm
The Sands, Narrabeen. 1260 Pittwater Road, Narrabeen: Tuesday December 15 6pm to 8pm
Rusti Fig, Newport. 3/363 Barrenjoey Rd, Newport: Wednesday December 16 1pm to 2.30pm.
Cronulla RSL Club, Cronulla. 38R Gerrale Street, Cronulla: Wednesday December 16 5pm to closing.
Jess Malcolm 2.07pm: Calls to cancel Sydney’s NYE fireworks display
The Australian Medical Association is calling on the NSW government to cancel the iconic New Years Eve fireworks display over concerns crowds gathering at this time could be disastrous and put NSW at risk of a further outbreak.
AMA President Dr Omar Khorshid said the NSW government must continue to aim for zero community transmission and maintain overall restrictions that are currently in place across Sydney into the New Year.
“The NSW outbreak could not have come at a worse time,’’ Dr Khorshid said. “Even if we can’t hug, we can still celebrate Christmas via video call this year..
“We know that a decisive response where we go hard, and go early, remains the best strategy to tackle outbreaks like this one where there are gaps in information about the transmission of the virus and potential exposure sites are widespread.’’
The plea comes following claims from prominent health expert Raina MacIntyre who warned NYE could be a super-spreading event with potential to see case numbers balloon out to 3000 by January 8 if it goes ahead.
NSW residents will have to wait until after Christmas for any announcements from Gladys Berejiklian on how millions of Sydneysiders will ring in the new year.
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Evin Priest 1.52pm Woolies issues urgent recall on prawns
Woolworths has issued a total recall for its own-brand, 1kg bags of Cooked & Peeled Cocktail Prawns, just days before Christmas.
The prawns originate from Thailand and the recall, from Food Standards Australia was due to “potential microbial contamination”, which “may cause illness if consumed”.
A spokesman for Woolworths said its fresh seafood and other frozen seafood products remained safe.
“Our range of fresh prawns are unaffected by the recall and perfectly safe for our customers to enjoy this Christmas.”
The Woolworths-branded prawns were purchased at stores in Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia, and at Woolworths Metro stores in Victoria.
“Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund,” the Food Standards website recommended.
It is the third product recall for the supermarket giant this month, following Macro Almond, Brazil and Cashew Spread 250g and Hasbro Nerf Micro Shots Hammershot Assorted toys.
In a statement about the frozen prawn cocktails, a spokesman also said: “Woolworths is recalling these products due to microbiological contamination. This means the product is a possible health risk and can cause food poisoning symptoms.
“Consumers should return the product to their nearest Woolworths Supermarket or Metro for a full refund. Any customers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.
Customers should note that this recall applies to the above product with best before date 21/02/22 and no other products are affected by this recall.
“Woolworths takes product safety seriously and apologises for any inconvenience caused by this recall. Customers can call the toll-free customer service number for more information on 1800 103 515.”
— NCA Newswire
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Jess Malcolm 1.36pm: Northern beaches residents ‘worried, anxious’
Northern beaches mayor Michael Regan says it’s going to be “hard work” for residents in lockdown over the Christmas period, and expresses concern for local businesses who he says are only just recovering from the first shutdown.
Following Gladys Berejiklian’s announcement which saw the northern beaches split into two zones — north and south of the Narrabeen bridge — Mr Regan said it will be a big adjustment for the residents and clarity around messaging right now is critical.
“We were optimistic that we might get the 10 person rule and we all kind of hoped that we would be able to have greater Sydney welcomed back... and keeping those numbers to 10, I think we were being optimistic,” Mr Regan told the ABC.
“I think it is important for those around the country to know, there’s probably about 70,000 residents north of Narrabeen Bridge of our 270,000 population on the northern beaches.”
Mr Regan said the latest announcements are already creating some confusion, with residents contacting him trying to understand what the new rules mean for them.
“I have already had one lady reach out to me and ask how am I going to go from Warriewood over the bridge to grab my kids at Curl Curl?” Mr Regan said.
“They are worried, they are anxious and they want to understand the rules. Some restaurants have reached out and said does this mean we are still closed? Yes it does. We’re just to get the message clear for them and help them as much as we can.”
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Jess Malcolm 1.20pm: Number vaccinated agains Covid reaches 2.4m
More than 2.4 million people have been vaccinated against COVID-19, according new data collected by Bloomberg.
This is picked to be the start of the biggest vaccination campaign ever undertaken in history, with a number of countries across the world already rolling out vaccines for their citizens as part of the global fight against COVID-19.
The US is leading the way with over 11 million doses allotted. The country - which has been the worst hit by coronavirus - has secured 5.1 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 6 million doses of the Moderna vaccine set to be distributed this week.
Vaccinations began in the US on Dec 14 and there have been over 700,000 doses administered so far.
The Pfizer vaccine is also set to be rolled out to countries across Europe and the Middle East this week.
Pfizer and Moderna are the vaccine front runners, with both found to reduce coronavirus infections by 95 percent.
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Ellie Dudley 1.05pm: Singapore travel ban on UK ‘being assessed’
David Littleproud said the government is “still assessing” information regarding travel bans for the United Kingdom in Singapore and Hong Kong, stranding many Australians.
Travellers from the UK will be banned from stopping over in the two countries from 11.59pm December 23, in a response to a new strain of COVID-19 coming out of Britain.
“The Foreign Minister is obviously working through those issues, we have to respect their sovereignty as they respect ours,” the Agriculture Minister said. “They are a strategic partner of Australia.”
“They know that we have made a decision not to cancel any UK flights, and that will continue to be the case.”
Australia’s High Commission in the United Kingdom says it’s working to find alternative arrangements for Australians affected by new airport restrictions.
“We are absolutely aware of the disruption these measures have caused, and we understand the significant numbers of people it has impacted — our team will be providing support,” the High Commission said in a statement on Facebook this morning
There are around 40,000 Australians around the world trying to get home, a significant portion of them coming from the UK.
The Australian High Commission in the UK has said that it has been inundated by calls from concerned travellers who were anticipating transit through the airports.
READ MORE: 36 suburbs outside of Sydney on high alert
Rachel Baxendale 12.40pm: Contacts of Victorian teen released from quarantine
None of the close contacts of a 15-year-old girl who tested positive for coronavirus after returning to Melbourne from Sydney’s northern beaches have tested positive for the virus, Victorian testing commander Jeroen Weimar has confirmed.
Mr Weimar said the girl had been tested twice and returned a positive result on both occasions, but all of her close contacts, including her mother, with whom she drove home from Sydney, had been negative.
Secondary contacts of the household have been released from quarantine, but the girl’s primary contacts remain in isolation.
“There is an incubation period and we know that all people are not equally infectious to other people so it may well be entirely possible that this girl will continue her infection cycle, and that nobody else in her household contracts COVID, but we will always be safety first so we have asked all the members of that household to be isolated for 14 days and we’ve got,” Mr Weimar said.
He said the girl had been asymptomatic when she tested positive for the virus on Sunday, but had on Tuesday developed symptoms.
“I don’t know. I’m not her doctor,” Mr Weimar said when asked to describe the symptoms.
Rachel Baxendale 12.30pm: Victorian border closed to NSW through Christmas
Victoria’s borders will remain closed to Sydneysiders over Christmas, the state’s testing commander has confirmed.
Jeroen Weimar said Victorian authorities wanted to have confidence that everyone potentially exposed to the northern beaches coronavirus cluster had been isolated before they considered relaxing border restrictions.
From midnight on Monday night, anyone entering Victoria having visited greater Sydney or the NSW central coast since December 11 is to be compulsorily housed in hotel quarantine.
Mr Weimar said 35 NSW returnees had been sent to hotel quarantine since Monday - up from 17 on Tuesday.
“No,” the testing commander said when asked whether there was any chance Victoria’s borders would reopen to Sydney before Christmas.
“I’m not going to speculate day by day. I’m happy to talk to you every day about whether we’ll (reopen the borders) tonight, but we’re not going to do it tomorrow.
Mr Weimar praised people in Victoria and NSW for getting tested in their thousands, with 22,956 and 41,865 tests processed in each state respectively in the 24 hours to Wednesday.
“We’ve seen a phenomenal response by Victorians and by Sydneysiders in the way they’ve been handling this pandemic so I really want to recognize the way that Sydneysiders have responded by getting tested in their thousands, and we’re seeing a similar reflection of people here, who’ve been exposed to the Sydney issues.
“So I look I’m confident that the community is doing its part, that we’re all doing our part, but as we saw yesterday, you only need one case to come through before we start to have to chase it around the system again.”
On Tuesday, Victorian health authorities confirmed a 15-year-old girl who had returned to Melbourne after visiting exposure sites on Sydney’s northern beaches had tested positive for the virus.
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Charlie Peel 12.22pm: ‘Bit rich of NSW to blame Queensland’: Palaszczuk
The feud between Annastacia Palaszczuk and Gladys Berejiklian has been reignited after the Queensland premier lashed out at her NSW counterpart’s criticism of other states for closing their borders to some NSW residents.
Ms Berejiklian was clearly frustrated on Tuesday by the swift border closures announced by various states in response to the cluster of coronavirus cases in Sydney’s northern beaches.
“The various premiers have made various decisions about borders but I ask people to think about things compassionately and base it on the facts,” Ms Berejiklian said at a press conference.
“The only time that NSW has closed the border to anyone was (with) Victoria. Their case numbers were more than 140 before we took that decision, and it was subsequently and then up to 180.
“I use that fact to put things into perspective. Yes, of course, I’m concerned by what’s happening in NSW. But every response has to be proportionate to the risk.”
In a war of words that has grown throughout the pandemic, Ms Palaszczuk hit back on Wednesday, saying it was “a bit rich of NSW to start blaming Queensland” for its response.
“It was not just Queensland that took the tough measures of shutting the borders with NSW,” MS Palaszczuk said.
“The health advice of nearly every chief health officer across the country was advising their respective leaders exactly the same thing independently.”
“If there hadn’t been the cluster outbreak in the northern beaches, no one would have had to take these measures and everybody would have been seeing their family and friends over this Christmas New Year period.
“It is a bit rich for NSW to start blaming Queensland and Victoria and whatever other state and territory she want to blame.
“This has happened in NSW, it’s happened in the northern beaches, we wish them all the very best but we do not want our lifestyle compromised at this point in time.
“As soon as they get on top of that, the sooner we can get back to semi-normal as possible.”
Ms Palaszczuk also highlighted the importance of strict hotel quarantine measures for overseas passengers, which is the suspected cause of the Sydney cluster.
“We need to be absolutely strict when it comes to hotel quarantine in Queensland,” she said.
Queensland has recorded one new case of coronavirus overnight, from a traveler in hotel quarantine.
The state has gone 99 days without a diagnosed case of community transmission.
There are only 9 active cases in Queensland.
There were 13,000 COVID-19 tests carried out in the 24 hours since Tuesday morning.
READ MORE: Gladys lashes panicky premiers over borders
Jess Malcolm 12.15pm: Qantas staff member tests positive to Covid
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says that a Qantas staff member has tested positive for COVID-19. The person returned home from overseas via Darwin and then flew home on a domestic flight to Sydney on December 18.
Dr Chant advised that NSW Health has minimal information so far and advised people to be alert despite a number of precautions being taken.
“This news has just come through so we don’t have the flight details and any other details,” Dr Chant said.
“Please be on high alert and get tested if you’ve got the most minimal of symptoms.”
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Ellie Dudley 11.51am: No restrictions on movement between Sydney, NSW regions
There are no restrictions of movement in place between Sydney and regional NSW however NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has stressed people must take extra precautions, advising mask-wearing indoors.
“So whilst we’re not restricting any mobility between Greater Sydney and the regions, we’re just asking everybody to be extra cautious, extra care,” Ms Berejiklian said.
She also reiterated that anyone that was in the northern beaches and left the area to go to regional NSW or greater Sydney after December 10 should treat themselves as being in isolation or lockdown.
“What is most critical to us is that everybody tries to protect those closest and dearest to them being sensible in the next few days.”
Ms Berejiklian continued to urge New South Wales residents to come forward for testing, describing it as “our best insurance policy.”
“We need the community across New South Wales to come forward to testing,” Ms Berejiklian said
This request comes after eight new coronavirus cases were recorded in the last 24 hour, following 42,000 tests.
“We will also be watching closely the sewage surveillance, which is also our other early warning indicator,” she said.
Ellie Dudley 11.38am: Don’t visit northern beaches aged care: Chant
Kerry Chant has urged people not to visit aged care facilities in the northern region of the northern beaches, as “the risk is too high.”
“There will be exceptions in all cases, where someone may be at end of life and we need to take a pragmatic view,” the NSW Chief Health Officer said.
In terms of the southern end of the northern beaches and Greater Sydney, Dr Chant says the most cautious approach is not to have visitors in that area.
While she stressed that the NSW authorities want to allow visitors into aged care centres, she said it is important to limit visitor numbers.
“If it is not a significant event for you at that time as others and you can delay please do,” she said.
“We’re working with the aged care sector now and we’ll release more details and coherent advice when we’ve had input from the aged care sectors.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged anyone who is particularly vulnerable to the virus to not go into the northern beaches over the Christmas period.
On Wednesday morning the Premier announced that those living in the southern section of the northern beaches will be able to host 10 people in homes on December 24, 25 and 26, as well as children under 12.
However, she said those over 70, vulnerable people or anyone with a comorbidity should “think twice about going into the northern beaches area.”
“We’re trying to take everything into consideration, but the risks are still there,” she said.
Jess Malcolm 11.35am: Gather outside, Hazzard recommends
In light of some restrictions being relaxed over the Christmas period, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has encouraged residents of Sydney to gather outside, or consider not having people in their homes if it is not essential.
“I would say that anybody who is over the age of about 70 or anybody with other health issues, comorbidities, should think very seriously about whether or not they have people in their homes,” Mr Hazzard said.
Mr Hazzard also echoed Ms Berejiklian’s comments about QR codes, advising owners of hospitality venues they must be stricter when enforcing sign in procedures.
“There’s a certain flippancy in the way some businesses deal with this, putting a sticker on the table and expecting people to remember that is just not on in the middle of a pandemic.”
“We’re seeing people using dopey names like Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse, but one of the issues around the QR codes that is very concerning.”
Jess Malcolm 11.26am: Mystery case now linked to Avalon cluster
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said that genome sequencing has shown that the eighth mystery case from yesterday is linked to the Avalon cluster and health authorities are still investigating how exactly it is connected.
“What I can confirm is that genome sequencing has indicated that this person did not acquire their infection through transporting the patients that had the COVID-19 infection on the 14th of December,” Dr Chant said.
“We do not know how this is linked to the Avalon cluster at this stage.”
Dr Chant also announced that there is a serious risk for residents in the Central Coast following surveillance of the sewage system. The virus has been detected in Kincumber, Gosford, Avoca Beach, Killcare and Macmasters Beach.
“We are aware that there is a COVID-positive case in the Central Coast, as well as a case from Western Sydney who visited Avoca whilst infectious last weekend so there is an explanation for it but we want to take a very cautious approach,” Dr Chant said.
“We are making the public aware of this in the Central Coast so please be on high alert and please get tested if you have the most minimal of symptoms.”
Jess Malcolm 11.01am: NSW records 8 new cases, eases Christmas limits
Gladys Berejiklian says eight new coronavirus cases were recorded in the last 24 hours following 42,000 tests. Seven of the cases were directly linked to the Avalon cluster. The eighth case was linked to the case from the western suburbs revealed on Tuesday, is a health care worker involved in the transfer of patients from the international airport.
Gladys Berejiklian has announced small changes in Christmas restrictions for the northern beaches and Greater Sydney, with up to 10 people plus children allowed in homes.
On December 24, 25 and 26 those in Greater Sydney will be permitted to have 10 people in their home as currently existed, however will also be able to host children under 12.
Come 27 December, the region will revert to just 10 per household.
Ms Berejiklian stressed that households should not host different groups of people throughout the day, but should be the same 10.
For the northern beaches, Ms Berejiklian explained the region will be split into two parts.
She has identified the “epicentre of the cluster” is the northern part of the Northern Beaches, drawing a southern boundary at the Narrabeen Bridge, and a western boundary at the Bahai Temple on Mona Vale Rd.
Those living in the northern section of the peninsula will be allowed to have five people in their homes that must also reside in the northern region of the peninsula.
“On the 24th, 25th and 26th, you’re allowed to have five people into your home but they must be people from within that region,” she said.
“If you live in Avalon, you can have five people into your home, but they must be residents north of the Narrabeen Bridge and east of the Bahai Temple at Mona Vale Road.”
Those living in the southern section of the Northern Beaches, including Manly and Dee Why, will be able to host 10 people in homes on December 24, 25 and 26, as well as children under 12. While people living in this region can host people, they may not leave the northern beaches.
“We don’t want people from the northern beaches mingling in other parts of Sydney at this stage but you can welcome people in,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian says they will reassess the restrictions after this period.
In relation to regional NSW, there will be no changes.
NSW recorded eight locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, with an additional eight cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine. Seven of the locally acquired cases are linked to the Avalon cluster. pic.twitter.com/f9dG20HVhI
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 23, 2020
Ms Berejiklian has also announced that all hospitality venues must have the Service NSW app for QR Codes following issues from alternative tracing applications connected to the northern beaches outbreak.
“By January 1, we want all hairdressers, all hospitality venues to be using the Service NSW app and the Service NSW QR system,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This is part of our armoury in defending our community against the virus. It’s part of our armoury in making sure we protect our citizens.”
Ms Berejiklian called today’s changes to restrictions “modest” because the risk is still present and urges people to consider acting in a way that is appropriate for individuals and their families.
After what she called a “difficult year” where people’s mental health is at “breaking point” Ms Berejiklian said these changes are as generous as they can be.
“They’re very modest tweaks and modest changes to account for the fact that everybody has had a very difficult year, some people’s stress levels and mental health capacity is already at breaking point,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Jess Malcolm 10.31am: Warning over scam Covid test result texts
NSW Health has issued a warning against scam text messages in which people are being asked to pay for their COVID-19 test results.
It has also alerted people to text messages from an unknown number advising people of a positive test result.
.@NSWHealth is aware of #COVID19 scam text messages asking for donations or confirming positive COVID-19 test results. NSW Health is also aware of a scam asking for donations for @BreastScreenNSW. BreastScreen NSW is a part of NSW Health. pic.twitter.com/t47e0lyaGD
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 22, 2020
In a statement on twitter NSW Health confirmed it would never notify positive cases by text message, and advising people to remain alert to scammers.
“”NSW Health will never seek donations or notify people of positive COVID-19 results by text message. If you test positive for COVID-19 you will get a phone call from NSW Health as a priority and told what to do next,” a statement said.
“You might be contacted from a private number so please pick up private calls when waiting to hear back about test results.”
People are being asked to report scam texts online at crimestoppers.com.au
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Jess Malcolm 10.05am: Hopes today’s numbers will give Berejiklian leeway
NSW Police Minister David Elliott says he is hoping today’s figures will give “some ability” to the NSW government to ease restrictions, reporting high levels of compliance on Sydney’s northern beaches since Sunday.
As Gladys Berejiklian prepared to announce the latest COVID-19 figures in the last 24 hours, Mr Elliott said he was conscious of people’s mental health under restrictions during the festive season.
“Outside the northern beaches you can have up to ten people in your home,’’ Mr Elliott told Nine’s Today show this morning. “That shouldn’t disrupt many families, but we are hoping this morning the figures will give some sort of ability for the premier to ease restrictions.
“I’m very, very conscious of the fact that for the mental health of our society we had to reduce these restrictions if and when it was appropriate.”
Mr Elliott said the steady decline of cases in the last few days is a good sign, however he stressed the importance of taking it “day by day” ahead of New Years and Christmas.
“As long as the figures are low, as long as we have been able to minimise this cluster on the northern beaches, that may affect people from the northern beaches but the rest of the state at the moment can consider itself it is all but business as usual.”
READ MORE: Urgent alert for supermarkets, Westfield centres
Ellie Dudley 9.56am: Covid testing ramped up in Top End
The Northern Territory Health Department has increased the number of testing staff, as residents experience long waits to get tested for COVID-19.
An NT Health spokesperson said the territory processed 700 tests on Monday, but people using the NT coronavirus hotline — the only process for booking a COVID test - have been waiting up to 2 hours to speak with an operator.
Staff numbers have since been boosted by NT Health in order to meet the increase in demand, and to help return test results before Christmas.
The NT government declared Greater Sydney a COVID hotspot on Sunday, telling anyone who has arrived in the territory since December 11 must get tested and self-isolate.
The territory continues to have 0 active local cases.
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Jess Malcolm 9.40am: Five-hour wait for trucks on NSW-Victoria
Truck drivers on the Victorian-NSW border are waiting for up to five hours crossing into the border prompting the Transport Workers Union to call for a national approach to border closures.
Drivers report lengthy wait times getting through 32 new checkpoints on the Victorian-NSW border, raising concerns stock could be impacted in the lead-up to Christmas.
The transport union is concerned for truck drivers saying confusion over permits adds delays for drivers who already work long hours.
“We are seeing trucks backed up trying to cross the border and we know this means disrupted supply chains which could threaten shops getting goods in time for Christmas,” said TWU union spokesman Richard Olsen.
“We are also seriously concerned about drivers left to wait at the border and how that impacts on their fatigue. We do not want to see tragedies emerge on the roads because of delays to trucks,” he said.
READ MORE: Trading Day — ASX awaits Sydney Covid news
Ellie Dudley 9.28am: Victoria tests 23,000 who returned from Sydney
Victoria has tested almost 23,000 people who have returned from Sydney yesterday, according to Jeroen Weimar, the state’s testing chief.
“That’s the people who have come back to Victoria from greater Sydney since the weekend, including the weekend, doing what we asked them to do,” he told Today this morning.
Victoria recorded three total cases yesterday: one case from a 15-year-old returned traveller from NSW, and two in hotel quarantine.
There have so far been no other positive cases linked to the Melbourne girl, with no locally acquired cases reported in Victoria today.
The girl’s close contacts will remain in quarantine for 14 days, and all secondary contacts were released from isolation on Tuesday after returning negative test results.
“We are confident that we have got good systems, good processes to manage all this,” Mr Weimar said.
“The young lady in question has done absolutely the right thing and she and her family are safe and well. We will continue to follow up all the other thousands of Victorians who have been in Sydney over the last few days.”
Mr Weimar said the Victorian authorities are yet to determine when the state will reopen its border to Greater Sydney and the Central Coast, but are watching the spread “very closely.”
“We will want to be confident there is no underlying community transmission before we start to think about easing off measures here,” he said.
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Jess Malcolm 9.07am: Five fined for stay-home order breaches
Queensland Police are cracking down on people in hotel quarantine after five people were found breaching stay-at-home orders and fined more than $1000.
A total of 186 checks were carried out in the last four days and despite 97 percent of people found doing the right thing, police are on high alert to ensure the state’s covid-free streak holds strong against Sydney’s Avalon outbreak.
Queensland police reported that a couple who had recently returned from Sydney’s Northern beaches were given fines for leaving their Gold Coast accommodation to “visit a nearby beach”.
Another 31-year-old man who was under stay-at-home orders in Cairns was fined after being found nearby and placed in the hotel quarantine system.
Of the five people fined, all of them returned a negative COVID-19 test. There are just 10 active cases left in the state.
The fines come after the Queensland government announced the reintroduction of a hard border with NSW, requiring NSW to achieve at least 28 days with no community transmission to consider reopening.
READ MORE: Who made business headlines 2020?
Ellie Dudley 8.57am: Northern beaches lockdown ‘should remain for Christmas’
Infectious disease expert Professor Mary-Louise McLaws says the northern beaches restrictions should remain in place over Christmas, as close contacts continue to be identified around Sydney.
“We look for at least one to two day incubation periods, preferably that is 14 days of zero to ensure that this large cluster has finished at the northern beaches,” Professor McLaws told the Today Show this morning.
“We have multiple sites outside of Sydney that haven’t quite had a full incubation period to see whether or not more cases are coming from places like Paddington, Blacktown, Surry Hills,” she said.
Professor McLaws also urged Sydneysiders to keep their celebrations small this Christmas.
“I would keep those restrictions in place and certainly the restrictions across Greater Sydney of no more than 10 people at home and I would suggest we all keep our family celebrations to the immediate family.”
On Monday there were eight locally acquired cases. Professor McLaws said while it could look like a trend going down, it is too early to make any conclusive judgment.
READ MORE: Fertility policy ‘to drive Big Australia’
Ellie Dudley 8.52am: Vaccine roll-out a matter of urgency: Albanese
Anthony Albanese is calling for COVID-19 vaccines to be available more quickly to Australians.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration is set to make a decision in regards to the Pfizer vaccine in January. The rollout won’t commence until March under the agreement currently held by the federal government.
“That makes no sense,” the Opposition Leader said. “If the approval is made in January, it should be rolled out in January as a matter of urgency.”
Mr Albanese also questioned the number of doses purchased by the federal government. Provision has been made for 10 million doses, but speaking with ABC News Breakfast this morning, Mr Albanese said “we’re going to need more than that.”
While Mr Albanese says his government supports the independence of the TGA in making a decision, he says the vaccine should be rolled out as soon as the vaccine has been approved.
READ MORE: NSW sets standard as other states panic
Rachel Baxendale 8.48am: No new local virus cases for Victoria
Victoria has recorded one new case of coronavirus in hotel quarantine in the 24 hours to Wednesday, reaching 54 days with no new state-acquired cases.
Yesterday there were 0 new local cases & 0 lives lost. 0 new cases were acquired interstate, 1 international. There are 10 active cases in quarantine or self-isolation. 22,956 test results were received. https://t.co/2vKbgKHFvv #COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/TCX7fLYDzD
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) December 22, 2020
The milestone comes after a 15-year-old girl was revealed on Tuesday to have tested positive for the virus having returned from Sydney’s northern beaches.
The girl and her household are in home quarantine.
There are currently 10 active cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, including nine in returned international travellers in hotel quarantine.
Victoria’s latest numbers come after 22,956 tests were processed in the 24 hours to Wednesday.
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Jess Malcolm 8.28am: Victorian border unlikely to reopen until zero local cases
Victorian Contact Tracing Chief Jeroen Weimar says the Victorian-NSW border will not reopen until they are confident there is no underlying community transmission, as the state ramped up testing yesterday.
Victoria’s 53-day streak of no community transmission of COVID-19 was threatened yesterday with the announcement of a case in Melbourne originating from Sydney’s Avalon outbreak.
Despite no exposure sites reportedly found in Melbourne since yesterday nor any close contacts testing positive, a decision to reverse the border closure so families can be reunited for Christmas is not likely, Mr Weimar has confirmed.
“Almost 23,000 tests were done yesterday,’’ he told Nine’s Today show this morning. “We estimate we have done probably 20,000 more tests than we normally would over the last three days.”
“We are watching the pattern of the spread, if there is any, across greater Sydney very closely. We will want to be confident there is no underlying community transmission before we start to think about easing off measures here.”
READ MORE: Border jumpers, isolation truants cop hefty fines
Ellie Dudley 8.12am: Antarctica loses its Covid-free status
COVID-19 has spread to a Chilean army base Antarctica, infecting the last continent previously untouched by the virus.
36 people tested positive for the virus on Monday, Chilean time. According to the 5th Military Division of the Chilean Army, the group consists of 26 military personnel and 10 employees of an external maintenance company.
The army said all those with the virus were tested quickly, and are now being monitored by a team of medics.
“All present a favourable diagnostic and without any complication associated with the virus,” said a statement from the Chilean Army.
The group have reportedly been evacuated to Chile, where they are isolating. The military personnel were replaced by a new crew who have been quarantined, and tested negative prior to arriving at the base.
The Chilean station where the infections were found is located more than 4500 kilometres from the nearest Australian Antarctic research station, according to the Australian Antarctic Division.
READ MORE: Penguins in peril
Anthony Piovesan 8.07am: Virus alert for NSW town of Orange
Sydney’s virus outbreak has spread 280km into regional NSW with the city of Orange, in the state’s central west, added to the COVID hotspot list.
A close contact of an infected healthcare worker from western Sydney reported in Tuesday’s numbers tested positive for COVID-19, health authorities said.
NSW Health on Tuesday afternoon warned that person travelled through Orange on Saturday, December 19.
They attended Orange Health Service and all close contacts have been identified, have self-isolated and have undergone testing returning negative results.
However anyone who attended Orange Central Square Shopping Centre (227-239 Summer Street) on Saturday, December 19 between 4.05-4.15pm is considered “a casual contact who should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately”.
“The person did not enter any stores or come into close contact with any individual during this time period,” NSW Health said. — NCA Newswire
READ MORE: Family seeds first case in 53 days
Jess Malcolm 7.57am: Victorian case contacts test negative
The secondary contacts of a 15-year-old girl in Victoria who caught the virus on a trip to Sydney’s northern beaches have been cleared.
Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services were sent scrambling yesterday to verify the case and chase whether there were any other cases or exposure sites.
The girl is thought to have contracted the virus at various venues on Sydney’s northern beaches including Avalon RSL, the Avalon Bowling Club and a fish and chip restaurant.
On their way home the family stopped at Oliver’s Real Food outlet in Gundagai and since returning to Melbourne she has been isolating at home with her family. None of her family members have tested positive but are required to quarantine for 14 days.
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said yesterday that he is confident there are no further exposure sites in Melbourne.
READ MORE: List of affected venues grows
Ellie Dudley 7.44am: Stranded Aussies caught up in Singapore ban
Singapore has joined a growing list of countries banning travellers from the United Kingdom amid alarm over the spread of a highly contagious strain of the virus in the UK which has reported a record 36,804 cases.
In another blow to stranded Australians seeking to return home from the UK, the Singapore Ministry of Health’s ruling also includes transit passengers.
Visitors who have recently travelled to the UK will be denied entry to the country from 11.59pm December 23.
READ the full story here
Jess Malcolm 7.37am: No one fined yet for breaching lockdown
NSW Police Minister David Elliott says there’s been no infringement notices given out for people breaching lockdown on Sydney’s northern beaches following the instigation of lockdown in order to contain the outbreak of the Avalon cluster.
Following a record number of 44,000 tests yesterday, Mr Elliott said people have been acting “marvelously’ and that there has been “significant levels of compliance” in the community.
“I can assure you,we want everybody to have as normal a Christmas as possible, but we also have to act responsibly to keep on top of any transmissions,” Mr Elliott said on Sunrise on Wednesday morning.
“I also think that what that will mean is that the Premier has every reason to make sure that any easing of restrictions is done with the appropriate advice.”
READ MORE: Catching sneaks out the back of Bourke
Jess Malcolm 7.20am: Berejiklian to reveal restrictions decision at 11am
Millions of Sydney residents will hear this morning about the fate of Christmas, with Gladys Berejiklian to announce at 11am whether restrictions will be relaxed or whether they’ll remain in place.
The NSW Premier will hold a special crisis cabinet meeting today to decide whether to lift restrictions, particularly pertinent to residents of Sydney’s northern beaches who will be eager to see whether they will be let out of lockdown ahead of Friday.
Following the announcement of just eight new cases on Tuesday, with seven linked to the Avalon cluster and a record number of 44,000 tests conducted, the NSW Premier was encouraged by the downward trend.
However, the growing list of venue alerts into suburbs such as Paddington and Erskineville suggests the threat of the virus seeding outside of the northern beaches continues to persist.
Even as the case numbers settle, the long list of exposure venues means thousands of Australians will be stuck in isolation this Christmas period.
Friday’s Christmas plans for millions of Australians have also been disrupted by the closure of borders to NSW residents.
READ MORE: COVID-19 scare for Canberra bubble
Jess Malcolm 7am: Dr Anthony Fauci receives Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine
US top infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine overnight, along with other senior officials and six health workers at a live-streamed event.
Giving the thumbs-up sign and rolling up his sleeves, the scientist said he was taking the shot “as a symbol to the rest of the country that I feel extreme confidence in the safety and the efficacy of this vaccine”.
“I want to encourage everyone who has the opportunity to get vaccinated so that we could have a veil of protection over this country, that would end this pandemic,” he added.
It comes as a new poll showed Americans’ willingness to take a coronavirus vaccine has increased.
Globally, the death toll from the virus surpassed 1.7 million yesterday, with the highest number of daily fatalities reported in the US, Germany and Russia. — with AFP
READ MORE: Cases in US pass 18 million
Ellie Dudley 6.40am: More eastern suburbs venues added to Sydney alert list
More venues in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have joined a list of places of potential threat of COVID-19.
Paddington Alimentari deli was added to NSW’s case locations and alert list last night, with customers who dined or purchased take away late last week being called to get tested immediately. The deli is listed alongside Paddington’s London Hotel and Westfield Bondi Junction.
NSW Health has also issued alerts in locations on Sydney’s North Shore, including cafes, gyms, and Coles Turramurra.
Venues continue to be added to the list from the Northern Beaches including Woolworths Avalon Beach and Westfield Warringah Mall.
Anyone who attended the following venues are considered a close contact and must immediately get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether a negative result is received.
■ Paddington Alimentari, 2 Hopetoun St, Paddington: Thursday, December 17, 5.30am to 6pm; Friday, December 18, 5.30am to 6pm; Saturday, December 19, 5.30am to 6pm.
■ Charlie & Franks, IBM Plaza, Shop 1, 601 Pacific Highway, St Leonards: Wednesday, December 16, 9am to 10am.
■ Fitness First Mona Vale, Pittwater Place Shopping Centre, 10 Park St, Mona Vale: Thursday, December 17, 11.30am to 1pm.
■ Warriewood: KFC Mona Vale, 1B Ponderosa Parade: Friday, December 18, 12pm to 1pm
READ MORE: Virus alert issued 280km from Sydney cluster
Jess Malcolm 6.30am: Record deaths in UK as new variant’s spread continues
The UK has set a new record of COVID-19 related deaths overnight, announcing 691 fatalities and 36,904 new cases. This comes as the country scrambles to resolve a cross-channel trade crisis with France after supply routes were blocked in response to the discovery of a new variant of coronavirus.
France announced overnight that it would ease its travel ban, allowing EU citizens, Britons and nations of other countries residing in the EU to travel from Britain on Wednesday, on the condition that they had a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours old.
But there are still more than 40 countries that have banned flights from the UK in order to stop the spread of the new, highly-infectious variant. Flight bans are causing major concern over shortages of some fresh food products over a Christmas period already marred by strict coronavirus restrictions
The standstill of hundreds of lorry drivers stranded in the south of England led to the European Union calling on its members to facilitate transit and to lift other transport bans to avoid supply chain disruptions. Britain is considering a test for truck drivers amid talks with France to allow the resumption of freight traffic.
The crisis has piled pressure on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government as London struggles to finalise a post-Brexit trade agreement with Brussels before a December 31 deadline.
In vaccine news, the co-founder of BioNTech says it is “highly likely” that its vaccine works against the new strain, but it could also adapt the vaccine if necessary within six weeks. The World Health Organisation is set to meet in Europe on Wednesday morning to discuss how to handle the new UK strain. — with AFP
If you live in Tiers 1, 2 or 3 you may form a Christmas bubble with two other households on Christmas Day only.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) December 22, 2020
If you live in a Tier 4 area, you must follow the rules in your tier over the Christmas period.
See the latest rules below â¬‡ï¸ https://t.co/BChi7H8qJ3 pic.twitter.com/SwyEfsuUIF
READ MORE: UK flights approved, despite contagious strain
Yoni Bashan 5.05am: Berejiklian lashes panicky premiers over border closures
Gladys Berejiklian has berated other premiers for causing unnecessary “suffering” by overreacting to the Avalon COVID-19 cluster by slamming borders shut, ahead of a NSW cabinet meeting to decide on lifting restrictions for Sydneysiders by Christmas.
The anger within the NSW government over states hastily closing borders was such that Deputy Premier John Barilaro flagged the possibility of refusing to quarantine in Sydney interstate residents returning from overseas.
The hotel quarantine program has become a flashpoint of anger for the NSW Premier and her ministers, who are angry that NSW takes the risk of the program as other states close borders.
“We know the infection rates are going up overseas,” the Premier said. “We don’t stand here and tell you how many were Queenslanders or Victorians. I do feel NSW has done more than its fair share and I ask other states to do the same and I look forward to other states stepping up.”
“There are parts of NSW completely unaffected by this current outbreak and yet everybody in NSW is suffering because other state leaders made decisions.”
But with a low number of new coronavirus cases linked to the city’s northern beaches outbreak on Tuesday, some senior NSW government officials are pushing for restrictions to be eased ahead of Christmas unless there is a significant rise in infections announced on Wednesday.
Read the full story here.
Max Maddison 5am: Health officials fear Sydney cafe contagion threat
An Italian cafe in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has alarmed health officials after an employee spent three days working while infectious.
While the outbreak of COVID-19 cases has been mostly contained to the northern beaches, NSW Health is scrambling to identify patrons of Paddington Alimentari deli and cafe after an employee worked three 12-hour shifts last week.
The employee, who worked from 5.30am to 6pm on December 17-19, later tested positive to coronavirus, and all patrons seated at the cafe during this period should consider themselves close contacts, get tested and isolate for 14 days from their visit, NSW Health said. Take-away customers should monitor symptoms until January 2.
Read the full story here.
Ben Packham 4.45am: Australians stranded overseas face fear and loathing
There is growing despair among Australians stranded overseas as hotel quarantine caps and continuing outbound travel by compatriots restricts the number of citizens able to get flights home to a trickle.
Despite Scott Morrison’s pledge to get “as many people home, if not all, by Christmas”, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed there are still 39,000 Australians trapped offshore who want to return.
Under COVID hotel quarantine caps, only 5722 people are allowed to enter a week, pushing up prices for seats on the few commercial airlines still operating to Australian cities to up to $15,000.
At the same time, the Department of Home Affairs says more than 91,000 Australians have secured exemptions to leave the country since the end of March, adding to the potential backlog of those who will want to return.
One Australian woman stuck in the UK, who declined to be identified, said: “Literally, our own country has no idea what is actually going on for us – the struggles we are having and the financial ruin we face. And then to top it off we are hated by the public.”
Read the full story here.
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