Coronavirus Australia live news: New venue alerts as Sydney lockdown extended
Restrictions in Greater Sydney will remain until at least the end of July as NSW records 97 new cases, and an alarmed Victoria, seven.
- New NSW alerts as Covid-19 exposures mount
- Victoria detects 7 new cases
- Sydney areas of most concern
- Lockdown extended 2 weeks
- Fears over no jab aviation workers
Welcome to rolling coverage of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Gladys Berejiklian says restrictions in Greater Sydney will remain until the end of July as NSW records 97 new cases. and NSW Health adds to its list of exposure sites.
Victorian Health Authorities have identified seven new coronavirus cases, six of which are linked to the Ariele apartment complex visited by a team of Sydney removalists
Almost one in two aviation workers is not vaccinated, according to a survey of nearly 800 cabin crew, pilots, cleaners, baggage handlers and ground workers.
Rhiannon Down11.45pm:Outbreak hits regional NSW
Two shops in regional NSW have been named as exposure sites, indicating the outbreak may have broken free of the city limits.
South Gundagai’s Shell Coles Express and the Jindera Shell in the Riverina region became close contact venues late on Wednesday.
D&M Excavations and Hanson Concrete Australia, both in Greenacre, southwest Sydney, were also added.
More than 25 venues with casual contact or monitor symptoms alerts were added, including: Pyrmont Coles, Mortdale Woolworths, Sutherland Priceline Pharmacy, Mamma Barone Italian Restaurant in Mortdale, Bondi Junction Coles, Bexley 7-Eleven, Hurstville Oporto, Strathfield South 7-Eleven and Riverwood Post Office.
Multiple time periods for the 309 Bus route were also added to the list.
The full list of exposure sites is available on the NSW Health website.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 14, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern and public transport routes associated with confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/7KvlSVs8fj
Olivia Caisley11.15pm:No childcare fees for kids who stay at home
Parents in NSW who keep their children home during stay-at-home orders will not be charged fees by their childcare providers under regulation changes made by the Morrison government.
Education Minister Alan Tudge altered the rules on Wednesday night so that children could still be kept on the books if they did not attend their childcare centre in a move set to benefit more than 200,000 families.
It comes as restrictions in NSW were extended by at least two weeks to deal with a surge in Covid-19 infections after the state recorded 97 new locally acquired cases in the past 24 hours.
Rachel Baxendale10.40pm: Masks mandatory indoors in Victoria
Victorians will be required to wear masks in all indoor locations from 11:59pm on Wednesday night.
Giving people just under 90 minutes’ notice of the decision, the state Health Department tweeted details of the rule change at 10:30pm.
There are steps we can take right now to protect ourselves and each other. That’s why, from 11:59pm Wednesday 14 July, face mask rules will change for Victorians aged 12 and above. [1/4] pic.twitter.com/KE1FD0cYSP
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 14, 2021
“Wearing a face mask will be mandatory indoors (not at home) unless an exception applies – this includes all workplaces, and secondary schools,” the department tweeted.
https://twitter.com/vicgovdh/status/1415287540999880707?s=21
“Masks must also be worn outdoors if you cannot maintain 1.5m distance from people who aren’t from your household (such as at an outdoor event).”
Masks must also be worn outdoors if you cannot maintain 1.5m distance from people who aren’t from your household (such as at an outdoor event). [3/4]
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 14, 2021
Rhiannon Down10.30pm:‘Pregnant woman’ tests positive in hospital
A hospital at the centre of Sydney’s western suburbs outbreak has been forced to postpone non-emergency surgery, after a patient — believed to be a pregnant woman — tested positive for Covid-19.
Close contacts at Liverpool hospital are undergoing testing and will be required to isolate for 14 days, while operating theatres undergo deep cleaning.
The case — who underwent a caesarean section, reports said — will be included in Thursday’s numbers.
NSW Health said urgent surgery was expected continue.
“Non-urgent surgery has been postponed for the remainder of the day so the hospital’s theatre complex can be deep cleaned,” the health body said.
“These procedures will be rescheduled as soon as possible.”
The major scare comes after an unvaccinated student nurse worked shifts while infectious at Fairfield and Royal North Shore hospitals, causing staff shortages after about 600 health workers were forced into isolation.
READ MORE:Andrews lockdown likely as new infections surge
Stephen Rice9.45pm: Clubs: lottery or Keno to push vaccine
Australia’s club industry has offered its 6413 clubs to the federal government to accelerate the vaccine rollout, proposing a national Covid-safe lottery and free games of Bingo or Keno for patrons who agree to be vaccinated.
Clubs would also be encouraged to offer “Schooner or a Schnitzel for a Shot” – a free drink or meal for vaccinated members, in the submission by Clubs Australia to Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Covid-19 taskforce commander Lieutenant General John Frewen.
The proposal is likely to receive serious consideration because clubs are popular with older Australians – a key at-risk demographic. Others cater to ethnic communities with non-English-speaking backgrounds, a cohort the government is concerned vaccination messages are not reaching.
Tom Dusevic9pm: Growing despair may lift jab uptake
Covid-19 outbreaks and state lockdowns have soured the national mood, with young Australians reporting high levels of psychological distress and more people saying our way of life will never return to normal.
An ABS household impacts of Covid-19 survey released on Wednesday also shows people have reduced their safety precautions, such as handwashing and wearing masks, over the course of the pandemic, but are now more likely to get vaccinated as perceptions of infection risk change in the community.
Last month, 26 per cent of those surveyed reported that life would take more than a year to return to normal, compared with 14 per cent in November.
ABS head of household surveys David Zago said 16 per cent reported that life would never return to normal, compared with 11 per cent in November.
As well, 20 per cent of respondents had experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress in the past four weeks, including 30 per cent of people aged 18 to 34, in results that were similar to survey results reported in November and March.
Associate director of the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods Nicholas Biddle said “the evidence in Australia and around the world is that lockdowns have a greater negative effect on the mental health and wellbeing of young people than older people”.
Rhiannon Down8.15pm:Alert over Brisbane Airport International Terminal
Brisbane Airport International Terminal, a shopping centre and several retail outlets have been added to Queensland’s list of exposure sites.
Anyone who was at the airport’s international terminal at level 3 departures or the toilets near the newsagency on Friday, July 9, between 9.45pm and 10.15pm has been asked to get tested and isolate.
A string of venues in North Ipswich have also been added, including Kmart, Vodaphone, Telstra and JB Hi-Fi at Riverlink, as well as Club Services Ipswich.
Chac’s Grill in Inala on Brisbane’s outskirts is also as an exposure site.
Queensland recorded zero local cases today and five cases in hotel quarantine.
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âš ï¸Public Health Alert âš ï¸
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) July 14, 2021
Queensland Health is issuing new contact tracing locations in North Ipswich, Inala and the Brisbane Airport.
Full details can be found at https://t.co/rujm8F3qL4pic.twitter.com/aRetzZ3T6C
Rachel Baxendale 8pm: Infection at Victorian primary school
A coronavirus case has been reported at Barwon Heads Primary school, 110km southwest of Melbourne near Geelong.
The Australian understands the latest case is one of two family members who have contracted the virus from a Bacchus Marsh Grammar teacher, who spent time with an Ariele apartment resident on Saturday afternoon.
The teacher and the apartment resident went to the Young & Jackson hotel in Melbourne’s CBD before attending the Carlton vs Geelong clash at the MCG.
Parents at the school have been told it will be closed from Thursday, with students advised to stay home until further notice.
READ MORE:Why pandemic timing smashed lucky country for six
AFP7.15pm:Indonesia hits record 47,000 cases in a day
Indonesia has surpassed India and Brazil for new coronavirus infections after adding a record 47,899 cases in a single day, with officials appealing to the public to stay home to slow down the surge dominated by the Delta strain.
The number of Covid-19 cases in India meanwhile has tapered off after a second wave of the pandemic in May. The country registered 37,152 new cases on Monday.
Experts suggest Indonesia has not seen the peak of the surge and could see “up to 100,000 new cases daily” as the government pledges to increase testing and tracing.
“There is no need to be surprised if we see 100,000 or more cases daily, because there’s already massive transmission in the community … now it’s just the matter of quickly discovering and isolating them,” said public health expert Hermawan Saputra.
“The quicker we detect these cases, the more lives we can save.”
A partial lockdown, including a ban on restaurant dining, tighter travel checks and closure of non-essential offices, in areas with uncontrolled Covid-19 transmission will run until July 20.
But with no end in sight, critics have urged the government to extend it or “risk more victims and overburdening the health system”.
Rhiannon Down7pm: SA threatened with tighter restrictions
Tighter health restrictions could be on the cards if South Australians fail to remain vigilant, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has warned, as new testing requirements were introduced for freight drivers and interstate travellers.
“It’s fair to say that SA Health and South Australia police are very concerned about the current situation that we are facing,” he said.
“And this arises from the situation in NSW and the significant number of positive cases that have been active within the community, and also the emerging situation in Victoria with positive cases that have been identified there.
“We also have the situation where we have a positive exposure site at Tailem Bend and the situation with two removalists testing positive having been in South Australia and having been at that location for an extended period.”
He said it was concerning that just 25 QR check-ins had been recorded at the site while 76 card transactions had been made, with 118 contacts identified.
“We need to be confident that the South Australian community are doing the right thing and using the QR check-ins so we can actively contact trace anybody who may have been exposed,” he said.
Mr Stevens also announced the state would be stepping up restrictions with travellers from Victoria now required to get tested within 24 hours of arrival, while freight drivers must have returned a negative test 48 hours before arrival.
“That means you must have a test within 24 hours of arriving in South Australia and you are not permitted to go to a high-risk location, for example, an aged-care facility until you have a negative result,” he said.
“That only requires one test at this time.
“We are also requiring all freight drivers who are arriving in South Australia to produce evidence of a negative COVID test that has been undertaken within the last 48 hours on arrival to the state.”
Jacquelin Magnay 6.35pm:Three out of 8000 test positive at the Olympics
Just three out of more than 8000 people involved in the Olympic Games have tested positive to Covid-19 upon their arrival in Japan this month, officials announced, as the Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga welcomed the International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach at a meeting in Tokyo on Wednesday.
The Japanese government has also approved sensitive visits by Mr Bach and the Australian IOC vice-president John Coates to Hiroshima and Nagasaki this Friday, despite some local objections, in order to mark the beginning of the Olympic Truce.
The low Covid-19 infection rate - which includes a Ugandan boxer and coach and another unidentified person, comes after strict pre-entry covid testing requirements in Japan.
Most arrivals have had to undergo up to three covid tests before boarding their flights and everyone is subject to an additional test upon arrival at a Japanese airport.
The statistics are heartening for Mr Suga, who has staked his political future on continuing with the Games despite a split among the Tokyo public about whether the Games should go ahead amid slowly rising case numbers of the coronavirus. Mr Suga faces elections immediately after the Games and is relying on a strong Japanese performance at the Game to boost domestic morale.
Mr Bach said the Games ‘’will unite the world in all our diversity, they will show that we are stronger together in all our solidarity” as he praised the organising committee, the volunteers and staff.
He added: “The IOC is sitting in the same boat and we are rowing in the same direction, enjoying the full support of the government of Japan.’’
Rachel Baxendale6.07pm:Covid-19 fragments detected in Geelong wastewater
Victorian health authorities say they have detected Covid-19 fragments in wastewater from the Greater Geelong area, 80km southwest of Melbourne.
The first detection in the area precedes any known coronavirus cases from NSW travelling to Victoria.
This includes three removalists who were in Victoria on July 8, and a man from the City of Hume, who returned from Sydney the same day.
The Victorian health department says it has detected Covid-19 in sewage samples taken from the Geelong suburbs of Belmont, Highton and Wandana heights between July 4 and 7.
A second sample from between July 8 and 12 concerns the Geelong suburbs of Breakwater, Clifton Springs, Curlewis, Leopold, Drysdale, East Geelong, Moolap, Newcomb, South Geelong, Thomson and Whittington.
“The unexpected detections may be due to someone who has had COVID-19, is no longer infectious and is continuing to ‘shed’ the virus – or it may be due to an active but undiagnosed infectious case,” the department said.
“Anyone in the affected suburbs is urged to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested if any symptoms develop.
“The Department will continue to monitor the situation closely.”
Rachel Baxendale 5.56pm:Teacher at school west of Melbourne tests positive
Bacchus Marsh Grammar, west of Melbourne, has confirmed one of its teachers has tested positive for Covid-19.
The positive test result comes after three Sydney removalists linked to at least six coronavirus transmissions in Melbourne visited a service station at Ballan, 24km west of Bacchus Marsh, last Thursday evening.
Health authorities are yet to confirm whether the teacher’s case has been linked to the Ballan exposure site.
Bacchus Marsh Grammar principal Andrew Neal wrote to parents on Wednesday evening, informing them of the news.
“The teacher was at the School’s Staff Day on Monday 12 July but has not been in contact with students on either Tuesday 13 July or Wednesday 14 July 2021,” Mr Neal wrote.
“As a result of this result all staff who were at the Staff Day on Monday 12 July have been directed by the COVID-19 Public Health Division Department of Health to isolate and be tested.
“We are awaiting instruction from the Department on appropriate sanitation and cleaning of the school.
“Given the need for testing of virtually all staff and the need for additional cleaning, there will be no classes at the Woodlea or Maddingley Campus on Thursday and Friday 15-16 July for all students.
“In the event of a longer period of confinement for staff, online learning would commence on Monday 19 July.
“This is a fairly fluid situation and we will endeavour to keep parents informed of the situation as it develops as we have further information of any additional public health requirements.
“At this stage, I would strongly advise that if any student does start to present with any of the recognised COVID symptoms they are tested as soon as possible as a matter of precaution.”
Rhiannon Down 5.50pm: Rosebery apartment block residents warned to get tested
Residents of a Rosebery apartment complex in Sydney’s inner east have been put on high alert after several cases of Covid-19 were detected.
Anyone who lives in the Valentino Place complex, or has visited since July 8, has been urged to get tested and isolate until they return a negative result, according to a notice shared by residents on social media.
“Further cases of Covid-19 have been identified at Valentino Place apartments, Rothschild Avenue, Rosebery, 2018,” it said.
“All residents (and anyone who visited the on or since July 8) are now identified as casual contacts and are advised to get tested for Covid-19 as soon as possible and self-isolate until they receive a negative result, even if they have been recently tested.”
The note to residents said anyone implicated must get another test on Saturday July 17.
Residents susaid they were unable to find the location listed as a venue of concern on the NSW Health website.
It was added minutes ago via a tweet by NSW Health as a venue of concern.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 14, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern associated with confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/iaU9qDTNma
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Paul Garvey 5.00pm: WA tightens border with Victoria amid latest outbreak
Western Australia has tightened its border with Victoria in light of Melbourne’s latest Covid-19 outbreak.
WA premier Mark McGowan said all arrivals into WA from Victoria would now be required to self-quarantine for 14 days. They will also have to be tested for the virus on arrival and on their 11th day of quarantine.
The change has been made with immediate effect
The state has already shut its border to arrivals from NSW and Queensland.
“I understand these changes may be disruptive for WA families. However, our strengthened border controls are an important tool for us to keep this dangerous virus out of WA,” Mr McGowan said.
Only arrivals from South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania are currently allowed to enter WA without needing to isolate.
Meanwhile, WA police will meet Geelong’s footballers on the tarmac in Perth on Wednesday.
The Cats are due to play Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Thursday night but will undergo Covid-19 testing as soon as possible.
Geelong played Carlton at the MCG on Saturday night, with a section of the MCG Members Stand now listed as an exposure site.
There were about 2000 fans seated in the section and they have been advised to undergo a test and then isolate.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he was not aware of suggestions partners and family members of one of the clubs in involved were seated in the area. Health authorities are currently going through contact tracing information.
The AFL is awaiting further advice from Victorian health authorities but said games will progress with crowds at this stage.
The AFL is consulting with the clubs and also the Queensland, Northern Territory and Victorian Governments regarding the prospect of a quarantine hub for the families and partners of those players. — with Courtney Walsh
READ MORE: Pre-flight Covid tests set to be the norm
Rhiannon Down 4.40pm: AFL teams test, alarm over 2000 contacts at MCG
Victorian health authorities are racing to track 25 close contacts and 2000 casual contacts after a confirmed case attended the Carlton vs Geelong game on Saturday, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says.
“The Victorian government is currently contacting everyone who were on level two of the MCG members section which I think is roughly 2000 people and they need to isolate until they get a negative test,” he said.
“And they will also be in touch with their close contacts who we think will be about 25 and they will be having to isolate for a 14 day period.”
Mr McLachlan announced that all teams would be tested this week out of an “abundance of caution”, confirming that so far the match schedule remained unchanged despert the “emerging situation” in Victoria.
“Out of an abundance of caution all Victorian teams will get tested, and have an additional test this week,” he said.
“The Geelong team who are in the air and may well have landed will be met by WA police on the tarmac on the other end and will go and get a test in Perth.
“And beyond that I don’t have any updates on any other changes this weekend either in Victoria with crowds or others… but as we know things change on a day to day basis or any hourly basis.”
READ MORE:‘Double standards’: Qld government slammed
Rachel Baxendale 4.30pm: Andrews govenment meets on tighter restictions
Victorian health authorities and the Andrews government are meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss boosting coronavirus restrictions following the discovery of seven new cases linked to two separated incursions from NSW.
The Australian understands restrictions — which are likely to include wearing masks in all indoor venues and limits on visits to households — could be announced as soon as Thursday.
A return to seated service, a ban on dancing, and limits on patron numbers and density in hospitality venues are also being considered.
Victoria had begun to return to a level of normality following 11 days with no new community acquired cases before the latest incursions from NSW.
Currently household visits are capped at 15 people per day, with density limits of one person per two square metres in hospitality venues.
READ the full story here.
Rachel Baxendale 4.10pm: NSW removalists at centre of Vic outbreak unmasked
Three Sydney removalists at the centre of one of Victoria’s latest coronavirus outbreaks were not wearing masks while unloading furniture at the apartment building now linked to six virus transmissions, Victorian health authorities have revealed.
Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar also confirmed on Tuesday that the removalists had taken almost 48 hours to reveal that they were travelling with a second truck and visited an additional set of exposure sites during their journey last Thursday from Sydney to Melbourne and on to Adelaide.
The southbound Caltex service station and Hungry Jack’s at Kalkallo, 30km north of Melbourne, were added to Victoria’s list of exposure sites on Tuesday night, after a removalist visited them between 9:07am and 10:06am last Thursday.
“Books will be thrown when it’s appropriate to throw them,” Mr Weimar said when asked whether the removalists would be punished.
“I’m exceptionally frustrated at the pace and transparency of information coming from the removalists’ exposure. That’s been a real matter of concern.
“We’ve now identified that we’ve got two vehicles.
“It’s not my job to worry about, you know, how safely those operations are run, but it is my concern that we haven’t had as quick and transparent exposure of all the information.
“That’s why we’re talking about Kalkallo now, you know, 24 hours after we started talking about the first site, which is a source of frustration to all of us.
“I would still not be surprised if we’re standing here tomorrow with yet another exposure site.”
Mr Weimar said residents of the Ariele Maribyrnong apartment building in Melbourne’s west, now linked to at least six coronavirus cases, had told authorities the removalists were not wearing masks while working there, “which is a breach of their permit condition”.
READ MORE: Tougher restrictions loom amid Vic outbreak
Rhiannon Down 4.00pm: National vaccine rollout doses now top 9.4 million
The nation’s vaccine rollout has surpassed 9.4 million doses after 165,119 jabs were administered in the past 24 hours as Sydney grapples with a major outbreak that grew by 97 cases today.
The commonwealth has now administered 5,353,962 jabs in total including 97,489 in the past 24 hours, with 4,885,499 in total given through primary care.
The states and territories have administered 4,115,183 jabs in total, while NSW has led the efforts after 20,622 jabs were administered in the past 24 hours, bringing its total to 1,094,431.
Victoria remains ahead in total jabs delivered with 1,313,107 jabs in total and 13,545 in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, just 3416 jabs were administered in age and disability care facilities in the past 24 hours bringing the sector’s total to 468,463.
This daily infographic provides the total number of vaccine doses administered in Australia as of 13 July 2021. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccine information here: https://t.co/vqZuOLzB2Ppic.twitter.com/RGZoIswOKw
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) July 14, 2021
Rhiannon Down 3.40pm: New venue alerts as NSW Covid-19 exposures mount
Supermarkets, retail outlets and a pharmacy have been added to Sydney’s growing list of exposure sites, after the state recorded 97 local cases today.
Ampol Foodary in Rosebery has been added as a close contact venue, while Lakeland Take Away in Chipping Norton, Priceline Wetherill Park, Aldi Carlton, Casula Costco Wholesale and BP Express Northbound in Marulan North have been added as casual contact sites.
Multiple venues in the outbreak’s epicentre of Fairfield have also been added including the Kmart at Fairfield Forum Shopping, Fairfield Forum Pharmacy, Elias Pharmacy Fairfield and KFC Fairfield.
âš ï¸NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern associated with confirmed cases of COVID 19.âš ï¸ pic.twitter.com/neZAhu6FMw
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 14, 2021
Paddy’s Market in Haymarket as well as a string of venues in Sydney’s east have also been added, including: Kmart, David Jones and Harris Farm Markets at Westfield Bondi Junction and Ezy Mart in Bondi Junction have also been added to the list.
Rachel Baxendale3.20pm: Too early to make call on Vic restrictions: Weimar
Victorian Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar says it’s too early to say whether restrictions will tighten in Victoria as a result of the seven new coronavirus cases detected in the state on Wednesday.
The Australian understands the Andrews government is not planning to hold another press conference on Wednesday at this stage.
“The Chief Health Officer and his deputies are extremely busy at the moment, working through these cases, and there’s a whole team who will do exactly that work, we will always review restrictions as evidence emerges,” Mr Weimar said.
“At this point in time, my very strong message for Victorians is let’s make sure we’re using the directions and the restrictions that are in place at the moment.
“They’re there for a reason. We have caps at the football for a reason, we have mask-wearing indoors when you can’t socially distance for a reason. Please just make sure we use those restrictions to the full. “The health team, the public health team will continue to review all the settings. My absolute focus is about getting these two chains of transmission under control as quickly as I can.
“We have a lot of test results to come in over the course of the coming hours to see what picture we’re starting to build, and as we’ve always done in Victoria, we will take fast and aggressive action, as we think is appropriate. We did that with the Ariele apartment complex only 36 hours ago. We will continue to work on that basis.”
READ MORE:Alarm as Victoria records seven new Covid-19 cases
Jacquelin Magnay2.58pm: Only 50 Aussies to march at Tokyo opening ceremony
Tokyo: Just one in ten Australian athletes competing at the Tokyo Olympics will march in the opening ceremony on July 23.
Australian chef de mission Ian Chesterman announced that as few as 50 athletes including flag bearers Patty Mills and Cate Campbell will march, along with just six officials.
In late developments, another 16 athletes have been added to the Australian Olympic team taking the current numbers to 488.
Mr Chesterman said the low numbers of athletes marching were largely because of Covid restrictions which prevent athletes checking into the Olympic village until five days before their competition.
“I think 50 is a pretty good number when you consider with these games athletes can only arrive just before you compete and those that will compete in the second week (of competition) won’t even be in Tokyo (for the opening ceremony),’’ he said.
Some other athletes will be looking to minimise contact so that they are not ruled out of their competitions because of any contact with a positive Covid case. Ninety-eight per cent of Australian athletes will be fully vaccinated, Mr Chesterman said, adding that in the Olympic village he believed 85 per cent of all international athletes will be vaccinated.
Under the Tokyo 2020 rules, athletes can still compete despite being considered a close contact of a positive case if they can show they have been wearing their mask at all times.
More than 80 athletes marched at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Japanese officials have already scaled back the opulence of the opening ceremony to reflect the difficulties faced around the world in dealing with the pandemic.
In Tokyo there are mixed feelings about the Olympics going ahead and the mood of the city is muted, especially as athletes and officials are banned from walking outside and mixing with the locals.
However a huge influx of athletes will arrive this weekend which will create more of a buzz in the Olympic village.
Mr Chesterman said these Olympics will give a generation of youth something other than Covid to focus upon. He said his children had ‘’only heard of Covid, Covid, Covid” in the past 18 months, but that with the outstanding triumph of Ash Barty at Wimbledon and the upcoming Olympic competition it will provide the younger generation with a huge boost to their morale.
He said today at the first Australian press conference in Tokyo: “I am very excited about the games, excited about our athletes getting out there to compete. The morale of this team is going to be fantastic, we have been through a lot, there has been great adversity, yet they’ve managed to get to Japan and come together. I think there’s a special spirit in the Australian team and a special spirit in the Olympic village because it's the same for all 206 countries coming together and creating something very memorable.”
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Remy Varga 2.52pm:Ambulance arrives at Melbourne unit under lockdown
An ambulance has arrived at the Ariele apartment complex in Maribyrnong which was visited by a team of Sydney removalists last Thursday and has been placed in lockdown.
Paramedics wearing hazmat suits are preparing to enter the building where four residents have tested positive.
Rachel Baxendale 2.48pm:Five households in breach of red zone rules
Victorian Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar says five households appeared to be in breach of home quarantine requirements when authorities checked on them on Tuesday.
There were 1600 red zone permits issued on Tuesday to people returning from New South Wales, on top of more than 9400 issued to Monday.
“I think what we can see from the story of the last day or so is the absolute critical importance of red zone arrivals isolating, getting tested and maintaining isolation,” Mr Weimar said.
“We made over 250 home visits yesterday to red zone arrivals. Five of those, regrettably, either weren’t co-operating or we believe were absent and they’re being taken forward by the appropriate authorities.”
Authorities have opted not to punish a member of a City of Hume family who breached quarantine to visit Craigieburn Coles in Melbourne’s outer north last Saturday, infecting a fellow customer.
Mr Weimar said on Tuesday that the family had otherwise “done the right thing” given they tested negative on arrival in Victoria but got tested again when they developed symptoms over the weekend.
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Max Maddison2.35pm: Fairfield testing a cluster in both senses: Bowen
Opposition climate and energy minister Chris Bowen has blasted the NSW government for failing to supply adequate virus testing facilities in Sydney’s west, despite requiring essential workers to get tested every three days.
The suburb of Fairfield has become the centre of the Greater Sydney outbreak, the Berejiklian government issued an edict requiring anyone who leaves the local government area for essentials, placing enormous demand pressures on local testing facilities.
With people waiting up to eight hours to get tested, Mr Bowen, whose federal seat of McMahon encompasses the Fairfield LGA, took aim at the failure of the state government to meet surging demand, saying the huge imposition should have been met with the necessary resources.
“To tell the people of Fairfield to get tested every three days, essential workers, they’ve been waiting six hours, eight hours; there were lines at 3am this morning – it’s simply not good enough, it’s a two-way street,” Mr Bowen told Sky News on Wednesday afternoon.
“The state government needs to put testing in here with the same speed that they put policing in here earlier in the week.
“This is a cluster in both senses of the word. This is a cluster under both definitions, this testing facility has been open for a little over an hour you can tell the people of Fairfield, want to do the right thing.”
He said the local community felt “targeted” by the police, with reports of “arrests, parties and car games” misrepresenting what was actually happening in the suburb.
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David Ross2.22pm:Sydney lockdown to take 1.4pc off GDP in Q3: CBA
Commonwealth Bank economist Gareth Aird is forecasting the latest lockdown in the Greater Sydney area is likely to slice 1.4 per cent off GDP in the third quarter of 2021. if it goes longer than seven weeks.
Mr Aird forecasts the national economy could contract as much as 0.7 per cent over the September quarter.
CBA had put an upbeat view on the 2021 economic outlook on the basis that outbreaks would be traced and quickly contained.
“Up until this point that assumption has held up. But the current lockdown of Greater Sydney and the rate of community transmission of Covid-19 poses a significant risk to the Australian economy over H2 21,” Mr Aird said.
“The blow to income, however, is cushioned by government payments to households and businesses. Support from industry, particularly the banking sector, will also minimise the medium to longer term damage from the lockdown.”
“By the same token GDP growth would be stronger in Q4 21 due to an easing of restrictions. The total hit to GDP in 2021 would be around 0.4 per cent because the lost production over the September quarter represents a permanent loss in output.”
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Rachel Baxendale2.11pm:Alert for shoppers at Craigieburn Coles
Victorian Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar has urged anyone who shopped at Coles Craigieburn Central between 5:30pm and 6:30pm last Saturday to get tested for coronavirus immediately.
A member of a family of four who had recently returned from Sydney breached home quarantine to visit the store, with the Health Department’s QR code system showing about 50 people were present over the same period.
“Clearly the 50 odd people who were on the QR code system have already been contacted, and we’ll be ensuring they continue to come forward and get tested, and they will need to remain in isolation, but if you were in Craigieburn Coles between 5:30 and 6:30 on Saturday the 10th of July, if you didn’t use the QR code system, I need you to come forward and get tested,” Mr Weimar said.
“It’s really, really important that we have a good understanding of anybody else who might have been in that building, in that shop, to come forward and get tested very quickly.”
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Rachel Baxendale1.30pm:Victoria adds yet more sites to growing exposure list
Victorian health authorities have added yet more exposure sites, including iconic Melbourne pub Young & Jackson, and a coffee shop in the southeastern suburbs.
The sites come after the Health Department became aware of seven new coronavirus cases in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Six of those cases are linked to a Maribyrnong apartment building in the city’s west which was visited by Sydney removalists last Thursday.
The seventh case appears to have been transmitted at Craigieburn Central Coles in Melbourne’s outer north, after a member of a family who had recently returned from Sydney breached home quarantine and visited their local supermarket.
The new exposure sites include:
Tier 1:
– Young & Jackson, 1 Swanston St, Melbourne between 2:40pm and 4:10pm last Saturday July 10;
– Vanilla Lounge, 17-21 Eaton Mall, Oakleigh (southeastern suburbs) between 2:45pm and 4:30pm last Friday July 9;
– Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre, 1 Aquatic Drive, Maribyrnong between 10am and 11:30am last Saturday July 10;
– The Reject Shop, Highpoint Shopping Centre Level 2, 120-200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong between 11:30am and 12:10pm last Friday July 9;
– SkinKandy, Highpoint Shopping Centre Level 2, 120-200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong between 11:15am and 12:35pm last Friday July 9;
– Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses, Highpoint Shopping Centre Level 2, 120-200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong between 10:00am and 10:40am last Friday July 9;
Tier 2:
– Highpoint Shopping Centre North Carpark, 120-200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong between 11:10am and 11:40am last Friday July 9;
– Highpoint Shopping Centre North Carpark, 120-200 Rosamond Rd, Maribyrnong between 12:00pm and 12:30pm last Friday July 9;
People who attended Tier 1 sites must isolate for 14 days, those who visited Tier 2 sites must get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
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Rachel Baxendale 12.47pm:Frydenberg and family in narrow miss
Josh Frydenberg and his family appear to have narrowly avoided visiting a coronavirus exposure site.
The federal Treasurer attended Saturday’s clash between Carlton and Geelong at the MCG, where Level 2 of the MCC Members’ Reserve has been listed as a Tier 2 exposure site, after a Covid-positive man went to the game.
A keen Blues fan, Mr Frydenberg posted a photo on social media of himself at the match with children Gemma and Blake and Carlton legend Chris Judd.
However, he says they were luckily not seated in the relevant stand.
“We were not sitting in the MCC Level 2 area which is a Tier 2 exposure site,” Mr Frydenberg said.
Like everyone else who was among the crowd of 31,834 but was not sitting in MCC Level 2, the Frydenbergs will only need to monitor for symptoms, rather than being required to test and isolate.
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Rachel Baxendale12.36pm:Victoria adds four new exposure sites
Victorian Health authorities have added four new coronavirus exposure sites linked to a Covid-positive man in his 60s and family of three who live in the Ariele apartment building in Maribyrnong.
The sites are:
Tier 1:
– Highpoint Kinder Haven, 2A Mephan St, Maribyrnong between 9:15am and 5pm on Monday July 12;
Tier 2:
– ALDI Maribyrnong, 11 Edgewater Boulevard, Maribyrnong between 5:30pm and 6:10pm on Friday July 9;
– Level 2 of MCC Members’ Reserve, Carlton vs Geelong AFL game, MCG, Brunton Ave, Richmond between 4pm and 8pm on Saturday July 10;
Tier 3:
– Carlton vs Geelong AFL game (excluding) Level 2 of MCC Members’ Reserve, MCG, Brunton Ave, Richmond between 4pm and 8pm on Saturday July 10;
People who attended Tier 1 sites must isolate for 14 days, those who visited Tier 2 sites must get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result, and those who visited Tier 3 sites should monitor for symptoms.
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Jess Malcolm12.15pm:Take this seriously and stay home: Chant
A further extension of Sydney’s lockdown is dependent on people reducing their mobility and the ability of contact tracers to find new cases, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has confirmed.
While authorities were unable to provide transparent modelling to the community, Dr Chant said it was predicated on the decreasing people’s movement in the community.
“We need to take this seriously and contemplate our need to leave the home,” she said.
“We want to look closely at that mobility data. We have seen some response but it needs to be better. We need less mobility to get a handle on this.”
While Gladys Berejiklian again rebuffed calls to provide a definition of essential work, she urged essential workers to have a discussion with their employer today in light of the new stimulus packages.
“If your business is suffering as a result, come to Service NSW to get help,” she said.
“If you’re an individual person experiencing stress because we’ve asked you to stay at home, please ring Services Australia where the federal government is providing that support.
“We want everyone to stay at home, no matter what your circumstances. Now there’s the dollars to support you in that decision.”
READ MORE: Confidence crashes in Sydney as lockdown bites
Rachel Baxendale11.57am:BREAKING: Seven new cases found in Victoria
Victorian Health Authorities have identified seven new coronavirus cases, six of which are linked to the Ariele apartment complex visited by a team of Sydney removalists last Thursday.
The cases include a man in his 60s and a household of three people, all of whom live on the third floor of the Maribyrnong apartment building in Melbourne’s west, which was visited by the removalists.
The man’s parents, aged 89 and 90, have also tested positive for the virus.
The elderly couple live in Craigieburn, in Melbourne’s outer north.
Exposure sites already linked to the man include the Carlton-Geelong match at the MCG on Saturday, and the busy Highpoint shopping centre in Maribyrnong.
Separately, a fourth member of a family in the City of Hume in Melbourne’s outer north has tested positive.
One member of that family breached home quarantine to visit a Craigieburn Coles on Saturday, and a man in his 30s who was at the supermarket during the same period has also tested positive.
Victorian Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar said 70 personal close contacts had been identified at the Craigieburn Coles visited by the member of the City of Hume family, 45 had been identified at the Ballan service station and McDonalds visited by the removalists and 134 had been identified at the Ariele apartments.
He said 70 per cent of Ariele apartment block residents had so far tested negative for the virus, with more test results expected to be returned in coming hours.
READ the full story here
Jess Malcolm 11.55am:HSC students may get special concessions
The NSW government is looking at implementing special lockdown concessions for Year 12 students who will face their HSC trials in lockdown.
Gladys Berejiklian said NSW Health is working with the department of education to ensure students are accommodated and students are being asked to follow the advice of their individual school.
“They will have a plan in place for school as some schools have particular classes or students doing particular subjects,” she said.
“There’s not a whole lot of detail at this stage on what those concessions actually are and how much they have or haven’t changed from previous conditions, but if you are in Year 12 or have a family member who is, keep an eye on any correspondence from your school about this.”
The NSW Premier said only one per cent of students turned up at school in the Fairfield local government area yesterday, and in other parts attendance was as low as three to five per cent.
READ MORE: War of words escalates over NSW support
Jess Malcolm11.44am: Singles must share bubbles in outdoor spaces
People who live alone and would like to share a bubble with another single person are still being advised to meet up in outdoor spaces.
Under extenuating circumstances, people may visit each other for care and compassionate reasons but are being advised to meet on a balcony or in an outdoor garden.
Health minister Brad Hazzard said the rules are in place to ensure people are safe.
“If they can be outside and go for a walk, that is better, if two people would do it because as we’ve said many times, you are far safer from getting the virus outside,” Mr Hazzard said.
“If that’s not possible, if you’re going into someone’s house for care and compassion and you are one person visiting, do it out on the balcony or out in the garden.”
“It’s keeping people safe and applying whatever you think would be the safest way to try and do it in an open-air environment.”
Health authorities are also urging people living in apartment blocks to wear masks in common areas and to not share rides in lifts.
Jess Malcolm11.37am:Premier clarifies essential worker testing rules
Gladys Berejiklian has advised essential workers from Fairfield who are required to get tested every three days can go to testing sites outside of the local government area to reduce pressure on the system.
This comes after Fairfield testing sites were overwhelmed overnight, with enormous queues, traffic jams and some people waiting up to six hours to get a test.
The NSW Premier said people who do not have symptoms may go to testing sites outside of Fairfield, but have asked people who are symptomatic to stay in their local government area.
“We need to be flexible and nimble during this pandemic,” Ms Berejiklian said. “We have to respond to what is going on and we will always be upfront and say it like it is.”
Chief health officer Kerry Chant said health authorities are considering boosting capacity for home testing as case numbers surge.
“We are continuing to look at any testing methods that can target people and we have different processes in place for close contacts and people at risk because they need to get tested quickly, but for this surveillance testing, please drop off at a clinic on your way to essential work.”
Jess Malcolm11.28am:‘No crystal ball’: Berejiklian won’t guess when it will end
Gladys Berejiklian says she will not provide “guesswork” to the community on whether the lockdown could be extended past its new end date of July 30.
Health authorities will be monitoring the data closer to the end of the month to decide on whether lockdown restrictions can be lifted.
While the NSW Premier has been pleased with a reduction in mobility across Sydney, she conceded there would likely be a few more days of high case numbers.
“The impact of some of the changes we have put in place will not be felt for the next few days,” she said. “It is important for us to assess all the advice we have which will be based on data and that will take us the next two weeks to make that assessment.”
“None of us have a crystal ball.
“Our success in getting the case numbers down and those infectious rates down to as close to zero as possible depends on all of us and how we respond.”
Authorities said they are working with the education department to ensure robust contingency plans are in place for parents, teachers and children who will now face another two weeks of home learning.
People are also being urged to reassess whether their jobs are essential in light of the new joint stimulus package announced by the federal and state government.
READ MORE:Doubts cast on Delta protection from Chinese vaccine
Rachel Baxendale11.19am: Melbourne tower resident tests positive
A resident of the locked down Ariele apartment complex in Maribyrnong, in Melbourne’s west, has tested positive for coronavirus.
The Herald Sun is reporting the man in his 60s is believed to be unvaccinated and is extremely unwell.
The Health Department is yet to confirm that the new case is the same new case reported in Wednesday’s numbers.
The department earlier reported that Wednesday’s new case involved a quarantined close contact of a previous case.
The Ariele complex of 78 apartments went into a fortnight of hard lockdown on Monday night, after it emerged a team of three Sydney removalists had collected furniture from one of the apartments last Thursday, accessing numerous common areas and coming into contact with other residents.
Two of the removalists have since tested positive for the virus, with the third reportedly symptomatic.
Victorian Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar is due to provide an update at 11.30am.
Jess Malcolm 11.17am: Where the new cases are coming from
The vast majority of today’s cases were from southwest Sydney, Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has confirmed.
Fairfield, Liverpool and Canterbury-Bankstown continue to be of great concern for health authorities with 70 new cases overnight.
There are now 71 people being treated in hospital for Covid-19, with 20 people in intensive care and four of whom are ventilated.
“Of the 21 people in ICU, one is in their 20s, two are in their 30s, two in their 40s, five in their 50s, five in the 60s, three in 70s, and two in 80s,” Dr Chant said.
“The reason I take the time to read out those age profiles, it really is to dispel the misconception that Covid is mild for younger age groups. It can impact anyone.”
NSW Police issued 201 tickets in the past 24 hours for non-compliance to stay-at-home orders, with the vast majority given in southwest Sydney.
The areas of concern are Fairfield local government area, Roselands, Rosebery, Canterbury, Belmore, Sutherland shire, the St George area, Windsor, St Ives, Penrith and Bayside local government area.
Jess Malcolm11.12am: NSW restrictions in place until July 30
The NSW government has extended the lockdown in greater Sydney for at least two weeks.
Gladys Berejiklian said the current settings will be in place until Friday 30th, with stay-at-home orders and home learning to remain.
The NSW Premier said the government’s stimulus package should help support businesses and individuals during this time.
She also urged Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs to reduce their mobility, but thanked Fairfield residents for complying with Covid rules after transport data showed a drastic reduction in movement.
“I want to thank everyone for the work we’ve been doing,” she said.
“We are all in this together. No matter where we live, the virus can come to us.”
Teachers and aged care workers will also now be prioritised in the vaccination rollout in areas where the outbreak is worst, and NSW Health will be bolstering testing capacity after it was overwhelmed in the last 24 hours.
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Jess Malcolm11.01am:NSW records 97 new cases, vast majority in Fairfield
NSW has recorded 97 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours.
Over 24 cases were infectious in the community whilst infectious.
Of these locally acquired cases, 61 are linked to a known case or cluster with 45 of those household contacts and 16 close contacts.
The source of infection for 36 cases remains under investigation.
There were over 65,000 tests conducted yesterday.
NSW recorded 97 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/YfNptxyua5
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 14, 2021
Gladys Berejiklian says the Greater Sydney lockdown will extend another two weeks.
Jess Malcolm10.29am: ‘Victoria knows if NSW does well, so does the country’
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has hosed down claims from the Victorian government of state favouritism in the commonwealth’s stimulus package for people struggling in the NSW lockdown.
Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, Mr Perrottet said Victorians would welcome any package designed to help boost the NSW economy as it was good for the entire nation’s recovery.
“We have a robust and constructive relationship with the commonwealth,” he said.
“Victoria welcomes the package to some degree – if they know NSW does well the country will go well.”
Mr Perrottet also confirmed he had received advice from Victorian Premier Tim Pallas when fleshing out the details of the new stimulus package.
“The Victorian government has been very good in providing support for the package as well,” he said.
“Tim Pallas has been in regular contact in relation to the support during the lockdown measures, and the constructive relationship and engagement between state treasurers has been great.”
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Jess Malcolm10.11am:Writers festival cancelled, music bash postponed
Several regional events across NSW have been cancelled due to the unfolding Covid outbreak and protracted lockdown in Sydney.
Organisers of the Byron Writers Festival released a statement on Tuesday confirming the event will be cancelled this year due to the outbreak.
The event was scheduled to run in early August, but given the large portion of participating writers are located in Sydney or interstate organisers said it would be impossible for the event to go ahead.
“As positive cases continue to emerge and borders are closed to NSW, it has become clear that the current restrictions will push too close to the festival to make it feasible to proceed in early August,” it read.
“Our primary and abiding concern is, as ever, the health of everyone involved in the festival – presenters, attendees, volunteers, staff and of course the safety of the wider Northern Rivers community.”
Broken Hill’s Mundi Mundi Bash has also been postponed, initially set to run in September.
Organisers have made the decision to postpone the event by five weeks given various state border restrictions associated with the current Sydney outbreak.
“Due to the various state border restrictions associated with the current Covid outbreak in greater Sydney, along with our focus on the health and wellbeing of community members and our patrons, we have made the decision to postpone the 2021 Broken Hill Mundi Mundi Bash by five weeks.”
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Hannah Moore10.03am:Treasurer issues apology over hours-long testing queues
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has apologised to residents in Sydney’s west forced to queue for hours for Covid-19 tests due to tough new rules introduced by the state government.
Testing queues in the Fairfield LGA stretched back kilometres on Wednesday morning, with locals told there would be at least a four-hour wait before they could be seen.
People have flocked to testing venues after the NSW government announced new rules in a bid to keep the city’s rapidly-growing Covid-19 outbreak at bay.
Under the rules, people living in the western Sydney local government area of Fairfield who need to leave the area for work will be required to take a Covid-19 test every three days, regardless of if they have symptoms. Police can ask for proof of a recent, negative test from Saturday.
A local worker named Wayne told 2GB he had waited in a queue at the 24-hour testing facility in Smithfield from 1am on Wednesday, before being forced to turn around and head to work hours later.
“The guy told me there was still a four-hour wait at that hour,” he said.
Speaking to 2GB host Ben Fordham later in the morning, Mr Perrottet responded to the chaotic situation in the region and said the NSW government was looking for solutions.
He stressed the new rules won’t come into effect until Saturday and affected people can get tested at venues outside their local government area.
“Can I just, on behalf of the government, apologise to everyone in Fairfield for this significant inconvenience,” he said. “But also thank them, because it’s the sacrifice that they’re making … that keeps people safe.”
Local MP Guy Zangari told 2GB police were turning residents away from testing sites on Tuesday night, when the wait for a test stretched to six hours.
He described the situation as “chaos” and demanded more testing facilities were opened to keep up with demand.
“It’s time for Gladys Berejiklian to put her money where her mouth is by increasing 24-hour testing sites, having more health care professionals on the ground …. because what we saw last night was a slap in the face to the hardworking people of Fairfield,” he said.
Mr Zangari later told the ABC it had been a brutal few weeks for the community.
“All residents of the Fairfield local government area who over the last three weeks have had the finger pointed at them, they have been shamed and blamed and they are doing the right thing here.
“Commendations to all the residents, but they need a Government that is going to support them with all the resources possible.” – NCA Newswire
Lydia Lynch9.54am: Three ‘probably’ infected on flight to Brisbane
Five overseas arrivals have tested positive in Queensland overnight, three of those were probably contagious on their flight to Brisbane.
Wednesday 14 July – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 13, 2021
No new locally acquired cases recorded in Queensland overnight.
5 new overseas acquired case, detected in hotel quarantine.#covid19pic.twitter.com/G5ANJEZHKc
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the trio tested positive on the first day of their quarantine stay so authorities would closely monitor other passengers.
No local cases were detected.
Mr Miles said the NSW outbreak was still largely contained around Sydney, confirmed by routine sewage testing.
“We do not yet need to put in place greater border restrictions here,” he said.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation in NSW.”
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Jess Malcolm 8.47am: Victoria records one new local virus case
Victoria has recorded one new locally acquired case of Covid-19.
Reported yesterday: 1 new local case and 1 new case acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 13, 2021
- 14,989 vaccine doses were administered
- 33,037 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl1hf3W#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/YISnlwvdvG
The case is a close primary contact who has been in isolation during their infectious period.
There was one other case recorded in hotel quarantine.
The state conducted 33,037 tests yesterday, and administered 14,989 vaccines.
There are currently 19 active cases in the state.
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Jess Malcolm 8.42am:Case numbers above 40 a day until September: modelling
Infectious disease expert Mike Toole says modelling done by the Burnet institute forecasts it would take NSW until the beginning of September to drive cases down to 40 per day under the current restrictions.
Gladys Berejiklian has repeatedly said authorities would need to see zero cases in the community to be able to lift any restrictions.
But expert modelling which compared Victoria’s stage four lockdown to the current outbreak in Sydney showed restrictions would need to be tightened if the state had any chance of reaching the Premier’s target.
“At the current level of restrictions, which is stage three point five under our modelling, that will flatten the curve and lead to gradually decreasing cases but it will not be enough to lift those restrictions,” he told ABC’s Radio National.
“It would appear there would be 40 cases a day at the beginning of September. If you applied stage four in the modelling you would get to less than five cases a day by September.”
Professor Toole said the NSW government should introduce a 5km-radius limit and shut down non-essential retail.
“The economic relief package now introduced means there’s really no excuse,” he said.
“The restrictions are just not good enough, it has to be more and that’s based on experience last year. This modelling is not made up overnight.”
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Max Maddison8.18am:Andrews ‘rejected offer to split stimulus bill’
Josh Frydenberg says Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews “rejected” an offer from the federal government to split the bill for the state’s economic stimulus package, as he says NSW hasn’t received any more money than their southern counterparts.
Amid allegations from Mr Andrews the federal government has engaged in “double standards”, accusing Scott Morrison of being the “prime minister for NSW”, the Treasurer pointed to the $750 million provided by the commonwealth during the middle of the Victorian lockdown.
“Let me put the facts on the table. Indeed on a per capita basis under JobKeeper, Victoria received more than any other state or territory,” Mr Frydenberg told ABC News.
“We offered Victoria a 50/50 split with business and income support. They rejected it, deciding they would alone pay for business support and the Federal Government will pay for income support.”
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Max Maddison8.05am:Fiscal package ‘more targeted than JobKeeper’
Josh Frydenberg has defended the decision not to reintroduce JobKeeper, saying the current fiscal package is a “more targeted response” with the ability to target different sized businesses.
After the much lauded success of the wage subsidy program, which shielded the Australian economy from the brunt of the pandemic-induced economic downturn, many have called on the Treasurer to reimplement the program.
But Mr Frydenberg said with the economy at a considerably different stage to last year, different measures were necessary to address the current crisis, which he said had been applauded by some academics. He pointed to the 134,000 payments which had already been processed in NSW.
“Now we’re applying more targeted responses based on the experience in different states, as well as, and then to take into account the hotspot definition but also targeting different sized businesses,” Mr Frydenberg told ABC’s Radio National on Wednesday morning.
“And so we’ve come up with a program and like I say, academics are out there today saying it’s a better response for what the situation in NSW requires.”
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Jess Malcolm7.58am: Victorians ‘have every right to be filthy’
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers says Victorians have every right to be “filthy” over the federal government’s commonwealth support plan.
The Prime Minister announced a joint support plan with NSW on for individuals and businesses struggling under harsh lockdown on Tuesday, including income support of $600 a week and businesses a cash flow boost of up to $10,000
Speaking to ABC’s Radio National on Wednesday morning, Dr Chalmers said the new scheme was set to “antagonise Victorians” and that Victorians had been “left in the lurch”.
“They’re certainly being treated differently,’’ he said. “It’s entirely reasonable for Victorians to be angry. They came forward for a package that looked very different.
“I think Victorians have got every right to be filthy at the petty politics being played by Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg.”
He said the Sydney lockdown will have economic implications for the whole country, but that it’s federal government’s responsibility which could have been avoided with a faster vaccination rollout.
“The Treasurer said last night that the economy is bleeding something like $700 million a week in lost economic activity as a consequence of these lockdowns,” he said.
“You can’t have a first-rate economic recovery with a third rate vaccine rollout, that’s very clear, we’re seeing that in Sydney at the moment.”
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Max Maddison7.45am: PM points out differences in NSW, Victoria lockdowns
Scott Morrison has sought to differentiate between the outbreak in Greater Sydney and Melbourne’s second wave, as he responds to criticism the federal government has played favourites with their most recent economic support package.
A joint fiscal package with the Berejiklian government will see taxpayers spend $1.5 billion a fortnight to alleviate the financial burden of businesses and workers across NSW, as Greater Sydney stares down the barrel of an indefinite lockdown.
But with the federal government coming under attack for not coming to the aid of each state equally, Mr Morrison rejected the analysis, defended the package saying it was comparable to Victoria, which received $13.4 billion of direct support to employers and employees.
“What happened in NSW is exactly what has happened in Victoria. It’s the same support provided by the commonwealth,” Mr Morrison told Sunrise on Seven.
“We are now going into a longer lockdown. When Victoria needed the country last year in that long lockdown in the second wave, the commonwealth was putting in three quarters of a $1 billion into Victoria every week.”
Mr Morrison also pointed to the deadliness of the Delta variant, as he defended NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s “lockdown lite”, noting there had been “a lot of learning” and some “pretty big failings” during Victoria’s second wave.
“NSW has responded, as they always have, with the best information they have. This trend is far more deadly, which is why they’ve gone in early. They’ve gone in far earlier than what we saw last year,” he said.
“The other thing I note in NSW, is that even though they’re going through now, they are still taking half the international arrivals into Australia. They’re still carrying the load for Australia.”
READ MORE: Morrison’s blueprint for Covid relief
Jess Malcolm7.40am:Albanese accuses Treasurer of inflaming tensions over states
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has moved to support the Victorian government in its attack on the commonwealth, criticising the federal treasurer for inflaming tension between the two levels of government.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast on Wednesday, Mr Albanese hit out at the commonwealth for its reaction to comments made initially by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, who accused Canberra of making the state “beg for every scrap from the federal government”.
“I’m not surprised that they feel concerned because the truth is this government has pointed the finger at Victoria,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
“They have spoken about the gold standard in New South Wales and the truth is that Victoria went through a tough time and New South Wales is going through a tough time now.”
“I think the federal government, in particular the federal treasurer who is from Victoria, I think some of his comments over a period of many months now are what has caused this tension.”
Mr Albanese also used the Prime Minister’s financial assistance package to criticise the commonwealth’s vaccination rollout.
“We’re going to need these packages for as long as lockdowns occur and lockdowns will continue to occur while this government doesn’t fix the rollout of the vaccine and doesn’t have national quarantine facilities.”
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Jess Malcolm7.19am:NSW getting no more money than Victoria: Frydenberg
Josh Frydenberg has doubled down on his criticism of the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, accusing him of “whinging and whining” and politicising the crisis after Mr Andrews accused the federal government of giving special treatment to NSW.
The Andrews government laid out a war of words yesterday accusing the commonwealth of making it “beg for every scrap of support from the federal government.”
Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, the Treasurer said the commonwealth had provided more support on a per capita basis during Victoria’s 112-day lockdown, dismissing any claims of double standards.
“What this fails to recognise is the facts that I’ve laid out,” he said. “They were offered a 50/50 split and NSW has got no more money than Victoria did for the length of the Victorian lockdown.
“Anytime that someone challenges the Victorian Labor government, the bots and the trots from the trade halls get sent out into the sewer of social media to undermine the accountability that gets brought to bear on the Victorian government.”
Mr Frydenberg said the structure of the new stimulus package will apply to all states that endure more than one week of lockdown.
READ MORE: Andrews advised to ‘antagonise’ his foes
Hannah Moore7.12am: Four-hour waits for tests after new rules
Testing queues in the Fairfield LGA are stretched back kilometres, with locals told there would be a four-hour wait before they can be seen.
Residents have flocked to testing venues on Wednesday morning after the NSW government announced tough new rules in a bid to keep the rapidly-growing Covid-19 outbreak at bay.
Under the new rules, people living in the western Sydney local government area of Fairfield who need to leave the area for work will be required to take a Covid-19 test every three days.
“If you live in the Fairfield local government area, you need to have regular Covid tests to demonstrate that you are Covid free, even if you don’t have symptoms,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday.
“The Health Minister did sign a new health order which mandates that everybody who leaves the local government area for work is tested every three days to demonstrate that they are negative.”
Police can ask for proof of a recent test from Saturday.
A local worker named Wayne told 2GB he had waited in a queue at the 24-hour testing facility in Smithfield from 1am, before being forced to turn around and head to work hours later.
“The guy told me there was still a four-hour wait at that hour,” he said.
Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone shared shocking video of the line at 10pm on Tuesday night, calling for more resources after locals flocked to be tested immediately after the 11am announcement.
“We support more testing but adequate resources need to be put in place, today has been a terrible experience with a 6 hour wait and the NSW government needs to put more testing sites across Fairfield,” he wrote.
“Endeavour reserve testing clinic has blocked all of The Boulevard, Avenell St and every other road leading into the Park for kilometres, crossing over into Hamilton Road.
“These poor residents who need to go to work tomorrow are having to wait hours due to the new testing rules that apply to Fairfield residents who are required to get tested every 3 days if they work outside our area.”
New South Wales recorded 89 new cases on Tuesday, with Sydney’s lockdown expected to be extended for a second time later on Wednesday. — NCA Newswire
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Jess Malcolm 6.55am: ATU: Prioritise aviation workers for jab
The Australian Transport Union says the nation has a “gaping hole” in its defence against Covid after a survey found 46 per cent of aviation workers have not been vaccinated.
National Secretary Michael Kaine criticised the federal government for not prioritising aviation workers, calling for vaccination priority and frequent testing.
“Fewer than a third of workers are fully vaccinated,” he told ABC’s Radio National. “This is another example of an ad hoc approach by the federal government.”
“In New Zealand they’re a tick away from 85 per cent of aviation workers fully vaccinated. They don’t have high levels of vaccination in their community but they have put workers in a priority for a vaccination queue.”
“Band aid fixes are not going to do the job.”
Mr Caine has also called for mandatory rapid pre-flight testing on domestic flights for passengers and crew.
The calls come after Sydney’s outbreak and protracted lockdown was sparked by an unvaccinated and unmasked limo driver catching the virus while transporting aircrew.
READ MORE: No jab aviation workers ignite fears
Sid Maher 6.40am: Frydenberg lashes ‘whingeing’ Andrews
Josh Frydenberg has hit back at Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, accusing him of “whingeing’’ and politicising the NSW lockdown after the Victorian government accused Canberra of making the state “beg for every scrap of support from the federal government’’.
Appearing on the ABC’s 7:30, the federal Treasurer dismissed suggestions the commonwealth was demonstrating double standards by providing extra support to NSW during its current Covid crisis and initially not Victoria during its last lockdown.
Mr Frydenberg said the federal government had “provided more support on a per capita basis to Victoria through JobKeeper.” “Victoria was offered a 50-50 split and decided to reject it,” he said.
He also said the current situation in NSW was different to Victoria’s extended lockdown last year, arguing that the state was not dealing with the Delta variant. “They had a massive quarantine failure,” the Treasurer said. “Then they had an inquiry that didn’t find anyone took responsibility or made the decision.”
“People are sick of his whingeing and his politicking of the crisis,’’ Mr Frydenberg said.
When anyone challenged Mr Andrews, including the ABC’s Leigh Sales, “the bots and the trots’’ attacked them.
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Jess Malcolm6.35am:Fairfield workers furious at mandatory testing
NSW is anxiously awaiting an decision about a lockdown extension this morning as the state recorded its second death linked to the outbreak and restrictions were tightened further on Tuesday.
Essential workers who are working or living in Fairfield are now required to be tested every three days causing enormous queues in local testing sites. These people do not have to isolate themselves until they receive a result unless they are showing symptoms.
NSW Health has ramped up testing facilities in the area through the night, but locals are angry about a lack of consultation with the local community with many waiting hours to get a test. The restrictions come after an infected worker travelled from southwest Sydney to Goulburn, placing regional NSW on high alert.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 13, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern associated with
confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/loO5P2eOsG
There were 89 cases recorded in NSW on Tuesday with more than three quarters of the new cases being close family contacts. Gladys Berejiklian warned that the lower numbers were “not a trend” and urged people to stay home.
Nine people have now been infected with the virus in a growing cluster in a Bondi Junction apartment block in the city’s east. The apartment has gone into full lockdown with police guard ensuring nobody enters or leaves.
Hundreds of people in a Melbourne apartment block are also locked down after two Sydney removalists delivered furniture to one of the apartments whilst infectious. Several new exposure sites have been added overnight including a Kalkallo Hungry Jacks and a Caltex. The workers have been interviewed by health authorities who are reporting they have not been “forthcoming” about their whereabouts.
Based on further detailed interviews and investigations, including using CCTV, the Department of Health has published the following new Tier 1 exposure sites at https://t.co/xojLvnrdjA
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 13, 2021
[1/4] pic.twitter.com/1QU04jSfwC
Another family in the city’s north was infected with the virus after travelling from Sydney with the third member testing positive on Tuesday.
The outbreaks come as the federal government outlined its Covid relief package for NSW as the state endures a protracted lockdown.
READ MORE:Support measures needed for Delta
Natasha Robinson6.00am:Hotspot ‘young’ urged to get AZ jab
The nation’s top advisers on immunisation have urged people aged under 60 in coronavirus outbreak zones to consider being vaccinated with AstraZeneca if they do not have immediate access to Pfizer in another adjustment to the national vaccine rollout.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has also recommended a shorter interval of between four and eight weeks between first and second doses of AstraZeneca for those in Delta-variant outbreak zones.
The ATAGI said its advice that Pfizer was the preferred vaccine for those aged under 60 remained unchanged, but those aged under 60 living in areas of Covid-19 outbreaks should consider the benefit of being immediately vaccinated with AstraZeneca if they could not access Pfizer.
“In the context of a Covid-19 outbreak where the supply of Comirnaty (Pfizer) is constrained, adults younger than 60 years old, who do not have immediate access to Comirnaty (Pfizer), should reassess the benefits to them and their contacts from being vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca versus the rare risk of a serious side effect,” ATAGI said.
The risks presented by the rare but serious blood clotting syndrome that can be triggered by the AstraZeneca vaccine prompted the ATAGI to recommend that vaccine be given only to those aged over 60 while Pfizer was preferred for those under 60.
That advice was based on a risk-benefit equation that took into account the fact Australia had very low case numbers of Covid-19, and zero deaths or hospitalisations. That scenario has now changed, with the NSW Delta outbreak such that the risks posed by the virus for those aged under 60 in outbreak zones is greater than the risk posed by the AstraZeneca vaccine.
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Rhiannon Down5.45am:Sydney exposure list balloons, longer lockdown looms
More medical centres have become exposure sites, along with food and retail outlets across Sydney’s west.
The BHC Medical Centre in Lakemba and Primary Health Care Medical and Dental Centre pharmacy in Bankstown were added to the exposure list late on Tuesday, continuing a worrying trend in possible exposures in medical centres and pharmacies.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 13, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern associated with
confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/loO5P2eOsG
G James Glass and Aluminium in Smithfield and Sydney Wide Building Materials in Greenacre were also added to the list as close contact exposure sites, with anyone who visited the construction outlets asked to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Kaffeine & Co in Yagoona and Chubby Buns Burger in Punchbowl were also added as close contact sites.
Punchbowl Woolworths, the Belrose Hotel Bottle Shop, Adam’s Kebabs and Pizza-Pide in Hurstville, O’Loughlin’s Medical Pharmacy in St Ives, Espresso Warriors in Blacktown and Cotton On and Cotton on Body also in Blacktown were among the locations listed as casual contact sites.
The full list is available on the NSW Health website.
Ewin Hannan5.30am: Fears over no jab aviation workers
Almost one in two aviation workers is not vaccinated, according to a survey of nearly 800 cabin crew, pilots, cleaners, baggage handlers and ground workers, sparking warnings the community is being put at risk because of the low number of vaccinated airport employees.
One-third of aviation workers have had two vaccine shots and 22 per cent have had one shot, with the Transport Workers Union saying poor vaccination rates at “one of our most at-risk locations should ring alarm bells that there is a gaping hole in our fight to reduce the risk of Covid spread”.
More than 70 per cent of cabin crew said they did not feel safe flying into hotspot locations, citing the risk of getting Covid-19 and the fear of passing it to family members and the wider community.
Fifty-four per cent of cleaners and ground crew said they did not feel safe servicing aircraft from hotpots. Cabin crew and pilots overwhelmingly supported rapid pre-flight tests of crew and passengers to help reduce risks.
Many aviation workers said they had not been vaccinated because of a lack of vaccine timeslot availability and because it was difficult organising their vaccination ahead of roster changes with the potential of losing work.
Seventy per cent of those vaccinated organised the shot themselves, with the other 30 per cent assisted by their employer.
READ the full story
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