Coronavirus Australia live news: NSW Health admits ‘error’ over St Joseph’s College Pfizer jabs; NSW restrictions set to remain amid 18 new cases
Vaccines given to 163 students at an elite Sydney college were meant only for its indigenous students, it’s been revealed.
- Apology over private school Pfizer ‘error’
- Lockdown decision tomorrow
- Elite private school students given Pfizer jabs
- Pfizer for under-40s ‘by September or October’
- NSW records 18 cases
- Third aged care worker positive
Welcome to rolling coverage of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and political fallout from around the nation. Live coverage has ended for now, read on to catch up on the day’s events.
Pfizer vaccines were given to students at an elite Sydney private school by mistake, it’s been revealed.
Doses remain limited for frontline workers, including teachers and other vulnerable Australians, but about 160 students at St Joseph’s College were given Pfizer jabs. The revelation came as the head of Australia’s vaccine rollout, Lieutenant General John Frewen said under 40-year-olds will be able to receive Pfizer in “September or October” after “ample supplies” become available.
Hopes for Sydney’s lockdown have been raised with NSW recording 18 new cases of community transmission in the past 24 hours. Gladys Berejiklian says she will announce whether the lockdown needs to be extended at tomorrow’s update.
More than 600 nurses in Sydney are in isolation after student nurse worked shifts while infectious. Liberal MPs have identified national vaccination rates as low as 50 per cent as the threshold to clear the first phase of the Morrison government’s “new deal” road map to normality. In the UK, Boris Johnson has ripped up almost all coronavirus restrictions ahead of Freedom Day on July 19.
Rhiannon Down10.30pm:Church among new NSW exposure sites
A church, a Toongabbie construction site and multiple shopping outlets are among the latest locations to be added to NSW Health’s list of exposure sites.
Worshippers at St Mary & Mina Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Bexley have been put on high alert after the church was added to the list as a close contact venue.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERN AND TRANSPORT ROUTESâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 6, 2021
NSW Health is reminding the public of its advice for a number of key venues of concern across Sydney. These venues were visited by confirmed cases of COVID 19 and transmission occurred. pic.twitter.com/yyj33twPFV
The construction site at 74 Aurelia St in Toongabbie from Monday June 28 to Friday July 2 has also been added to the list, with any workers at the site during the period asked to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Roselands Commonwealth Bank has also been added to the list with anyone who visited the branch between 8am to 5pm on Monday June 28 and Tuesday June 29 and from 8am to 3pm on Wednesday June 30 identified as a close contact.
AJ & PM Sales, Kirrawee Trade in Kirrawee, Coles and TG Farm Chickens in Hurstville, JD Sports in Wetherill Park, Bonnyrigg McDonald’s, the Woolworths in Bonnyrigg and Hillsdale, St. George Bank in Riverwood, Big W in Menai and Bondi Beach Harris Farm have also been added to the list.
Shoppers at Westfield Hurstville other than TG Farm Chickens have been put on high alert, with anyone who attended on Saturday July 3 between 1.30pm to 2.20pm asked to monitor for symptoms.
The T1 North Shore Line and T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line from Parramatta Station to Bondi Junction Station and return have been added to the list of public transport routes.
Natasha Robinson9.30pm:Vaccine efficacy not as strong with Delta
Vaccinologists are downplaying the significance of an Israeli study that showed the Pfizer vaccine has reduced efficacy against symptomatic infection caused by the Delta variant. Read more here
Will Glasgow8.30pm:Australia rescues the Pacific in Covid jabs plan
China’s vaccine diplomacy in the Pacific has been sidelined with a transformative donation of 15 million doses by Australia. Read more here
Rhiannon Down7.45pm:New list of Queensland exposure sites released
Queensland Health has added a string of new venues to its growing list of exposure sites, as the state records one new local Covid case linked to a known cluster today.
âš ï¸ Public Health Alert âš ï¸
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) July 6, 2021
Queensland Health is issuing more contact tracing locations in South Brisbane, West End, Loganlea, MacGregor and Moorooka.
Full details can be found at https://t.co/rujm8F3qL4pic.twitter.com/T6YqXlZmJV
New exposure times for the administration building of the Greek Orthodox Community of St George Brisbane church has been added to the list, in addition to several existing exposure windows.
Shoppers at the West Village Shopping Precinct in West End have also been put on high alert after Home Grown Business Fashion and Expresso XO coffee cart at the retail hub were added to the list.
World Gym Mount Gravatt in MacGregor, 7-11 Petrol Station in Moorooka and United Service Station in Loganlea have also been added to the list.
Rhiannon Down7pm:Sixth case linked to Sydney aged care home
A sixth resident at the SummitCare’s Baulkham Hills aged care has tested positive to Covid-19 today, as the number of cases linked to the facility continue to grow.
A SummitCare spokesman confirmed that the newest case, a fully vaccinated woman whose husband had already tested positive, had been transferred to Westmead Hospital on Sunday “as a precautionary measure”.
“The resident, who until today was not positive, wanted to accompany her husband who tested positive on Saturday,” the spokesman said.
“The latest case takes the total number of positive cases to six residents, all of whom are now off site and showing no symptoms of the virus at this stage.
“Testing of residents and staff is currently underway in the facility and testing over the last 24 hours have all shown to be negative.”
Representatives from the Department of Health were onsite today to administer Covid jabs to 24 staff and residents, as the facility underwent a deep clean.
“We are working closely with the department and taking all of the strict measures to ensure the health and safety of our residents and staff, who we thank for their ongoing cooperation and support,” the spokesman said.
Yoni Bashan6.10pm:‘Error’ as Pfizer given to private school students
NSW Health has issued an apology over the vaccination of 163 students at Sydney’s St Joseph’s College, saying the Pfizer inoculations were only supposed to be provided to the school’s indigenous students.
Students from the top-tier private school received the sought-after vaccine after an approach was made by education officials to NSW Health in May.
Dr Teresa Anderson, Chief Executive of Sydney Local Health District, said the request was made in relation to Aboriginal students boarding at the school.
Under Commonwealth Government eligibility guidelines, Aboriginal people aged 16 to 49 are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination due to their elevated risk of contracting the virus and developing severe complications.
“It was agreed that the Aboriginal students would be vaccinated through the state health system at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s vaccination hub,” Dr Anderson said.
“Through an error, the wider group of boarders in Year 12, a total of 163 students, were also vaccinated. Sydney Local Health District apologises for this error.”
Emily Cosenza5.30pm:Child infected with Covid hospitalised
The infant child of a recently returned miner who is infected with Covid-19 was assessed in hospital at the weekend before returning to her parents in quarantine.
Premier Steven Marshall revealed that the baby was transferred to the hospital on Sunday.
“My understanding is that (the infant’s hospital visit) was for some fairly routine observations and not for treatment,” Mr Marshall said.
No further details were released and the infant has since returned to the hotel where the family are quarantining.
Separately, SA Health confirmed a five-year-old girl, also infected with Covid-19, was taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for assessment on Tuesday but was never admitted.
She returned to the Tom’s Court quarantine hotel later in the day.
All confirmed Covid-19 cases are moved to Tom’s Court to complete their 14 days of isolation at the facility which is situated in Adelaide’s CBD.
The miner father of the first child to go to hospital, Adam Ryan, initially tested negative when he returned to SA in late June after working at the Northern Territory Tanami mine site where other positive cases popped up.
Despite his initial negative result, he later tested positive to the virus.
Following his results, his wife Kristen and their four children, all aged under 10 years, were found to have also contracted the virus.
Their youngest child, who is less than 12 months old, was the last of the family to return a positive result on July 2.
— NCA NewsWire
Rhiannon Down 4.20pm:Nationwide vaccination doses pass 8.4 million jabs
The nation’s vaccine rollout has surpassed 8.4 million jabs after 146,718 doses were administered in the past 24 hours.
The figures include 4,780,305 jabs administered through the federal system, with the significant majority of 4,332,771 delivered through primary care, while 3,621,886 jabs were administered by the states and territories, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.
Victoria had retaken the lead with 23,431 people rolling up their sleeves in the past 24 hours, taking the state’s total to 1,189,708 doses.
Locked down NSW, which recorded 18 cases today, administered 20,562 jabs in the past 24 hours bringing the state’s total to 942,221 immunisations.
Queensland came in third with 627,814 jabs in total, including 12,670 in the past 24 hours.
Some 3311 jabs were administered in aged and disability care in the same period.
This daily infographic provides the total number of vaccine doses administered in Australia as of 5 July 2021. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccine information here: https://t.co/TUKfzVuGVm#COVID19#COVID19Vaccinespic.twitter.com/1JdBblbOWm
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) July 6, 2021
Rhiannon Down 4.15pm:Shopping centre, multiple stores among new venue alerts
A hotel, Marrickville shopping centre and multiple shopping outlets are among the venues to be added to NSW’s growing list of exposure sites this afternoon.
New exposure windows have been added for the ground floor and dining room area at the Locker Room hotel at Sydney Olympic Park and Club Marconi in Bossley Park, with patrons who visited during the identified periods urged to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Shoppers at Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre have also been put on high alert after multiple exposure windows from Saturday June 26 and Thursday July 1, with anyone who visited asked to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they appear.
JB Hi Fi Westfield Bondi Junction and Woolworths Metro Granville have also been added to the list.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 6, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of new venues of concern and additional times for previously announced close contact venues associated with confirmed cases of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/wxMJ1oMo2J
Yoni Bashan4.00pm:Preferential treatment suggestion for Pfizer jab students rejected
Richard Stokes, CEO of Australian Boarding Schools Association, defended the decision to vaccinate the students and rejected suggestions of preferential treatment.
He said NSW Health made the decision to proceed with the immunisations, not the school, and the call to do so was likely to have been well-reasoned.
“It’s the second largest boarding school in Australia with a whole bundle of students living in close confines,” he said. “They live in a dormitory close together, so I’m not surprised NSW Health made a decision based on that. This is just more people in Australia vaccinated.”
READ MORE:Rollout head says Under 40s to get access to Pfizer within months
Yoni Bashan3.25pm:Elite private school students get Pfizer jabs
Approximately 160 students from a top-tier Sydney private school were given access to the Pfizer vaccine while doses remain limited for frontline workers, including teachers, and other vulnerable Australians.
The students from St Joseph’s College in Hunter’s Hill received their first dose of the vaccine in May after school officials approached NSW Health with an inquiry about the possibility of obtaining inoculations.
In a statement provided to The Australian, the school said those inquiries were made because it houses a number of boarders from rural, remote and indigenous communities.
“The approval and administration of the vaccine was endorsed and managed by NSW Health through the Sydney Local Health District,” said the statement, signed by school principal Ross Tarlinton.
“The College proceeded to make arrangements for the administration of the approved vaccine at a centre determined by NSW Health.
“Acknowledging that the College does not determine vaccination priority, it welcomed the opportunity to offer the vaccine for students given the approvals provided and for the reasons listed above.”
The revelations have prompted anger from the NSW Teachers Federation, whose members have been arguing for months to provide teachers and other educational staff with priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Many teachers still have not been able to access a vaccination given the shortage of supplies and delays in the rollout.
“We are speechless,” said Federation President Angelos Gavriolatos. “We are told that the pandemic is the great equaliser but clearly it is not. While we are trying to convince government authorities to prioritise vaccines, we see reports of privilege being extended to the already privileged.”
Mr Gavriolatos said the most recent outbreak of COVID-19 had seen 37 young adults up to the age of 19 contract the virus, with a further 25 cases reported in children under the age of 10.
“We are looking at a situation in Australia where aged care workers have yet to be vaccinated; a host of frontline workers have yet to be vaccinated. Teachers and education workers are still seeking prioritisation and now we read this – it has left us speechless,” he said.
NSW Health has been approached for comment.
Earlier today, the head of Australia’s vaccine rollout, Lieutenant General John Frewen said under 40-years-olds will be able to receive Pfizer in “September or October” after “ample supplies” become available.
Debbie Schipp3.10pm:Confirmed: Australian F1 Grand Prix cancelled
The 2021 Australian F1 Grand Prix has been cancelled — the second successive year the event has been abandoned.
The event was to be held in Melbourne in November.
Organisers said the cancellation was forced “due to the restrictions and logistical challenges relating to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic”.
We regret to announce that the 2021 #AusGP has been cancelled due to restrictions & logistical challenges relating to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.#F1https://t.co/aDmCA8s6nx
— F1 Australian Grand Prix (@ausgrandprix) July 6, 2021
READ MORE: Australian GP latest Covid-19 casualty
David Rogers 2.30pm:RBA keeps rates on hold for 8th straight month
The Reserve Bank has left the official cash rate unchanged at a record low 0.1 per cent, as it continues to consider how to guide the nation’s recovery from the pandemic.
In a statement following the RBA’s monthly board meeting, Governor Philip Lowe said the board had decided to leave the target at 10 basis points, where it has stood since November last year.
The RBA also kept three-year bond yield target at 10 basis points.
The central bank has repeatedly said interest rates will not rise until inflation is sustainably within the two to three per cent target, which it does not expect to occur until at least 2024.
The widely-expected decision to leave the cash rate target at a record low for an eighth-consecutive month came as the RBA mulled changes to its unconventional monetary policies.
READ the full story here
Max Maddison2.29pm: Pfizer for under 40s ‘by September or October’
Lieutenant-General John Frewen says under 40-years-olds will be able to receive Pfizer in September or October after “ample supplies” become available.
After conducting “war games” designed to plan out the next phases of the vaccine rollout, Lieutenant-General Frewen said more vaccination choice would become available in the program later in the year, but he was unable to put a “hard time” on when that would occur.
“I did mention this morning I think when we get to September and October, if we’ve got the amounts of supply that we are forecast to have at those stages, that’s around about the time we may be able to look at bringing more choice into the program,” Lieutenant-General Frewen told a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
He also said he would be meeting with business and industry on Wednesday in a bid to broaden and accelerate the rollout of the vaccination program, including workplace vaccinations.
“Tomorrow we hope to have a national level discussion about where we see industry fitting into the rollout going forward. Both our perspectives and theirs,” he said.
“I’ll be having a conversation with them around incentives maybe later in the program when we’re trying to move portions of the population towards getting vaccinated.”
READ MORE:Business shut-out of jab data proposal
Brent Read2.01pm: Dragons sack player over lockdown party
St George Illawarra prop Paul Vaughan has been sacked by the club.
The Dragons board met on Tuesday morning, where it is understood they made the decision to terminate his contract with more than a year remaining.
Section 8.1 in Vaughan’s contract gives the club the power to tear up his deal. The clause makes it clear that players must not engage in conduct or act in a manner that is inconsistent with the best interests, image or welfare of the NRL competition or the club.
By all counts, Vaughan appears in breach of his contract by hosting a party for 12 teammates on Saturday night that breached Covid-19 protocols. His contract had a year to run and was due to pay him in excess of $800,000 in 2022.
The blunder could cost the NSW and Kangaroos prop about $500,000 — any deal with a rival club is likely to be half what he is currently earning.
It is understood other players will be forced to apologise and show some contrition publicly for their actions. They are also expected to be whacked with a financial penalty.
READ the full story here
Jess Malcolm 1.42pm:SA eases restrictions as ACT records zero cases
The ACT has recorded no new cases of locally acquired transmission, and zero new overseas cases.
The state has officially administered 92,671 doses of vaccine.
ACT COVID-19 update (6 July 2021)
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) July 6, 2021
â–ªï¸ Cases today: 0
â–ªï¸ Active cases: 0
â–ªï¸ Total cases: 124
â–ªï¸ Recovered: 121
â–ªï¸ Lives lost: 3
â–ªï¸ Test results (past 24 hours): 997
â–ªï¸ Negative tests: 244,611
â–ªï¸ Total COVID-19 vaccinations: 92,671
â„¹ï¸ https://t.co/YGW9pOHG3epic.twitter.com/GE6n5f1zpa
In South Australia, authorities have eased restrictions overnight allowing unlimited visitation times in aged care facilities. Masks are also now not compulsory for visitors to aged care homes.
Updates have been made to the Residential Aged Care Direction in South Australia. Masks are no longer compulsory and there are no longer visitation limits for Residential Aged Care Facilities. For more information visit: https://t.co/VYgT9rp8PPpic.twitter.com/HmLCLL34Dg
— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) July 6, 2021
READ MORE:Canavan to Julia Banks – ‘If you throw punches, be ready to take it’
Jess Malcolm 12.55pm: Airports ‘ready to help reopen international borders’
Australian Airports Association CEO James Goodwin says the nation can’t continually lockdown and calls on the federal government for more clarity around its four-step plan to emerge out of Covid-19.
Mr Goodwin told Sky News airports were the “economic enablers” for the country, and that the industry is ready to assist the government to reopen international borders.
“We are encouraging confidence to get back to our normal way of life and not have the fear of being locked in another state or locked down,” he said.
“We encourage the government for more details on the phases of these plans, we know airports are the enablers of economic growth and also connect family and friends with each other.”
Mr Goodwin said hopes for more quarantine free travel bubbles have been dashed by a surge in cases of the Delta strain, but that the sector is optimistic that more quarantine free travel can resume next year.
“We can’t stay closed forever.”
“Realistically we want to try and open as many safe travel corridors as we can.”
READ MORE: Gottliebsen – What airport bid tells us about the future of travel
Ellen Ransley12.45pm: Palaszczuk defends planned Tokyo trip
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended the “unprecedented” reason she will leave the country this month, despite thousands of people signing a petition calling for her to be denied an exemption to travel to Japan to secure the 2032 Olympics.
READ the full story here
Remy Varga12.10pm:Andrews: Major events only when most are jabbed
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says major events such as the Australian Grand Prix will only go ahead when the majority of the population is vaccinated.
Mr Andrews declined to comment directly on the cancellation of the international sporting event, the cancellation of which is expected to be confirmed at 3pm on Tuesday.
But the Victorian Premier said the halving of travel caps and the slow vaccine rollout meant staging international events was “very challenging”.
“We’ll get to that point by the end of the year, once the supply of Pfizer, once Moderna and other vaccines are here and the insufficient numbers will really be able to ramp up … But until that point we have to do everything to safeguard not bringing the virus in, particularly the Delta variant,” Mr Andrews said.
READ MORE: Letters – Our premiers must start acting in national interest
Jess Malcolm11.55am:Expect restrictions to remain in some form: Berejiklian
NSW residents will be living under some form of restrictions until at least 80 per cent of the adult population are vaccinated, Dr Kerry Chant has confirmed.
Health authorities say the public health response to the virus has had to change as it battles a surge in cases of the highly infectious Delta variant.
“Although the Delta virus is more transmissible, the way it is transmitting is still in the settings that we have known, so for instance, it transmits well in hospitality settings, in your home, it transmits in workplaces, particularly where you have a large number of people, certain workplaces,” Dr Chant said.
“We have seen some settings where we would not have traditionally seen as risks, so for instance retail, or other settings have now become a bit more our focus.
“We will be collating all of the information that we have acquired to really hone our own assessment of the settings and provide that advice to the government.”
But the NSW Premier says residents will have to wait for extra doses of Pfizer to be made available by the commonwealth until life can resume to some form of Covid-normal.
“We’ve been asking for more jabs for a long time and we know that each state is given the allocation and the matter how much I argue the case otherwise it is not going to happen,” she said.
“While it has been a stressful time for all of us, it has been an amazing learning experience on what the virus is doing now and we will take those learnings forward.”
Jess Malcolm 11.37am: Highest risk for infection is ‘in people’s homes’
Kerry Chant has rejected claims that health authorities should tighten restrictions further if case numbers do not trend down, amid concern there are a number of retail stores open that should be deemed non-essential.
While health authorities will study the type and location of cases over the next few days, Dr Chant said the highest risk place for transmission was still people’s homes.
“We will be looking at the data and the epidemiological report will be up online later today, and we will describe the settings clearly in that report where transmission has occurred,” she said.
“But it is important that people are able to go about and get essential products through lockdown. There is nothing different about this lockdown.”
Gladys Berejiklian reiterated that the NSW government did not want to put “unnecessary burdens” on its citizens.
But despite their hopes of keeping businesses open, Ms Berejiklian warned residents to stay vigilant against the virus amid the recent hospitalisation of young people with the virus.
“It is a random disease that affects people differently, we know which age groups are more vulnerable than others but we also know that it is random.”
Jess Malcolm 11.21am:Berejiklian leaves room to extend lockdown
Gladys Berejiklian has left the door open to extending the city’s lockdown, saying health authorities do not want to pre-emptively release Sydney residents from lockdown.
The NSW Premier said she wants the current lockdown to be “the only lockdown we go through” foreshadowing that the trend must be comfortably trending down to make that call.
“It is not something we have seen before, and that is why it requires a different type of response,” she said.
“We only intend for this lockdown to be the only lockdown we go through. And that will factor into our decision-making as to whether it finishes on Friday or whether we continue for a period longer.”
While admitting she wants to provide certainty, Ms Berejiklian warned life in NSW will not go back to normal quickly and that restrictions could remain in place until more vaccines become available.
“The New South Wales government is not only thinking about when we come out of lockdown, but what coming out of lockdown looks like and then in addition to that, what life looks like until the end of October when we have many more vaccines available.”
The NSW government will announce their decision tomorrow, including whether students will return to face-to-face learning.
Jess Malcolm11.15am:Where today’s NSW cases have been recorded
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has confirmed reports of a further aged care worker testing positive at the SummitCare Baulkham Hills aged care facility, bringing the total cluster to eight.
This includes five residents, one of which was not vaccinated, and three aged care workers.
The new aged care worker in today’s numbers had received their first AstraZeneca dose, but the two other workers were not vaccinated.
There was one further case connected to the illegal party at the Meriton Suites Waterloo, which occurred just hours after the lockdown was enforced.
The cases linked to this party have ballooned to seven, with a further five household contacts of these cases testing positive.
There are currently 26 Covid patients admitted to hospital, six of them who are in ICU and two are ventilated.
Dr Chant also urged anyone in the Bossley Park and broader Fairfield area to be vigilant for symptoms due to a number of unlinked cases in the area.
“This is a salient reminder that Covid can have an impact on you and your loved ones,” she said.
“Please as you move about the community, assume everyone has Covid, follow the public health advice, and please minimise your exposure to others, particularly in indoor settings.”
Jess Malcolm 11.02am: NSW records 18 new local cases
Hopes for Sydney’s lockdown have been raised with NSW recording 18 new cases of community transmission in the past 24 hours.
Eleven of the new cases were in isolation for all of their infectious period and five of those cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period.
Just two new cases spent time in the community whilst infectious.
16 of today’s new cases are linked to known infections.
Gladys Berejiklian said she will be able to announce whether lockdown will be lifted in tomorrow’s press conference after health authorities have closely analysed the data.
More than 32,000 people came forward for testing in the last 24 hours.
NSW recorded 18 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 6, 2021
Of these locally acquired cases, 16 are linked to a known case or cluster – nine are household contacts – and the source of infection for two cases remain under investigation. pic.twitter.com/apOPenadHa
Of 26 people currently hospitalised with Covid symptoms there are six patients in ICU and two are on ventilators.
The Premier said she hoped that this would be the state’s “last lockdown’’ before the whole population has been offered vaccination.
Remy Varga10.51am: Victoria cancels Australian Grand Prix 2021
Victorian Racing Minister Martin Pakula and Australian Grand Prix CEO Andrew Westacott are due to address the media at 3pm amid reports the international motor sports race has been cancelled.
The 2021 Australian Grand Prix was postponed to November after it was originally scheduled to take place in March. The race was dramatically cancelled at the last minute in 2020 due to the emerging pandemic.
The Herald Sun reports the Grand Prix has again been cancelled. The Australian has approached the Victorian government and the Australian Grand Prix CEO for confirmation.
READ MORE: The secrets to bulletproof investing
Jess Malcolm 10.47am: The number needed to free Sydney from lockdown
Infectious diseases expert Peter Collignon says there is a “reasonable chance” NSW authorities can ease restrictions if case numbers come down over the next few days.
Professor Collignon said NSW must get down to 10 to 15 new cases of community transmission per day, the majority of those cases already in isolation and no mystery cases in order to release Sydney from mandatory stay-at-home orders.
“I think the lockdown has been successful in that we are not seeing an exponential or rapid rise in numbers and you remember in Melbourne last we did see that,” he told Sunrise.
“Good news is that even though the numbers are bouncing around, really they are staying at the same level.”
Professor Collignon flagged it could be extended three or four days if the numbers do not decrease to that threshold.
“When you start getting more than 30 a day that are not in isolation or majority not, there is a lot of contact tracing you have to do and that is probably at the limit of what you can do safely and satisfactorily in a short period of time.”
Lydia Lynch10.21am:Sydney woman escapes Cairns quarantine
A Sydney woman will finish her mandatory quarantine stay at a North Queensland watch house after escaping an isolation hotel.
The woman, 32, is accused of scaling two balconies and kicking down a door to flee a Cairns quarantine hotel.
Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said the woman arrived from
Sydney on July 1.
She was found missing on Monday during routine hotel checks.
Police reviewed CCTV footage and arrested the woman at her mother’s house on Monday night.
Meanwhile two fines were given to people in Brisbane’s West End and Fortitude Valley who refused to wear a mask.
READ MORE: Letters – Our premiers must start acting in national interest
Max Maddison10.11am:‘Hypocrisy’: Palaszczuk blasted over Tokyo trip
Liberal Senator Gerard Rennick has blasted Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for “hypocrisy”, saying if she’s calling for international arrival caps to be halved then she shouldn’t be travelling to Japan for the Olympics.
The Queensland Senator pointed to the inconsistency with her decisions, which seemed to favour major events like State of Origin and other NRL games over small businesses and individuals who were impacted by snap lockdowns.
“But there’s got to be one rule for all. The problem is last week she cut international arrivals by half. And yeah, that might be the correct thing to do but if she’s going to do that, she shouldn’t then travel herself,” Senator Rennick told Sky News on Tuesday morning.
“I think that’s where people are a little bit sick and tired of the hypocrisy.”
He also criticised Ms Palaszczuk’s decision to place domestic travellers in hotel quarantine alongside international arrivals.
“We should have open borders at least within Australia, and to put people who come from another state where there might be one or two cases in a quarantine for two weeks is just over the top, especially when there’s probably four cases of Covid within quarantine” he said.
READ MORE: Push for Palaszczuk travel ban
Lydia Lynch10.07am:Queensland records one new ‘low-risk’ local case
One new local Covid case has been confirmed in Queensland on Tuesday.
The woman, linked to a known cluster had no symptoms.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the woman was a student nurse who was doing a placement at Logan Hospital.
The last time she visited the hospital was on June 15.
Dr Young said it was hard to determine how long she was infectious for because she had no symptoms. She was swabbed because a close contact tested positive on Monday.
“I believe it is low risk,” Dr Young said.
Four others tested positive on hotel quarantine.
READ MORE: Creighton – World’s poor suffer as rich #stayhome
Jess Malcolm9.58am:Sydney braces for critical numbers update
Gladys Berejiklian will give her Covid-19 update at 11am, alongside Health Minister Brad Hazzard, NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant and NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys.
Health officials say today’s announcement will be critical in their decision whether to release greater Sydney residents from lockdown as scheduled this Friday.
But non-compliance of stay-at-home orders could threaten the relaxation of restrictions, with officials worried there could be undetected seeds of transmission circulating in the community.
Deputy Commissioner Worboys said he was “dismayed” to see people disobeying health orders in light of two illegal parties during lockdown.
Deputy Commissioner Worboys told the ABC that police had not yet given infringement notices to party-goers at the Meriton Suites in Waterloo, but an investigation is underway.
NSW Police have issued 13 infringement notices to the NRL players who gathered for a party on the South Coast.
There were 74 infringement notices given in the last 24 hours, mostly for people failing to wear masks.
READ MORE: Hidden Dragon – How de Belin evaded cops
Jess Malcolm 9.40am:Pfizer less effective against Delta spread: Israel
The Pfizer vaccine is less effective against stopping the spread of the Delta variant, according to an early study by the Israel health ministry.
The study found the protein-based vaccine is 64 per cent effective at preventing infection for those who are fully vaccinated, rather than 94 per cent as was previously thought.
But the data, collected over the past month, found the vaccine is 93 per cent effective at preventing serious illness and hospitalisation.
The study adds to growing evidence about a decrease in efficacy for the Pfizer shot against the Delta variant. Public Health England in May found the protection of two doses of Pfizer against the strain was 88 per cent, and 66 per cent for AstraZeneca.
The study, first reported by Israeli news outlet ynetnews, was conducted as Israel battles a surge in cases of the highly infectious variant.
READ MORE: Push for children to receive Pfizer jab
Jess Malcolm 9.05am: Aged care cluster grows as worker tests positive
A third aged care worker at SummitCare in Baulkham Hills in Sydney’s north-west has tested positive for Covid-19, the operator has confirmed.
There are now five residents who have tested positive to the virus, plus two other aged care workers previously recorded. This brings the total cluster associated with the home to eight.
SummitCare has confirmed the affected staff member was already in isolation as they worked closely with the other two infected staff.
The new case has sparked fears there could be more infected aged care workers test positive in coming days, with just two thirds of its workers vaccinated.
READ MORE: Vaccine coercion has no place in democracy
Jess Malcolm9.00am:Negative propaganda ‘seeding in Aboriginal community’
Senator Pat Dodson says there has been a complete lack of messaging about the vaccination rollout to First Nations Australians and is worried negative vaccine propaganda is seeding in the community.
Mr Dodson told RN Breakfast vaccine hesitancy is discouraging indigenous people to get the vaccine, urging the commonwealth to ramp up its messaging.
“There really hasn’t been a program to inform First Nations people of the seriousness of this virus and it’s mutations,” he said.
“There’s been no communication material.”
“Less than one per cent of people in the Pilbara have received their first dose.”
He also said the vaccination rollout has not effectively reached remote areas, saying most of the campaign has been focused on major centres in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne.
Mr Dodson has urged all First Nations people to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“My simple message is that all Aboriginal people should get the vaccine and get it soon. If you don’t you run a very serious risk of dying. Don’t listen to the other propaganda.”
READ MORE: Living with Covid requires different mindset
Jess Malcolm8.44am: Victoria records another day of zero local virus cases
Victoria has recorded zero new locally acquired cases of Covid-19, marking six consecutive days free from community transmission.
Reported yesterday: 0 new local cases and 2 new cases acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 5, 2021
- 15,451 vaccine doses were administered
- 22,149 test results were received.
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/HyncZIx3fW
There were two new cases recorded in hotel quarantine, and 22,149 test results received.
The state administered 15,451 doses of vaccine yesterday, bringing the total number of doses to 1,189,708.
READ MORE: Red alert – families told to leave state hot zones
Jess Malcolm8.26am: Further setbacks: ‘Vaccine supply may be disrupted again’
Commonwealth vaccination taskforce commander Lieutenant-General John Frewen has revealed officials have not ruled out the potential for major disruptions to supply of vaccines, sparking concern there could be further setbacks to Australia’s sluggish vaccination rollout.
Australia is expecting to receive a major ramp up this month from Pfizer, reaching one million a week by the end of July.
But the Lieutenant-General has told ABC News Breakfast major supply issues could still eventuate.
“The forecast we’ve got at the moment starts to see real upticks in mRNA vaccines from September, October,” he said.
“At the moment, we have confidence that could be the case.
“But in our war game today we’ll be looking at all sorts of setbacks, major disruption to supply, potential additional complications coming up around some of the vaccines like we’ve seen before, things that can very significantly affect public motivation to get vaccinated. We’ll build all those potential setbacks into the plan.”
State and territory leaders will meet with the commonwealth to discuss their preparedness in dealing with an anticipated acceleration of the rollout.
Lieutenant-General Frewen said the taskforce is considering expanding the vaccination workforce through GPs, pharmacists, nurses and even medical students.
READ MORE: Fake news triumphs amid stingy ad spend
Jess Malcolm8.08am: Today’s NSW numbers will be telling: Hazzard
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard says the state’s Covid-19 numbers today will be “telling” but authorities are “hopeful” they can bring in some changes to restrictions by Friday.
Mr Hazzard conceded that while the numbers haven’t spiralled out of control, health authorities are still analysing if the current settings are working effectively.
“We are on high alert but we are hopeful we could bring in some normalcy,” he told RN Breakfast.
“Last year when the numbers were going through the roof, that was traumatising. We know that what we’re doing needs to be done to hold the line but we’re just not sure how to break that line.”
While admitting the numbers will “bounce around”, Mr Hazzard revealed health authorities don’t have a specific number of cases needed to ease restrictions, and that officials were looking at a whole range of factors.
“There’s a whole team of health officials … they’re looking at the numbers, whether they’re linked or unlinked, and also whether there’s unknown chains of transmission.”
Mr Hazzard also repeated the race for vaccines in the rollout was “the hunger games” and called for a vaccination blitz for workers in aged care homes.
“We couldn’t quite understand why the federal government sent teams into facilities to vaccinate residents but not staff.”
READ MORE: Send children back to school, experts say
Jess Malcolm7.50am: ‘We’re middle of the pack in vaccine race’
Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Jane Halton says Australia is “in the middle of the pack” in the global race to ensure vaccine supplies.
Australia is expected to receive one million Pfizer vaccines by the end of July, in a bid to ramp up the nation’s vaccination rollout.
“As an Australian obviously I’d like to see the vaccination rolled out as soon as we can,” she said.
“In terms of global equity it’s always important to remind ourselves, there are other countries who don’t have vaccines either,” she said.
“We’re sitting in the middle of the pack, we’d like to be at the front but it could be worse.”
On the topic of international quarantine, Ms Halton said purpose-built facilities are an essential part of the nation’s public health response and Australia must endeavour to bring people home for compassionate reasons.
“If we can tighten up hotel quarantines and bring people in that would be good.”
READ MORE: Ship refused after crew tests positive
Jess Malcolm7.31am:Rollout ‘failed to prioritise aged care workers’
Aged & Community Services Australia CEO Patricia Sparrow says aged care workers have not been prioritised in the federal government rollout, amid emerging concern there are staff working in facilities while unvaccinated and infectious.
Ms Sparrow told ABC News Breakfast the government’s rollout was not as promised, with workers losing priority by having to line up at mass vaccination hubs.
“The workers expected to be vaccinated in reach, and we know from doing the flu jab every year, that’s the easiest and most effective way for workers to be vaccinated, for it to come to the place of work, and to be vaccinated,” she said.
“That’s not what happened. Workers weren’t necessarily a priority if they had to go to hubs. They were in line with other people and they lost some of that priority.”
Ms Sparrow said she welcomed the decision for mandatory vaccination for aged care workers, considering the number of Covid-19 related deaths in aged care homes during the pandemic.
“They’ve been turning up without being vaccinated, to care for people, and we must make sure they’re also supported.”
READ MORE: Push for Palaszczuk Tokyo travel ban
Jess Malcolm6.45am:Fully vaccinated Kate Middleton in isolation
The Duchess of Cambridge has been forced into mandatory self-isolation after she was exposed to a Covid-19 case, despite being fully vaccinated and testing negative four times in a week.
Kate Middleton was first alerted about the exposure on Friday afternoon after spending time at the Wimbledon Grand Slam.
The Duchess was forced to cancel her engagements, including the 73rd anniversary of Britain’s National Health Service on Monday with Prince William, who was not required to self-isolate.
Under the current rules in the UK, contacts of confirmed coronavirus cases must quarantine at home for 10 days.
A spokesperson from Kensington Palace said she is not experiencing any symptoms and is isolating at home.
“Last week the Duchess of Cambridge came into contact with someone who has subsequently tested positive for COVID-19,” they said.
“Her Royal Highness is not experiencing any symptoms, but is following all relevant government guidelines and is self-isolating at home.”
READ MORE:Living with Covid will require different mindset
Jess Malcolm6.40am: Sydney release hangs on today’s numbers
The hopes of greater Sydney emerging out of lockdown this Friday hangs on today’s numbers, with NSW Health officials calling the data “critical” to their decision. Authorities are hopeful that the number of cases who are infectious while in the community will decrease, in a bid to stop the spread of the virus.
But non-compliance to stay-at-home orders could threaten to jeopardise the city’s release from lockdown, with health authorities worried about an illegal party held at Waterloo Meriton Suites just hours after lockdown started. Thirteen NRL players have also been fined $305,000 and suspended 20 games by the NRL after they gathered for a party on Saturday night at player Paul Vaughan’s house.
Overnight, several new exposure sites were added to its growing list of exposure sites including several restaurants, a chicken shop and multiple pharmacies. Another hospital has been placed on high alert overnight after Sydney Adventist Hospital was potentially exposed to the virus. This comes after hundreds of nurses have been forced into isolation at Royal North Shore Hospital and Fairfield Hospital after an unvaccinated student nurse worked shifts while infectious.
The state recorded 35 cases on Monday, with 21 of those in isolation whilst infectious.
But the stay-at-home orders have been lifted overnight for anyone in Brisbane and Moreton Bay who were caught up in Sydney’s lockdown. These people can also now enter NSW from these locations, but must obtain a border declaration to do so.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – ADDITIONAL VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 5, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of new venues of concern associated with confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/i4AWzySYV2
Over 20 new exposure sites were listed in Brisbane overnight, including locations in Forest Lake, New Farm, Kangaroo Point and Woolloongabba. There were four new community transmission cases recorded yesterday, but all were linked to the Greek Orthodox community Centre. Health officials are comfortable they have contained their latest outbreaks, and were pleased Monday’s new cases were close contacts and had the Alpha strain.
âš ï¸ Public Health Alert âš ï¸
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) July 5, 2021
A public health alert is being issued for more contact tracing locations in Brisbane, including Forest Lake, New Farm, Kangaroo Point and Woolloongabba.
Contact tracing venues can be found at https://t.co/szwjYvf2RVpic.twitter.com/1cxUMZL77Y
South Australian restrictions were eased overnight, with increases to density rules, home gatherings increased to 200 people and singing and dancing now allowed.
Most restrictions have also loosened in Perth and Peel overnight, with masks still to be worn indoors in close settings and on public transport. The government also announced a new Covid-19 on a bulk carrier in Western Australian waters. The crew member has been taken into a Geralton hospital. Authorities say no one else on board has tested positive, and the state government is urging the federal authorities to remove the ship from Australian waters.
Restrictions in Victoria are expected to be relaxed further within days, as the state recorded its fifth day with zero cases on Monday.
READ MORE: How to use maths to stay safe
Jacquelin Magnay6.25am:Boris rips up restrictions for Freedom Day
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ripped up a raft of coronavirus measures, handing responsibility back to the public to assess their own personal risk as he confirmed that July 19 will be the country’s “Freedom Day’’.
Under the new rules, all business will be allowed to re-open, any current restrictions on social contact and distancing is to be abandoned and masks will no longer be required. The work from home edict has been scrapped.
In a win for civil liberties, Mr Johnson has declared that there will be no requirement for Covid certificates or proof of vaccination to enter premises and any requirement to register at premises through an app or by providing details will also be eliminated.
Mr Johnson said that further decisions on whether people will be sent home to isolate if anyone in their bubble tests positive will be reassessed.
Similarly a decision on opening up quarantine free travel those who have been double-vaccinated is still to be determined.
READ the full story
Olivia Caisley 5.55am:Businesses shut-out of vaccine data plan
Attorney-General Michaelia Cash has rejected a proposal by one of the nation’s major industry bodies to change federal privacy laws to enable employers to collect data to track whether staff have been vaccinated.
Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox has called for the change, declaring it would help governments and businesses to better manage Covid-19 outbreaks by more easily identifying which workers are most at risk.
The proposal is part of a new drive by business groups and unions to help speed up the vaccine rollout through a range of new measures, including the possible use of worksites as centres for employers to administer jabs.
However, business groups are pushing for the same indemnity provisions as GPs to ensure that they are not liable for any adverse vaccine side-effects.
Senator Cash said protections already existed for businesses through state and federal worker compensation schemes. “It is important that employers know that there are appropriate protections for them to encourage employees to get vaccinated,” she said.
Mr Willox has previously said businesses are eager to help in the vaccination drive but are concerned about potential liabilities if employees experience adverse side-effects after receiving a Covid-19 jab.
READ the full story
Olivia Caisley5.45am: Half vaccinated population enough: MPs
Liberal MPs have identified national vaccination rates as low as 50 per cent as the threshold to clear the first phase of the Morrison government’s “new deal” road map to normality as epidemiologists try to determine the “magic number”.
National cabinet agreed to a four-step blueprint on Friday for a phased easing of restrictions once Australians have met the new vaccine thresholds, which will be set using scientific modelling from epidemiologists at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne.
Sydney MP Jason Falinski said the two key trigger points to opening up should be all residents having been offered a jab and half of all adults having received both jabs.
“I think once everyone has had the opportunity to be vaccinated and we reach a threshold of 50 per cent, we should move to a staged opening over three months where restrictions are eased gradually,” he said.
“That would build confidence in the community to ensure the health systems can handle it.”
READ the full story
Rhiannon Down5.35am:More than 600 nurses in isolation
More than 600 health workers across two major Sydney hospitals have been forced into isolation after an unvaccinated student nurse worked shifts while infected with Covid-19, leaving hospitals to grapple with major staffing shortages.
Royal North Shore Hospital has lost 500 staff who are currently in isolation after the 24-year-old worked at the cardiology and general abdominal surgery wards at the hospital from June 24 to 28.
A further 120 staff at Fairfield Hospital have also been forced to self-isolate after the same nurse worked shifts at the hospital’s rehabilitation ward.
NSW Nurses and Midwives Association general secretary Brett Holmes said staff were already battling high levels of “exhaustion” amid widespread worker shortages.
“This is a difficult situation and probably the largest number of staff we’ve seen forced to isolate because of their close contact status in the workplace,” he said.
“It’s a massive challenge for the remaining staff at these two hospitals.
“At Royal North Shore they’ve stopped all but emergency surgery and are diverting some patients to other hospitals.”
Mr Holmes said the public health system was already struggling with workforce issues pre-pandemic and the “regular pool of casual nursing staff has been otherwise absorbed”.
Sydney Adventist Hospital in Wahroonga was also added to the list of exposure late on Monday night.
READ MORE:Half vaccinated nation is enough
More Coverage
Add your comment to this story
Teachers set to strike as police win major pay rise
Police officers will receive retention bonuses and regional payments under a landmark wage deal, while teachers head for their first strike since 2009.
Labor can win conservative votes with tax, housing overhaul: Westpac CEO
Anthony Miller says Labor should start tax free zones, end bracket creep and expand investments in defence that boosts housing supply and economic activity in regional cities.
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout