Coronavirus Australia live news: Tens of thousands told to isolate amid Sydney cluster fears; 8 new NSW cases, three new Vic cases
Sydney’s Berala cluster now a huge concern, sparking a warning for thousands of customers of a bottle shop over the festive period.
- Thousands told to isolate in Sydney
- Eight new cases in NSW, three more in quarantine
- Three new cases in Victoria
- Unhappy India clouds Gabba Test
Welcome to live updates on Australia’s response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Sydney’s Berala bottle shop cluster has prompted a plea to thousands of customers to isolate, along with secondary contacts, as Sydney records eight new locally acquired cases. It comes as Greater Sydney woke to the start of new mask mandates. Victoria has three new locally acquired virus cases. Furious Queenslanders have been turned away from Brisbane’s only COVID-19 testing facility after those in Victoria from December 21 were warned over possible exposure to the virus.
Jessica Malcolm 10.10pm: Hotspot list grows
New venues have been added to the list of places in Victoria visited by people infected with COVID-19.
Anyone who visited the following venues must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure:
● Bodriggy Brewing Company, Abbotsford, on December 28 from 2.50pm to 5.30pm;
● Melbourne Boat Hire, Docklands on December 28 from 11.26am to 2pm;
Anyone who visited these locations must get tested and quarantine until receiving a negative result.:
● Tao Dumplings, Camberwell, on December 29 from 12.30 to 1.30pm;
● Two Bob Snob, Cheltenham, on December 22 from 1pm to 2pm;
● Merrymen Cafe, Hampton, on December 28 between 1pm and 2.30pm;
● Victoria DHHS issued an alert for a number of venues in Cheltenham including Mecca, Angus and Cootes Jeweller, Specsavers, Kmart, Chemist Warehouse and Coles.
● People should also monitor for symptoms if they visited Federation Square on December 23 between 11pm and 11.30pm.
Rachel Baxendale 9.50pm: Hotspot vineyard doesn’t exist
A northeast Victorian “vineyard” the Department of Health and Human Services listed as a coronavirus exposure site on Saturday has never existed, and a cellar door which previously operated at the site shut down years ago.
The mistake appears to have resulted from contact tracers confusing the name of the defunct cellar door with that of a similarly named winery in Lakes Entrance, 400km away in Victoria’s far east, forcing the property’s owners to issue a statement assuring locals they are not at risk.
On Saturday morning the DHHS website listed the “Wonga Estate” winery at 292 Brookleigh Rd, Strathbogie, as a coronavirus exposure site, saying a positive case had “visited” the “vineyard” between 1 and 2pm on December 29.
Victorian coronavirus testing commander Jeroen Weimar subsequently noted that a “Strathbogie” venue had been added to the list of hotspots at his morning press conference.
Hours later, the listing was taken town and replaced with a listing for the same date and time at the Wyanga Winery at 248 Baades Rd, Lakes Entrance, alongside more than 10 listings for other Lakes Entrance venues.
Greg and Jady Roberts, who own the property “Strath Hill” at 292 Brookleigh Road issued a statement on Sunday saying they would “like to put the Strathbogie community at ease” regarding the listing on the DHHS website.
“DHHS and GV Health are currently investigating how the listing was posted which appears to be in error,” the owners wrote.
“We are able to confirm that we have had no visitation or notification of any possible infection of COVID-19 on the time and date that has been nominated nor any other time.
“We do not operate a vineyard nor a cellar door as contemplated by the DHHS advice.”
The property was previously the site of a cellar door for “Wonga Estate” wines, with 2009 the most recent vintage listed in James Halliday’s Wine Companion.
Asked on Sunday how a contact tracer interviewing someone about venues they had visited near Lakes Entrance could have listed an alert for somewhere 5½ hours away on the other side of the Great Dividing Range, Victorian Mr Weimar said he wasn’t aware of the details of the case.
Richard Ferguson 9.20pm: Vaccine volunteers for mid-year trials
Volunteers will be recruited for accelerated clinical trials of two COVID-19 vaccines by the middle of 2021, Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed on Sunday.
The vaccines, being developed by researchers at the University of Melbourne, are among six chosen to receive a share of $10.1m in federal grants.
Volunteers must be aged between 18 and 75 years.
Mr Hunt said the projects — supported by the $20bn Medical Research Future Fund — would also use germicidal ultraviolet light to reduce infection rates in aged-care facilities and 3D-printed face masks to match facial shapes and prevent leaks.
He said the clinical trials of “next-generation” vaccines would help Australia prepare if the COVID-19 virus mutated or if multiple jabs were needed to fight off the pandemic.
Patrick Commins 8.45pm: Avalon outbreak ‘inflicted $3.2bn hit’
The northern beaches COVID- 19 outbreak and lockdown cost the economy $3.2bn in lost working hours in December, according to modelling conducted by KPMG.
A preliminary analysis shows that even NSW’s more measured approach to suppressing the latest outbreak will come at a significant cost in terms of lost activity, with 34m fewer hours worked in December as a result of the localised lockdowns. It will slow but not stop the economic rebound that began in the September quarter.
KPMG chief economist Brendan Rynne said on Sunday: “The NSW government is doing a very, very good job in applying pressure quickly to contain the spread of the virus.”
“Unfortunately, that pressure brings with it an economic cost as it directly and quickly hits the supply side, and the longer it goes on, it then transfers to demand via confidence,” Dr Rynne said, adding that this depressing effect would extend into the new year.
The KPMG analysis looked at how changes in government restrictions — as measured by the Oxford Government Response Stringency Index — affect hours worked and through that GDP.
Dr Rynne estimated that the increase in restrictions, including social distancing and reimposed border controls, would translate to 34 million fewer hours worked in December than would have been the case were it not for the Avalon outbreak before Christmas.
Patrick Commins 8pm: Doctors back US envoy’s call for medicine security
The peak doctors association has thrown its weight behind the outgoing US ambassador’s call for Australia to secure critical supplies of medicines and medical goods.
As the Australian Medical Association called for a national strategy to address a key risk to the country’s medical system, a leading economist said China’s aggressive trade actions over the past 12 months had exposed the “naivety” of global supply chains that focused exclusively on efficiency at the cost of security and resilience.
In his final interview before leaving the country, Arthur Culvahouse said the “Five Eye”nations — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the US — alongside allies including Japan and India should work together to create alternative sources of supply for critical minerals, medical goods and pharmaceuticals.
AMA president Omar Khorshid said the country’s doctors had long been concerned about the supply of critical medications, which had left shortages of basic medicines even before the pandemic. “COVID has really exposed how little we manufacture here in Australia, and how exposed we are to trade shocks,” he said.
AFP 7.15pm: Zimbabwe reintroduces national lockdown
Zimbabwe’s government has imposed a national lockdown with immediate effect, following a surge in COVID-19 cases, creating a major problem for most citizens who rely on the informal employment sector.
Only essential services, such as hospitals, pharmacies and supermarkets will remain operational for the next 30 days, putting more pressure on already poverty-stricken families.
The southern African nation is already struggling with a deepening economic crisis, hyperinflation and high unemployment.
The government first imposed a nationwide lockdown in March to contain the spread of COVID-19, but had eased most of those measures amid fears of further economic malaise. Vice-President and Health Minister Constantino Chiwenga said there had been a huge spike in cases over the festive season, which almost doubled the number of infections recorded throughout the year.
“In light of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases the following stiff lockdown measures are being put in place with immediate effect,” he said.
“Gatherings are reduced to not more than 30 people at all funerals. All other gatherings at weddings, churches, bars, bottle stores, gymnasiums, restaurants etc etc are banned for 30 days.”
Even premises providing essential services will have to close at 3pm. A new overall curfew will run from 6pm to 6am.
COVID-19 cases have almost doubled in two months from 8374 at the start of November to 14,084.
A total of 369 virus-related deaths have been recorded in the country since the outbreak of the pandemic
READ MORE: As Covid evolves, trade-offs must be reassessed
Phillip Sherwell 6.30pm: Scientists cast doubt on WHO’S Wuhan mission
In the coming days, bar any last-minute hitches, 10 renowned international scientists will check into Chinese hotel rooms for two weeks of quarantine.
So will start the World Health Organisation mission of foreign experts to investigate the coronavirus, a year after the first reports emerged of a mystery disease sweeping the central city of Wuhan.
The stakes could not be higher in the hunt for the origins of the greatest public health challenge of our era, amid persistent warnings that the world needs to prepare for many more deadly pandemics.
But the mystery has become even harder to solve. Beijing has delayed the arrival of the WHO team for months with a barrage of logistical demands and rules.
AFP 5.45pm: India approves two vaccines for emergency use
India has authorised the emergency use of two coronavirus vaccines developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and by local pharmaceutical firm Bharat Biotech, the country’s drug regulator says.
“The... vaccines of Serum Institute (AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine) and Bharat Biotech are being approved for restricted use in emergency situations,” the Drugs Controller General of India, V.G. Somani, said on Sunday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the fast-track approvals were “a decisive turning point to strengthen a spirited fight” that “accelerates the road to a healthier and Covid-free nation”.
India is the world’s second-most-infected nation, with more than 10.3 million cases and almost 150,000 deaths, although its rate of infection has come down significantly from a mid-September peak of more than 90,000 cases daily.
The approval is expected to kick off one of the world’s biggest vaccination drives in the country of 1.3 billion people.
The government has already been holding nationwide drills ahead of the mass inoculation drive and 96,000 health workers have been trained to administer the shots.
The drug regulator would “never approve anything if there is the slightest safety concern”, Mr Somani added.
“The vaccines are 100 per cent safe,” he said, adding side effects such as “mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine”.
The Serum Institute of India, the world’s biggest manufacturer of vaccines, has said it is making between 50 million and 60 million doses a month of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine.
Serum Institutes chief executive Adar Poonawalla tweeted after the approvals that the vaccine would be “ready to roll-out in the coming weeks”.
READ MORE: Qld won’t soften rules for India’s cricketers
Mackenzie Scott 5pm: Travellers given warning for NSW, Victoria
Queenslanders planning a trip to regional NSW and Victoria have been warned to watch health advice and be prepared to return quickly if the current virus situation worsens.
While the state’s chief health officer Jeannette Young said she has no plans to change current restrictions, people need to be aware that the situation could change quickly. The new call comes as those who have returned from Victoria since mid-December are urged to get tested
New testing sites have been added across Queensland as the state extended its capabilities to meet high demand. There are now 76 testing locations, with 18 in the southeast corner. Several have also introduced extended hours.
Queensland recorded no new cases overnight, but testing levels did fall.
“I can understand why there was decline,” Dr Young said.
“We were very much in a holiday period, we’ve come out of that. So, I ask that everyone return to getting tested.”
“We’ve all been doing this for one year. Now. I’m sure everyone can understand what can happen,” Dr Young said.
“If you travel down to New South Wales or Victoria, just keep engaged. Know what is happening and what decisions are being made so that you’re not caught unawares when you come back to Queensland if something has changed.”
It comes after queues at some fever clinics grew to over four hours in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast on Sunday. Dr Young said people should check online or call the Queensland Health hotline to find alternate fever clinics before arriving.
“I think a lot of people just picked a few clinics instead of looking at all of the clinics that are available,” Dr Young said
“I would stress that people look around for other clinics.”
Additional restrictions will be introduced from 1am Monday on aged care facilities, disability accommodation, prisons and hospitals, with all now to limit visitation rights to those who have been in Victoria since December 21.
Mackenzie Scott 4.30pm: Qld won’t soften limits for India’s cricketers
The Indian cricket side will be forced to enter quarantine in Queensland in order to play the fourth test at The Gabba in Brisbane in two weeks time.
Queensland’s chief health officer Jeannette Young said the state would not move from its position on compulsory quarantine despite the overseas side saying they will not come if forced to isolate. Read more here
Kathryn Birmingham 4pm: SA residents warned to rethink travel plans
South Australians have been warned to reconsider travel to Victoria, but authorities say border restrictions are not necessary at this stage.
Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said the situation in Victoria was of concern, but it is important that South Australia respond proportionately.
“At the moment, I would be saying to South Australians to remain alert but not alarmed,” she said on Sunday.
“I am very hopeful that the situation in Victoria will come to an end and obviously we will be looking at the border, but that’s not necessary at the moment.
“But I do think South Australians should reconsider any travel arrangements that they have to Victoria, and just have some flexibility about those arrangements.”
Dr Spurrier also said anyone who has recently returned from the state should closely monitor the list of public exposure sites published by Victorian health authorities, and any returned traveller with symptoms should immediately get tested.
— NCA Newswire
Ellen Ransley 3pm: People wait for hours at virus testing sites
Thousands of Australians desperate to do the right thing are being turned away from, or facing queues of up to six hours at COVID-19 testing clinics across the country.
Melbourne, Brisbane and Gold Coast centres are all reporting massive wait times on Sunday, after desperate pleas from Victorian and Queensland authorities.
Meanwhile, NSW Health is urging more people to get tested, after the state recorded eight new cases on Sunday morning out of 18,923 tests.
Despite the long queue times, Queensland continued its run of zero COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
On Saturday, Queensland’s chief health officer said anyone in Queensland who had entered the state from Victoria since December 21 to immediately get tested and isolate until they received a negative result.
It prompted hundreds to flock to Brisbane’s only late-night testing clinic, the Royal Brisbane Hospital, only to be told they could not be tested as the centre was closing at 9pm.
Thousands of Queenslanders have spent Sunday morning standing or sitting in queues, some as long as six hours.
— NCA Newswire
Paige Taylor 2.30pm: Covid focus at remote Aboriginal communities
Rapid Covid testing facilities will be maintained at 86 remote Aboriginal communities across Australia until at least the end of March, Indigenous Australians minister Ken Wyatt and Health minister Greg Hunt have announced.
The Australian Government has committed $9.8 million for the rapid COVID-19 program which was initially funded to the end of 2020.
Indigenous Australians are known to be highly vulnerable to coronavirus because of the prevalence of underlying health issues in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population including diabetes and rheumatic heart disease.
There have been no known cases of coronavirus in a remote Aboriginal community. Health authorities believe that if the virus reached a remote settlement, overcrowding would spread it quickly.
At the start of the pandemic, the rapid testing sites were established in remote communities in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
The sites use the same polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing used for laboratory based COVID-19 testing and provides a test result within 45 minutes.
“We know that if COVID-19 were to reach a remote community it is likely to spread quickly among family groups and close contacts, without access to rapid testing through the POCT program, it’s possible that an entire community could be infected before the early cases are detected,” Mr Hunt said.
Of the 86 communities participating in the program, 32 are in the Northern Territory, nine are in South Australia, two are in Victoria, five are in NSW, 18 are in Queensland and 20 are in Western Australia.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt AM MP said the program acknowledges the challenge of distance and also the vulnerability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have around 2.3 times the burden of disease of other Australians, which may increase the risk of the most severe COVID-19 effects,” Mr Wyatt said.
“Many remote communities also have reduced access to health services, limited local workforce, and often a long distance to travel to reach other health care options. So delivering POCT services in consultation with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and the states and territories health authorities will help protect these communities.”
Agencies 1.50pm: Larry King hospitalised; record US case tally
Veteran talk show host Larry King has been hospitalised with COVID-19, US media reported Saturday.
Citing a “source close to the family,” CNN reported that King, one of the network’s biggest stars, has been hospitalised for more than a week at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
King, 87, has Type 2 diabetes and has had a long history of medical issues, including several heart attacks, lung cancer and angina, a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.
The legendary host is one of the most recognisable figures on US television, known for his signature rolled-up shirtsleeves, multi-coloured ties, suspenders and big glasses.
His list of interviewees has ranged from every US president since 1974 to world leaders Yasser Arafat and Vladimir Putin, and celebrities Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando and Barbra Streisand.
King hosted CNN’s “Larry King Live” for 25 years, retiring in 2010. He continued to do interviews on his own website and then, in 2012, he began hosting “Larry King Now” on Ora TV, an on-demand digital network that he co-founded.
In 2013, he also began hosting a show called “Politicking with Larry King” on Ora TV.to/acb
The US on Saturday saw its highest number yet of coronavirus cases recorded in one day, with more than 277,000 infections.
The hardest-hit country in the world by the pandemic, it has marked 20.4 million cases overall and just under 350,000 deaths.
Infections have surged in recent months, with top US government scientist Anthony Fauci warning just days after Christmas that the worst of the pandemic may be yet to come, driving the country to a “critical point” as holiday travel spreads the virus.
The country has floundered in its efforts to quell COVID-19, with its vaccination program beset by logistic problems and overstretched hospitals.
More than 4.2 million people in the US have already received their first jabs, with 13 million doses distributed, but that falls well behind the 20 million inoculations that President Donald Trump’s administration promised by the end of 2020. — AFP
Ellie Dudley 1.15pm: Accelerated trial for Australian vaccines: Hunt
Volunteers will be recruited for an accelerated clinical trial of two COVID-19 vaccines by the middle of 2021.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the projects will use “germicidal ultraviolet light to reduce infection rates in aged care facilities and 3D-printed face masks to match facial shape and prevent leaks.”
The vaccines, being developed by researchers at the University of Melbourne, are among six chosen to receive a share of $10.1 million in federal grants.
Volunteers must be aged between 18 and 75 years.
Mr Hunt cited large case numbers of COVID-19 around the world, and said he wanted to communicate a level of “perspective and hope and optimism about what Australia is achieving the middle of a global pandemic”.
However, the Federal Health Minister said Australians should not yet get complacent.
“We are winning but we have not won,” he said.
Mr Hunt also said of the 218 aged care facilities currently being tested in Victoria, no positive COVID cases have been found.
More facilities are set to be tested next week.
READ MORE: Vaccines for all this year: PM
Ellie Dudley 11.45am: Sydney Test will proceed, second Test ‘up to Qld’
Acting NSW Premier John Barilaro said it is up to the Queensland government if New South Wales will hold another cricket Test, if Indian players refuse to go through the northern state’s quarantine measure.
The Acting Premier said New South Wales has “proven” they can hold large events.
“We’re putting on a Test and Health is working with the SCG and the Cricket Australia and organisers to make sure that when the next Test is played in Sydney it’s done in a safe way,” Mr Barilaro said.
“We have already proven in this state that we can hold large events like the NRL grand final and State of Origin, and we haven’t had that issue of a transmission.”
“If we’re going to put on another test after that because of what’s happened to the breaches, that’s up to the Queensland Government.”
Mr Barilaro also asked anyone coming from the Cumberland area to rethink attending the Test, adding that NSW Health will reveal restrictions on that in coming days.
READ MORE: Brisbane Test in serious doubt
Ellie Dudley 11.30am: Thousands told to isolate: Berala BWS the big concern
The Berala BWS cluster has grown to 13 cases, with thousands who attended the store potentially exposed between December 22 and December 31.
Dr Chant said anyone at the BWS store at any of the times NSW Health has stipulated is a close contact and must get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days from last contact regardless of the test result.
She requested secondary close contacts to the Berala BWS also isolate until the primary close contacts receive negative results.
Effectively tens of thousands of people have been asked to get tested, if they have been in contact with someone who went to the Berala BWS at any of the times.
“What we’re asking them to do is if you’re in this situation, for the secondary close contacts, to isolate until the (primary) person has got a negative test,” Dr Chant said.
“So you should be immediately self-separating, but the priority at the moment is really getting the tests on people who are directly exposed and obviously anyone else with symptoms. That will help us track down and suppress this transmission.”
“Can we please just everyone in that community respond. I know you can do it.
“We have set up a number of testing clinics and I would just ask that you go forward and just act in a very precautionary way.”
NSW recorded eight locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, with an additional three cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine. This brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW to 4,769 since the beginning of the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/nfteXerljg
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 3, 2021
Dr Chant said around 1000 customers were served at the Berala BWS during one of the potential exposure periods on Christmas Eve alone.
She said genomic sequencing showed the Berala cluster is linked to a patient transport worker, who is believed to have acquired COVID-19, and passed it on to a colleague. That colleague visited the BWS store at Berala “for a fleeting period of time” on December 20, where transmission occurred, she said.
More than 2000 people had been contacted in relation to the BWS case, she says, and are being asked to self-isolate and get tested.
Ellie Dudley 11.28am: ‘We may never find patient zero’: Chant’s admission
NSW CHO Dr Kerry Chant has confirmed the NSW health authorities have not yet found the person who introduced COVID-19 to the Avalon cluster, and may not ever find the missing link.
“We obviously looked at those cases that had the earliest symptom onset and gone back, but at the moment we can’t clear,” she said.
“To be perfectly frank, at this point while it’s useful for them to find that further link to Belrose or connecting it back to a source, at this point in time, you know, we may never find that exact link back.”
From 3 January 2021, in Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Wollongong and Blue Mountains, it is mandatory to wear a face covering in certain indoor settings.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 2, 2021
For a full list of premises where you must wear a mask and other rules, visit: https://t.co/AGl9czJhOu pic.twitter.com/9d1gqpqG4X
Ellie Dudley 11.25am: Do it for your community: Hazzard’s plea on masks
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has reported 98 per cent of people are wearing masks, after they were mandated from midnight last night.
“I would encourage the community across Greater Sydney and that includes the Central Coast and the Nepean Blue Mountains and, of course, Wollongong, to wear masks in compliance with the law, but do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for your community,” he said.
He also added to the list of places where masks should be worn.
“I want to emphasise that masks should also be worn in other areas that were not mentioned yesterday to include bank branches, post offices, hairdressing salons, beauty salons, tanning salons, waxes salons, spas, tattoo parlours, betting agencies and gaming lounges,” he said.
Everybody in Greater Sydney should now be wearing a mask, except for those who have reason not to. Those who have emphysema, a lung condition or another health issue are exempt from wearing a mask, Mr Hazzard said.
Ellie Dudley 11.10am: Eight new cases in NSW, three more in quarantine
New South Wales has reported eight locally acquired cases from 18,923 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
There were also three acquired overseas, who are in hotel quarantine.
Acting Premier John Barilaro said two of the cases are connected to the Avalon cluster, five to the Berala cluster and one a household contact of a known source in Wollongong.
There are now 13 cases linked to a Berala cluster, forcing NSW Health to update their instructions for those who attended the BWS at Woodburn Road.
Anyone who attended the BWS Berala on Woodburn Road between Tuesday 22 December and Thursday 31 December, during the times below is considered a close contact, must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days since last at the venue, regardless of if a negative test result is received. The times are:
Tuesday, 22 December from 12.41 to 9.15pm.
Wednesday, 23 December, from 1.40 to 9.15pm.
Thursday, 22 December from 12.40 to 9.17pm.
Saturday, 26 December from 9.55am to 7.15pm.
Sunday, 27 December, from 12.39pm to 8.15pm.
Monday, 28 December, from 9.30am to 7.15pm.
Tuesday, 29 December, from 1.41pm to 9.15pm.
Wednesday, 30 December, from 12.45 to 9.15pm.
Thursday, 31 December, from 8.30am to 3.00pm.
Dr Chant has asked those in the Cumberland local government area in western Sydney to “please have a low threshold” for testing.
“The most minimal of COVID symptoms, please come forward and get a test,” she said.
Mackenzie Scott 10.40am: Wait of hours for Queensland COVID tests
Returned travellers to Queensland are expected to wait hours to get a COVID-19 test today at major locations as many heed warnings to get tested immediately.
Lines had already begun to snake around the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital in the city’s inner north by 7.30am on Sunday morning. It followed chief health officer Jeannette Young’s plea for anybody who had been overseas to “do the right thing” and get tested if they had been in Melbourne since December 21.
Water had already begun to be handed out down the line and umbrellas used to block out the sun before 9am, with temperatures expected to climb to 29 degrees today with a chance of showers.
Some of the people in the line are back for a second time after being turned away at 9pm on Saturday night when he sit closed
A spokeswoman for Queensland Health said people should check the COVID-19 website and make alternative arrangements if lines are too long. She said no plans to introduce no pop-up clinics were on the cards on Sunday morning.
Ellie Dudley 10.15am: Rule-flouting returned Vics can ‘expect knock at the door’
Victorian COVID-19 Response Commander Jeroen Weimar says 60,000 people have returned from New South Wales to Victoria over the New Year’s period.
“We saw huge numbers of people follow the advice as we have trailed before, it was extremely important to get people back to Victoria to address the growing risk of exposure in New South Wales,” the testing commander said.
Mr Weimar said they had received a “good testing response” from people coming back from NSW.
“They of course continue to isolate and we are also seeing some encouraging results with tests coming through for people who have been over the New South Wales border,” he said.
Those returning to Victoria from NSW should “expect a knock at the door” Mr Weimar said, unless they follow the advice given to them via text messages and phone calls.
Mr Weimar said Victoria is seeing lower testing numbers than NSW due to Victorians being on holidays.
“[NSW] had two days of 60,000 and just below 70,000 in that order, that was in a period in the run-up to Christmas,” he said.
“Yesterday saw a fantastic response from the community to come out and get tested.
“We haven’t seen that same peak load capacity, and our peak load demand has come right between the Christmas and New Year period when, rightly, a lot of people, not only Victorians but the Victorians who are working on our testing system are taking some well-earned leave,” he said.
While the Thai Black Rock cafe is the only exposure site which has led to more positive cases, Mr Weimar said Victorians should stay on high alert for other places of infection
“People need to continue to be alert and aware that this is not over yet,” he said.
“Until we run all these lines of inquiry to ground, until we are confident that the cases we are now carrying are all run out, we need to continue to be alert and work on this.”
Ellie Dudley 10.15am: All new Vic cases linked to cafe cluster; testing extended
Victoria has recorded three new locally-acquired cases of the coronavirus.
There have been no new cases associated with the hotel quarantine program.
The total number of active cases in the state is now 32, including those in hotel quarantine.
Yesterday 22,477 tests were conducted, after the state reported 10 new locally-acquired cases of the virus.
Acting Premier Jacinta Allan said the new locally acquired cases are all linked to the Black Rock cafe cluster, that is “a known cluster to the Victorian health authorities.”
Testing clinics across Victoria will be functioning on extended hours to allow for greater testing for the state.
“All DHHS run drive-through sites, that is 13 in total, will operate today from 8am to 8pm until further notice,” said Acting Premier Jacinta Allan.
“The Melbourne Showgrounds site will open extended hours, 9.30am, to 7pm tonight.”
Ms Allan has also requested those who have returned to Victoria from New South Wales should heed advice sent to them in a personalised text message alert.
“This alert contains information about what they are required to do on their return to Victoria,” she said.
“Now, it is important to note that the health advice that is contained in this text messages tailored to the circumstances of each individual or family that has returned from New South Wales, and that information is based on the data that was contained in their permit application as they returned to Victoria.”
“If, for example, people have applied to multiple permits, that advice might differ depending on the permit that has been used to enter into Victoria.”
A total of 21 cases have now been identified in the Melbourne cluster, 13 of whom attended the Thai Black Rock Cafe on December 21.
“This includes the original case from Mentone, a couple linked to the case in Mitcham, a couple who are diagnosed in New South Wales and a number of others, including the three new cases from yesterday,” said Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng.
The last eight cases are linked to family gathering over Christmas, but as of yet Victorian health authorities have not found a course.
“We are looking at several lines of investigation, including one person that has been in Sydney, but outside the northern beaches area,” Dr Cheng said.
READ MORE: WA health minister’s dig at NSW
Peter Lalor 10.03am: Brisbane Test in peril amid Indian quarantine demand
The Brisbane Test is in serious danger with the Indian squad adamant that it will not travel to Queensland if there are strict quarantine proposals.
Members of the Australian side are very upset about that prospect.
Sydney will have two Tests unless the Queensland government backs down or there is a change of heart from the Indians.
Queensland already blocked the limited overs part of the tour in a show of force ahead of its election.
Senior Indian sources told The Australian on Sunday they would not impose further restrictions on mentally exhausted players and they will not go to Brisbane for the fourth Test if they are confined to rooms.
The Australian team has already been told it will be restricted to their hotel rooms when not training or playing, but the Indian team has received no word.
Both sides are staying at the same hotel in Melbourne and are due to fly to Sydney on Monday.
When last contacted Cricket Australia said it was still negotiating a clause which would see parts of its group quarantined for six days after the match before returning home because it would be less than two weeks since they were last in Sydney.
READ the full story here.
Ellie Dudley 9.55am: Wait for Queenslanders after snap health warning
Long queues for testing are expected in Queensland today after a snap public health warning issued to residents who have returned from Victoria resulted in massive lines at testing facilities last night.
Testing clinics in Brisbane were inundated by Victorians, after it was announced yesterday that anyone who has been in Victoria on or since December 21 should test immediately.
Queues lasted for hours, with some clinics reportedly forced to extend their hours because there were too many to turn away.
Others waiting for tests were told to try again on Sunday.
“This is a joke. Qld Health make an announcement to get tested immediately, but most/all testing centres in Brisbane are closed,” wrote one Twitter user.
While some Queenslanders were frustrated by the situation, others were glad to see so many heeding the public health warning.
“Been here more than an hour already. Some kids in slippers, others asleep in parent’s arms. A few in the queue with suitcases etc. Encouraging to see so many people doing the right thing and turning out to be tested,” another Queenslander said on Twitter.
This is a joke. Qld Health make an announcement to get tested immediately, but most/all testing centres in Brisbane are closed.
— Fraser Dalgleish (@rachor12) January 2, 2021
Ellie Dudley 9.40am: Three new cases in Victoria, thousands await testing
Victoria has recorded three locally acquired coronavirus cases in the 24 hours to Sunday.
Testing commander Jeroen Weimar and Health Minister Martin Foley are due to address the media at 10am.
The press conference comes as thousands of Victorians have been unable to get tested more than 48 hours after returning to Victoria from NSW due to an overwhelmed testing system.
This is occurring despite the Andrews government advising people they must get tested within 24 hours of returning from NSW.
Yesterday there were 3 new local cases reported. 22,477 test results we received - thanks to all who were tested, #EveryTestHelps us #StaySafeStayOpen.
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) January 2, 2021
More information coming later: https://t.co/2vKbgKHFvv
#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/EjaLedIMeD
Victoria processed just over 18,000 tests in the 24 hours to Saturday. NSW processed more than 30,000 over the same period.
Debbie Schipp 8.25am: Southern zone of beaches emerges from lockdown
They may have to mask up, but for residents in the southern zone of the Sydney’s northern beaches, today is their first taste of Greater freedom.
Released from lockdown from midnight Saturday, the southern zone of the NSW northern beaches is now under the same restrictions as greater Sydney, with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian saying the risk has reduced there.
Restrictions for the northern zone of the northern beaches remained the same: stay at home orders remain in place until January 9.
It’s probably a good time to recap those new measures and who they apply to: Greater Sydney includes Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains.
Face masks must be worn at shopping centres, on public transport, in cinemas and theatres, places of worship, and in hair and beauty premises.
Staff in hospitality venues and casinos must wear them. As must gaming customers.
Children under 12 are exempt but are encouraged to wear masks where possible.
Gym classes are limited to 30 people and weddings and funerals capped at 100.
Larger gatherings are also reduced, with outdoor performances and protests reduced from 1000 people to 500, and bigger indoor seated and ticketed events dropping from 5000 people to 2000 — unless an exemption is granted: a move which has drawn criticism for the upcoming Sydney Cricket Test due to start on Thursday.
Cricket fans will not be required to wear masks at the ground but must have them on if they are using public transport to get there.
READ MORE: India players in possible bubble breach
Debbie Schipp 6.55am: Upgraded alert for BWS among fresh venue warnings
With increasing concerns about the spread of the virus in Greater Sydney, NSW Health on Saturday night upgraded its alert for BWS in Berala.
Five COVID-19 cases were confirmed in of Berala, in Sydney’s west, yesterday.
Anyone who went to the BWS bottle shop during a range of hours between December 22 and December 31 — the height of the festive season — is considered a close contact. They must get tested immediately and self-isolate for 14 days from last contact regardless of the test result. It’s feared those potentially exposed to the virus with a visit to the bottle shop will number among the hundreds
@NSWHealth has revised its advice for a western Sydney liquor store visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/y8kp55KNsc
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 2, 2021
The dates of critical concern are: December 22, 12.41pm-9.15pm; December 23, 1.40pm-9.15pm; December 24, 12.40pm-9.17pm; December 26, 9.55am-7.15pm; December 27, 12.39pm-8.15pm; December 28, 9.30am-7.15pm; December 29, 1.41pm-9.15pm; December 30, 12.45pm-9.15pm; December 31, 8.30am-3pm.
In addition, anyone who visited the Coffee Club at Stockland, Shellharbour for more than an hour on December 27, between 11.30am and 12.45pm is considered a close contact, must get tested and isolate until receiving further advice, regardless of the test result.
NSW Health added two new venues: The Australian Motor Traders on Haberfield Road from 4.30pm to 5pm on Tuesday and Officeworks Punchbowl from 3.35pm to 3.45pm on the same day.
READ MORE: Masked audiences for opera
Debbie Schipp 6.30am: Sydney wakes to day one of mask-wearing mandate
Sydneysiders are waking to a new day of coronavirus restrictions, as mask-wearing became mandatory on public transport and at indoor venues overnight.
Failure to so do across Greater Sydney will attract a $200 fine from Monday.
The new rules apply to indoor settings including shopping centres, places of worship, hair and beauty salons, gaming areas and cinemas and were announced on Saturday as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian made her final appearance at the daily coronavirus press conference before taking seven days leave after a 2020 which began with her dealing with the NSW bushfire crisis and ended with a fresh coronavirus crisis within her state.
Recently returned from NSW into Victoria? You’ll shortly receive an SMS alert that contains info about what you need to do to get tested and isolate.
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) January 2, 2021
More info is here: https://t.co/p4J9UJxONZ
(1/3) pic.twitter.com/fdEXPj49CM
Jess Malcolm 5.10am: Rush for tests in Brisbane as Sydney masks up
Brisbane’s rush for coronavirus tests continued into Saturday night after Queensland’s chief health officer (CHO) said anyone who had been in Victoria on or since December 21 should get tested and self-isolate until receiving a negative result.
But people who lined up for as long as two hours at the Royal Brisbane And Women’s Hospital were furious after they turned away when the COVID-19 testing facility shut at 9pm, The Sunday Mail (Qld) reported.
Returned Queenslanders and interstate travellers who came out to “do the right thing” have been left disappointed after they were advised by CHO Dr Jeanette Young to get tested “immediately” and isolate if they had been in Melbourne since December 21.
As the only testing facility open, the RBWH was swamped in the hours following the announcement.
Any Queenslanders in Victoria and planning to come home in the coming days will also have to be tested and isolate.
Both Dr Young and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath have warned Queenslanders to “consider their need to travel” to NSW and Victoria, given the growing coronavirus clusters.
“Things can change really quickly with this virus. We’ve seen that in other jurisdictions, which is why I continue to advise Queenslanders to reconsider their need to travel to NSW or Victoria,” Dr Young said.
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley reported on Saturday the state had 10 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases overnight and a direct link had been found to the NSW cluster that has forced restrictions in that state, including compulsory mask-wearing in public indoors locations such as shopping malls and in public transport in Sydney and some surrounding areas.
Those caught without masks on public transport and certain indoor settings face $200 fines from midnight. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the mandatory mask rules applied to Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Wollongong and the Blue Mountains.
From midnight last night all adults and children over 12 will have to wear masks in supermarkets and shopping centres, any public transport, indoor entertainment including theatres and cinemas, places of worship and hair and beauty salons.
Staff in hospitality venues and casinos will also have to wear masks.
Also on Saturday, a NSW couple who sparked a manhunt after leaving Melbourne Airport without going into mandatory quarantine apologised for “the mess” it caused.
But Terry and Debbie Elford, aged 26 and 24, disputed the suggestion they fled the airport deliberately.
The husband and wife, who live in southern NSW, flew into Melbourne Airport from Canberra on Friday afternoon.
According to authorities, the couple were told they had to quarantine for 14 days while they were in Victoria as they had been in NSW.
The couple then left and got into a car outside the airport, sparking a frantic search to track them down.
But in a statement on Saturday afternoon, Mr Elford said when they arrived at the airport, state Department of Health and Human Services officers couldn’t tell them whether they had to quarantine or not.
“Like hundreds of others on 1 January 2021, we got caught up with the confusion when the rules about entering Victoria changed,” the statement read.
“We had a permit, live in a green zone in NSW, were flying from Canberra Airport which is allowed, and after we arrived in Tullamarine, we were stopped by DHS officers who were not able to tell us whether or not we needed to quarantine.’’
READ MORE: Victoria reveals latest list of at-risk venues
Ben Horne 5am: Indian cricketers caught up in biosecurity drama
A diehard fan might have inadvertently embroiled India’s cricket superstars in a biosecurity drama, after innocently paying for their bill at a Melbourne restaurant.
Footage of Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill and Navdeep Saini dining out was posted on Friday night, as social media widely embraced the generosity of Indian cricket tragic Navaldeep Singh for taking care of a $118 bill for his heroes at Secret Kitchen Chinese restaurant at Chadstone Shopping Centre.
However, the feel-good act of kindness has sparked investigation by cricket’s biosecurity police, after Singh innocently told in his narration of the New Year’s Day lunchtime encounter that he was “hugged” by a grateful Pant, after paying for the players’ spring rolls, chicken, mushroom and sausage fried rice, soy sauce chicken and diet coke.
They are not aware but i have paid there table bill :) . Least i can do for my superstars 🤗 pic.twitter.com/roZgQyNBDX
— Navaldeep Singh (@NavalGeekSingh) January 1, 2021
Read the full story here.
Angie Raphael 4.45am: WA health minister’s dig at NSW virus response
WA’s health minister says if NSW had “gone harder earlier” with a more widespread lockdown when the COVID-19 outbreak began in the northern beaches it would not have spread to the western suburbs and Victoria.
Roger Cook, who is also the Acting Premier, told reporters on Saturday that he expected the number of cases in Victoria to increase further in the coming days.
Mr Cook said Victoria had community spread of the disease as a “direct result” of not controlling the outbreak in NSW and it was very concerning.
“It vindicates our position that we should now have a hard border against Victoria, but it’s disappointing that the situation has arrived where you actually have those NSW cases travelling to Victoria,” he said.
“Potentially, in a different scenario, if they had gone harder earlier that would not have occurred.”
Read the full story here.
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