Coronavirus Australia live news: Police break up large Sydney beach party
Police have broken up a mass Christmas party at Bronte Beach as more NSW venues join the COVID-19 hotspot list.
- NSW records seven cases
- Qld, SA issue COVID-19 alert
- Morrison thanks older Aussies
- Why was yacht allowed to dock?
Welcome to coverage of Australia’s response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
A child has tested positive for COVID-19 as an inner-Sydney cluster grows outside the northern beaches boundaries.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says seven new cases of coronavirus were recorded in NSW the past 24 hours, after 69,800 tests were conducted yesterday.
Queensland and South Australia have issued COVID-19 alerts after new cases linked to Sydney’s northern beaches outbreak were confirmed.
1/2 @NSWHealth has been notified of new venues visited by a confirmed case of #COVID19, and wishes to advise of revisions to times, dates and advice for a number of previously announced venues. pic.twitter.com/c0L7309nqW
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 24, 2020
Rhiannon Down 9.30pm: More venues, bus routes added to hotspot list
Anyone who attended these venues at the following times is considered a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received:
-Oliver Brown, 36-48 Alexander St, Crows Nest: Monday December 21 from 10am to10:30am
-Anytime Fitness Belrose, Glenrose Shopping Centre, corner of Glen St and Glenrose Place, Belrose, Wednesday December 9 from 9.30am to 11.30am; Friday December 11 from 9.45 to 11.30 am; Saturday December 12 from 9.30am to 11.30 am; Monday December 14 from 9.30 to 11.30 am; Friday December 18 from 9.30 to11.30 am
-Sappho Books, Café and Bar, 51 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, Sunday December 20 from 11am to 12.30pm
-Hipster Clothing Store, Westfield Burwood, Shop 346, Level 2/100 Burwood Rd, Burwood, Saturday December 19 from 8am to 6pm
-Café Bodrum, 2/1 Mary St, Auburn, Monday December 21 from 2 to 2.30pm
-Chippendale, Central Park Food Court, 8 Central Park Ave, Chippendale, Thursday December 17 from 5pm to 6pm
PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 25, 2020
NSW Health has been notified of new venues and transport routes, including a flight, attended by a confirmed case of #COVID19, and wishes to advise of a revision to the advice for a previously announced venue on a particular date and time. pic.twitter.com/o9ZV0OF75G
Anyone who attended these venues at the following times should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately and isolate if they appear. If further symptoms appear, isolate and get tested again:
-Auburn Redyard Entertainment Centre, 100 Parramatta Rd, Auburn, Sunday December 20 4–5pm
-Star Nails, 736 New South Head Road Rose Bay, Sunday December 20 12.15pm to 1pm
-Sydney QVB Level 3 Santa Photos, 455 George Street Sydney, Wednesday December 23 from 10.15am to 11am
The health advice has changed for one date and time at the following venue:
-Avalon Beach RSL Club, 1 Bowling Green Lane, Avalon Beach, Sunday December 13 from 8.30 to 9.15pm
Bus routes
Commuters who travelled on the following bus route during the times and date indicateds should get tested immediately and self-isolate until receiving a negative result. Passengers are advised to continue to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and if any symptoms develop, get tested again:
-Route 200, TAFE St Leonards, Pacific Highway to The Royal Botanic Gardens, Macquarie St, Tuesday December 15 from 7.20am to 7.41am; The Royal Botanic Gardens, Macquarie St to TAFE St Leonards, Pacific Highway Tuesday December 15 from 5.30pm to 6.10pm
Travellers on these bus routes should monitor for symptoms and immediately get tested and isolate if they appear. If further symptoms appear, isolate and get tested again:
-Route 431, Castlereagh St before Bathurst Street, Sydney Glebe Public School to Glebe Point Rd, Glebe, Sunday December 20 from10.48am to 11.02am
-Route 325, Stand G Town Hall Station, Park St to Bayswater Rd before Beach Rd Sunday December 20 from 4.30pm to 4.41pm
-Route 324, New South Head Rd opposite New Beach Rd to Stand J, Town Hall Station, Park St, Sunday December 20 from 10.30am to 10.45am
Rhiannon Down 8.30pm: 115 Sydneysiders released from NT quarantine
Some 115 Sydney travellers enjoyed a quarantine-free Christmas in the Northern Territory after a last-minute decision allowed for their release.
The NT government confirmed that 94 people were released from the Howard Springs quarantine facility near Darwin and a further 21 people from an Alice Springs facility after the eleventh-hour decision.
As NSW case numbers remained in single digits on Thursday, the Top End ruled that Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains were no longer hotspots as of 3pm the same day.
NSW travellers had been caught in a difficult situaion since Sunday when NT authorities slammed shut their borders to greater Sydney with passengers mid-flight.
The Northern Beaches local government area remains a red zone, requiring travellers from the area to self-isolate upon arrival in the NT.
Read more: Sydney beach party defies distance rules
Yoni Bashan 7.35pm: Berejiklian urges shoppers to skip Boxing Day sales
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has issued an extraordinary plea to Sydneysiders to stay away from the CBD during Saturday’s Boxing Day sales, citing ongoing uncertainty around Covid-19 transmissions and concerns relating to cases identified at a Circular Quay venue.
In a move likely to heavily dampen retail sales, Ms Berejiklian and the chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant implored consumers to avoid or limit their time in the CBD over the weekend and to shop online or locally as an alternative.
While the vast majority of the state’s Covid-19 cases have so far been confined to Sydney’s northern beaches, officials have begun expressing heightened concern over three recent cases linked to the Paragon Sports Bar, in Circular Quay, and a separate cluster that has formed in the nearby suburb of Paddington.
Read the full story here.
Rhiannon Down 6.55pm: Backpackers told ‘move along’ at Bronte Beach party
A sea of partygoers wearing red and white hats, reindeer antlers and Guiness shirts swarmed a Sydney beach on Friday, forgoing social distancing and mass gathering requirements.
NSW Police were quick to pounce on the group of mostly backpackers at the eastern suburbs location, issuing move along orders and attempting to break-up the party.
The crowd swelled to include hundreds of revellers at about 5pm one eye witness said, meanwhile the beach itself at Bronte was mostly empty.
“At 5pm it was probably a couple of hundreds or five hundred people, mostly backpackers,” the witness said.
“They were all on the beach and then as they were moved on by the police I saw a group with a speaker playing music, and they had a bit of a dance party.”
NSW Police confirmed officers had attended the scene and no arrests had been made.
Read more: ‘Uncooperative’ superyacht launches Cairns COVID-19 scare
Rhiannon Down 6.40pm: Santa photo booth becomes Covid hotspot
Sydneysiders who took a picture with Santa at the Queen Victoria Building have been told to monitor for sympyoms after the shopping mall became one of the latest venues added to NSW’s growing coronavirus hotspot list.
NSW Health warned anyone who visited the Santa experiences area on level three of the George St centre in Sydney’s CBD between 10.15am to 11am on Wednesday December 23 to get tested immediately.
Anyone who visited Chicago Jones Coffee & Chocolate Maison in Auburn, in Western Sydney, on Sunday December 20 from 2.50pm to 4pm are considered close contacts and must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days.
Sydney to Griffith flight ZL6469 which departed at 1.10pm on Monday December 21 was also added to the NSW list, with travellers on-board also considered close contacts.
Read more: NSW COVID hotspots
Sarah Elks 6.30pm: Superyacht crew tested positive in Maldives
Two superyacht crew members who tested positive for COVID-19 were diagnosed with the virus before they left the Maldives.
A spokesman for the Lady E superyacht – now docked in Cairns – said the crew members who had tested positive in the past two days have previously had COVID-19 and were now asymptomatic.
They had quarantined for 14 days in the Maldives and then returned negative tests before departing, he said.
“Both are now subject to blood tests as the expectation is that antibodies from an old infection – and not a new infection – are the cause of the positive test results.
“The remaining crew have all returned negative tests.”
Read more: Queensland police probe superyacht COVID-19 cases
Tessa Akerman 6pm: Museum thrives in new Covid normal
While the doors to Victoria’s cultural institutions were closed under the state’s harsh lockdown, creative streaming and digital programs helped keep the link to audiences open.
The Australian Centre for the Moving Image opened Cinema 3, a virtual cinema where audiences could rent selected films to watch at home, and access additional curated content.
ACMI director Katrina Sedgwick said the centre had talked about providing a similar service for years.
“We realise there’s an audience out there who want to have that museum experience with their streaming,” she said.
She said Cinema 3 wouldn’t replace the experience of going to the cinema but there was a “hungry and eager” audience interested in films who also wanted access to a “beautiful, connected constellation of content”.
There’s a section of Australian films, and works from other filmmakers in the region, as well as works from small film festivals that can’t afford to access software on their own, including the Czech and Slovak festival which is currently available.
Read the full story here.
Rhiannon Down 5.30pm: 60 Sydney travellers released from NT quarantine
A last minute decision has spared 60 people from a quarantine Christmas in the Northern Territory after its government revoked Greater Sydney’s status as a coronavirus hotspot.
About 60 travellers from Sydney were released from the Howard Springs facility near Darwin at about 3pm on Thursday, reported Sky News.
The travellers were caught in a mid-flight decision on Sunday in which NT authorities slammed shut its borders as Sydney case numbers spiked.
While greater Sydney is no longer a hotspot, the Northern Beaches local government area remains a red zone, requiring travellers from the area to self-isolate upon arrival in the NT.
Read the full story here.
AFP 4.50pm: Latin Americans launch rollout of mass vaccinations
Three Latin American countries launched mass immunisation programs on Friday as fears grew in Europe over a variant coronavirus strain believed to be far more contagious than the original version.
Frontline medical staff in Mexico and Chile were among the first to receive their vaccines while Costa Rica began its own immunisation program, with President Carlos Alvarado hailing what “may be the beginning of the end of this pandemic”.
But global optimism was tempered as China and Brazil joined more than 50 governments restricting flights from Britain or air traffic in both directions, after the highly infectious new coronavirus strain first appeared there.
Thousands of trucks remained stranded at a major British port as France sent 10,000 kits to test drivers before allowing them to cross the Channel.
Despite the new strain that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said was “up to 70 per cent more transmissible” than the original coronavirus, Britain said rail and sea links with France would remain open over Christmas.
Read the full story here.
AFP 4.15pm: Congress locked on COVID-19 relief plan
Republicans have blocked an effort to amend the hard-won pandemic relief package to more than triple direct payments to struggling Americans, something demanded by Donald Trump.
After months of partisan bickering, legislators late on Monday finally approved a $US900bn stimulus package to help families and businesses struggling to survive the hit to the economy from the coronavirus before millions lose their benefits.
The legislation includes one-time payments of $US600 to most taxpayers, but Mr Trump dropped a bombshell on the celebrations this week, hinting he might veto the bill unless the amount was increased to $US2000.
Democrats, who have been pushing for months to increase pandemic support, cheered his statement, and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi challenged Republicans to support an amendment to boost the dollar amount.
The Democratic-controlled House of Representatives held a Christmas Eve “pro forma” session, normally a brief affair with little business, in an effort to win bipartisan approval to send the revised payments to Mr Trump’s desk for signature. But Republicans refused to agree to the change.
Read the full story here.
NCA NewsWire 3.30pm: QLD Police arrest 80 drink drivers in two days
In just two days, 80 people across Queensland have been arrested for alleged drink driving.
More than 5500 random breath tests were conducted in that time, with the highest reading allegedly being more than four times the legal limit.
A 49-year-old man allegedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.230 when tested in a residential area in Nambour — a town in the Sunshine Coast region — on Wednesday.
In addition to the drink drivers, police also detected 29 drug drivers since midnight on December 23 as part of a Christmas crackdown on drivers putting others at risk on the roads.
Traffic operations will continue over the festive season and police urge people not to drink then get behind the wheel.
Read the full story here.
Paige Taylor 2.45pm: WA backs down on SA hard border
A plane from Adelaide due to touch down in Perth late on Friday will see its passengers free to move around after Western Australia took down its hard border with South Australia.
WA has not reversed its decision to welcome people from South Australia on Friday despite news that a man in that state was self isolating after returning a weak positive coronavirus test result.
South Australia’s chief health officer Nicola Spurrier on Thursday said: “It’s my understanding it is likely to be an old infection therefore nobody in South Australia is at any risk.”
The man in his 20s was aboard a flight from Darwin to Sydney on December 18 that carried an infected Qantas staff member. But he was also in Victoria at the height of its second wave. He has never been ill. He crossed into SA from NSW at the town of Maitland on Monday.
The Christmas Day flight from Adelaide to Perth is due to land at 4.55pm AEDT.
Read more: WA slaps new border rules on NSW travellers
Sarah Elks 2.20pm: New case aboard Superyacht
The “uncooperative” superyacht that sparked a COVID-19 scare in Cairns has another confirmed case.
One of two Queensland cases recorded on Friday was a crew member from the Lady E superyacht, said Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service.
Lady E docked in far north Queensland on Sunday after travelling from the Maldives.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath on Thursday said another crew-member in her 20s had been diagnosed with COVID-19, but authorities were disappointed the yacht’s crew failed to co-operate with the Queensland Police Service.
The yacht’s captain, James Kennedy, disputed that.
The Cairns health service said: “This person, who arrived in Cairns on board a vessel earlier this week, was tested while in a quarantine hotel and they continue to be in isolation.”
“This case relates to the other confirmed case that was identified from the same vessel, earlier this week...the case is not linked to the NSW outbreak and was acquired overseas.”
“We are well prepared to manage this case and any potential further cases of COVID-19. The fact that this new case was identified while in a quarantine hotel shows that the system is working.”
Read more: Potential for alternate bluewater race in New Year
Ellie Dudley 2.05pm: Belrose mystery case still under investigation
A Sydney man who tested positive to the virus but had no links to the Avalon cluster is still under investigation by NSW Health.
Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said state authorities are searching for how the man, from Belrose, in Sydney’s northeast, contracted the virus while on the northern beaches.
The man began experiencing symptoms on December 10 but has not transmitted the virus to anyone, according to NSW Health.
NSW reported 7 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday out of 69,800 tests.
Read more: PM ‘thanks, honours’ older Australians
Ellie Dudley 1.45pm: Albo, PM’s Christmas message to essential workers
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have given a special thanks to essential workers for helping Australians through the COVID-19 pandemic in their 2020 Christmas messages.
The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition centred their messages around how Australians had come together to confront numerous challenges this year.
In his video message, Mr Morrison said: “This year has not been easy for any of us; some of us have faced the loss of loved ones, others the loss of jobs and their livelihoods, separation from family, isolation during lockdowns and lose gatherings with those we love.”
Mr Albanese echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiment.
“Christmas comes not just as a joy, but as a relief,” he said.
“It’s been a tough year, but Australians have risen to the challenge, especially our essential workers – the nurses, cleaners, supermarket workers and the teacher who had to find new ways to teach.
“Australians stood together. We helped each other and we’re getting through this together.”
And in signing off his heartfelt message, Mr Albanese finished with one small request: “May 2020 get in the bin.”
Read more: Fear of virus spread in Boxing Day crowds
Ellie Dudley 1.18pm: Child tests positive as inner city cluster grows
A child has tested positive for COVID-19 as an inner-Sydney cluster grows outside the northern beaches boundaries.
NSW Health has confirmed the young COVID patient is the fourth patient in the Paddington Alimentari deli cluster.
NSW recorded seven 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. pic.twitter.com/gTovCKorec
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 25, 2020
The case will be counted in tomorrow’s numbers, as it came in after the 8pm deadline.
There are now eight new cases revealed today: seven in the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm yesterday, and one case which came in after the deadline.
Anyone who dined at the Paddington venue between December 17 and 19 is a close contact and should isolate for 14 days from their visit.
Ellie Dudley 12.45pm: NSW Premier urges states to open borders
Gladys Berejiklian has thanked Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner for opening borders to NSW residents yesterday, and has asked other premiers to follow suit.
The announcement was made yesterday that the NT would open their borders to all NSW residents, excluding those who have been to the northern beaches.
“He has been extremely fair and extremely good at basing his government’s decisions on the science and the data and I want to thank him for that,” the NSW Premier said this morning.
“He’s been consistent the whole way through … I think the Northern Territory’s response is measured and proportionate to the risk, and I ask that other premiers and chief ministers look at that as well.”
Ellie Dudley 12.15pm: Trump hails virus vaccine ‘a Christmas miracle’
Donald and Melania Trump have released the annual White House Christmas address, praising the work of Americans battling the coronavirus.
“This year is worse than year’s passed. We are battling a global pandemic that has affected all of us,” said the First Lady in the video message.
“Yet, through this great challenge we have been inspired by the courage and kindness of citizens across this country.”
“Teachers have worked extraordinarily hard to keep our children learning. Students have delivered groceries to elderly neighbours. Communities have found new ways to stay connected. Courageous first responders – doctors, nurses – have given everything to save lives.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2020
The President also addressed the vaccine which is currently being rolled out across the country, calling it “a Christmas miracle”.
“We are delivering millions of doses of a safe and effective vaccine, that will soon end this terrible pandemic and save millions and millions of lives,” said Mr Trump.
“We are grateful for all the scientists, researchers, manufacturing workers and service members who have worked tirelessly to make this breakthrough possible.”
This comes as America’s vaccination tally reaches 1 million citizens, chipping away at the country’s 20 million target for the end of 2020.
The US death toll has now surpassed 326,000.
Ellie Dudley 11.39am: Four cases associated with Paddington deli cluster
Kerry Chant has said there have now been four cases associated with the Paddington Alimentari deli cluster.
The NSW Chief Health Officer has urged diners present from December 17-19 to remain in isolation and get tested, and take-away customers to be “particularly vigilant” if they present even low-level symptoms.
“The reason for that is clearly we have seen transmission at that, so people could be in the wrong place at the wrong time, so please have a very, very low threshold.”
Dr Chant has reminded NSW that testing services are still available on Christmas Day.
“There are staff manning our testing clinics, our private sector colleagues are also stood up, so many staff are working, as are our police and other frontline services.”
“But the message is, if you have symptoms there is a place to go to get tested.”
“Please don’t just go to your Christmas event. Please get tested.”
Dr Chant also urged people to check the NSW Health website to stay updated on the latest information.
READ MORE: Christmas is for columnists: please give generously
Ellie Dudley 11.22am: Christmas period ‘a critical point’ virus response
Kerry Chant has urged Sydney-siders to abide by the rules over the Christmas period, to help limit the spread of COVID-19.
“Please, limit your social interactions,” the NSW Chief Health Officer said on Christmas morning.
NSW recorded seven 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. pic.twitter.com/gTovCKorec
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) December 25, 2020
“There are limits on household gatherings, please respect them.”
Ms Chant has highlighted the Christmas period as a “critical point” in NSW’s COVID response.
“Even though it is raining today, we encourage people to use covered outdoor spaces including verandas where possible and if indoors, make sure it is well ventilated including opened windows.”
READ MORE: Lobster is the new ham in sales splurge
Ellie Dudley 11.18am: Paragon Hotel among high-risk infection areas in Sydney CBD
Kerry Chant has highlighted high-risk infection areas across Sydney in an address this morning, including venues in the CBD.
These include the Paragon Hotel on Loftus St in Circular Quay, Australia Square, the MLC Centre and Chifley Square.
“The sports bar at Paragon Hotel on Loftus Street in Circular Quay has three cases associated,” said the state’s Chief Health Officer.
“Anyone at this venue while visiting the hotel at 12:45-3:30pm on Wednesday 16th December for more than one hour are considered closed contacts. Get tested immediately and self isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.”
“In terms of the CBD, yesterday, again I want to repeat my urging that anyone who particularly has been in the northeastern part of the city, including Australia Square, MLC Centre and Chifley Square should be alert to symptoms and get tested immediately.”
READ MORE: Fireworks still on to say ‘good riddance’
Ellie Dudley 10.53am: NSW records seven new cases, 69,800 tests
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says seven new cases of coronavirus were recorded in NSW the past 24 hours, after 69,800 tests were conducted yesterday.
Six of the seven people are already in isolation, and related to the Avalon cluster.
Ms Berejiklian said she was “still concerned” about potential spread through the CBD, as the city prepares for Boxing Day sales tomorrow.
“We know this is not the easiest message to give to those retailers but we want to discourage people go to the CBD tomorrow,” the Premier said.
“Please make sure you socially distance in the queues, make sure you respect and social existence while you are in the shop.”
“Even if you’re wearing a mask, the masks are a fourth line of defence. Just because you’re wearing a mask does not mean you cannot get and give the virus.”
Ellie Dudley 10.35am: Turkish trial deems Chinese vaccine 91.25% effective
A COVID-19 vaccine developed in China has been deemed 91.25 per cent effective, according to interim data reported from a trial in Turkey.
The vaccine developed by China’s Sinovac Biotech has received mixed results, with a separate trial in Brazil reporting the shot in the final stage of the test to be only 50 per cent. However, they decided to withhold full results at the company’s request.
The Turkish trial began on September 14 and included more than 7000 volunteers. 26 of the 29 people who were infected during the trial were given placebos.
Researchers said there were no major side-effects, apart from one person who had an allergic reaction.
The common adverse effects caused by the inoculation were fever, mild pain and slight fatigue.
Turkey had agreed to buy 50 million doses of the vaccine and receive delivery by December 11, but the shipment was delayed.
Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said three million doses would arrive on Monday. The country will vaccinate nine million people in the first group, starting with health workers.
READ MORE: Anthony Albanese ‘fuelling vaccine concerns’
Sarah Elks 10.20am: Two new overseas-acquired cases in Queensland
Queensland has recorded two new overseas-acquired cases of COVID-19, but no new transmissions from the NSW northern beaches cluster.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tweeted that there had been zero locally acquired cases and two new overseas-acquired cases overnight.
Friday, 25 December – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) December 24, 2020
• 0 new locally acquired
• 2 overseas acquired
• 12 active cases
• 1,240 total cases
• 1,458,226 tests
Sadly, six Queenslanders with COVID-19 have died. 1,217 patients have recovered.#covid19 pic.twitter.com/13LfY6rd1F
There are now 12 active COVID-19 patients in the state, including a man in his 40s in home quarantine in southeast Queensland who had travelled to the northern beaches, and a woman in her 20s who arrived in Cairns on a superyacht.
In the past 24 hours, 5205 tests have been conducted.
It is not known whether today’s new cases were connected to the superyacht, which had travelled from the Maldives.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said on Thursday that six crew who had stayed onboard the yacht – rather than going into hotel quarantine in Cairns – were now being tested because of the positive diagnosis of the 20-year-old woman.
READ MORE: Gloves are back off in Premiers’ border skirmish
Ellie Dudley 9.49am: One million Americans receive COVID-19 vaccine
More than one million Americans have received the COVID-19 vaccine, chipping away at the country’s goal of 20 million vaccinations by the end of 2020.
The vaccinations have so far had little effect on the latest surge in cases, with almost 230,000 cases being reported in America on December 23.
Dr Anthony Fauci said herd immunity against the virus could require vaccination of up to 90 per cent of the country.
This has been revised since his estimates earlier in the year, when he said herd immunity would be achieved once 60-70 per cent of the population were vaccinated.
“We really don’t know what the real number is,” the US infectious disease expert said, speaking to The New York Times.
“I think the real range is somewhere between 70 to 90 per cent. But, I’m not going to say 90 per cent.”
Fauci was vaccinated earlier this week on live television.
The US death toll has now surpassed 326,000.
READ MORE: Six potential investment surprises of 2021
Ellie Dudley 9.30am: NSW Premier, CHO to give COVID-19 update at 11am
Gladys Berejiklian and Kerry Chant are set to hold a COVID-19 briefing at 11am.
All eyes will be on the Premier and the state’s Chief Health Officer as they announce the latest case and testing numbers for New South Wales.
Sydneysiders will be paying special attention to any updates on current gathering restrictions in place for the Christmas period.
The restrictions currently are:
Northern part of the northern beaches: 5 people in your home who live in the region. Residents of this area may not leave the region.
Southern part of the northern beaches: 10 people in your home from anywhere in the state, plus children under 12. Residents of this area may not leave the region.
Greater Sydney, Central Coast and Blue Mountains: 10 people in your home, plus children under 12.
READ MORE: How one beer survived Corona contact
Ellie Dudley 8.50am: Christmas church services go online
Many religious services in Sydney have gone online for Christmas this year, as COVID-19 restrictions tighten.
The decision to live-stream or prerecord Christmas church services after religious venues were asked to restrict their previous one per four square metre rule, to a one per two square metre rule.
In his annual address, Glenn Davies said people “desperately need the joy of Christmas” this year and that this season represented “the great unmasking of God”.
“When lockdown stripped away so many things that used to fill our lives, we learned what was important – relationships,” said the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney.
The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, the Reverend Anthony Fisher said that while in hard times celebrating Christmas can seem out of place, the first Christmas “was never easy”.
“At the first Christmas, a young woman was forced to give birth in a stable and her baby put in a feeding trough. Then the family fled for their lives,” he said.
“In such dark times, Christ’s first coming was experienced as light. Amidst such danger, he was named Jesus or ‘God saves’. In isolation, they called him Emmanuel, ‘God with us’.”
READ MORE: The faithful are haunted by a quest for meaning
Rachel Baxendale 8.30am: Victoria’s 56th day without a locally acquired case
Victoria has recorded its 56th straight day without a locally acquired case of coronavirus, with no new internationally or interstate acquired cases in hotel quarantine in the 24 hours to Friday either.
Yesterday there were 0 new local cases & 0 lives lost. There are 10 active cases in quarantine or self-isolation. 11,367 test results were received - thanks, #EveryTestHelps us to #StaySafeStayOpen. https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco #COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/tAKuW4CcWH
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) December 24, 2020
The latest statistics come after 11,367 tests were processed in the 24 hours to Christmas Day.
There are 10 active cases of coronavirus in Victoria, including that of a 15-year-old girl who is in home quarantine having returned to Melbourne last weekend after visiting exposure sites in Sydney’s northern beaches, and nine returned international travellers in hotel quarantine.
READ MORE: How culture survived the pandemic
Ellie Dudley 8.01am: Christmas Day rules for northern beaches residents
The northern beaches will spend Christmas in lockdown this year, as per restrictions announced by Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday.
The Premier explained the peninsula will be split into two parts, identifying the “epicentre of the cluster” as the northern section.
There has been a southern boundary drawn at the Narrabeen Bridge, and a western boundary at the Bahai Temple on Mona Vale Rd.
Today and tomorrow those living in the northern section of the northern beaches will be allowed to have five people in their homes, that must also reside in the northern region of the peninsula.
“So, if you live in Avalon, you can have five people into your home, but they must be residents north of the Narrabeen Bridge and east of the Bahai Temple at Mona Vale Road,” said Ms Berejiklian.
Those living in the southern section of the northern beaches will be able to host 10 people in homes, as well as children under 12. While people living in this region can host people, they may not leave the southern part of the northern beaches.
“We don’t want people from the northern beaches mingling in other parts of Sydney at this stage but you can welcome people in,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian says they will reassess the restrictions after this period.
READ MORE: Editorial — Berejiklian gives a lesson in leadership
Anthony Piovesan 7.30am: NT removes Greater Sydney as hot spot
The Northern Territory has removed the majority of Greater Sydney as a coronavirus hot spot meaning people won’t have to quarantine when arriving.
“The Greater Sydney area, including the Blue Mountains along with the Central Coast, will be removed effective immediately,” NT’s Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said yesterday.
She added the list of hot spot suburbs in the Northern Beaches area, which will be defined by suburb and postcode, will be listed on the state‘s coronavirus website shortly.
She also said the northern beaches area where a cluster has grown to 104 cases would remain as a hot spot with areas defined by suburb and postcode to be listed on the territory’s coronavirus website.
Anton Nilsson 6.31am: Latest Sydney venues added to virus hotspot list
A popular Sydney restaurant and massage parlour are among the latest locations to be added to the NSW coronavirus hotspot list.
NSW Health warned that anyone who attended Glorietta Restaurant and Bar in North Sydney on Wednesday, December 16 between 12-12.45pm is considered a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of whether a negative result is received.
Sydneysiders who visited Massage Link at 122/138 Flood Street in Leichhardt on Friday, December 18 between 12.30-1.15pm are also considered a close contact of a case and must follow the same health advice.
Anyone who attended the following venues at the following times is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received:
- Local Bar Cafe, 729 Darling St, Rozelle, Wednesday December 16 8.30-9.30am; Thursday December 17 8.30-9.30am; Friday December 18 8.30-9.30am; Saturday December 19 8.30-9.30am; Sunday December 20 8.30-9.30am
- Darling Quarter Food Court, 156 Darling Dr, Sydney, Thursday December 17 5-6pm
- Mr Cafe & Bar, Shop 11/418 Darling St, Balmain, Thursday December 17 9-10am
- Marketplace Leichhardt, 100/122-138 Flood St, Leichhardt, Saturday December 19 2-2.30pm
- Ruby’s Diner, Shop 1&2 179, 173 Bronte Rd, Waverley, Thursday December 17 10-10.30am
- IGA, 649 Darling Street, Rozelle, Thursday December 17 8.25-8.35am
- Hotel Steyne, 75 The Corso, Manly, Thursday December 17 3-7pm
READ MORE: NT revokes Greater Sydney as coronavirus hot spot
AFP 5.56am: ‘We’ve taken back control’: UK, EU seal post-Brexit trade deal
Britain and the European Union struck a trade deal Thursday after 10 months of intense negotiation allowed them to soften the economic shock of Brexit.
When the UK leaves the EU single market at the New Year it will not now face tariffs on cross-Channel commerce, despite breaking off half a century of close partnership.
“We’ve taken back control of our laws and our destiny. We’ve taken back control of every jot and tittle of our regulation in a way that is complete, and unfettered,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared.
Daniel Sankey 5.10am: Queensland, South Australia on alert after new cases
Queensland and South Australia have issued COVID-19 alerts after new cases linked to Sydney’s northern beaches outbreak were confirmed.
The interstate warnings came yesterday as NSW reported nine new locally-acquired cases — seven of which were linked to the Avalon cluster.
South Australia yesterday resisted escalating its COVID-19 restrictions after a local resident, aged in his 20s, returned a positive test.
The man, who is no longer considered infectious, flew from Darwin to Sydney Airport, where he caught a regional flight to Wodonga and drove a car to Maitland on the Yorke Peninsula.
He was tested on December 22 and returned a weak positive result. The other case yesterday was a returned overseas traveller.
In Queensland, one of two new cases was linked to the Sydney outbreak — a man aged in his 40s who had travelled to the northern beaches before returning to Queensland. After originally returning a negative result, he was retested on Wednesday night and was confirmed positive to COVID-19.
“I am concerned we do have the virus now in Queensland,” Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young said.
“I have seen the positive sewage results and we have seen people return from the Northern Beaches and Sydney.”
Also yesterday, the Northern Territory delivered an early Christmas present by revoking hot spot restrictions Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Central Coast areas.
“A number of suburbs that are already directly located around the Avalon outbreak will remain as hotspot areas,” acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said.
“What I can say is that the Greater Sydney Area including the Blue Mountains along with the Central Coast will be removed effective immediately.”
She said people from these areas currently in mandatory quarantine in the Territory would be released.
READ MORE: Beaches escapee collapses in pizza shop
Joe Kelly 5am: PM thanks, honours older Aussies in Christmas message
Scott Morrison has used his Christmas message to “thank and honour” older Australians in aged care facilities across the nation and acknowledged the stress and uncertainty inflicted by the COVID-19 pandemic following the horror Black Summer bushfires.
Mr Morrison also singled out Australians celebrating Christmas in the northern beaches of Sydney for special mention after families had their plans disrupted following a breakout of the coronavirus in the lead up to the holiday period.
“This year has not been easy for any of us. Some of us have faced the loss of loved ones. Others the loss of jobs and their livelihoods, separation from family,” the Prime Minister said.
Read the full story here.
David Rogers 4.30am: What’s next for the financial markets
For the global economy and financial markets, the broader continuation of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the global policy responses, remain the key drivers for the macro outlook.
In the second-half of this year, markets have shown resilience to the Covid crisis even as the second wave worsens through Europe and North America. But unprecedented levels of fiscal and monetary stimulus have underpinned shares, pushing valuations high.
Effective COVID-19 vaccines and unprecedented fiscal stimulus is expected to see a snap-back in the economy with pent-up spending unleashed by growing consumer and business confidence. This has been likened to a repeat of the “Roaring Twenties” of a century ago, which followed the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.
Australia’s economic recovery is widely seen to be well underway. As the spread of the virus was controlled and restrictions eased, the economy grew strongly in the September quarter – 3.3 per cent – with momentum expected to continue into the December quarter.
Official Treasury forecasts updated this month have Australia’s GDP in calendar 2020 falling by 2.5 per cent, before growing by 4.5 per cent in 2021.
Read the full story here.
Mackenzie Scott 4.15am: Why was COVID-19 yacht allowed to dock?
Queensland Police are scrambling to figure out whether a superyacht that appeared without warning in Cairns this week with a coronavirus case had permission to dock.
The luxury yacht called Lady E allegedly docked in Australia on Monday, December 21, from the Maldives carrying 14 passengers and six crew members.
A woman in her 20s tested positive for the virus yesterday, the second case reported in Queensland over the past 24 hours.
Passengers and crew have allegedly been uncooperative with police about their whereabouts but at this stage there is no suggestion they have come off the boat or mingled with locals since their arrival.
Read the full story here.
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Oasis announce Australian shows
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Burke mulls cancelling visa of academic who called Oct 7 ‘a celebration’
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke is considering the visa status of a US-based academic who attended Monday’s Hizb ut-Tahrir-associated rally in Sydney, praising the Houthi rebels and saying Hamas's attacks were a day of 'growth' for Palestinians.