Coronavirus Australia live news: South-east Queensland motorways in traffic snarl; Scott Morrison reveals travel limits
Southeast Queensland’s major motorways are at a standstill with fears Greater Brisbane residents are fleeing the city to avoid a three-day lockdown.
- Call for calm amid panic buying
- What Brisbane hot spot limits mean
- Tough measures for UK travellers
- Brisbane declared a hot spot
- Four new local NSW cases
- Brisbane faces 3-day lockdown
Welcome to live coverage of Australia’s response to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
Panic buying in Brisbane ahead of a lockdown has sparked calls for calm. Every state has declared Brisbane a hot spot as Greater Brisbane goes into a three-day lockdown from tonight at 6 amid alarm over a cleaner with UK virus strain. National Cabinet has made masks and pre-flight testing compulsory after a meeting today.
Patrick Commins 9.30pm: Small business slam lockdown
Small business has slammed the three-day lockdown of Greater Brisbane as “absolutely disgraceful”, even as other business groups offered support for Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s “go hard and go early” approach to preventing the spread of a more contagious British COVID-19 variant.
Council of Small Business Organisations Australia chief executive Peter Strong said his members — who are over represented in some of the hardest hit industries such as hospitality and personal services — were “angry” that the authorities did not appear to have the testing and tracing capacity in place to avoid a shutdown.
“Why is their tracing system so poor after all this time that they have to go straight to a lockdown?” Mr Strong asked. “They’ve failed the business community and the Queensland community by not being ready for something (an outbreak) that was obviously going to happen.”
Ms Palaszczuk on Friday morning said her state would “go hard and go early” to ensure a single case of the British variant of the virus — which is reportedly 70 per cent more infectious — discovered in Brisbane would not lead to widespread community transmission.
“If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown,” she said.
READ the full story here.
Darren Cartwright 7.45pm: Traffic chaos as people flee Brisbane
Southeast Queensland’s major motorways are at a standstill with fears Greater Brisbane residents are fleeing the city to avoid a three-day lockdown.
There are traffic snarls along the Bruce Highway between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and south on the Pacific Motorway to the Gold Coast.
Head of Nine Traffic Network Olympia Kwitowski said the roads were unusually clogged for a Friday in early January when school holidays were still in full swing.
She said the traffic was extremely heavy over a 40km stretch of the Bruce Highway northbound.
“It’s busier than Christmas, especially Boxing Day when people hit the road,” Ms Kwitowski told NCA / NewsWire.
READ the full story here.
Jacquelin Magnay 7.00pm: Half a million Brits infected in past 10 days
Around half a million Britons have been infected with coronavirus in the past 10 days, most with the ”UK variant’’ that has prompted widespread political panic in Australia.
The variant, known as 501Y.V1, previously known as B.1.1.7 has been shown to be more contagious, and in the past 24 hours geneticists have tracked 42 new outbreaks of this variant across the world.
A Public Health England study showed that people who had older versions of the virus infected about 10 percent of the people they were in contact with. However people with the B.1.1.7 variant infected around 15 percent of their contacts. This study has given rise to headlines of it being 50 percent more infectious.
Australia’s severe response - including 14 days quarantine in Canberra for people who had been in Brisbane at any time since January 2 - shows how worried health officials are to try and stamp out this virus variant before it gathers momentum.
But the good news is the more infectious variant doesn’t appear to any more dangerous than the original covid-19 strain.
The BioNTech vaccine also protects against the new strain, the vaccine manufacturers, Pfizer and the University of Texas, confirmed yesterday.
Pfizer said a not-yet peer reviewed study by scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch showed its vaccine neutralised viruses with the N501Y mutation of the spike protein.
Pfizer scientist Phil Dormitzer, said the the vaccine appears effective against the UK mutation, as well as 15 other mutations the company has previously tested against.
“So we’ve now tested 16 different mutations, and none of them have really had any significant impact,’’ he told Reuters.
Although there have been enormous case numbers, the UK hospitalisations and deaths haven’t yet risen at the same high rate in the UK, indicating that the UK strain may not be making people dreadfully sick - or that the contagious nature of the virus means that more younger people and children are contracting the virus, maybe without symptoms, or not being hospitalised.
But the virus is rampaging through the country despite most of the country being in moderate to severe lockdown since October.
Just over 1000 Britons died within 28 days of having a positive coronavirus test on Thursday, still down on last April’s peak, and the latest numbers are inflated by some deaths still being counted from the Christmas holidays.
At this time of year, it is usual for more than 10,000 Britons to die each week from all causes.
UK Prime minister Boris Johnson implemented the harsh national lockdown saying it was to protect the National Health Service while it carries out the vaccinations at a rapid rate which he said would ‘’finally free us from this wretched virus”.
However in the UK the worry is not the UK variant, but the South African one, which has one particular additional mutation that is causing concern among experts.
The UK has banned flights from South Africa to try and stop this South African variant, which has an additional mutation on the spike protein called E484K.
The E484K change reduces the body’s antibodies ability to block the virus.
READ MORE: Traffic chaos as people flee Brisbane
Staff writers 6.15pm Sydneysiders rack up thousands of dollars in fines
Sydneysiders have racked up more than $2000 in fines in a single day for not wearing masks indoors as NSW Police crack down on the new rules.
Five days after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian mandated that masks must be worn while shopping, on public transport and in indoor entertainment venues, 11 fines of $200 were issued on Wednesday across greater Sydney.
Police also issued more than 50 warnings for breaches of the Public Health Act.
One man was a repeat offender over two days, telling transport police at Blacktown station on Tuesday that he “didn’t have a mask and had no intention of getting one”.
The man was issued a $200 penalty infringement notice (PIN).
On Wednesday, again at Blacktown station, the same man allegedly swore at police and refused to wear a mask. He was issued a second $200 fine and given a move-on direction.
At Merrylands, officers from Cumberland Police Area Command were called to a shopping centre following reports a man was verbally abusing security and staff.
The 60-year-old man had refused to put a mask on when asked and became aggressive before security directed him to leave.
The man wrestled with a security officer before they both fell to the ground. No injuries were reported but the man asked to be taken to Auburn Hospital, where he also refused to wear a face mask. He was issued a $200 fine.
READ MORE: Gridlock as people flee before lockdown
AFP 5:55pm: Chinese city sealed off to squash outbreak
China has sealed off a large city near Beijing, cutting transport links and banning millions of residents from leaving, as authorities move to stem the country’s largest Covid-19 outbreak in six months.
The pandemic has so far broadly been brought to heel by Chinese authorities since its emergence in Wuhan in late 2019, with small outbreaks swiftly snuffed out with mass testing, local lockdowns and travel restrictions.
Around 100 new Covid-19 cases have been discovered in the past week in Shijiazhuang, a city of several million in Hebei province whose surrounding areas take the total population to 11 million.
All vehicles and residents were banned from leaving the city and train services suspended, authorities announced late Thursday.
Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed residents being swabbed by medical workers in hazmat suits at community centres in Shijiazhuang while queues outside stretched around the block.
READ MORE: What you can do under Brisbane lockdown
Carla Mascarenhas 5.30pm: ACT declares Brisbane a hotspot
Anyone who has visited Brisbane since January 2 must immediately isolate for 14 days, according to a new ACT public health direction announced this afternoon.
The restrictions also include the Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan local government areas.
ACT Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman said advice to avoid COVID-19 affected areas in NSW still applied and would remain until at least Wednesday, January 13.
“To reiterate what this means, anyone who has been in Greater Sydney, including the northern beaches, and Central Coast and Wollongong local government areas in the last 14 days and is not an ACT resident will legally not be permitted to enter the ACT without a legal exemption,” she said.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said an international repatriation flight to Canberra due to go ahead in late January would not go ahead.
Remy Varga 4.55pm: Australian Grand Prix likely postponed
The Australian Grand Prix will likely be postponed as negotiations with the state government continue.
It is understood an announcement on the international racing event is expected to be made next week.
A Victorian government spokesman said public health would continue to take priority in any discussions about the race.
“Discussions between the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, the government and Formula One management about the Formula One calendar for 2021 are ongoing,” he said.
“As part of those discussions, the government will prioritise public health considerations while projecting our major events calendar.”
The F1 race was scheduled to begin on March 18 and now may take place in November instead.
READ MORE: Border may reopen next week: Andrews
Mackenzie Scott 4.40pm: Woolies imposes purchase limits in Brisbane
Woolworths has reinstated purchase limits on a range of products after panic buying set in across the Greater Brisbane region
More than 20 types of products, including toilet paper, soap, milk, eggs, pasta, bread and meat, will once again be limited to two per person after residents queued for more than 30 minutes at supermarkets across the region soon after the lockdown announcement.
The company’s director of stores Rob Moffat said the precautionary move would ensure fair access to in demand products.
“We have stock to draw on from our suppliers and distribution centres and it will continue to flow into stores in large volumes,” Mr Moffatt said.
“We encourage everyone to continue shopping as they usually would and only buy what they need.”
Limits will be in place across the local government areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands.
Shoppers were reminded to wear their masks to be allowed entry, use the hand sanitiser provided on entry and adhere to social distancing rules.
“As always, we ask our customers to follow all social distancing and hygiene measures while
shopping in our stores,” Mr Moffatt said.
“We also ask customers to treat our team and each other with respect as we work through this uncertain time together.”
Mackenzie Scott 4.35pm: COVID fragments along QLD coastline
Sewage testing has found fragments of COVID-19 at four new sites along Queensland’s coastline.
Traces of the virus were detected at wastewater treatment plants at Gibson Island (South Brisbane), Cleveland Bay (Townsville) and Pulgul (Hervey Bay) and Maryborough over the past week.
The state’s chief health officer said the detections do not confirm community transmission but noted they should be treated with “absolute caution”.
“Given the recent case of community transmission in Brisbane and the regular detection of cases in other states, I am urging anyone who feels unwell in these communities to get tested and isolate,” Dr Young said.
“If there is a case we are not yet aware of, it is critical we detect it through our testing mechanisms as quickly as possible to contain any potential spread.”
Queensland recorded nine new virus cases on Friday, all of which were detected in hotel quarantine.
READ MORE: State urgently closes border to QLD
Rachel Baxendale 4pm: New health advice for Victorians in Queensland
Victorian health authorities have ordered Victorians in Queensland to follow local health advice for people who have been in, visited or travelled through the local government areas of Brisbane City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Redland, Ipswich or Logan city councils since 2 January to remain there until at least Monday.
“All Victorians in these areas are advised to follow the guidance of the Queensland government and any Victorian with plans to travel to these areas should cancel them,” Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement released on Friday afternoon.
“Those who have arrived in Victoria from these areas since January 2 should get tested (and) remain at home or place of accommodation until Monday, when a further assessment will be made.
“We are working with our counterparts in other jurisdictions to address this matter which is obviously of national concern. The department is working through the implications for our current permit system and will provide more information on this shortly.”
READ MORE: Brisbane COVID lockdown raises fresh questions about GABBA tes t
&j=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%3D%3D){kind=link}
Ellie Dudley 3.30pm: Brisbane lockdown explained: What you can can’t do
As Greater Brisbane gears up for three days of lockdown from 6pm, here’s what residents can and can’t do for the weekend:
From 6pm Friday to 6pm Monday, residents of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and Redlands council areas will only be allowed to leave their homes for essential work, medical needs, to get necessary supplies, to carry out caring responsibilities, and for exercise in their neighbourhoods.
People will have to wear a mask outside their homes.
READ the full story here.
Debbie Schipp 3.15pm: AMA backs quick action of Qld, national cabinet
The Australian medical Association has weclomed changes announced by national cabinet amid the looming UK virus threat.
But it has urged the Federal Government not to rush Covid vaccines through the approval process.
“The appearance of the new UK strain of COVID-19 in Queensland shows the need to act quickly to head off any further outbreaks,” AMA head Omar Khorshid said.
“This UK strain appears to be a greater risk of breaking out of hotel quarantine, and then spreading quickly to outrun and overwhelm our last lines of defence — physical distancing and testing and tracing.
“It must be stopped before it enters the community, and we commend the Queensland Government for taking strong, fast action, and National Cabinet for backing those actions,” Dr Khoshid said.
“We have seen in the past that decisive action, taken early, is the best way to stop this wicked enemy.”.
Ellie Dudley 2.40pm: What hot spot restrictions mean for Brisbane residents
Brisbane has officially been declared a hotspot by the Commonwealth as decided in the national cabinet meeting and announced by Scott Morrison today.
Border restrictions have changed for the states and territories for those travelling from Brisbane and the greater Queensland area.
New South Wales
For New South Wales, anyone who has been in Brisbane since 12.01am on January 2 and has now entered the state is expected to stay isolated for three days, in alignment with the city’s lockdown.
Travellers who are currently on their way to NSW must also adhere to isolation rules.
The NSW border is not closed to Queensland.
Tasmania
Tasmania has banned arrivals from greater Brisbane and is forcing those who have recently arrived into quarantine.
Any traveller who enters Tasmania from today who has been in the greater Brisbane area on or since January 2 must immediately quarantine at “suitable premises” for up to 14 days.
If travellers do not have access to suitable premises, they will be placed in a Government quarantine hotel.
Northern Territory
Northern Territory will also require travellers from greater Brisbane to quarantine.
Anyone arriving in the territory today from the area will have to enter mandatory two-week hotel quarantine.
Those who are currently on flights have the option of returning to Brisbane, or entering mandatory quarantine.
South Australia
Travellers to South Australia from greater Brisbane on Friday, but before midnight, will not have to quarantine. They will, however, be required to have a COVID-19 test on day one, five and 12.
After midnight, 14 days of quarantine will be mandatory.
This applies to anyone who has been in the greater Brisbane area on or since January 2.
Western Australia
Western Australia will shut its border to Queensland from midnight Friday.
There are nine flights arriving in Perth airport from Queensland today, with about 1,400 people on board.
Those people will be allowed in, tested at the airport, required to self-quarantine for 14 days and tested again on day 11.
After that, no travellers from Queensland will be permitted to enter the state.
Victoria and the ACT are yet to provide updated restrictions for travellers from Queensland
Paige Taylor 2.25pm: Testing not ‘foolproof’: no guarantees with Covid
The new plan to test all international arrivals before they depart to Australia is not foolproof, as they could contract the virus between getting the test and arriving in the country, both Paul Kelly and Scott Morrison confirmed.
“Anyone looking for absolute guarantees in a COVID world is not going to find them,” the prime minister said.
“The expectation of them being there is unrealistic. We can’t be cavalier about what the alternatives are to the approach which the Chief Medical Officer has set out.”
The national cabinet will meet again on January 18.
Scott Morrison confirmed he would be on leave from tomorrow for at least a week and that deputy prime minister Michael McCormack would be stepping in.
READ MORE: Border turmoil leaves families separated, stranded
Paige Taylor 2pm: WA slams border shut to Queensland again
West Australian has again shut its border with Queensland.
WA is now closed to three states — New South Wales, Victoria and the Queensland. WA premier Mark McGowan announced the state would be closed to people in Queensland from midnight. The decision is a response to the revelation that a hotel cleaner in Brisbane had contracted the more contagious and mutated strain of coronavirus.
Mr McGowan said the announcement would cause upset and distress, but difficult decisions were necessary to help Australia avoid the human and economic catastrophe in Britain and the US.
Mr McGowan confirmed that he believed Australia must eliminate the virus, rather than manage it. He said this was logical and possible for an island country.
Mackenzie Scott 1.46pm: Product limts loom if panic buying doesn’t stop
Queensland Health and supermarkets have issued a plea to Greater Brisbane residents to hold back on panic buying.
Supermarkets will remain open as an essential service over the weekend as the city locks down until Monday evening to limit the spread of the highly-infectious UK strain of the COVID-19 virus through the community.
A statement from Queensland Health said there are no concerns that supermarket supplies are at risk during this three-day period.
“Those attending supermarkets, particularly during busy periods, are reminded to practice social distancing and hand hygiene, wear a mask and follow all health advice,” said the advice.
Masks will be required to be worn when outside the home.
The sentiment was echoed by the supermarkets. A Woolworths spokesman encouraged people to only buy what they need.
“We understand this is an anxious time for our customers in Greater Brisbane, but we encourage everyone to continue shopping as they usually would and only buy what they need,” the spokesperson said.
“As an essential service, our supermarkets will remain open to support our customers’ food and grocery needs during the temporary lockdown. Stock will continue to flow to stores from our distribution centres.”
Woolworths will reintroduce product limits if required.
Ellie Dudley 1.45pm: Financial support to returning Australians
Financial support will be offered to Australians overseas who need to undertake testing to get home, Scott Morrison said.
“We already have a hardship fund which is being extended right now to Australians who are overseas,” the prime minister said.
“The amount that has currently gone out from that hardship fund is some $15.5 million that’s been provided to people overseas to assist them.”
Mr Morrison said that the transmission of the highly-infectious strains in the UK and South Africa is not limited to one country.
As a result, he said blocking travellers from the two countries “will not contain the risk.”
“That’s why we went down the path of reducing the bulk of that risk by reducing the caps and where we would make maintain those charter flights, we were putting it through much more rigid channels, much more contained channels,” the prime minister said.
Ellie Dudley 1.40pm: We can’t stop international travel, we need to function: PM
Scott Morrison has rejected the suggestion that all international travellers be stopped from entering the country as “Australia needs to continue to function.”
“The suggestion that Australia might be able to close off every single flight that comes to Australia was considered by AHPPC and was not recommended to the National Cabinet,” the prime minister said.
“For example, vaccines need to come to Australia. They come here on planes. As other critical supplies do.
“There are people who need to come to Australia who have critical skills that are involved in supply chains and other essential functions in the country, for everything from medical workers to any other number of specific occupations.
“So, Australia must maintain practical contact to ensure that we maintain the functioning of the nation.”
He says says he can’t guarantee that a state will go into lockdown if a case of the UK variant is found.
“We’ll see,” the prime minister said, when asked what the approach would be if another case of the variant was found in another state.
“That’s my honest answer. I can’t tell you what we don’t know. No-one can.”
“I think we’re going to learn a lot in the next three to five days. The whole world is trying to understand how this new strain works. And we’ve got a very live example in Brisbane, one of our major cities.”
Mr Morrison said the state leaders were largely in agreement on decisions made today.
“What all that means is that we are working together - and I must say, it was one of those meetings where everyone was on the same page here,” the prime minister said.
“Everybody understood what the risk was and I want to thank, again, the Chief Medical Officer and all the state health officers for the very important work they’ve been doing in advising on this issue.”
READ MORE: Sydney couple released after quarantine chaos
Ellie Dudley 1.20pm: Major risk is overseas travellers: Kelly
Paul Kelly has highlighted the “major risk” for Australia is overseas travellers.
“We’ve known about this UK strain for a while,” the chief health officer said.
“It’s become clearer now that that particular strain is more transmissible. It’s more infectious, if you like, between people. And that has now become the dominant strain in the UK.
“It has also now been found in many other countries, most of the countries where Australians are travelling from to come home. That’s the issue.”
Mr Kelly said he had been in contact with Jeannette Young, the Queensland Chief health officer, and has confirmed the Commonwealth will declare Brisbane a hotspot.
“We have, therefore, moved to calling this a Commonwealth hotspot, as Queensland has done, and we’ll come in right behind with all of the Commonwealth support in relation to that,” he said.
Ellie Dudley 1.10pm: Test negative or don’t fly, new arrival caps
PM Scott Morrison announced that travellers to Australia must return a negative COVID-19 test prior to departure.
“For the Commonwealth government these arrangements are already in place, in terms of the flights that we are chartering, but this will now be a requirement right across the board,” the prime minister said.
“There will be exemptions in extenuating circumstances. This could include for seasonal workers from amber-risk countries where there is limited access to testing, with mitigation of testing on arrival in Australia,” he added.
Mask wearing will also be made mandatory for both crew and passengers on both international and domestic flights, excluding children 12 or under.
International air crew will have to undergo a COVID-19 test in Australia every seven days or on arrival.
Mr Morrison also announced international arrivals will be capped at different amounts for the various states and territories until February 15.
“We will be reducing – till the 15th of February – the caps on international arrivals in New South Wales, Western Australia, in Queensland.
“That means, in New South Wales, there’ll be a weekly cap of 1,505,” he said.
“In Western Australia, the 50% reduction — these will be finalised with state jurisdictions – at 512.”
Queensland will be 500. In Victoria, there’ll be no change, “because they’re already operating at less than 50 per cent of their current capacity, or on their way back.
South Australia is unchanged at 490.
“In the smaller jurisdictions — the ACT, the Northern Territory, Tasmania — they are very bespoke arrangements in relation to those airports, and they’ll be settled between the Commonwealth and those jurisdictions specifically,” Mr Morrison said.
Ellie Dudley 1.05pm: Stay where you are: nation declares Brisbane a hot spot
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has emerged from a national cabinet meeting saying it was a “very wise decision” to lockdown Brisbane, after a case of the UK variant of the coronavirus was reported.
“It moves so quickly – far more quickly than previous strains of the virus – and that means we
need to give our contact tracers that head start to ensure that they can track down and run down all of the contacts from this individual and ensure that they can be identified, isolated, and that people in appropriate areas can get the testing,” the prime minister said.
Mr Morrison confirmed the Commonwealth has determined greater Brisbane a hotspot.
“Don’t go anywhere. Don’t go home to another state or any other part of your state. Over the next few days, stay where you are. If you’re somewhere else and you are planning to go there, don’t,” he said.
“If you are from any of those places and you are somewhere else, you may be here in the ACT, you may be in Western Australia, you may be in Victoria – you should treat yourself as if you are in those places.”
Mackenzie Scott 12.40pm: Musical canned in Queensland
The opening weekend of Australia’s first musical spruiked to be held at 100 per cent capacity has been cancelled as Brisbane heads into three days of lockdown
All performances to be held at Queensland Performing Arts Centre have been cancelled from 3pm today as the city’s premier theatre venue falls in line with Government restrictions.
Shrek The Musical’s season will commence a few days late, with performances on Saturday and Sunday cancelled. Showings of Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show scheduled from 12:30pm on Friday have also been impacted.
A statement from QPAC said the season of Shrek The Musical is anticipated to commence following the lockdown period
“Following the Premier’s announcement today of a three-day lockdown for Greater Brisbane, Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) will be cancelling all performances at the Centre scheduled from 3.00pm today Friday 8 January until 6.00pm Monday 11 January 2021.”
All impacted patrons will be refunded.
Ellie Dudley 12.40pm: Every state to declare Brisbane a hot spot: Marshall
South Australian Steven Marshall has emerged from national cabinet saying every state and territory will declare greater Brisbane a hotspot.
Isolation requirements will be enforced nationwide, he says.
He said the suggestion for preflight testing out of the UK “has now been adopted by the National Cabinet”,
“We have also adopted a new national standard with regards to the wearing of masks on international and domestic flights. This previously was on advice people should wear them. It is now people must wear them on all domestic and international flight.”
Pre-testing will be adopted nationwide and masks will be made mandatory on international and domestic flights.
Steven Marshall announced the national cabinet will go back to fortnightly meetings, as discussed by the state leaders this morning.
South Australia will a require travellers from greater Brisbane to quarantine.
Mr Marshall said that from midnight Friday anyone coming into South Australia from greater Brisbane will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
“It is important to also note that with regards to this case that has come to light in Brisbane, one of the hotel quarantine workers, this person has used public transport and has done shopping,” he said.
“A net is being put over all of the close contacts of the person at the moment but we need to be very about, in South Australia, anybody who has been in the Greater Brisbane area will receive an SMS message from SA Health today requiring them to go and get themselves tested.”
“Anybody who has been in the Greater Brisbane area since 2 January will be required to have testing here in South Australia and those people will be advised by SMS later today. We will clearly be looking very closely at this case over the next three days.
“We expect the testing in Queensland will significantly increase and we will be looking very carefully at that. And if we need to take any further action with regards to board restrictions with Queensland, then we will have no hesitation in calling a press conference in doing that immediately.”
Ellie Dudley 12.35pm: Three new cases in South Australia
South Australia has recorded three new cases, all of which were acquired overseas and are in hotel quarantine.
Chief Health Officer Nicola Spurrier, said there are two people in hotel quarantine in Adelaide who have tested positive to the UK variant of the virus.
“One of those might prove to be an old case and we are doing some further testing,” she said.
“But I want South Australia to understand that while there is that issue that is very concerning because, of course, we’ve got somebody who has been out in the Queensland community with that particular variance, we do actually have that variant here in our own state and we have to be very mindful of that and we have do not have complacency.”
Rachel Baxendale 12.25pm: Difficult call: Andrews backs Brisbane lockdown
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he fully supported the “very difficult calls” his Queensland counterpart Annastacia Palaszczuk had had to make in locking Brisbane down.
“It’s very challenging, but obviously problems in one part of Australia become problems for the whole country if we don’t manage these things consistently and well, and I think that’s exactly what Premier Palaszczuk has done.”
Mr Andrews said his government would have updated advice for Victorians in or planning to visit Queensland later on Friday.
“We’ll be briefed on the circumstances in Brisbane by the Queensland government, by Annastacia when national cabinet begins in just about 20 minutes time, and our public health team are already working, speaking to their counterparts in Brisbane,” he said.
“We’ll have some of that advice as soon as we possibly can about what impact this may have on people who are in Brisbane, whether they be people who would have only ever been in Brisbane, or people who had been in Sydney and got out of Sydney to Brisbane, and there are a number of Victorians who’ve done that.
“I can’t give you a definitive answer now, but hopefully in the next couple of hours we will have a very clear view and be able to communicate that to people.”
Mr Andrews said it was too early to say whether Victoria will require Victorians who have recently returned from Brisbane to isolate, given Queensland’s advice is that anyone who has been in Brisbane since January 3 should isolate for the next three days.
“I’d need get some further advice on that, and what’s more, obviously if you’re from Victoria and you’re in Brisbane the rules that apply in Brisbane apply to you,” he said.
“So this issue about bolting home, that might not be one of the reasons that you’re allowed to leave wherever you are staying.”
Mr Andrews said it was also too early to say whether Victoria would impose restrictions on Victorians in or returning from other parts of Queensland.
READ MORE: Roar-Victory clash postponed
Ellie Dudley 12.05pm: Stop panic buying: Qld premier’s plea
Queensland Health has issued an urgent reminder to Brisbane residents that supermarkets will remain open over the weekend, and panic buying is not necessary.
This comes as Queenslanders flock to local shops to stock up on supplies ahead of a three-day lockdown.
There are reports some supermarkets have had to close their doors to stem the flow after becoming packed with customers.
“Queensland Health is urgently reminding the Brisbane community that supermarkets and essential businesses will remain open during the Greater Brisbane area lockdown,” the statement read.
There is no need to rush out and panic buy. Groceries and essentials such as medicine will still be available while Greater Brisbane is in lockdown. Make sure you wear a mask and observe social distancing. Thanks everyone.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) January 8, 2021
“From 6pm Friday 8 January to 6pm Monday 11 January the lockdown will be in place for residents, restricting movements for essential purposes only (including shopping for essentials, food and necessary supplies).
“There are no concerns that supermarket supplies are at risk during this three-day period.
“Those attending supermarkets, particularly during busy periods, are reminded to practice social distancing and hand hygiene, wear a mask and follow all health advice.”
Brisbane will enter a three-day lockdown to stop the spread of the highly contagious UK strain of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/QZYJg7Ic6g
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) January 7, 2021
Ellie Dudley 11.55am: WA to hold emergency meeting on Qld status
WA Premier Mark McGowan said Western Australia’s state government is watching the situation in Queensland closely, and will hold an emergency meeting after today’s National Cabinet.
While the state’s borders are currently open to Queensland, the premier has previously warned they could close if risk of infection arises.
Residents of New South Wales and Victoria are currently unable to enter the state unless an exemption is granted.
READ MORE: Vaccination push will start next month
Ellie Dudley 11.55am: Effective immediately: NT declares greater Brisbane a hot spot
Northern Territory has declared greater Brisbane a COVID-19 hotspot and will require travellers to quarantine.
Michael Gunner said the greater Brisbane area has been declared a hotspot, effective immediately.
“This means anyone arriving in the Territory today from the area will have to enter mandatory two-week quarantine,” the chief minister said.
“Unfortunately right now there are incoming flights from Brisbane about to land in Yulara and in Darwin.”
“People on these flights will be given the option of returning to Brisbane or entering mandatory quarantine.”
Rachel Baxendale 11.35am: Cabinet approves daily testing of hotel staff, sources say
National cabinet has agreed to Victoria’s proposal to implement daily testing of hotel quarantine staff, Andrews government sources have confirmed.
Other states had pushed for weekly testing but have now agreed to test hotel quarantine staff daily, the sources said.
Ahead of the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said it was his expectation that state, territory and federal leaders would agree to protocols including pre-flight testing of people returning from high coronavirus risk countries, and testing and quarantining of flight crews.
“I believe that will be adopted by national cabinet,” Mr Andrews said.
He said he was also hopeful other states would agree to frequent testing of hotel quarantine staff.
Following Victoria’s disastrous second wave of coronavirus, which saw the virus escape hotel quarantine and kill 800 people, the state has introduced daily testing of hotel quarantine staff and weekly testing of those with whom they live.
“You’ve seen some other states make announcements to that effect already,” Mr Andrews said.
“That’ll be something that we discuss at national cabinet today.
“I think given the extremely infectious and contagious nature of this UK variant, it is very, very important that we do everything we can, never making it 100 per cent risk free, but just each layer, each additional step that we take is all about keeping safe.”
READ MORE: Glitch delays test results in Victoria
Rachel Baxendale 11.35am: UK variant of virus not seen in Victoria: Andrews
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says a strain of coronavirus which reportedly infected at least 37 people in Victoria in June is different from the highly contagious strain currently wreaking havoc in the UK.
Mr Andrews said the UK variant had not been previously seen in Victoria, after Nine Newspapers reported on Friday that a strain of the coronavirus which scientists believe was a precursor to the highly infectious British variant escaped hotel quarantine in Victoria in June during the state’s second wave but the public was not told about it at the time.
Professor Damian Purcell, head of the molecular virology laboratory at the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, said the new strain had infected at least 37 people in Victoria before being brought under control by Victoria’s lockdown.
Mr Andrews said the UK strain had not entered Victoria to date, “and it is our aim to keep it out”.
“We’ve had virus come from the United Kingdom way back in June. That is not the same as the variant that is presenting as much more infectious – that’s a matter of fact – and indeed there’s a growing body of anecdotal evidence that people are getting more sick, more quickly as a result of contracting that UK strain,” Mr Andrews said.
“Just to be clear, we’ve had UK virus, we’ve had virus from all over the world, but it’s not the same as the variant, the one that’s got all of us very, very worried and concerned.”
READ MORE: Why Qld is so worried about positive case
Ellie Dudley 11.35am: Ten with UK, SA strains of virus in special NSW quarantine
Six people in quarantine who tested positive for COVID-19 have the UK variant of the virus, and four, according to test results received by health authorities last night, have the South African variant.
Kerry Chant said all people who test positive for COVID-19 in hotel quarantine in Sydney are transferred to Special Health Accommodation (SHA) and remain there until the test shows they are no longer infectious.
“Further testing is under way to confirm these results, but as a precaution the 16 people who were accompanying that flight, have as a precaution moved to the SHA,” the chief health officer said.
“That is because there are concerns that this South African strain does share a similar mutation from the UK, but may be associated with increased transmissibility.
“That is why we are taking a very cautious approach there. The remaining two cases with the UK strain, and the four cases with a possible South African strain, receiving care in the SHA, and will be cleared when they are assessed to be no longer infectious.”
NSW is taking a “precautionary approach” to the UK variant of the coronavirus, Dr Chant said.
“One of the challenges in just targeting one particular country or UK strain is that we are a whole world – international travellers go everywhere,” the chief health officer said.
“I think we have learned that in COVID, we cannot block a particular group at a particular point in time, you must watch out because the mutation is rising everywhere.”
Ellie Dudley 11.25am: Northern Beaches lockdown will end Saturday night
The northern region of the northern beaches will come out of lockdown at 12.01am on January 10. Announcing the lockdown ends at 12.01am Sunday, Brad Hazzard emphasised the importance of testing for the area.
“Can I say to all of our friends on the end of the northern peninsular and Northern Beaches … please, please, come out and get tested,” he said.
“We need to know, for your sake, for all our sakes, for the people of Sydney in New South Wales and indeed Australia, that we don’t have any more cases still circulating that we aren’t aware of.”
READ MORE: Flights in doubt over Qld lockdown
Ellie Dudley 11.15am: Few clues on NSW man positive after 14 days
Investigations are continuing into the source of the infection of a 40-year-old man who tested positive for the virus several days after completing a 14 day period of isolation.
“He was asymptomatic through his isolation and tested negative on three occasions through his isolation period,” said NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant.
“We have tested everyone around the gentleman and have not managed to find the source.”
Kerry Chant confirmed traces of the coronavirus have been found in a sewage treatment plant that services the Milton, Ulladulla, Kings Point and Dolphin Point area on the NSW South Coast.
The chief health officer said there have been no locally acquired cases in the area, but the state cannot ignore the risk of infection.
“We do need the community to respond, and if anyone has been recently in that area please also come out for testing,” she said.
“Regardless of where you have been if you have been in that area in the last week, or liver that area, or work in those areas, please come forward and get tested.”
Ellie Dudley 11.09am: Isolate if you’ve been there: NSW reacts to Qld lockdown
Acting NSW Premier John Barilaro said anyone who has been in Brisbane since 12.01am on January 2 and is in New South Wales now is expected to stay isolated.
“I urge you to do the right thing and follow the rules,” the acting premier said.
“If you have visited Brisbane and you are on your way to New South Wales as isolation
rules will apply to you.
If you are already in New South Wales and you have travelled to New South Wales from those locations since 12:01am on the 2 January, we expect you to stay isolated.”
Mr Barilaro confirmed the NSW border has not closed to Queensland.
Ellie Dudley 11.05am: Four new NSW local cases, seven more in quarantine
New South Wales has recorded four new locally transmitted coronavirus cases, as well as seven cases that were acquired overseas.
Two of the cases were close contacts of the Berala cluster, one was a close contact of the Croydon cluster, and the final one was a relation to the individual who tested positive late yesterday connected to the Avalon cluster.
John Barilaro described the state’s test numbers as “low” after 26,112 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours.
“That number is on the low side. We did hit the 30,000 mark a couple of days ago, and I am encouraging New South Wales people to come out and get tested,” the acting premier said.
Matt Denholm 10.55am: Tasmania bans travellers from Greater Brisbane
Tasmania has declared Greater Brisbane a high risk area, banning arrivals from that city and forcing those recently arrived into quarantine.
Premier Peter Gutwein said the move followed the Queensland government’s announcement of a three-day lockdown of the city.
“This follows a city hotel quarantine worker being diagnosed with a more infectious ‘new variant’ strain of the virus that causes COVID-19,” Mr Gutwein said.
“Greater Brisbane covers five council areas — Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Ipswich and Logan. Residents of Greater Brisbane are required to stay at home and must not travel.
“Any traveller arriving in Tasmania from today who has been in the Greater Brisbane area since 2 January will need to immediately quarantine for up to 14 days. If they do not have a suitable premises they will be placed into a Government quarantine hotel.”
READ MORE: Lockdown ‘tough on everyone’: flights in doubt
Ellie Dudley 10.45am: Queensland’s reaction ‘cautious but consistent’: expert
An infectious disease expert in Queensland has said the reaction of the health authorities to the threat of the spread of the UK variant in the state is cautious, but consistent with the potential level of threat given how infectious the variant appears to be.
Linda Selvey, an infectious diseases epidemiologist at the University of Queensland, said it is important for Queenslanders to take precautions.
“There is no right or wrong answer when it is an unprecedented situation,” she told ABC News.
“I think what authorities are trying to do with that is to give a bit of breathing space, a chance to see what happens to these contacts of the case, and to get an assessment of what is happening in the community.
At the same time, they are limiting any further spread if it is actually occurring in the greater Brisbane area.”
READ MORE: Why Queensland is so worried about positive case
Rachel Baxendale 9.57am: 579 from 4000 Vics get border exemptions
The Andrews government has so far granted exemptions to 579 Victorians stranded in NSW due to the border closure, despite more than 4000 having applied.
Premier Daniel Andrews said on Friday Department of Health and Human Services staff were working through the applications “in a very steady, proper, methodical way”.
“There are extra staff there and we’re working through that as fast as we possibly can,” Mr Andrews said.
He said 2000 primary close contacts of the Black Rock coronavirus cluster and Vermont South mystery case were currently in home quarantine, with approximately 3000 Victorians who returned from NSW on January 1 also quarantining at home.
READ MORE: Vic records zero new local cases
Mackenzie Scott 10.35am: Panic buying begins in Brisbane before lockdown
Panic buying has set in through Brisbane shopping centres as residents prepare for three days of lockdown.
Lines at checkouts had already begun to form before 9:30am as shelves were stripped of perishables and toilet paper.
— Professor Gary Mortimer 🛒🛒🛒 (@ProfRetail) January 7, 2021
Queensland government shut down of greater Brisbane has caused panic in the community.
— Rob Brown (@comicrobbrown) January 7, 2021
Forest Lake shopping centre #auspol #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/IigMvqFMVG
The new restrictions will come into place at 6pm today and cover the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Moreton, Ipswich and Redlands.
Robert Craddock 10.30am: Queensland Cricket holds its breath on Test
Queensland Cricket is nervously holding its breath, hoping Brisbane’s three-day lockdown does not provide further reason for India to boycott next week’s Test.
Theoretically, in a pure cricketing sense, the lockdown could be a blessing for Brisbane, as it was in Adelaide last month, when the city locked down and cleansed itself before hosting its Test.
But nothing is as it seems in the complex world of India-Australia relations.
In Sydney, the Indians have the run of the hotel.
But in Brisbane it’s understood the Indians fear being confined to their floors and delivered meals in their individual rooms.
They want communal areas to eat and mingle in.
These are the points of contention being worked through with Cricket Australia, who are trying to calm their fears and reassure them the conditions imposed on them will be no different to what they’re currently experiencing in Sydney.
There is no apparent reason why Queensland’s extreme measure to stop a strain of the virus from the UK which has crept out of Queensland’s hotel quarantine system should stop the Test going ahead.
But the three-day lockdown must cast a dim view over possible crowd percentages.
The strict lockdown finishes less than four days before the start of the series finale on Friday January 15, and it would seem bizarre to have a city in lockdown one weekend, and then pouring into the Gabba with full crowds the next.
Cricket Australia spent last night locked in urgent crisis talks with an Indian side, trying to reassure them that Queensland’s quarantining promise that they will be free to roam around their hotel will not be backtracked on.
READ the full story here.
Richard Ferguson 9.57am: This will buy needed time: PM backs lockdown
Scott Morrison has backed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s three day lockdown of Greater Brisbane, as he gets ready to discuss the mutant UK strain of COVID-19 with premiers.
National cabinet will meet on Friday to discuss how to handle the mutant British strain, with the Prime Minister and premiers likely to back mandatory masks, pre and post-COVID testing for British flights.
Mr Morrison said on Twitter that the Greater Brisbane lockdown will give Queensland authorities time to tackle the highly contagious strain of the virus.
“Wise call by Qld Premier @AnnastaciaMP to have a brief lockdown to enable Queensland health authorities to get on top of the UK strain case in Brisbane,” he tweeted.
“A big thanks in advance to everyone in greater Brisbane for their patience in coming days.
“This will buy much needed time.”
Wise call by Qld Premier @AnnastaciaMP to have a brief lockdown to enable Queensland health authorities to get on top of the UK strain case in Brisbane.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) January 7, 2021
A big thanks in advance to everyone in greater Brisbane for their patience in coming days.
This will buy much needed time.
Ellie Dudley 9.48am: No lockdown for Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast
Dr Jeannette Young said Brisbane’s 3-day lockdown did not include the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast because the cleaner has not been outside the greater Brisbane area.
“So, yes, there will have been people who visited Brisbane from the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast since the 2nd, I’m asking that those people stay in their homes for the three days as well, rather than asking the entirety of that area,” she said.
“If things were to spread, then, of course, we’d have to look at a broader lockdown, as we did back in March. But I’m hopeful that this is contained within Brisbane.”
None of the 79 identified close contacts have been to the Sunshine Coast or the Gold Coast, the Chief health officer confirmed.
“We don’t believe – at this stage we have tested symptomatic ones and they don’t have the virus. So, I’m as comfortable as I can be that it is the right thing to focus on those five LGAs.”
Rachel Baxendale 9.40am: No new locally acquired Vic cases
Victoria has recorded its second straight day with no new locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to Friday, after the Black Rock cluster was discovered nine days ago.
There has been one new case in an international return traveller in hotel quarantine.
There are now 39 known active coronavirus cases in Victoria, including 27 in the Black Rock cluster, one unlinked case in a man who attended the Boxing Day sales at the Chadstone shopping centre and the second day of the Boxing Day cricket test at the MCG, and 11 cases in international return travellers in hotel quarantine.
The latest numbers come after 23,108 tests were processed in the 24 hours to Friday.
The Department of Human Services said the lower testing number, which compares with 32,767 tests processed in the 24 hours to Thursday, was due to a “technical outage” at a private pathology lab, “delaying negative test results to some individuals.”
“The outage does not affect the total positive cases reported,” DHHS tweeted.
“The outage is being restored and these results are expected to be reported in tomorrow’s update.”
Yesterday there were 0 local cases and 1 international case reported. 23,108* results were received with approximately 10,000 results delayed due to technical issues. More information coming later: https://t.co/SOwj13mBwA… #COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData (1/3) pic.twitter.com/008iCTgDCg
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) January 7, 2021
*Yesterday one of our private pathology lab partners experienced a technical outage delaying negative test results to some individuals. The outage does not affect the total positive cases reported. (2/3)
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) January 7, 2021
Ellie Dudley 9.35am: We know ‘very little’ about UK strain: Young
Dr Jeannette Young said the Queensland health authorities know “very little” about the UK variant of the coronavirus, adding they must act before more cases emerge.
The Chief Health Officer said while the variant entering the state is cause for concern, evidence coming from the United Kingdom indicates it does not cause more severe disease nor does it increase mortality.
The variant also does not affect the efficacy of the vaccines that have been developed to date.
“The issue is that more people will get it,” Dr Young said. “And we have seen that in the UK.”
“If you can’t manage the numbers — although this doesn’t cause any more severe disease – if you can’t provide oxygen and the basic care that those people need, then the consequences will be worse.”
Ellie Dudley 9.35am: Lockdown applies to all in Brisbane since Jan 2
The three-day Greater Brisbane lockdown also applies to anyone who has been to the greater Brisbane area since January 2 but has since moved elsewhere in the state.
“We’re also asking people, not just those who are residing or staying in the Greater Brisbane area, in the local government areas announced today, to remain at home for the next three days,” said Health Minister Yvette D’Ath.
“If you have been to the Greater Brisbane area since 2 January, but you are now elsewhere in the state, we are asking that you also stay where you are for three days.”
Michael McKenna 9.30.am: Nine new cases: ‘We are going hard, going early’
Greater Brisbane’s three day lockdown from Friday evening comes after a cleaner at a Brisbane Quarantine hotel was detected with the UK strain of the coronavirus.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was “going hard, and going early”’ with the measures in a bid to contain the highly-contagious strain.
The cleaner, a woman, in her twenties, is suspected of catching it during a single shift on January 2 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, in Spring Hill, in Brisbane’s inner city.
It is the first case in Australia where a person has been outside of quarantine with the mutant strain and was moving within the community for five days.
Ms Palaszczuk said it was a critical period and that she was introducing the new measures to avoid the need for tougher restrictions.
“We are going to go hard, go early to stop the spread of this virus,’’ she said.
Health authorities said there were nine new Covid cases in Queensland, all in hotel quarantine.,
More than 13,000 tests has been conducted in the community.
The new restrictions cover the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Moreton, Ipswich and Redlands.
It is the first time Queenslanders have been ordered to wear masks.
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said contact tracers were still trying to find people that the woman had been in contact during the past few days.
“Until we find those people we can’t relax,’’ she said.
“I need to people to be at home so we can contact trace them and get them into quarantine.
“We know this particular variant can spread very rapidly and take hold.
“We are hoping it won’t take hold.’’
Ellie Dudley 9.18.am: ‘We must act very, very fast’: strain 70% more infectious
Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queensland must “act very, very fast” to respond to the UK mutant strain entering the state.
“We know that that strain is 70% more infectious and we know the extreme difficulty that the UK has had in controlling their outbreak due to that strain,” Dr Young said.
She highlighted the importance of finding anyone who had been in contact with the cleaner who tested positive for the virus.
“We need to find every person who might have had contact with that lady now, find them, and get them into quarantine,” she said.
“That’s what we’ve got to do over the next three days.”
Queensland aged care, disability accommodation services, prisons, and hospitals have been locked down to visitors from last night.
“If you normally provide care to a vulnerable person, think through what the risks are there. We don’t want your elderly relatives to end up getting this strain of this, this variant, of the virus,” Dr Young said.
Dr Young has defended the decision of Queensland health authorities to lockdown Greater Brisbane, due to the highly infectious nature of the UK variant of the coronavirus.
“I’m really concerned that if we were to have cases from this very, very contagious, infectious virus, we wouldn’t be able to get on top of it,” the state’s Chief health officer said.
“That’s why we have to bring this in fast, rather than be able to wait and see what the extent of the spread is.”
Ellie Dudley 9.15.am: Masks mandatory as Brisbane locks down
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also announced masks will be mandatory in the Greater Brisbane area.
Those in the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands will have to wear a mask if leaving the house for essential purposes.
Brisbane residents may leave their home for four essential reasons:
1. To go to work
2. To offer support to a vulnerable person
3. To shop for essential items
4. To exercise
“There are plenty of masks out there,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “If you are a child under 12, you do not have to wear a mask.”
Ms Palaszczuk said she had told the other members of the National Cabinet that she would declare greater Brisbane a hotspot, and asked that leaders of other states and territories do the same.
The Premier also addressed vacations for Queenslanders saying “I’m sorry, but you won’t be able to go.”
“You will have to reschedule until Tuesday. Please, everybody, let’s be in this together, let’s stay at home, look at it as a long weekend at home with your family and friends.”
Those who are currently on holidays should be listening to the media to keep an eye on the updating situation of the state.
Ellie Dudley 9.10.am: Palaszczuk locks down Greater Brisbane
Greater Brisbane will go into a 3-day lockdown from 6pm Friday to 6pm Monday in response to the highly-transmissible UK strain of the virus entering Queensland.
The council areas affected include Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland will “go hard and go early” to address the situation asking Brisbane residents to “think of it as a long weekend at home.”
“If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown,” she said.
Ellie Dudley 8.05am: Pfizer vaccine ‘logistically challenging’: CHO
Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly has described the Pfizer vaccine as “logistically more challenging” as the first vaccine off the rank in Australia to be rolled out in mid-late February.
“It needs to be kept at minus 70. We have never had a vaccine like that before. There are some challenges there,” he told the Today Show this morning.
“That’s the reason why we are starting in this kind of hub and spoke model – looking at our
priority groups … and starting small there.”
Mr Kelly said the Australian Health Protection Principal committee and the Chief Health Officers have been meeting daily to determine the approach to the virus, and especially how the country should respond to the UK mutant strain.
However, he said the final decision lies with the National Cabinet today.
“The National Cabinet is the decision-making body on these matters, working with the Prime Minister today,” he said.
“I’ll be in the room. I’ll be advising, answering questions. But ultimately, it is the National Cabinet that makes those decisions.”
READ MORE: Covid vaccination push will start next month
Ellie Dudley 8.05am: Cabinet to address growing fears of UK virus threat
The national cabinet is expected to move today to require all travellers from the United Kingdom to Australia to undertake pre-flight and post-flight testing for the coronavirus, in an attempt to detect the new highly infectious strain of the virus before it enters Australia.
Tests conducted before and after the flights could deliver a result within hours or even minutes.
Premiers and chief ministers will be asked to urgently examine new measures for all overseas travellers, with a decision expected to be made regarding mask mandates on flights for people coming to Australia. While masks are mandatory on a lot of flights, it is currently up to the discretion of the airline.
Pre-flight testing for all travellers will also be discussed.
Scott Morrison called the emergency meeting of the state leaders to address growing concerns of the UK mutant virus entering the country.
“Getting Australians home is important but [so is] keeping Australians safe and ensuring the robustness of our processes and the quarantine arrangements, particularly with the additional risks that come with the more contagious strain,” the Prime Minister said.
READ MORE: Flight crews to face compulsory testing
Ellie Dudley 7.35am: Qld must be ‘much more vigilant’ about UK strain
Infectious disease expert Professor Nigel McMillan said Queensland needs to be “much more vigilant” now that a mutant strain of the virus from the United Kingdom has entered the state.
“This strain is potentially out and about in the South-East Queensland community,” the Griffith University professor told the Today Show.
“We should be doing all the same things we have been doing in terms of people getting tested. We have seen fantastic community responses all around the country with this, making sure we isolate if we have to, being aware of your symptoms, all those things we have known about for the last 12 months.”
Professor McMillan added that the potential for cases of the viral strain in the community is now “very high”, and that Queenslanders need to ramp up their contact tracing.
“Hopefully if we get it early – and that’s the trick to it – getting on to the cases early – we will be able to control it,” he said.
Ellie Dudley 7.15am: UK records second-highest number of daily deaths
The United States recorded their highest number of daily COVID-19 deaths on Thursday, nearing 3900.
Over 360,000 people in the country have now lost their lives to the virus.
On Thursday alone, 3865 deaths were recorded according to Johns Hopkins University. December was named the “deadliest” month of the virus in the US, but health experts are warning that January could be even worse, as families continue to gather and travel over the holidays.
A total of 255,047 new cases were recorded in the US on Thursday.
READ MORE: Virus alerts for Woolworths, chemist
Ellie Dudley 6.55am: UK records second-highest number of daily deaths
The UK has recorded its second-highest number of daily deaths since the start of the pandemic.
On Thursday, 1162 lost their lives to the virus, up from 1,041 from the day prior. These people were reported to have died within 28 days of testing positive, according to numbers released by the government.
It is the second-highest daily COVID-19 death count, beaten by the number on April 21 which was 1224.
The latest case numbers recorded on Thursday were 52,618, almost 10,000 less than Wednesday’s count at 62,322.
England recorded the majority of the deaths and cases on Thursday. The nation had 1004 deaths alongside 46,841 new cases.
The second highest numbers were in Scotland, where 2,649 new cases and 78 deaths were reported.
Another 1,718 positive test results were recorded in Wales, and 63 deaths.
Northern Ireland recorded 1,410 new positive cases and 17 people died.
Nearly 1.5 million people across the United Kingdom have received their first vaccine dose.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 7, 2021
That’s:
- 1.26 million in England
- 113,000 in Scotland
- 49,000 in Wales
- 46,000 in Northern Ireland pic.twitter.com/sXkjLwKV2v
READ MORE: UK pins hopes on two new coronavirus drugs
Ellie Dudley 6.45am: Queensland venues named after cleaner’s positive test
New venues in Queensland have been added to a list of potential exposure sites after a cleaner at a Brisbane quarantine hotel tested positive for the highly-infectious UK strain of COVID-19.
Anyone who has been to the following locations — regardless of whether they have symptoms or not — should get tested and self-isolate until they receive their result.
■ Train from Altandi station to Roma Street station, January 2, 7am;
■ Train from Central Station to Altandi station, January 2, 4pm;
■ Woolworths Calamvale North, January 3, 11am-12pm;
■ Coles Sunnybank Hills January 5, 7.30am-8am; and
■ Nextra Newsagent, Sunnybank Hills Shopping Town January 5, 8am-8.15am.
Queensland Health has also said that even those who received a negative test result should still monitor for symptoms and get retested if necessary.
âš ï¸ Public Health Alert: Brisbane âš ï¸
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) January 7, 2021
The QLD Government is asking the Brisbane community to monitor their health and get tested following the identification of a positive case in a quarantine hotel employee.
The list of locations is available https://t.co/smZ7vjOCzQ pic.twitter.com/VHS8zkl7bU
READ MORE: Fears UK strain may be on loose in Queensland
Ellie Dudley 6.30am: New venues added to Victorian Boxing Day list
A number of places on the growing list of possible exposure sites in Victoria has been updated, after it was confirmed a positive case went to Chadstone shopping centre on Boxing Day.
Anyone who attended the below stores at the listed times on December 26 should be tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
■ Jay Jays (ground level): 6.40am-7.25am;
■ H&M (ground level and Level 1): 7am-7.55am;
■ Uniqlo (ground level): 7am-7.55am;
■ Male toilet facilities above Zara (mezzanine level): 7am-7.55am;
■ Zara Men (ground level): 8.40am-9.30am;
■ Myer (lower ground and ground level): 9.15am-10am and 12.15pm-1pm;
■ Dumplings Plus/food court area (lower ground) including the male toilet facilities within the food court: 7.55am-9.00am and 10.45am-11.25am;
■ Footlocker (lower ground): 9.35am-11.05am and 11.55am-12.45pm;
■ Huffer (lower ground): 9.35am-11.05am and 11.55am-12.45pm;
■ JD Sport (lower ground): 9.35am-11.05am and 11.55am-12.45pm;
■ Superdry (lower ground): 9.35am-11.05am and 11.55am-12.45pm; and
■ Culture Kings (lower ground): 11.30am-12.20pm.
For the full list of exposure sites and full details and advice on testing and isolation/quarantine, visit: https://t.co/tkawOvIj9L#COVID19VIC #StaySafeStayOpen
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) January 7, 2021
(2/2)
The Victorian DHHS is calling for anyone who attended any of these locations at the stipulated times to be tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
The following have also been added as new exposure sites, with anyone who attended the venue at the dictated time asked to get tested and self-isolate immediately.
■ Merrymen Cafe, 2 Small Street, Hampton, December 28, 12.50pm-2.40pm;
■ Sikh Temple Keysborough, 198-206 Perry Road Keysborough, January 1, 3pm-6pm; and
■ Woodlands Golf Club bar, 109 White Street Mordialloc, December 28, 4.40pm-5.15pm.
Those who attended the following places at the listed times are being asked to monitor for symptoms, and if any arise get tested and self-isolate immediately.
■ Coles Hallam, 2 Princes Domain Drive, Hallam, December 30, 6.15am-6.30am;
■ Costco Moorabbin 8 Chifley Drive, Moorabbin Airport, December 30, 10.45am-12.15pm and 4pm-5.50pm; and
■ Wonthaggi Plaza Shopping Centre, 2 Biggs Drive, December 28, 1.30pm-2.30pm.
READ MORE: Flight crews to face compulsory testing
Ellie Dudley 6.05am: NSW south coast venues added to hot spot list
A number of new venues in Avalon and Wentworthville have been added to the NSW Health list of possible exposure sites.
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed must immediately get tested and self-isolate until you receive a negative result.
■ Wentworthville – ChemSave Day & Night Pharmacy, Shop B/86-96 Station St – Sunday January 3 10.40am – 10.50am
and 9.30pm – 9.40pm
■ Avalon – Woolworths, 74 Barrenjoey Rd – Saturday 2 January 3.45pm – 4pm; Sunday January 3 12.45pm – 1pm;
Monday 4 January 6.30pm – 6.50pm; Tuesday January 5
4.45pm – 5pm and Wednesday January 6 12.45pm – 1pm
■ Avalon – Chemist Warehouse, 4/74 Barrenjoey Rd – Sunday January 3 1pm – 1.15pm
NSW Health has also warned those getting tested of false negatives, reminding everyone to be tested again if symptoms reappear.
If you have even the mildest of symptoms such as a headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat or runny nose, then get tested for #COVID19 immediately. Clinics are open in #KangarooValley, #Nowra, #SanctuaryPoint and #Shoalhaven.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 7, 2021
Find your nearest clinic: https://t.co/LmeATIQK4Z pic.twitter.com/hQQknpaTcK
A complete list of venues of concern, and the related health advice, is available on the NSW Health website: https://t.co/yeO2xfqjmG
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 7, 2021
Stay COVID safe at the New Year’s Cricket Test.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 7, 2021
Remember, people from certain areas in Greater Sydney are not allowed to attend and spectators must wear face masks.
If you feel unwell or have any COVID-19 symptoms, even mild, do not attend. pic.twitter.com/AUQCoYWccQ
READ MORE: Lucky few claim their seats at SCG Test
Agencies 5.50am: London hospitals ‘beyond capacity in two weeks’
Hospital chiefs in England are racing to secure hospital beds as the surge in coronavirus cases risked overwhelming the system, healthcare providers and medics said.
A leaked briefing suggested that even in a relatively positive scenario, London’s hospitals could be beyond capacity in less than two weeks.
The UK on Thursday recorded another 1,162 deaths within 28 days of a positive test — the second highest toll since the peak of the first wave in April last year.
There were more than 52,000 new cases in 24 hours, taking the overall number of infections to nearly 2.9 million.
Cases are growing quickly outside southeast England, where clusters of a new highly infectious strain of the virus were first identified.
More than 30,000 virus patients were in UK hospitals, a greater number than at the peak of the first wave, heaping pressures on healthcare staff.
I'm delighted that two new drugs, tocilizumab & sarilumab, have been approved to help save lives from COVID & will be used in our NHS from tomorrow.
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) January 7, 2021
THANK YOU to everyone involved in this breakthrough that British scientists have achieved, working internationally & with our NHS. pic.twitter.com/0t8rXAfl17
In the face of the mounting crisis, the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care on Thursday announced two potentially “live-saving” COVID-19 treatments would be made available for patients in intensive care.
The two drugs — tocilizumab and sarilumab — have been shown to reduce risk of death by 24 per cent for critically ill patients and cut the time spent in intensive care by up to 10 days, the government said.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock called the deployment of the drugs a “landmark development”, saying the treatments, normally used for rheumatoid arthritis, would save hundreds of lives.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson wants 2m jabs a week by February
Rachel Baxendale 5.30am: Victorian border to NSW may open next week
Victoria’s NSW border closure could ease as early as next week, Premier Daniel Andrews said yesterday — just a week after the measure was imposed, leaving thousands of Victorians stranded on the wrong side of the Murray River.
As Victoria and NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to Thursday — with one case linked to the Avalon cluster expected in today’s NSW numbers — Mr Andrews offered some hope to those stuck across the border, contradicting Health Minister Martin Foley’s comments a day earlier that it was “unlikely the border will be removed before the end of January”.
Mr Andrews said 250 extra staff had been brought on board at the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday to process more than 4000 applications for compassionate and medical exemptions from Victorians stranded in NSW. As of Thursday, just over 400 exemptions had been granted.
“I just want to say to every single Victorian who’s in NSW and can’t get home, the border is closed for the best of reasons and that’s to protect every single Victorian from a third wave (of coronavirus),” Mr Andrews said.
“As soon as they can change, then we will have people able to get a permit much more easily than applying for an exemption, because the circumstances have changed, and people will then be able to travel home.”
Read the full story here.
Richard Ferguson 5.15am: Australia’s vaccine push to start in mid-February
Australia’s COVID-19 immunisation program will begin in February, a month earlier than originally expected, with 4 million of the nation’s most vulnerable to be inoculated by Easter.
Health authorities will begin to distribute the Pfizer vaccine to as many as 50 sites across the country in mid-February, making it available first for quarantine workers and aged-care and disability staff and residents.
The immunisation program will eventually expand to more than 1000 distribution points, with CSL confirming that locally manufactured vaccine doses will be available from April.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the immunisation program, the biggest medical exercise in the nation’s history, would “add a very significant further defence and offence” against the coronavirus but warned it was “not a silver bullet”.
Read the full story here.
Darren Cartwright 5am: Perth woman accused of multiple quarantine breaches
A 22-year-old woman, who was charged with failing to comply with a COVID-19 self-quarantine direction, has been refused bail.
The woman arrived at Perth Airport on New Year’s Day from Melbourne through the G2G Pass system, police say.
She was to have self-quarantined for two weeks at an approved location in Perth.
However, she was not at the residence when police conducted a compliance check on Wednesday.
Police alleged the woman had twice breached self-quarantine directions after arriving in Perth.
The Victoria Park woman faced Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday on two counts of failing to comply with a direction.
She was remanded in custody until January 18.
READ MORE: Melbourne cafe customers told to isolate
Michael McKenna 4.45am: Queensland on high alert for COVID-19 UK strain
A cleaner who contracted COVID-19 at a Brisbane quarantine hotel and has been moving about the community for days is carrying the highly infectious UK strain of the virus.
Queensland Health has confirmed that the woman — in her 20s — has the virulent strain and is suspected of catching it during a single shift on January 2 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor at Spring Hill in Brisbane’s inner city.
It is the first case in Australia where a person has been outside of quarantine to expose the wider community to the mutant UK strain.
Queensland Health is rushing to trace contacts for the woman, who caught a train before and after her shift and later went on three shopping trips in surrounding suburbs while infectious.
New restrictions on visitor access have been imposed on aged-care homes, hospitals and disability services throughout Brisbane.
Read the full story here.
Stamp duty is a ‘bad tax’: O’Neil
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil says it’s a ‘good idea’ that stamp duty be replaced with a land tax, following a call from the Business Council of Australia to phase it out.
US ‘on track’ to sell Virginia-class subs to Australia
US Congressman and leading AUKUS supporter Joe Courtney, has played down the prospect of the US backtracking from its commitment to sell Australia nuclear-powered submarines.