Coronavirus Australia live news: PM and Andrews agree on financial support
Scott Morrison has struck a deal with Daniel Andrews, which will see financial support provided to Victorian workers during the state’s five-day lockdown.
- Victoria pulls trigger on snap lockdown
- Two infected after MCG game
- Victoria holds off locking down
- Sydney hospital staff in iso
Welcome to rolling coverage of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed Victoria will enter lockdown from midnight until 11.59pm Tuesday night.
NSW has recorded 65 new cases of locally acquired transmission, with 28 of those cases infectious whilst in the community. While Gladys Berejiklian said it was a “welcome drop” in the numbers, she cautioned cases will rise tomorrow.
Scott Morrison says the federal government would provide economic support to Victoria “as soon as that was needed” after a stoush erupted over coronavirus bailout “favouritism”.
Rhiannon Down11pm:Businesses across Sydney on exposure list
New exposure windows have been listed for D&M Excavations and Hanson Concrete Australia in Greenacre, southwest Sydney, as well as Lennox Village in Emu Plains, in the west of the city.
Other sites added to the list include: Alpha Medical Centre in Seven Hills, Penna’s Green Valley Pharmacy, The Discount Drug Store in Condell Park, Fairfield Heights Pharmacy, Galluzzo’s Chemist in Riverwood and Cincotta Chemist Engadine.
Lawrence Dry Cleaners at Glenrose Village in Belrose, VIP Auto Repair in Smithfield, Best Price Supermarket in Lakemba, Muffin Break, Hurstville Westfield Aldi, Lennox Village and Wetherill Park’s XS Coffee Shop have also been added as casual contact sites, among other venues.
The full list is available on the NSW Health website.
Rachel Baxendale10.30pm:PM and Andrews strike deal on support
Scott Morrison has struck a deal with Daniel Andrews, which will see financial support provided to Victorian workers during the state’s five-day lockdown.
The Prime Minister and federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg issued a statement late on Thursday, revealing they had agreed with the Victorian Premier and his Treasurer, Tim Pallas, on a longterm national cabinet deal, which will see workers receive federal support through the Covid-19 disaster payment, even where a lockdown has been imposed by a state or territory government for a period of less than seven days.
However, the workers must be located in an area that has been declared a hotspot by the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer.
“The entitlement to income support will be for those who have lost between eight and less than 20 hours for a payment of $375 and for 20 or more hours for a payment of $600, during the period of the lockdown,” Mr Morrison and Mr Frydenberg said in a joint statement.
“There will be no liquid assets test applied to eligibility for these payments.”
State and territory governments must also agree to provide significant economic support, for the same lockdown period, “to ensure burden sharing between the commonwealth and the state or territory government”.
The deal with Mr Andrews will see workers in Greater Melbourne, as well as the local government areas of Moorabool, Greater Geelong, Queenscliff and Surf Coast qualify for federal support for the five days of Victoria’s lockdown from 11:59pm on Thursday.
Payments will be made in arrears on application to Services Australia seven days after the commencement of the lockdown — in other words from Friday, July 23.
Mr Morrison and Mr Frydenberg said the Victorian government had additionally agreed to provide significant additional economic support to businesses from Day One of the lockdown.
“That satisfies the commonwealth’s burden sharing requirements for this arrangement,” the PM and Treasurer said.
“Should the Victorian lockdown be extended, the additional features of the upgraded and revised economic support arrangements proposed by the commonwealth will be activated by agreement.
“The income and business support being announced today comes on top of the $45.4bn of Commonwealth support that has already been delivered to Victoria.”
Thursday night’s agreement follows a war of words between Victoria and Canberra this week, which saw a state government spokesperson accuse the commonwealth of forcing the state to “beg for every scrap of support” during last month’s Victorian lockdown, and Mr Frydenberg hit back, accusing Mr Andrews of “whingeing” and politicising the NSW lockdown.
While the nature of federal support to NSW for the first fortnight of that state’s lockdown was almost identical to that given to Victoria for the second week of its June lockdown, a $10,000 liquid assets test saw $26.6m paid out to 57,810 Victorian workers, compared with $75m paid to 159,280 workers during the second week of the NSW lockdown.
The federal government had made much of $28bn, or $4220 per capita, provided to Victoria in JobKeeper support last year, compared with $30bn, or $3684 per capita paid to NSW over the same period.
But Victorians spent 163 days of 2020 in lockdown, compared with 45 days of lockdown in NSW, meaning Victorians received $25.89 per person per day of lockdown in JobKeeper payments in 2020, compared with $81.87 per person per day of lockdown in NSW.
Rhiannon Down 10.15pm: We will ‘live with’ Covid like flu
Australia will be able to “live with” Covid-19 like influenza if rapid testing and vaccinations are put to use, Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws says.
Professor McLaws said regular “booster shots” will be required, to protect the population, especially against the highly contagious Delta variant.
“If you don’t have the vaccine, you are really at risk of dying if you’re older,” she told the ABC’s Q&A program.
“If you’re 60, you’re twice as likely to be hospitalised in the UK.
Professor McLaws said she was sceptical about the proposition of letting Covid go too soon, adding that as much as 70 per cent of the population needed to be vaccinated first.
“I don’t like the term ‘live with it’,” she said.
“It is a term that I think authorities use so that they can throw their arms up in the air and go, ‘It was too hard’.
“I prefer to use the term trying to mitigate or reduce risk.
“We can’t keep using lockdowns, but we should be using science. There are rapid tests that we can use at the border. They could have a test at the border.
“Now, our authorities say they’re not perfect. Well, gee whiz, neither is signing a form that says you haven’t been in a hotspot. That’s really not perfect.
“So we need to start understanding that the more we vaccinate people, at least to 60 per cent, 70 per cent, that’s the minimum of the total population or heading towards there, then we can start doing this sort of thing instead of going into lockdown.”
Rhiannon Down 9.55pm:MCG bar on exposure list
A bar at the MCG has been added to the list of exposure sites on the night of the Carlton v Geelong game, in addition to the members’ reserve section.
The Percy Beames Bar on Level 2 of the members’ reserve has now been identified as a Tier 1 exposure site on Saturday, July 10, between 4pm and 4.30pm and between 5.20pm and 5.50pm.
“If you were at this bar during any of those times, you must immediately isolate, get a test, and quarantine for 14 days following the exposure. Contact us at 1300 651 160,” the Victorian Department of Health said.
“All sections of the Members Reserve between the hours of 4:00pm and 8:00pm on Saturday 10 July – not just Level 2 – is now a Tier 2 exposure site.”
Were you at the MCG on Saturday afternoon for the Carlton v Geelong game?
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 15, 2021
Due to transmission that has occurred within the Members’ Reserve, our public health teams are updating the public health advice for this exposure site. pic.twitter.com/mMSWnOQPiH
Olivia Caisley 9.20pm:New plan for Covid-19 disaster relief package
Scott Morrison will take a new plan to national cabinet that streamlines Covid-19 disaster relief payments after a week of bickering between the states over the equity of commonwealth assistance.
Under the proposal, payments will be triggered when a lockdown goes into a second week but will be backdated to the day restrictions began.
The $10,000 liquid asset test will also be scrapped and payment rates lifted, with people who have lost more or less than 20 hours a week of work receiving $600 and $375 respectively.
The payments were initially set at $500 a week for people who had lost more than 20 hours of work a week and $325 a week for those who had lost less.
“We don’t want to see these lockdowns. We prefer they not happen,” the Prime Minister said on Thursday. “It’s important we understand if these things become necessary, then Australians and Australian businesses have the confidence about what the arrangements will be.”
The Prime Minister said he would ask the state and territory leaders to agree to the proposal at Friday’s meeting.
Rhiannon Down 8.40pm: Health worker tests positive
A health worker — believed to be an anaesthetist — who worked shifts at Liverpool and Campbelltown Hospitals has tested positive for Covid-19.
It comes after a patient — believed to be a pregnant woman undergoing a caesarian section, according to media reports — tested positive at Liverpool hospital on Wednesday, with more than 60 close contacts forced into isolation.
Contact tracing for both cases is still underway, with the pause on non-emergency surgery to continue, according to NSW Health.
“Emergency surgery is continuing. However, non-urgent surgery has been postponed at both hospitals,” a spokesperson said.
“Theatres in both hospitals have been deep cleaned.”
The spokesperson said the hospital had moved to limit the number of surgeries to “ensure our hospitals have the capacity and resources to manage any surges in COVID-19 cases”.
READ MORE:New plan for Covid-19 disaster relief package
Rhiannon Down 8.15pm: Melbourne exposure list spikes
Supermarkets and retail outlets across Melbourne have been added to the list of exposure sites, as Victoria edges closer to the start of a five-day lockdown beginning at midnight.
Form Home at DFO Uni Hill in Bundoora on July 9 between 5pm and 5.45pm have been declared exposure sites, along with 11 other stores at this complex.
Woolworths in Carnegie North and Spotlight at Carnegie Central Shopping Centre are also on the expanded list.
Victoria’s Department of Health now has 101 exposure sites listed, as case numbers grew to 18 in total.
READ MORE: The great Dan v Gladys face-off
📠Bundoora: Form Home at DFO Uni Hill, 2 Janefield Dr on 9 July between 5pm - 5:45pm. 11 other stores at this complex around these times are also Tier 1 exposure sites. If you visited this DFO, view all the listings online now.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 15, 2021
Rhiannon Down 7.55pm: Emmanuel College student tests positive
A student at the Emmanuel College Notre Dame Campus in Melbourne’s west has tested positive to Covid-19.
The school was shut on Thursday as the Point Cook campus undergoes deep cleaning, according to an email to parents from principal Christopher Stock.
“Following advice from the DHHS and Catholic Education Melbourne (CEM), Note Dame’s Campus will be closed from Thursday 15th July while the Note Dame’s Campus receives a pandemic clean,” he said.
“This closure will allow time for the school and the DHHS to work through a contact and containment strategy.
“This includes identifying and notifying any person who has been in close recent contact with the affected student who has tested positive for COVID-19.”
Mr Stock urged parents to refrain from “gossip, hearsay and social media commentary” when it came to identifying the student at the centre of the outbreak.
A teacher at Trinity Grammar in the east Melbourne suburb of Kew has also tested positive, as the Melbourne cluster grows.
There have also been cases linked to Bacchus Marsh Grammar and Barwon Heads Primary School this week.
READ MORE:Indonesia cut off as infections spread
Rhiannon Down 7.30pm: WestConnex workers test positive
A dozen workers on the WestConnex Rozelle Project have tested positive for Covid-19 after health authorities failed to alert close contacts linked to cases at a western Sydney concreting business, according to the Transport Workers’ Union.
The TWU said two truck drivers linked to Hanson Concrete in Greenacre, southwest Sydney, tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this week, forcing 97 contacts into isolation.
The drivers had delivered concrete to major projects including the WestConnex, where 12 cases have since emerged, prompting criticism that health authorities had been too slow to act.
NSW Branch Secretary Richard Olsen said the workers should have been told sooner after the drivers tested positive, with a close contact notice only being issued on Wednesday night.
“The TWU has learned about these cases this week, from delegates who heard of them through rumours, word of mouth in the yard,” he said.
“A vital, critical industry providing income for hundreds of families and supporting major Sydney infrastructure has been brought to its knees because of Hanson management’s inability to provide a COVID safe workplace.
“We are also concerned about delays in NSW Health management of the notification system and believe the close contact notice should have been put out before last night.”
READ MORE:Torture of lockdown with no end in sight
Angelica Snowden 7.20pm:Anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne
An anti-lockdown rally is taking place outside Melbourne’s Flinders Street station, as Victoria prepares to enter a fifth lockdown in 18 months.
About 200 protesters gathered under the clocks at the typically busy train station on Thursday at 7pm.
Some held Australian flags, while other members of the group filmed nearby police and onlookers. They played the song Prisoner of Society by The Living End.
Police were stationed at every close by corner on the intersections of Flinders Street and Swanston Street.
Protestors argued for no more lockdowns and on their Facebook page said Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews should be sacked.
Police surrounded the group as speakers proclaimed that if “the first lockdown didn’t work” the latest public health response to a growing Covid-19 outbreak also would fail.
One protester held a sign saying “no common sense”. Another’s said “bad move Dan”.
They cheered when a speaker welcomed “freedom day” on November 2, the date when there will be enough coronavirus vaccines to cover 80 per cent of the population according to the Herald Sun.
READ MORE: Three paramedics infected in southwest Sydney
Rhiannon Down6.57pm:NZ pauses travel bubble with Victoria
New Zealand has paused quarantine-free travel with Victoria for at least four days, after the state was plunged into a snap five-day lockdown.
The decision means that any travelers who have been in Victoria from midnight tonight are barred from entering New Zealand from any state in Australia.
“As with previous pauses, we acknowledge the frustration and inconvenience that comes with any interruption to trans-Tasman travel, but given the ongoing level of uncertainty around transmission in Melbourne, this is the right action to take,” NZ Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said.
“It is also in keeping with our consistently cautious approach to prevent COVID-19 entering the New Zealand community.”
Mr Hipkins said the decision would be reviewed on Monday.
READ MORE:Evolution of ‘warm vaccine’ hotting up
Rhiannon Down6.46pm:Cleaner sparks Sydney aged care shutdown
A western Sydney aged care facility is on high alert after a contract cleaner who worked shifts at the facility while infectious tested positive for Covid-19.
Residents at Minchinbury Manor aged care facility in Rooty Hill have been forced into isolation and testing is underway, and the facility has undergone deep cleaning.
“As a precautionary measure, the facility has taken the necessary steps today to lockdown the facility until further notice,” a spokesman said.
“We are in close communications with the Department of Health, which are deploying specialist teams to work with our staff to deal with the issue.
“We have isolated all residents and staff throughout the facility and our outbreak management plan has been implemented.
“Daily testing will be undertaken of both residents and staff, while the cleaner and five close contacts of hers in the facility have been immediately isolated.”
About 90 per cent of the 134 residents as well as staff at the facility have been vaccinated, while workers who have not have been directed to get the jab as a matter of urgency.
READ MORE:SA clamps down with new restrictions
Eli Greenblat6.26pm:Coles matches Woolworths’ toilet paper limit
Coles has also introduced buying limits on toilet paper to match the rules put in place by Woolworths as Victoria enters a five day lockdown.
The supermarket giant said late on Thursday that to ensure customers have access to toilet paper, Coles has introduced a temporary two pack per person limit in Victoria.
“We have plenty of stock in our supply chain, and purchase limits are a temporary measure to help us manage demand so that we can return our stores to a fully-stocked position as quickly as possible,” a spokeswoman said.
“The health and safety of customers and team members remains Coles’ top priority, and we have increased the frequency of cleaning in high touchpoint areas including self-checkout screens and keypads, in addition to our existing safety and hygiene measures in stores to help keep customers and team members safe.”
Coles said it will continue monitoring customer numbers and encourage them to use the sanitising stations at the entrance to their stores, which include hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes for trolleys, before they enter.
“We also ask that customers check-in each time they visit our stores by scanning the QR codes on display at the front of the store, above the sanitiser stations within the store, or at the checkouts.
“We ask our customers to ensure they are wearing a face mask before entering our stores, unless they have an exemption – and the same rules apply to our team.”
READ MORE:Toilet paper limit reintroduced
Rhiannon Down6.12pm:Regional NSW petrol station among new venues
A petrol station in regional NSW and a western Sydney Service NSW centre are among the latest locations to be added to the state’s list of exposure sites.
Patrons of the Shell petrol station in Hay on the Sturt Highway have been put on high alert after a close contact warning was issued for the site, prompting fears the virus may have spread to the regions.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES AND TRANSPORT ROUTESâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 15, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern and public transport routes associated with confirmed cases of COVID‑19. pic.twitter.com/lHcgECr7hG
Anyone who visited the Liverpool Service NSW hub on Monday July 12 between 10.10am and 10.25am have also been urged to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Fairfield’s Star Sweet Patisserie, Chemist Warehouse and McDonalds in Punchbowl, Bunnings Alexandria, Coles Edensor Park, Blooms the Chemist and Aldi in Miller have also been added.
The ballooning list of venues continues with Merrylands Priceline Pharmacy, Fairfield Chemist Warehouse, Liverpool Krispy Kreme, Woolworths at Auburn Central, Sushi Hub at the Fairfield Neeta City Shopping Centre among others.
Several windows for the T2 line from Auburn Station to Westmead Station as well as a time for the T5 Line from Westmead Station to Auburn Station has also been added to the list.
The full details of the latest exposure venues can be found on the NSW Health website.
READ MORE:Covid crisis: how to get a loan deferral
Matthew Denholm5.45pm:Tasmania shuts border to Victoria
Tasmania will effectively shut its border to arrivals from all of Victoria from midnight on Thursday, following the state’s latest lockdown.
Deputy director of public health, Scott McKeown, defended the decision to close borders to all seeking to come from Victoria, but not to travellers from all of NSW. Dr McKeown said the outbreak of coronavirus in NSW was largely confined to metropolitan areas, subject of high risk declarations, whereas Victoria was seeing cases outside of Melbourne.
READ MORE:Number of Aussies who won’t get jabbed
Eli Greenblat5.35pm:Woolworths reintroduces limits on toilet paper
Woolworths has Thursday afternoon reinstated a purchase limit of two toilet paper packs per customer both in-store and online across Victoria as the state enters a five-day lockdown following a flare up of the delta strain of Covid-19 that has also plunged Sydney into a prolonged shut down.
To help uphold safety in its stores, Woolworths said it will also redeploy ‘health ambassadors’ at the front of stores to support with additional cleaning and wiping down of trolleys.
In line with Victorian government directives, all customers and team members are expected to wear face masks and check in with the government QR code in Woolworths stores.
The initial outbreak of Covid-19 last year triggered panic shopping that saw consumers strip shelves and forced Woolworths, Coles and other retailers to place limits on items such as toilet paper, meat, rice, longlife milk and other staple groceries.
Woolworths general manager for Victoria, Andrew Hall said as a precautionary measure, it had reinstated product limits on toilet paper.
“We have plenty of stock in our supply chain and our team members will be hard at work making sure it continues to flow into our stores in large volumes for our customers.
“As always, we encourage our customers to be mindful of others in the community and buy only what they need.
“We also ask customers to follow all social distancing and COVIDsafe measures in our stores and to treat our team members with respect as we work through this unsettling time together.”
READ MORE:Win for Aussies needing lockdown cash
Remy Varga5.25pm:Andrews pushes for access to disaster payment
Mr Andrews said he’d asked the federal government for Victorians to be able to access five sevenths of the commonwealth’s Covid-19 disaster payment, which is for seven-day lockdowns.
The Victorian Premier said he was not willing to lock the state down for an additional two-days to qualify for the support package and said the state would support regional communities that didn’t not meet the hotspot definition.
“I would be staggered if the Prime Minister and the federal Treasurer wanted to look Victorians in the eye and say ‘You were locked down for five days, you weren’t locked down for seven and therefore you are not getting anything’,” he said.
“I really don’t think they would want to get into that sort of argument.”
READ MORE:Sydney teens busted 280km from outbreak
Remy Varga5.15pm:New teacher tests positive at Melbourne’s Trinity Grammar
A teacher at Trinity Grammar in the east Melbourne suburb of Kew has tested positive for COVID-19 and students will learn from home as the school is closed for deep cleaning.
Trinity Grammar said it had yet to be contacted by the Department of Health but said the teacher had tested positive on Thursday after attending school on Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday. Monday was a “staff day”.
“There is significant shame for students and staff,” Principal Adrian Farrer said.
“None of us would want this outcome and the implications attached.”
Of the two new positive cases, found earlier today, one attended the Geelong v Carlton match at the MCG last Saturday and one is a close contact of a resident of the Ariele apartment complex in Maribyrnong in west Melbourne.
Statement from the Premier on changes to restrictions. pic.twitter.com/MS2rKZSDwI
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) July 15, 2021
Remy Varga5.10pm:More business support flagged for Victorians
Mr Andrews flagged further business support would be announced on Friday and said he’d been in text message contact with Prime Minister Scott Morrisson.
He said the Victorian government would look to fast track support payments.
“All week, there has been a bit of banter and back and forth between our government and the Commonwealth,” he said.
“I want to be clear of all Victorians. All we’ve sought to do and what I think we have done is remind the Commonwealth government that at every point, they have said that packages of support and measures and policies and plans are based on need.”
“Well, there is need in Victoria from 11.59pm tonight.”
Remy Varga5.02pm:Victoria regions may get out of hard lockdown early
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said parts of regional Victoria would be released from the lockdown before 11.59pm Tuesday as test results cleared areas of COVID-19.
Mr Andrews said wastewater detection and transmission at a game at the MCG between Geelong and Carlton meant the virus could be spreading through the regions.
“If they [tests] come back as we hope, negative... we may be able to release part of regional Victoria,” he said.
“We want to keep this as simple as possible but we always want to be proportionate.”
Remy Varga5.00pm:Victoria pulls trigger on snap five-day lockdown
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed Victoria will enter lockdown from midnight until 11.59pm Tuesday night.
He said two new cases had been detected since this morning’s update, bringing the total to 18 and 75 exposure statements.
The lockdown will be the same as the fourth lockdown and there will only be four reasons to leave one’s home and there will be a 5km limit.
“It is essentially a repeat of the successful strategy from a couple of weeks ago,” Mr Andrews said.
Rhiannon Down4.40pm:NSW paramedics test positive for virus
As many as three paramedics linked to Liverpool ambulance station in Sydney’s west have tested positive for Covid-19, the NSW ambulance union has confirmed.
It’s believed two of the paramedics tested positive today sparking a major infection scare at the Liverpool station, according to an email to ambulance staff circulated in social media.
“Following on from yesterday we have had two more paramedics test positive today,” the email said.
“One was already isolating following a patient exposure and the other has been in contact with Employee Connect and the Ambulance Public Health Unit (APHU).
“Contact tracing is underway to determine who needs to be tested and who needs to isolate.
“At this stage the only station impacted is Liverpool and it is currently closed for a deep clean.”
The email said the station will reopen for the night shift.
It is not yet clear how many workers will be forced to isolate after being implicated as close contacts.
This comes after Liverpool Hospital was forced to postpone non-emergency surgery on Wednesday after a patient tested positive for Covid-19.
READ the full story
Rachel Baxendale4.30pm:Victorian Premier to speak at 4.45pm
Daniel Andrews is due to address the media at 4:45pm, alongside deputy chief health officer Dan O’Brien and Victorian Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar.
The Victorian Premier is expected to announce a five day lockdown from 11:59pm on Thursday night.
The press conference comes as authorities grow increasingly concerned about at least three transmissions of coronavirus at Saturday’s MCG clash between Geelong and Carlton, two of which appear to have taken place between strangers.
“We’re dealing with a very dynamic situation here, a very rapidly moving situation,” Mr Weimar warned earlier on Thursday afternoon.
“What we’ve got is two separate incursions into Victoria over the last three or four days, two chains of transmission, at least one of those chains is moving very actively and very aggressively across the state.”
Presser 4:45pm.
— Rachel Baxendale (@rachelbaxendale) July 15, 2021
Mr Weimar did reveal that a social link had been established between a man who broke home quarantine and transmitted the virus to a man in his 30s at Craigieburn Central Coles in Melbourne’s north, despite authorities previously believing the pair had been strangers.
“Currently, right now, we have 16 cases in total, that are associated with these two chains of transmission,” he said.
“We have over 75 exposure sites, some of them very large and complex locations. We have over 1500 primary close contacts who are isolating. We have over 5,000 secondary close contacts who are isolating as well.”
Mr Weimar said authorities were “obviously very concerned” that a man in his 60s who has transmitted the virus to at least three MCG patrons had also visited the Young & Jackson pub in central Melbourne and travelled on trams and trains during his Saturday outing.
“Obviously we have concerns about the fact that we know this one individual was, you know, significantly infectious,” he said.
“He was infections to his elderly parents, he was infectious to his friends. There may well be other infections in addition to these two cases that we’ve identified at the MCG.
“We’ll get more information about that over the coming hours. And of course, you’ve got other exposure sites that he’s been in, two tram trips at least, a train trip, Young and Jackson, and a number of other places.”
Remy Varga4.15pm:Victoria announces new exposure sites
A pub, a public bathroom and two supermarkets are among new exposure sites released by Victoria’s Health Department.
A positive case on July 13 attended the Sanctuary Lakes Hotel in the suburb of Point Cook in Melbourne’s southwest between 12pm and 9pm.
The Coles in the Sanctuary Lakes Shopping Centre has also been classified as a tier 1 exposure site after a case visited between 12.30pm and 1.30pm on July 14.
The Woolworths in the Craigieburn Plaza Shopping Centre was attended by a positive case between 1:15pm - 2:15pm on July 12.
Edgewater Boulevard Pharmacy, which is near the Ariele Apartment complex in Maribyrnong, was attended by a positive case between 2:30pm and 3:40pm on July 9.
Across the city in Melbourne’s southeast, a positive case nearly one week ago attended the Oakleigh Central Shopping Centre on July 9 between 3:55pm - 4:15pm.
The shopping centre has been declared tier three but the male bathrooms have been classified tier one.
Anyone who visited the male bathrooms in the Oakleigh Central Shopping Centre between 2:40pm and 3pm and 3:55pm - 4:15pm on July 9 must undergo testing immediately before self isolating for 14-days.
Another case caught a train from Footscray in Melbourne’s inner west to Flinders St in Melbourne’s CBD on July 10. The journey lasted from 7:33pm to 7:46pm.
READ MORE: Airport worker infectious for three days
Rhiannon Down3.35pm:New clotting cases linked to AstraZeneca
The nation has recorded as many as seven new cases of a rare blood clotting disorder linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, federal health authorities say.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said a 67-year-old NSW man, two women, aged 67 and 70, from Victoria, and a 71-year-old man from WA had been included as confirmed cases.
While a 48-year-old woman from Victoria, 61-year-old woman from WA and 66-year-old woman from the ACT had been deemed as probable cases.
“Seven additional cases of blood clots with low blood platelets have been assessed as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) likely to be linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine,” the TGA said.
“When assessed using the United Kingdom (UK) case definition, four were confirmed and three were deemed probable TTS.
“This brings the total number of cases of TTS to 83 from 5.4 million doses administered to date.”
The TGA also confirmed that a 72-year-old woman from SA had died from TTS following her first AstraZeneca dose, which was reported by SA Health earlier this week.
It comes just days after the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation updated its advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine while the virus is loose in the community, though Pfizer still remained the preferred jab for under 60s.
“Now we are in an outbreak situation and the risk of catching COVID-19 is higher, ATAGI urges younger Australians who may not be able to get vaccinated immediately with (Pfizer) to re-assess whether to get the AstraZeneca vaccine,” the TGA said.
READ MORE:How to get a loan deferral
Adeshola Ore3.30pm:Morrison set to call Pfizer boss
The Prime Minister has confirmed his first call with Pfizer’s chief executive has been lined up following revelations former prime minister Kevin Rudd spoke directly to the head of the pharmaceutical company.
Health Minister Greg Hunt previously denied that Mr Rudd’s intervention played any role in the fast-tracking of Pfizer doses that the government announced last week.
Pfizer also released a statement saying Mr Rudd had no role in the contractual arrangements of the deal.
But a spokesperson for Mr Rudd said his claims were consistent with those made by Pfizer, as he had made it clear the federal government had the negotiating power.
Labor seized on the news of Mr Rudd’s intervention, claiming the Prime Minister had failed to lobby the company to secure vaccine doses as quickly as possible.
READ MORE:Kevin-sent — the hero you don’t need
Adeshola Ore3.25pm:PM: Australia ‘two months behind’ on jabs
Scott Morrison says the government is “two months behind” where it hoped to be on the nation’s vaccine rollout due to the changing medical advice about the AstraZeneca jab.
“We’ve been catching up ground on that and that’s welcome,” he said.
Rhiannon Down3.20pm:National vaccination tops 9.6 million jabs
The nation’s vaccine rollout has surpassed 9.6 million doses after 162,662 jabs were administered in the past 24 hours, as the two biggest cities in the country face days in lockdown.
This daily infographic provides the total number of vaccine doses administered in Australia as of 14 July 2021. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccine information here: https://t.co/vqZuOLzB2Ppic.twitter.com/ygRM2pliAJ
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) July 15, 2021
Some 5,451,180 jabs have been administered by the federal system, including 4,979,911 through primary care, and 4,180,627 through the states and territories.
NSW, which recorded 65 new cases today, is closing in on Victoria after it administered 18,165 jabs in 24 hours bringing its total to 1,112,596.
Victoria, which is also tipped to enter lockdown today, sits in front on 1,328,544 jabs, with Queensland in third position with 740,272 doses.
Some 28086 jabs were administered in 24 hours, bringing the sector’s total to 471,269.
Emily Cosenza3.15pm:SA announces range of new restrictions
Anticipated Covid-19 restrictions will come into effect in South Australia after an infected removalist entered the state from NSW via Victoria last Friday.
Premier Steven Marshall said authorities were taking “pre-emptive action” and announced the changes would come into effect at midnight on Thursday.
Masks will be required at personal care services, like hairdressers, and high risk settings, including aged care and correctional facilities.
A cap of 150 people at private gatherings will come into effect.
Dancing and singing has again been banned.
There will also a 50 per cent density requirement for licensed premises.
A temporary ban will has also been placed on shisha.
“I thank most South Australians for the way that have conducted themselves … and done the right thing to keep the state safe and economy strong,” Mr Marshall said.
“But the deteriorating situation around the country is a major wakeup call for SA.
“We don‘t want lockdowns here in SA so we’re asking South Australian to co-operate.”
South Australians were warned by Police Commissioner Grant Stevens that restrictions could be implemented after he addressed the media on Wednesday night.
Following his meeting with SA Health he said authorities were “very concerned” by the current situation and were meeting on Thursday morning to discuss if “further steps” needed to be taken.
Three sites at Tailem Bend have so far been identified as confirmed as exposure sites, where the removalists stopped along their route to McLaren Vale to help permanently relocate a family from NSW.
Two of those locations are the Shell service station and the attached Coolabah Tree cafe.
— NCA NewsWire
READ MORE:WD-40 cleans up during Covid
Adeshola Ore3.05pm:Morrison hits back over home-grown vaccines
Scott Morrison has hit back at suggestions Australia could fast-track the production of MrNA vaccines.
Labor has urged the government to ramp up local production of MrNA which is used to make vaccines like Pfizer.
The Prime Minister said there was no country in the world that had an “end to end” manufacturing capability for MrNA vaccines.
“Anyone suggesting that in Australia you could have had an end to end sovereign manufacturing capability for an mRNA vaccine, rolling vaccines off the line right now, doesn’t know what they’re talking about,” he said.
Adeshola Ore 2.47pm: Vax status of incoming travellers now on record
Scott Morrison has confirmed Australia was now collecting the vaccination status of incoming travellers, as previously flagged.
“That will help with the triaging of quarantine arrangements and that data will start to flow once it reaches a critical mass,” he said.
More streamlined financial support for lockdowns
National cabinet, which meets tomorrow, will discuss a “more simple and streamlined” set of financial support for states and territories in lockdown.
Mr Morrison said proposals included waiving the $10,000 liquid asset test, widening of business support for NSW to implement it nation-wide and income payments at the December quarter JobKeeper level – the same level announced for NSW this week.
Mr Morrison also flagged that income support payments could be available from the start of a lockdown, but paid in arrears from the second week of stay-at-home orders.
Mr Morrison rebuffed suggestions that the commonwealth’s original income support payments were not enough, stressing the virus was evolving.
“When we put the budget together this year and we looked out over the next 12 months, and Treasury looked at that, we anticipated a series of very short-term lockdowns, and there hadn’t been anticipated this extent of lockdown,” he said
“It just shows a government that’s seeking to be up to the mark and flexible and make sure we get things right.”
READ MORE: Superyacht border hopper’s $10m payday
Adeshola Ore2.35pm: PM brings back longer Medicare phone consultations
Scott Morrison says Sydeysiders in lockdown will have access to longer Medicare phone consults.
The Prime Minister said the temporary measure would take effect immediately.
“That’s a measure we had in place previously and the health minister Greg Hunt recommended we bring that forward again,” he said.
A new Medicare item will be created for telehealth appointments over 20 minutes for those in Covid-19 hotspots, including the entire Greater Sydney area.
Mr Morrison also announced a widening of NSW regions where residents are eligible for the new income assistance payment.
He said people in Bayside, the City of Sydney, Canada Bay, Inner West, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra would now be eligible for the higher payments of $600 and $375.
Mr Morrison said “just under 60 per cent” of over 50s have had their first coronavirus dose and almost 75 per cent of Australians aged over 70 have received their first shot.
READ MORE:‘No medical evidence’ we need booster shots’
Rachel Baxendale1.42pm: Victoria set to announce snap lockdown
The Andrews government is preparing to announce a snap lockdown on Thursday afternoon, with the exact details still being finalised at ongoing high level meetings.
The Australian understands the proposal that will be put to the Andrews government’s 3pm crisis council of cabinet meeting is for a five-day lockdown from 11.59pm on Thursday.
Politicians were conspicuously absent from a 12.15pm Health Department briefing given by Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar, at which Mr Weimar warned the situation was “dynamic”, and developing rapidly.
Authorities are particularly concerned after two new cases were identified on Thursday, in addition to 10 new cases in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, both of which indication transmission of the virus between strangers at the MCG on Saturday.
Senior Andrews government ministers are due to meet and make a final decision at 3pm.
The lockdown, which will be the state’s fifth, is expected to be imposed from 11.59pm on Thursday.
As has been the case with previous recent lockdowns, Victorians will only be allowed to leave their homes for essential work which cannot be done from home, shopping for essential items, exercise and seeking medical attention, including getting vaccinated.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been made aware of Victoria’s plan, and is due to hold a press conference at 2.15pm.
No time has yet been set for a Victorian government press conference.
READ MORE:China’s sewage ‘destroying’ coral reefs
Adeshola Ore 1.39pm: Support for Vic available as state holds crisis talks
Josh Frydenberg says Scott Morrison will have more to say “later today” about economic support for Victoria as the state government prepares to announce its fifth lockdown since the pandemic began.
The Andrews government is finalising details of the snap lockdown and is expected to announce the stay-at-home orders this afternoon.
The Treasurer said the issue of economic support for the state had been discussed at today’s cabinet’s national security committee meeting and with the expenditure review committee.
“We will be making support available to Victoria and the Prime Minister will have more to say about those details later today,” Mr Frydenberg.
“We are obviously very conscious of the need as we have been right from day one of this crisis, to provide the economic support that is required to Australian businesses and Australian households that are in need.”
Victorian health authorities are particularly concerned after two new cases were identified on Thursday, in addition to 10 new cases in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, both of which indicate transmission of the virus between strangers at the MCG on Saturday.
Adeshola Ore12.55pm: Jobs figure shows economic resilience: Frydenberg
Josh Frydenberg says today’s employment figures show Australia’s economy has displayed “remarkable resilience”, despite Victoria’s most recent lockdown.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed unemployment dropped to 4.9 per cent in June and its lowest level in over a decade as businesses nationally shrugged off renewed Covid-19 outbreaks in a number of states and Melbourne’s two-week lockdown to add 29,000 jobs.
“The youth unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level in 12 years. And there are now 160,000 more people in work today than before the pandemic began,” the Treasurer said.
“Our economic plan is working. There are more people in work today than before the pandemic began, and our economy is bigger today than before the pandemic began.”
Mr Frydenberg said NSW’s lockdown and the outbreak in Victoria highlighted Australia was “by no means out of this pandemic.”
“There is still a long way to go to secure our economic recovery. But Australia’s economy is resilient, it is strong, and today’s job numbers underline that very fact.”
READ MORE: Unemployment hits decade low of 4.9pc
Remy Varga12.53pm: Two MCG cases sat in different parts of stand
COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar says two additional cases are linked to the MCG, despite sitting in different parts of the members reserve.
He said there were 2,000 people sitting on level 2 of the MCC and contact tracers had identified 23 close contacts.
But Mr Weimar said the two positive cases were not known to the other two positive cases, the Ariele complex resident and the Barwon Heads resident
“We do not believe they are known contacts of the other two positive cases we know were there,” he said.
“Interviews are ongoing with those individuals as we speak.
Mr Weimar said health authorities were “obviously concerned”.
“We understand the relationship between the man at the apartment and the man from Barwon Heads,” he said.
“They’re friends, their transmission is well understood.
“We have concerns about the fact that we know this one individual was, you know, significantly infectious.
“He is infectious to his elderly parents, his friends. There may well be others.”
They’ve done the damage, we’re picking up the pieces
Mr Weimar said he was disappointed by the “rogue operator” who employed three Sydney truck drivers for not complying with rules on freight in SA, Victoria and NSW.
He said “his beef” was not with the truckers themselves but the company, who he has not named, for not following public health rules.
“Frankly I’m not interested in dealing with them anymore,” he said.
“They’ve done the damage, we’re picking up the pieces.”
READ MORE: Fully vaccinated airport worker ill after positive test
Robyn Ironside12.46pm:Domestic airfares plunge to historic lows
Domestic airfares in Australia have plunged to new lows as airlines compete fiercely for passengers in the pandemic.
The July Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics’ domestic airfare index showed business class fares were at historic lows, at less than half the price of the long-term average.
Best discount fares were at their cheapest since the Qantas-Virgin Australia capacity war of 2014, and restricted economy was at an eight-year low, at 70 per cent the long-term average.
As an example, in July the cheapest available return fare for Sydney-Melbourne flights was $60 compared to $125 in July 2019; fares for Sydney to the Sunshine Coast were on sale for $98 return instead of $195, and a seat from Melbourne to Launceston return was going for $80, down from $178.
The entry of Rex into key capital city routes was considered a factor in the plunging prices, along with Virgin Australia’s commitment to lower fares, after phasing out free snacks in economy.
FOLLOW live ASX updates at Trading Day
Remy Varga 12.31pm:Two new cases in Victoria connected to MCG
Victoria’s COVID-19 commander Jeroen Weimar says the state has detected two cases of COVID-19 in addition to the 10 recorded in the morning’s figures.
Mr Weimar said both cases are connected to the Geelong vs Carlton match at the MCG last Saturday.
There are now 16 cases linked to three Sydney removalists and a family in Melbourne’s north.
Mr Weimar said two of the new cases linked to the MCG are a man in his 50s and a nine-year-old child.
The man is a friend of the man in his 60s who lives at the Ariele apartment complex in the west Melbourne suburb of Maribyrnong.
Together the two men took a train to the city and went to the popular Young and Jackson’s before attending Level Two of the MCC Members’ to watch Geelong v Carlton.
After the game, the man in his 50s went home to Barwon Heads where he lives with a nine-year-old child and a man in his 60s who have now tested positive.
“There’s two other positive cases now in his household, a 9-year-old child and another man in his 60s,” Mr Weimar said.
The Barwon Heads household is linked to Bacchus Marsh Grammar and Barwon Heads Primary School.
Rachel Baxendale 12.18pm: MCG transmission has Vic authorities worried
The 12.15pm coronavirus update with logistics chief Jeroen Weimar may not be the last state government update for the day.
The Australian understands high level meetings are ongoing, with authorities growing increasingly concerned about transmission of the virus at the Geelong vs Carlton clash at the MCG on Saturday.
Discussions between health authorities and the Andrews government
continue over the extent to which restrictions need to tighten.
READ MORE:Boy tests positive after attending MCG match
Jess Malcolm 12.10pm:‘Too early’ for decision on face-to-face learning
Gladys Berejiklian has flagged there could be some changes to restrictions on face-to-face learning but that officials would need the next fortnight to make their decision.
The NSW Premier said her first priority was getting students back into the classroom and thanked government and non-government schools for their cooperation.
“We know that our first priority is to get kids back to face-to-face learning,” she said. “So that is why some of the decisions we have taken around that aim.”
“We will be able to say something about that beyond the July 30 date depending on how we go in the next fortnight.”
“There may be things we can say about the level of face-to-face learning. It is too early for that.”
Lydia Lynch 12.06pm: Queensland border to remain open to Victoria
Queensland will keep its border open with Victoria despite 10 new local cases detected there on Wednesday.
Tougher border restrictions were expected to be enforced if Melbourne goes into lockdown.
Annastacia Palaszczuk said authorities were updating border decisions with Victoria and NSW daily.
“If you are a Queenslander, do not go to Victoria at this time,” she said.
“If you are a Queenslander currently in Victoria, maybe reconsider your travel and think about coming home.
“I cannot be clearer. We are seeing these little spot fires happening across the nation and we need to make sure we get this under control.”
Queensland’s border with regional NSW remains open.
Rachel Baxendale 12.00pm:Victorian Covid update coming up at 12.15pm
Victorian Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar is due to provide an update on the state’s latest coronavirus cases at 12.15pm.
It is not clear whether Mr Weimar will be joined by a government representative at the press conference at the state’s Health Department.
The briefing follows 10 new community cases in the 24 hours to Thursday morning, with at least one new case since, including in a Grade Four child who attended the Geelong vs Carlton match at the MCG on Saturday.
Jess Malcolm11.52am:High number had symptoms for days before testing
The high numbers of NSW cases who were infectious whilst in the community today were because some people had symptoms for days before getting tested.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said has urged people to not delay getting tested, after there were 28 cases who spent time whilst infectious in the community..
“It is critical that we get ahead of the curve and find the cases as early as possible and minimise any time infectious in the community.”
“Our review of the cases that occurred in the last 24 hours indicated that another key message for the community is don’t delay.
“Some individuals had symptoms for a number of days, and what we need to do is make sure that does not happen.”
Dr Chant also said she was not comfortable with “holding the course” and said that the state needed “macro action” to decrease mobility.
“We need you to stay in your own house and only interact with those household members that usually reside there.”
Jess Malcolm11.44am:Business told: Contact Service NSW if unsure of work rules
Businesses are being asked to contact Service NSW if they need clarification about whether they should stay open or not during lockdown.
Since the NSW government has not explicitly defined which businesses were essential, Gladys Berejiklian said people can contact the government to help them decide.
“I am not pretending this is easy or there is perfection in the settings, there never will be no matter where you draw the line,” she said.
“If your business has closed or else your employer has given you less hours because of the pandemic, you can get help.”
Ms Berejiklian said a large number of businesses had decided to close in light of the lockdown.
She also urged people to apply for financial assistance if they have lost hours or need help.
“This is the whole reason why we fought for a strong economic package to allow people to make those important decisions that will stop many businesses from being open and some have chosen to close.”
Rachel Baxendale11.40am: Boy, 9, believed infected after MCG game
Parents from St Patricks Primary School in Murrumbeena, in Melbourne’s southeast, have been told to collect their children from school after a Grade Four student tested positive for coronavirus.
The Australian understands the nine-year-old boy attended the Geelong vs Carlton match at the MCG last Saturday.
At least two other people who were seated in Level Two of the MCC Members’ stand at the match have so far tested positive.
The two include a man in his 60s who lives in the Ariele apartments in Maribyrnong, and a Bacchus Marsh Grammar teacher.
Other members of the child’s family have tested negative for the virus.
It is understood the child also attended football training at a local club in the southeastern suburbs, with associated exposure sites expected to be listed later on Thursday.
St Patrick’s parents were sent a text message on Thursday morning from the school.
“We have just been notified by the Department of Health that one of our students has tested positive to the Delta strain of Covid-19,” the message read.
“We have been instructed to close the school immediately.
“All Year Four students are to go directly to the drive through testing station at 133 Wellington Road, Clayton, before heading home and isolating until further notice. Other students are encouraged to be tested but it is not a requirement at this stage.
“We will keep you informed with time frames and any further information as it comes to hand. School will undergo a deep clean.
“All students are to be collected as soon as possible. We ask parents/carers to come to office to collect your children and we will call your children down.
“Could all parents please wear face masks and maintain social distancing. We understand this can be a stressful situation and we urge all parents to collect their children in an orderly and timely manner.”
DAVID ROGERS 11.36am:Employment data beat estimates
Australia’s labour force data have smashed market estimates again.
The unemployment rate dived to 4.9% in June from 5.1% in May.
That’s the lowest jobless rate since in the past decade.
Employment rose 29,100 vs 20,000 expected.
Full-time jobs surged 51,600 which is encouraging.
Part-time jobs fell by 22,500.
The participation rate was 66.2% as expected.
READ the full story here
Jess Malcolm11.34pm:Premier defiant over calls to shut non-essential retail
Gladys Berejikilian has again rebuffed calls to shut down non-essential retail or define essential work.
When asked whether the current settings were enough, the NSW Premier said the lockdown has helped the state avoid an explosion of cases.
“We know that had we let this virus rip, the case numbers and those infectious in the community would have increased exponentially, doubling, tripling day after day,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are not seeing that trend. What we are seeing at the moment is the start of a stabilisation process.”
Ms Berejiklian also said officials have seen more transmission in healthcare settings such as pharmacists and GP clinics rather than in shops.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has confirmed a worker at Chris O’Brien Life House has tested positive for Covid-19.
The case was detected through surveillance testing and rapid testing of all close contacts is underway.
NSW Health has upgraded the PPE requirements for a number of health settings.
“Obviously we are working through that issue,” Dr Chant said. “We will update the community as soon as possible.”
Rachel Baxendale 11.25am:Gyms added to Melbourne exposure sites
A gym in Werribee in Melbourne’s outer southwest has been listed as exposure site for three days this week, bringing the total number of Victorian exposure sites to 75.
It is not yet clear whether the new sites are indicative of new cases, in addition to 10 new cases in Thursday’s numbers, all of which were publicly known on Wednesday.
Anyone who visited Persist Fitness at 85 Riverside Avenue in Werribee between 9:30am and 11am on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday must isolate for 14 days.
More information on exposure sites is available on the Victorian Health Department website.
From 11.59pm last night face masks are:
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 15, 2021
✓ mandatory indoors (not at home) for anyone aged 12 and above, unless an exception applies – this includes all workplaces, and secondary schools [1/4] pic.twitter.com/ryadoCnXxr
A second gym in Melbourne’s outer southwest has also been added to the list of exposure sites, bringing the total number of Victorian sites to 76.
Anyone who attended the QuickFit Health Club at 110/22-30 between 9:00pm and 10:30pm on Tuesday July 13 must isolate for 14 days.
Jess Malcolm 11.21am: Where community transmission is persisting
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has outlined several areas of increased concern for officials as the outbreak grew by 65 cases today.
Fairfield Heights, Smithfield, Saint John, Canley Heights, Fairfield West, Bankstown, Condor Park, Hurstville, Roselands, Rosebury, Canterbury, Belmore Shire, St Georges River, the Liverpool local government area have all been placed on high alert.
Health authorities are also concerned about an unlinked case that has been detected in Emu Plains. Several new exposure sites have been added including the Village shopping centre.
Nine cases have been detected at a Greenacre construction site sending dozens of workers into isolation.
There are currently 73 people being treated for Covid-19 in hospital with 19 of those in intensive care and five of whom are ventilated.
“Of the 19 people in the intensive care unit, one is in their 20s, one is in their 30s, two are in their 40s, five are in their 50s, six are in their 60s, three is in their 70s and one is in their 80s,” Dr Chant said.
“My key message is that we have to work together to decrease our exposure to others. So stay at home.”
READ MORE: EU, China unveil greenhouse gas cut plans
Lydia Lynch11.13am: Qld boy likely infected during Sydney quarantine
A Covid-positive boy was likely infected during a quarantine stint in Sydney before travelling to Queensland.
The child and his father were two of Queensland’s three local cases.
The 12-year-old and his mother returned from the United States on June 21 and began a two week quarantine stay in Sydney.
The boy became sick on July 9, the day the family travelled to Brisbane.
He was not swabbed until July 13, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said.
“So he became unwell that evening after they arrived back and went and saw a doctor at the Aspley medical centre on July 13, visited the adjoining pharmacy in that centre and then got tested on [the same day]. That result came back late yesterday.”
The child’s mother has not tested positive yet but is isolating with her child in hospital.
The father, who did not travel with the others, has also tested positive.
He went to work at a financial services firm on the Sunshine Coast on Wednesday while contagious.
Dr Young said it was not “impossible” that the boy contracted Covid in the US but it was more likely he caught it in quarantine.
The third local case was a fully vaccinated airport worker.
The woman, aged in her 40s, received her second Pfizer dose in March and became unwell on July 13.
She returned a positive swab the following day.
Dr Young said she was “very concerned” as the woman was at work for three days while contagious.
“Nothing to do with them. They did absolutely the right thing and they were vaccinated. But, we now have to see where they have been working, who they have come into contact with,”she said.
READ MORE:Pandemic smashed lucky country for six
Jess Malcolm 11.01am: NSW records 65 cases, 28 in community
NSW has recorded 65 new cases of locally acquired transmission, with 28 of those cases infectious whilst in the community.
While Gladys Berejiklian said it was a “welcome drop” in the numbers, she cautioned cases will rise tomorrow.
NSW recorded 65 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/tW6Zxiitm6
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 15, 2021
Of the new cases, 40 are linked to a known case or cluster and the source of 25 cases remains under investigation.
There were over 58,000 tests conducted yesterday.
Ms Berejiklian said the state “will get through this” and was pleased with the drop in mobility across the city in recent days.
The NSW Premier said while the high number of cases infectious in the community was worrying, she was optimistic that the current restrictions in place were working.
“That 28 number was too high and I expect the case numbers will bounce back up tomorrow,” she said.
“We are in a stage of stabilising but we want to do better than that to get out of the lockdown.”
“We won’t hesitate to make difficult decisions we need to, but I want to say this to the community of New South Wales. We have been through these difficult times before. I know we can do this again.”
Health authorities are also cautioning against people visiting medical facilities and pharmacies after a string were exposed to the virus.
People with symptoms are being urged to ring pharmacies and doctors clinics ahead of time if they need care.
READ MORE: ACTU urges Fair Work to protect jobs
Adeshola Ore 10.40am:Morrison doubles down on ATAGI criticism
Scott Morrison has reiterated criticism of the nation’s immunisation’s panel, saying its changing health advice has contributed to confusion in the nation’s vaccine rollout.
ATAGI has updated its advice on the AstraZeneca vaccine three times throughout the pandemic to reflect the changing nature of risks.
The Prime Minister said Australia’s vaccine rollout had “a lot of shocks to the system.”
“The early non-supply from overseas of AZ and then of course we had the ATAGi advice... there’s no doubt that had a significant impact,” he told the ABC.
He said Australia had made a decision early in the pandemic to make contractual agreements with vaccines that could be produced domestically.
Mr Morrison said the ATAGI had made the assumption that coronavirus cases in Australia would remain low.
“Now, I never made that assumption,” he said.
“The balance of risk assessment that ATAGI are very clear about that, were based on low case numbers in Australia. Now, when the case numbers increase, as you’ve seen from ATAGI now, their advice changes now. People have understood that, but I think it has created some confusion in the public.”
READ MORE: The Mocker – Kevin-sent, the hero you don’t need
Lydia Lynch10.35am:Queensland extends mask order as 3 new cases recorded
Plans to ease Queensland’s Covid restrictions on Friday have been put on hold after three local cases were detected on Thursday.
The cases, included a 12-year-old boy who tested positive after completing two weeks quarantine in Sydney.
The child’s parent has also tested positive. The third case was an airport worker.
Thursday 15 July – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 15, 2021
3 new locally acquired cases.
2 new overseas acquired cases, detected in hotel quarantine.#covid19pic.twitter.com/nfIx3YzVV7
Annastacia Palaszczuk said mask wearing and other restrictions would remain for 11 local government areas in south-east Queensland, including Greater Brisbane, for another week.
Jess Malcolm 10.07am:Berejiklian to provide detail of hospital infections
Gladys Berejiklian will address the media at 11am alongside Health Minister Brad Hazzard, Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant and NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys.
NSW recorded 97 new infections yesterday, with 24 of those cases infectious whilst in the community.
Authorities are expected to provide detail on the unfolding situation in two Sydney hospitals after it was confirmed a patient tested positive at Liverpool Hospital. In a separate hospital, a vaccinated nurse working at Westmead has also tested positive to the virus, sending dozens of staff into isolation.
WATCH Gladys Berejiklian’s latest update from 11 o’clock in the livestream above
Adeshola Ore10.00am: Childcare fee relief for Sydney parents
Parents in locked-down regions of NSW will have childcare gap fees waived.
The optional scheme will begin on Monday and will allow operators to waive gap-fees on the days that parents choose to keep their children at home.
NSW reported 97 new cases on Wednesday, as state authorities confirmed the lock down would last until at least the end of the month.
Scott Morrison said about 16,000 families across Greater Sydney that use childcare services could benefit from the support.
“When gap-fees are waived families will not have to pay any out-of-pocket costs for those days that their children are at home during the current stay at home period,” the Prime Minister said.
READ MORE: Oversupply to blunt housing spike
Jess Malcolm 9.39am:SA adds new exposure site linked to Sydney removalists
South Australian authorities have added a third exposure site linked to the Sydney removalists who tested positive for Covid-19 after travelling through the state.
The On The Run Motorsport Park service station just outside of Tailem Bend in Adelaide was exposed on Friday July 9 from 7.20am to 8.15am.
Anyone who was there during that time should contact SA Health, self-isolate for 14 days and get tested immediately, then get tested again on day 5 and day 13.
This site is on top of two already listed including the Shell petrol station and the Coolabah Tree Cafe also in Tailem Bend.
All close contacts who attended the other exposure locations have all so far returned negative results.
READ MORE: Sydney Airport rejects $22.3bn takeover bid
Jess Malcolm9.30am: Medicos fight back with shocking Covid images
Days after the government launched its Covid awareness campaign with a video of a young woman gasping for air in a hospital bed, a Sydney hospital has released it own images and video to show the reality of the outbreak.
St Vincent’s in the city’s inner east distributed the confronting images of a Covid patient in its Intensive Care Ward, showing a 53-year-old man ventilated and struggling to breathe, with nurses dressed in full PPE to stop the spread of the virulent Delta strain.
It’s the image doctors and nurses want Australians to see, to highlight the dangers of the virus and warn people to follow public health orders and stay at home.
READ the full story here
Adeshola Ore 9.01am: Victoria will get financial support when needed: PM
Scott Morrison says the federal government would provide economic support to Victoria “as soon as that was needed” after a stoush erupted over coronavirus bailout “favouritism.”
A senior Andrews government minister declared it was “beyond question” Mr Morrison gave NSW favourable treatment.
“We would look to work with them to provide that as soon as that was needed. We already did that in the last lockdown,” the Prime Minister told the ABC.
“For the first two weeks of the lockdown in NSW it was exactly the same as what we did in Victoria.”
This week, Mr Morrison announced an “upgrading” of the commonwealth’s national response to the pandemic, which would result in the federal and NSW governments spending $500m a week in cash payments for businesses that suffered a 30 per cent drop in turnover during the restrictions.
Some measures kick in at week three, while others apply at week four of a lockdown
READ MORE: PM’s cash for Sydney exposes billions wasted
Rachel Baxendale8.52am:Victorian figures reveal no extra unknown cases
Victoria has recorded 10 new cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to Thursday, meaning there are no new cases on top of those made public on Wednesday.
Reported yesterday: 10 new local cases and no new cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 14, 2021
- 15,161 vaccine doses were administered
- 27,061 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl1hf3W#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/1otg5WIzZW
The latest cases come after 27,061 tests were processed on Wednesday.
There are now 26 active cases in Victoria, including cases in recent overseas arrivals in hotel quarantine.
The latest 10 cases include that of a man in his 30s, who caught the virus at Coles Craigieburn Central after a member of a family who recently returned from Sydney breached home quarantine.
All of the other cases are linked to a team of three Sydney removalists, who infected a man in his 60s and a separate household of three while collecting furniture from a third household on the third floor of the Ariele apartment building in Maribyrnong, in Melbourne’s west, last Thursday.
The man in his 60s in turn passed the virus on to his 89 and 90-year-old Craigieburn-based parents, and a Bacchus Marsh Grammar teacher with whom he went to the Young & Jackson pub in central Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, before attending the Geelong vs Carlton AFL match at the MCG.
In what represents a fourth generation of transmission since the removalists visited Melbourne just last Thursday July 8, the Bacchus Marsh Grammar teacher has transmitted the virus to two family members, one of whom is a member of the Barwon Heads Primary School community.
Seven of Thursday’s cases were confirmed by Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar on Wednesday, with the case of the teacher and his family members confirmed late on Wednesday by the health department.
Adeshola Ore 8.46am:It’s still a mess, mate: Lambie blasts rollout
Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie says Victorians have had a “gutful” of coronavirus restrictions as the state’s authorities prepare to announce a tightening of rules.
The Victorian government has opted to tighten density limits in public spaces and introduce further caps on household visits rather than impose what would be the state’s fifth lockdown.
Senator Lambie said Australia had to “get those vaccines moving” and described the rollout as “bungled.”
“Those bloody poor Victorians, I tell you. They must have had a gutful ... to be honest with you,” she told Channel 9.
“It is just really not a nice morning. Eighteen months to get their crap together up there in Parliament and still it’s a mess, mate. Absolute mess.”
READ MORE: Confidence crashes in Sydney as lockdown bites
Jess Malcolm 8.43am:Testing sites expanded in virus epicentre
NSW Health has expanded testing sites in Fairfield after angry locals were forced to wait up to six hours to get a test.
Authorities have opened a brand new 24-hour clinic in the Mounties club car park and expanded the Fairfield showground site in a bid to ease pressure on the system.
Gladys Berejiklian was forced to apologise on Wednesday after new rules enforcing essential workers to get tested every three days caused enormous queues snaking kilometres outside the Fairfield showground.
NSW Health has expanded COVID-19 testing across the Fairfield LGA with more 24/7 clinics and extended hours at existing sites.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 14, 2021
For a full list of testing clinics, visit: https://t.co/LmeATJ8ltz. pic.twitter.com/eBm64Fgiqd
Essential workers from Fairfield who are asymptomatic have been encouraged to go to testing sites outside of their local government area, or on their way to work.
“We need to be flexible and nimble during this pandemic,” Ms Berejiklian said on Wednesday. “We have to respond to what is going on and we will always be upfront and say it like it is.”
READ MORE: Why us? Local community irate at ‘mandate madness’
Rachel Baxendale8.36am: Four generations of transmission infect Victoria
At least 10 of Victoria’s cases revealed on Wednesday are expected to be included in Thursday’s numbers.
A case in a fourth member of a family in the City of Hume local government area in Melbourne’s north who recently returned from Sydney was included in Wednesday’s numbers.
The other three members of that family had earlier tested positive, with one family member’s breach of home quarantine rules to visit Coles Craigieburn Central last Saturday now linked to a case in a man in his 30s who tested positive on Wednesday.
Wednesday’s other new cases are all linked to a team of three Sydney removalists, who infected a man in his 60s and a separate household of three while collecting furniture from a third household on the third floor of the Ariele apartment building in Maribyrnong, in Melbourne’s west.
The man in his 60s in turn passed the virus on to his 89 and 90-year-old Craigieburn-based parents, and a Bacchus Marsh Grammar teacher with whom he went to the Young & Jackson pub in central Melbourne on Saturday afternoon, before attending the Geelong vs Carlton AFL match at the MCG.
In what represents a fourth generation of transmission since the removalists visited Melbourne just last Thursday July 8, the Bacchus Marsh Grammar teacher has transmitted the virus to two family members, one of whom is a member of the Barwon Heads Primary School community.
Both Bacchus Marsh Grammar, 60km west of Melbourne, and Barwon Heads Primary school, 110km southwest of Melbourne near Geelong, have closed, with students and teachers ordered to get tested and isolate until further notice.
The number of exposure sites in Victoria blew out to 72 overnight and now includes Flinders Street and Jolimont train stations, trains to and from Footscray in Melbourne’s west, trams in Flinders Street and Footscray, and an Officeworks and service station in the Geelong suburbs of Waurn Ponds and Highton.
The list also includes multiple sites at the Highpoint shopping centre in Maribyrnong, the Maribyrnong aquatic centre, and sites in Epping and Bundoora in Melbourne’s north and Oakleigh in the southeast.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to address the media late on Thursday morning, but no time for the press conference has yet been confirmed.
READ MORE:PM under fire for virus rescue ‘favouritism’
Rachel Baxendale8.16am:Victoria holds off locking down... for now
The Andrews government has opted to hold off on locking down Victoria, after 11 cases linked to two incursions from NSW were detected on Wednesday.
State cabinet and health officials met long into the night on Wednesday, with the Health Department issuing a late night mask mandate for all public indoor spaces from midnight.
Following a national cabinet agreement just last week that lockdowns would be a last resort, the government has opted to tighten density limits in public spaces and and impose caps on household visits rather than impose what would be the state’s fifth lockdown.
READ the full story here
Ellen Ransley 7.52am:WA border shut minutes before plane landed
Dozens of travellers were left in the lurch after a Melbourne to Perth flight touched down 15 minutes too late to beat tough new border restrictions.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan announced on Wednesday that Victoria was now a “low risk” state, after eight new cases were recorded in Melbourne, linked to removalists who travelled from Sydney.
As a “low risk” state, anyone who arrives in WA from Victoria must self-isolate for 14 days.
Passengers on board Virgin Australia flight VA681 were met by authorities after touching down at 1.15pm, and were told they would either need to return immediately to Melbourne, or self-isolate for 14 days after the changes came into effect at 1pm.
One traveller told 9 News Perth he had checked the border restrictions upon boarding the plane in Melbourne.
“I checked the Western Australia website, we were very low risk,” the man said.
“Everything was fine. I guess it all just happened while we were in the air.”
Mr McGowan posted the changes to social media, saying he understood “these changes may be disruptive for WA families”.
“However, our strengthened border controls are an important tool for us to keep this dangerous virus out of WA,” he said.
As a result of the new local cases of COVID-19 recorded in Victoria today, we are upgrading our border controls to keep our State safe.
— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) July 14, 2021
Effective immediately, Victoria has been re-classified as a ‘low risk’ jurisdiction. pic.twitter.com/m5hbRhISKm
Western Australians took to Mr McGowan’s Facebook page to question the drastic measures.
“Mark, this is just stupid. Why not just close to the specific Melbourne LGA’s that are potentially infected? No other premier does this. Every case is linked in Victoria,” Goto Takahashi said.
“Why close off the whole state??? So over regional Victoria being penalised for metro cases!!! Now to tell my kids that they won’t see dad for even longer,” Annette Collis said. – NCA Newswire
READ MORE: No quick jab means tourism out until 2027
Courtney Walsh 7.28am:AFL teams set to quit Victoria for Queensland
At least three AFL sides including the two Sydney-based teams will leave Victoria on Thursday because of rising concerns about the Covid-19 situation in the state.
The Swans and GWS Giants, which are set to spend the rest of the season travelling because of the lockdown in Sydney, will leave for Queensland this morning.
They had been due to play against each other in Ballarat on Saturday, but the match will be relocated.
The Western Bulldogs will also depart Melbourne earlier than expected for their clash against the Gold Coast Suns and will take a large squad as a precaution.
No decisions have yet been made regarding crowds for matches played in Victoria this weekend but discussions are continuing with Covid-19 exposure sites growing by the hour.
READ MORE:Victoria told to mask up again as outbreak spreads
Jess Malcolm7.18am:Queensland adds exposure sites after case transits airport
Queensland Health has issued several new exposure sites late on Wednesday night after “another country” notified them of a positive Covid-19 case overseas.
The person had been in the community prior to departure, triggering Brisbane Airport International Terminal, a shopping centre and several retail outlets to be added to the list.
Authorities say the case was low risk, but people who were exposed are required to home quarantine and get tested.
âš ï¸Public Health Alert âš ï¸
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) July 14, 2021
Queensland Health is issuing new contact tracing locations in North Ipswich, Inala and the Brisbane Airport.
Full details can be found at https://t.co/rujm8F3qL4pic.twitter.com/aRetzZ3T6C
Anyone who was at the airport’s international terminal at level 3 departures or the toilets near the newsagency on Friday July 9 between 9.45pm and 10.15pm has been asked to get tested and isolate.
A string of venues in North Ipswich have also been added including Kmart, Vodafone, Telstra and JB Hi-Fi at Riverlink as well as Club Services Ipswich (CSI). Chac’s Grill in Inala on Brisbane’s outskirts has also been added as an exposure site.
Queensland recorded zero local cases on Wednesday and five cases in hotel quarantine.
READ MORE: Restrictions ‘ignoring socio-economic divide’
Jess Malcolm 6.55am:Sydney HSC trial exams postponed
Year 12 students are facing further disruptions with HSC trials to be postponed in some schools as the lockdown extends a further two weeks in greater Sydney.
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has advised schools they are able to postpone trial exams or provide an “alternative assessment task suitable for the learning at home context.”
Gladys Berejiklian announced the further two week extension on Wednesday, meaning schools would be forced to continue home learning until at least July 30.
As trial examinations are conducted internally by each school, students will have to wait for specific instructions from their school on changes to exam timetables.
NESA is also working closely with NSW Health on contingency plans if the HSC exams have to be cancelled in October.
Students are being encouraged to learn from home where possible and wear masks and socially distance if they need to access school equipment or cannot learn from home.
READ MORE: Victorians slam PM’s relief plan
Jess Malcolm6.35am:Hospital staff in iso after patient tests positive
Sydneysiders are grappling with a further two weeks of its protracted lockdown with fears the virus has again seeped into the healthcare system.
Dozens of staff at a major Sydney hospital have been sent into mandatory quarantine after a patient tested positive for Covid-19. Liverpool hospital in the city’s south-west has been forced to postpone all non-urgent surgery. All close contacts of the patients are being tested and operating theatres will undergo deep cleaning, NSW Health has confirmed.
The patient is believed to be pregnant and having a C-section, returning a positive test on Wednesday which will be included in today’s numbers.
Westmead hospital is also on high alert after a nurse working on the Covid ward tested positive. The nurse was fully vaccinated and in PPE and there is no further transmission at the exposure site so far, the ABC has reported. The infected worker reportedly did not display any COVID symptoms, and was detected through routine testing of hospital staff.
The scares come only weeks after an unvaccinated student nurse worked shifts whilst infectious at both Fairfield and Royal North Shore hospitals sending 600 health nurses into isolation and causing major staff shortages.
The NSW government has bolstered testing capacity across the Fairfield local government area after extraordinary lines at clinics in the suburb in response to new requirements for essential workers. Fairfield and surrounding suburbs are still of great concern for authorities with the majority of new cases sourced in Sydney’s south-west.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 14, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern and public transport routes associated with confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/7KvlSVs8fj
South Australian authorities are investigating a possible medi-hotel breach and working to trace the locations of three Sydney removalists who passed through the state last week. At least one was infectious while in the state, with several exposure sites listed by authorities.
SA Health also believes there could be further local transmission after a man in his 40s tested positive on day 13 after leaving hotel quarantine. Authorities are scrambling to trace 14 people who were staying at the hotel at the same time the case was believed to be infectious, and are now actively considering restrictions amid growing outbreaks in Victoria and NSW.
SA Health has identified an additional exposure location associated with positive cases of COVID-19.
— SA Health (@SAHealth) July 14, 2021
Tailem Bend — OTR Motorsport Park service station, Dukes Highway
▪ Friday 9 July — 7.20 am to 8.15 am
ℹ https://t.co/4sJYadglJupic.twitter.com/5Qgr9kNVnJ
West Australia has slammed shut its border to Victoria as the state recorded eleven new locally acquired infections. Victorians are now waking up to masks again after two separate clusters, both linked to NSW, spread further, closing some schools and sending thousands into isolation. Victorian authorities have listed more than 70 new exposure sites including the MCG, public tram services and regional sites in Geelong and Barwon Heads.
READ MORE:Why pandemic smashed lucky country for six
Yoni Bashan 6.00am:Victoria back to masks as outbreak spreads
Victorian health authorities are considering a lockdown of at least three days to contain a growing outbreak of Covid-19 sparked by Sydney’s Bondi cluster, which has forced five million people to comply with stay-at-home orders until at least the end of the month.
Alarm grew among health officials when a coronavirus case at Barwon Heads Primary School, 110km southwest of Melbourne, took to 11 the number of positive tests in Victoria’s latest outbreak.
Late on Wednesday night, the Health Department announced masks would again be mandatory in all public indoor locations, effective as of 11.59pm, giving Victorians just 90 minutes’ notice.
Western Australia closed its border to Victoria as the number of cases grew and South Australia announced arrivals from the state needed to obtain a test within 24 hours.
West Australian police met players from the Geelong AFL club on the tarmac in Perth after the Cats arrived for Thursday night’s game against Fremantle at Optus Stadium. The Cats were to undergo testing immediately before the game, which has finals ramifications for both clubs.
READ the full story
Tom Dusevic 5.45am: Growing despair may lift jab uptake
Covid-19 outbreaks and state lockdowns have soured the national mood, with young Australians reporting high levels of psychological distress and more people saying our way of life will never return to normal.
An ABS household impacts of Covid-19 survey released on Wednesday also shows people have reduced their safety precautions, such as handwashing and wearing masks, over the course of the pandemic, but are now more likely to get vaccinated as perceptions of infection risk change in the community.
Last month, 26 per cent of those surveyed reported that life would take more than a year to return to normal, compared with 14 per cent in November.
ABS head of household surveys David Zago said 16 per cent reported that life would never return to normal, compared with 11 per cent in November.
As well, 20 per cent of respondents had experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress in the past four weeks, including 30 per cent of people aged 18 to 34, in results that were similar to survey results reported in November and March.
Associate director of the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods Nicholas Biddle said “the evidence in Australia and around the world is that lockdowns have a greater negative effect on the mental health and wellbeing of young people than older people”.
READ the full story
Rhiannon Down5.30am: Twist as outbreak spreads to the regions
Two shops in regional NSW have been added to the state’s growing list of exposure sites in a worrying twist that suggests the outbreak may have broken free of the city limits.
South Gundagai’s Shell Coles Express and the Jindera Shell in NSW’s Riverina region were added to the list tonight as close contact venues.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 14, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern and public transport routes associated with confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/7KvlSVs8fj
D & M Excavations and Hanson Concrete Australia both in Greenacre were also among the multiple venues to be added in Sydney’s west tonight, in an ominous sign for tomorrow’s case numbers.
More than 25 venues with casual contact or monitor symptoms alerts were also added, including: Pyrmont Coles, Mortdale Woolworths, Sutherland Priceline Pharmacy, Mamma Barone Italian Restaurant in Mortdale, Bondi Junction Coles, Bexley 7-Eleven, Hurstville Oporto, Strathfield South 7-Eleven and Riverwood Post Office.
Multiple time periods for the 309 Bus route were also added to the list.
The full list of exposure sites is available on the NSW Health website.
More Coverage
‘Holy grail’ fish discovery comes with one big catch
The discovery of a rare, untapped, abundant and delicious food source off Australia’s southern coast is quickly shaping as an unsavoury battle.
Marles pays US an AUKUS advance
Australia has made its first AUKUS down payment to the US as the Albanese government looks to lock-in Trump administration support for the submarine program.