Coronavirus Australia live news: Record day as jabs hit 7.8 million; Victoria changes alert on border areas; NSW has 24 new cases
Victoria changes the rules for the NSW border region on ‘health advice’; a record day of jabs takes the national total to almost 8 million.
- Record day as virus jabs hit 7.8 million
- clotting cases linked to AZ
- Swathe of new Sydney venue alerts
- 24 new cases in NSW
- Qld records 2 new cases
Welcome to coverage of the latest news in Australia’s battle with the coronavirus pandemic. Live coverage has ended for now, read on for a recap of the day’s events.
Victoria has changed its alerts on NSW border communities.
Australia had a record-breaking day in its national vaccine rollout, with 161,390 doses administered. Almost 8 per cent of eligible Australians are now fully vaccinated.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has reported five new cases of blood clots have been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. Half of the 24 new NSW cases were infectious in the community. Queensland has recorded two new local cases. A second healthcare worker at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital has reportedly tested positive to Covid-19. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has refused to apologise for a breach in hospital infection control that plunged 3.8 million Queenslanders into a snap three-day lockdown. The news came as a predicted spike in NSW Covid-19 infections did not come to pass yesterday, with 22 new cases.
Rhiannon Down10.45pm:Sydney lists new potential exposure sites
A swimming pool, soccer stadium and Terminal 2 at Sydney Airport have been added to NSW’s list of exposure sites late on Thursday night.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 1, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new and updated venues of concern associated with confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/RqhKt8W7CY
Staff and patrons at the Des Renford Swimming Pool in Maroubra on Friday June 25 between 10.45am and 12.00pm have been placed on high alert, after the fitness centre was added to the list.
Club Marconi in Bossley Park in Sydney’s west has also been added to the list, with exposure windows across extended periods on Friday June 25 and Saturday June 26.
Anyone who transferred through Domestic Terminal 2 at Sydney Airport on Saturday June 26 between 11.00am to 11.30am has also been asked to isolate and get tested.
Wider exposure periods for the location have also been added as monitor for symptoms only sites, with the full list available on the NSW Health website.
Rhiannon Down10pm:Premier stands by push on fewer arrivals
Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended her push to limit the arrival of stranded Australians from overseas, due to the danger posed by the Delta strain.
“I’m telling you we can’t contain this virus,” the Queensland Premier said on the ABC’s Q and A.
“It is now the most infectious strain, the Delta virus, it is going to be more and more difficult to contain it when we have something like 3000 people in our hotel quarantine.
“I’ve got nurses, I’ve got police, I’ve got a whole range of people looking after people in hotel quarantine and our resources are stretched.”
Ms Palaszczuk confirmed she would push at Friday’s National Cabinet meeting to decrease the caps on new arrivals, to ease the burden on the hotel quarantine system.
“But tomorrow I’m quite sure there’s going to be a number of premiers raising this with the Prime Minister to reduce the caps because we are so concerned about this Delta strain at the moment,” she said.
“It’s like being in a pressure cooker, I think I described it the other day.
“There’s just so much happening at the moment, that it’s a real concern.
“And we had this moment in time during this year to get the majority of our country vaccinated for the arrival of this virus.
“And now the virus is here and we don’t have the supply to get our population vaccinated.”
Ms Palaszczuk confirmed that just 66 per cent of the hospital workers in her state have had the first dose of the virus and 14 per cent in aged care.
Rhiannon Down9.20pm:Palaszczuk takes aim over vaccine rollout
Annastacia Palaszczuk has criticised the federal government for the pace of its vaccine rollout, accusing it of allowing an “issue of supply” to derail Queensland’s vaccination efforts.
The Queensland Premier publicly opposed the government’s decision to open AstraZeneca to the under 60s announced this week, while also sounding the alarm about a drastic shortage of Pfizer doses in her state.
“If the federal governments had organised enough supply way back in July last year, we would not be in this situation today,” she told the ABC’s Q and A program.
“There could have been adequate supply of Pfizer and Moderna and instead we are in the situation where we are days away from running out of Pfizer.
“We have to utilise our Pfizer for second doses. And we were ramping up our vaccinations in Queensland. So we are very concerned about this.
“But it is fundamentally a supply issue from the federal government.”
Liberal MP Jason Falinski said Ms Palaszczuk was “shameless” for “blaming” the federal government for her state’s rollout issues, while acknowledging the supply issues.
“The Premier of Queensland received 55,000 doses in the last month of June,” he said.
“Her government will be receiving 95,000 doses this week. And it will ramp up to 127,000 doses by the end of August.”
Rhiannon Down8.20pm:Latest NSW exposure sites issued
NSW Health has added further venues to its list of exposure sites, as contact tracers race to contain a city-wide outbreak that grew by 24 cases today.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 1, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern associated with confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/JgiWTKXi6k
Nieo’s Grille Earlwood and Bluey’s Swim School in Bankstown have been added to the list of exposure sites, with anyone who visited during the exposure window asked to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Food outlets Tong Li Asian Grocery at Eastgardens, Jarern Chai Grocer and Boon Café in Haymarket, Archie’s Cafe in Dover Heights and Wetherill Park KFC, have been added to the list as casual contact locations.
A string of venues in Bondi, the original heart of the outbreak, have also been added including Porch and Parlour, Blair St Dairy and La Piadina.
Rachel Baxendale7.30pm:MP takes a shot at Qld health advice
A Victorian MP aged under 40 has received the AstraZeneca vaccination on Thursday, taking a swipe at Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and chief health officer Jeanette Young in the process.
I spoke to my GP. She said it’s safe for me get the AstraZeneca jab, so I did today. We all should get vaccinated. How many Victorians need to get vaccinated before there are no more lock downs & borders aren’t closed on a whim? We can’t keep living like this, it’s ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/mU1B7g6taK
— Tim Smith MP (@TimSmithMP) July 1, 2021
Dr Young on Wednesday said she did “not want under 40s getting AstraZeneca” due to blood clot concerns, after Prime Minister Scott Morrison said all adults could access the vaccine subject to their GP’s approval.
Ms Palaszczuk earlier tweeted that”Even the UK won’t allow their under 40s to get the AstraZeneca vaccine,” correcting that claim on Thursday to say: “Even the UK Government is offering an alternative to AstraZeneca for under 40s”.
Victorian Liberal MP Tim Smith said on Thursday afternoon he had spoken to his GP about getting the jab.
“She said it’s safe for me get the AstraZeneca jab, so I did today. We all should get vaccinated,” Mr Smith tweeted.
“How many Victorians need to get vaccinated before there are no more lock downs & borders aren’t closed on a whim? We can’t keep living like this, it’s ridiculous.”
“The Labor Premier of Queensland & her Chief Health Officer’s comments on the AZ jab were inflammatory, ridiculous and embarrassing for our country. The UK government has not banned the AstraZeneca jab for people under 40, so on my GP’s advice I got the AZ jab. I am 37.”
Rachel Baxendale7pm:Victoria changes alert on NSW communities
Victoria is reclassifying NSW local government areas along the border as “orange”, meaning any non-border resident returning to the southern state from those areas will be required to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Out of an abundance of caution and on public health advice, current green zone Local Government Areas in NSW (all located within the cross-border community) will become orange zones effective as of 6:00am on 2 July, and the ‘border bubble’ will remain in effect. [1/3] pic.twitter.com/eNFsx27fh7
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 1, 2021
Currently Sydney, the Blue Mountains and Wollongong are classified as “red”, and the remainder of regional NSW orange, excluding the border LGAs, which are green to enable ease of movement for cross-border communities.
Victoria’s health department said it was changing the rules for the NSW border region, effective from 6am on Friday, “out of an abundance of caution and on public health advice”.
However, “border bubble” arrangements remain in place, meaning residents of LGAs either side of the border will still be able to move freely, without having to get tested.
Rhiannon Tuffield6.24pm:NT man puts lockdown end at risk after Covid lie
A man has been lambasted by the Northern Territory government and will be ‘interrogated’ by the police after lying about his whereabouts before entering quarantine.
Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner announced a new exposure site for the state in an “important and urgent update” on Thursday evening.
Mr Gunner said the state’s seventh case, a man in his 50s, who spent time in the Darwin community over the weekend, including an evening at the Buff Club, had lied about his whereabouts.
Evin Priest5.35pm:Snapshot of today’s Covid-19 cases around the nation
Australia has recorded 27 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases so far on Thursday as Victoria revealed a remarkable result amid an escalating national crisis.
Victoria’s health department confirmed there were no new local virus cases and none in hotel quarantine just after 8am on Thursday.
Meanwhile, fears are rising in NSW as half of the 24 new local cases were found to have spent time in the community while infectious.
“The fact that half was in the community while infectious is a cause of concern,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
“We can’t afford to have people continue to have the virus going about their business.
“In too many examples we are seeing workers who are leaving the house with symptoms or going to work with symptoms and then inadvertently as they are going about shopping or other activity, they are passing it onto others.”
In South Australia, there were no new cases, just one day after the state’s 211-day Covid free streak was brought to a crashing halt by a miner returning from the NT.
The Northern Territory recorded one new case, linked to the miner, while there were no new cases in Western Australia.
READ MORE:Covid booster jab to be rolled out in UK
Evin Priest5.25pm:Close contact’s $5k fine after NT road trip
A woman has been fined thousands of dollars after ignoring strict stay-at-home orders in the Northern Territory, as the state recorded one new case on Thursday.
The 46 year-old woman was fined $5056 after travelling hundreds of kilometres to the remote town of Jabiru in the Kakadu National Park, which is currently not subjected to any restrictions.
Authorities confirmed the woman had links to the Buff Club, which has been deemed an exposure site.
NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said the woman should have been in self-isolation for 14 days, and had been transferred to quarantine.
“Police engaged with her last night,” Mr Chalker said.
“She will be receiving an infringement notice and is currently being transferred to the [Howard Springs] Centre of National Resilience.”
READ the full story here.
Adeshola Ore4.05pm:Record jab day, almost 8% of nation fully vaccinated
Australia had a record-breaking day in its national vaccine rollout on Wednesday, with 161,390 doses administered.
The total number of doses administered nationwide now stands at 7.8 million.
The department has for the first time today published data showing the percentage of Australians that are fully vaccinated after health experts criticised the lack of transparency and warned it prevented a focus on areas where jabs were most needed.
The figures show 7.92 per cent of eligible Australians (those aged over 16) are now fully vaccinated.
Rhiannon Down3.50pm:Covid-positive person sparks infection alert at vaccine hub
A person who visited the mass vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park has tested positive for COVID-19, sparking a major infection scare.
NSW Health said the person attended the clinic while infectious on Tuesday, June 29, between 3.30pm and 5pm.
“The centre has been thoroughly cleaned and NSW Health is contacting casual and close contacts,” the health body said.
“The vaccination centre remains open and people are encouraged to continue to come forward for their vaccination appointment if they are well.
“You must not attend if you have any symptoms however mild.
“If you have been asked to isolate because you are a close contact of a confirmed case you must not attend the vaccination centre.
NSW Health is treating 150 COVID-19 cases. Two of these are in intensive care and one is ventilated. Most cases (91 per cent) are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in the Special Health Accommodation.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 1, 2021
Rhiannon Down3.10pm:Five new clotting cases linked to AZ
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has reported five new cases of blood clots have been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, bringing the nation’s total to 69 cases out of 4.8 million doses.
Two cases – a 52-year-old woman from WA and a 59-year-old Victorian woman are “definitely” linked to the vaccine, while, a 64-year-old woman and two men, aged 77 and 83, from NSW are “probably" linked, the TGA said in its latest report.
“Five 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, two were confirmed and three were deemed probable TTS.
“This brings the total number of cases of TTS to 69 out of 4.8 million doses to date.”
It comes as confusion continues to engulf the rollout of the AstraZeneca jab after Scott Morrison opened the vaccine to the under 60s, a move which has been criticised by the Australian Medical Association and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Adeshola Ore2.35pm:Listen to doctors, not ‘scaremongering’ politicians: Birmingham
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has backed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews after he warned people to listen to their doctors and not politicians for Covid-19 vaccine advice.
A war of words erupted between Queensland and the commonwealth on Wednesday regarding younger Australians, aged under 40, taking the AstraZeneca vaccine. Epidemiologists and doctors have accused the Palaszczuk government of undermining the national Covid-19 immunisation program after Queensland officials warned against taking the AstraZeneca vaccine and accused Scott Morrison of putting lives in danger.
Senator Birmingham has accused Ms Palaszczuk of “scaremongering”.
“I think on the whole Premier Dan Andrews has got it right,” he said.
“Annastacia Palaszczuk should listen to Dan Andrew.”
The commonwealth’s expert vaccine panel co-chair today said young people should only receive the AstraZeneca vaccine when “circumstances are pressed for that.”
READ MORE:Leadership lost its way in national cabinet
Adeshola Ore2.25pm:Almost 8 per cent of Australians now fully vaccinated
The latest health department figures show 7.92 per cent of Australians aged over 16 are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
The department has for the first time today published data showing the percentage of Australians that are fully vaccinated after health experts criticised the lack of transparency and warned it prevented a focus on areas where jabs were most needed.
READ MORE:‘Lock out, not down’: Andrews’ plan to stop Delta
Jess Malcolm2.00pm:Swathe of new exposure venue alerts in NSW
Several new exposure venues have been added by NSW Health as the state’s cluster grew by 24 on Thursday.
Authorities have issued a lengthy list of venues in Burwood in the city’s inner west, including a sushi shop, barber, nail salon and a liquor store.
Venues in Hurstville, Lidcombe, Maroubra, Petersham were also added, as well as multiple sites in the city’s eastern suburbs.
NSW Health has also upgraded the Club Marconi Gaming Area in Bossley Park. Anyone who visited the venue on June 25 from 2.30pm to 8pm is now considered a close contact and must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days.
A fresh alert has also been issued for two popular shopping centres.
Anyone who visited the Pacific Square, 737 Anzac Parade at Maroubra between 23 June to 27 June to get tested immediately and isolate.
Anyone who attended Westfield Eastgardens, 152 Bunnerong Rd at Eastgardens on Friday 25 June from 12pm to 2.30pm to get tested immediately and isolate.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 1, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern associated with confirmed cases of COVID-19. Following further investigations there is also updated health advice for a venue of concern in Bossley Park. pic.twitter.com/uknUDom40F
Jess Malcolm1.25pm:Federal Covid-19 disaster payments now available for some
Some Sydney residents who have lost income due to the citywide lockdown will now be able to apply for Covid-19 disaster payments from the federal government.
People who live or work in the City of Sydney, Waverley, Randwick, Canada Bay, Inner West, Bayside and Woollahra will be able to lodge claims from today.
Those eligible will receive $500 if they’ve lost 20 hours or more of work, and $325 if they’ve lost less than 20 hours of work. They must not have liquid assets of more than $10,000 or be in receipt of other support payments.
As it is a weekly payment, recipients will need to reapply in future weeks when the commonwealth has defined it a hotspot and the state imposed health restrictions for more than seven days.
Eligible recipients will need to lodge the claim through a Centrelink online account through myGov
Residents of Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong will be eligible to lodge a claim from July 4.
Labor’s industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke said the relief payments did not keep people connected to their employer like the wage subsidy JobKeeper did.
READ MORE:$20m for Melbourne lockdown payments
Adeshola Ore1.00pm:ABF: 80% of returnees Australian, permanent residents, family
The Australian Border Force has responded to claims by Queensland’s Deputy Premier that there has been a spike in foreigners travelling to Australia via hotel quarantine, amid the nation’s latest outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant.
Steven Miles has attacked the federal government’s overseas arrivals policy on Wednesday, claiming that of the 20,000 people arrived last month, half were not Australian citizens. But speaking to the ABC this morning, the ABF commissioner disputed the claim and said the most recent data from June 17 to June 23 showed 83.9 per cent of people who came into the country were returning Australians, permanent residents and their family.
In a statement, ABF said it had undertaken week-long samples of hotel quarantine arrivals each month from February which revealed in each case 80 per cent of people were citizens, permanent residents or family members.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will push for a reduction in hotel quarantine capacity of up to 80 per cent over the next three to four months at tomorrow’s national cabinet meeting. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has also pushed for a discussion about hotel quarantine — suggesting a slashing of up to 75 per cent.
Paul Garvey12.48pm:No new cases in WA, lockdown exit hopes boost
Western Australia’s prospects of exiting lockdown have received another boost after the state recorded no new cases of Covid-19.
WA premier Mark McGowan said the result was “amazingly encouraging”.
“It puts WA in the best possible position, especially as our contact tracers continue to find more potential contacts,” he said.
Four cases have been identified in Perth’s northern suburbs.
READ MORE:Probe begins into hospital worker vaccine bungle
Jess Malcolm12.20pm:Northern Territory records one new Covid-19 case
The Northern Territory has recorded one new case of Covid-19 linked to the outbreak of the Tanami Mine in Central Australia.
He had already been identified as a close contact of the index case, and was in isolation at the Howard Springs Centre for National Resilience.
Health authorities have confirmed he was not in the community whilst infectious and there are no new exposure sites in Darwin.
Contact tracers have identified 69 close contacts and a further 52 casual contacts of the man who spent time in Alice Springs Airport and subsequently tested positive for the virus in Adelaide.
They are all in isolation and testing is underway.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said officials suspect he was not infectious while at the airport, but they can’t risk any further transmission.
“We cannot take any punts,” he said. “The population is too vulnerable. The stakes are too high.”
READ MORE:Abuse hurled at Covid-19 clinic nurses
Jess Malcolm11.50am:Chant sorry for Dominello’s early iso release
Dr Kerry Chant says the complexity of Parliament House as an exposure venue led to the bungle of releasing Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello from isolation prematurely.
Mr Dominello was recently upgraded from a casual to a close contact, but had attended the NSW Covid-19 update on Wednesday after being advised he was a casual contact.
Dr Chant apologised for the miscommunication and said authorities have gone into a reconciliation process to make sure people impacted were fully informed.
“What has occurred and I regret this, but as I said everyone was doing the best with their best intent in trying to manage this complex workplace environment, that originally he was advised that he was a close contact, but then had an interaction with another public health official who was really referencing the exposure that it was casual in relation to the office building.”
Dr Chant was repeatedly asked by reporters whether Mr Dominello had texted her personally to ask him to be reclassified.
She said the case has not been a focus, considering the source of the exposure Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall had low rates of infectiousness.
“What should have happened was being very clear that the close contact trumped a casual contact and a failure to reconcile. There really is not anything more to this.”
READ MORE: Feds ignore voluntary shot plea
Rachel Baxendale11.40am:Andrews: Listen to GPs, not politicians
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has urged people who have had their first AstraZeneca vaccinations without clotting side effects to get their second, and told under-60s considering the AZ jab to consult their GP and not take medical advice from politicians.
Mr Andrews sidestepped the issue of whether people should listen to Queensland Chief Medical Officer Jeanette Young, who yesterday said she did not want under-40s to take Astra Zeneca.
“If you’ve had your first AstraZeneca jab, and you didn’t have a clotting problem, you didn’t have a negative reaction in that sense, then you are safe, and you should go and get your second jab,” Mr Andrews said.
“That’s in everybody’s interests.
“If you’re in the cohort that’s the age group that’s been announced by the commonwealth government as part of the expansion, don’t, don’t take medical advice from members of parliament, pollies, take medical advice from your GP. Talk to your doctor. Talk to your pharmacist.”
Mr Andrews said statements from organisations such as the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, which does not recommend AstraZeneca for under 60s, were “very broad” and risk averse and not necessarily applicable to individual circumstances.
“Safety is always a concern, they are risk averse, they need to be, but everyone’s individual circumstances are different, and many people come to this question of ‘Should I? Shouldn’t I? When? What vaccine?’ with pre-existing conditions, with all sorts of other issues, so the best thing to do is not to be getting your epidemiological or your vaccination advice from politicians,” Mr Andrews said.
Asked whether people should listen to Dr Young, Mr Andrews said: “I’m not here to provide advice to people other than to repeat and convey what the experts have told me.”
He reiterated his advice to Victorians who had received the first AstraZeneca dose to get the second.
“That’s our way out. We want more people vaccinated, right? And AstraZeneca is safe, but it is really important to have a conversation about your individual circumstances,” Mr Andrews said.
READ MORE:Victoria’s remarkable virus result
Jess Malcolm11.25am: Second infected nurse didn't work while infectious
Dr Kerry Chant has confirmed a second nurse who works at Royal North Shore Hospital has tested positive.
The nurse is a household contact of the 24-year-old student nurse who was announced yesterday.
The nurse’s household contact is currently employed at Royal North Shore Hospital, Fairfield Hospital and Royal Ryde Rehabilitation Hospital and had been notified by NSW Health of their potential exposure so went forward for testing.
Dr Chant confirmed the second nurse did not go to work whilst infectious.
More than 200 staff and patients have been identified as close contacts to date, with investigations and contact tracing still ongoing.
One of the family member’s of the original student nurse has also tested positive.
Dr Chant said one of the nurse’s other contacts works at an aged care facility in Summit Care, Baulkham Hills. The majority of these residents have been fully vaccinated.
“I was very pleased to be advised that around 135 out of the 149 residents at Summit Care were vaccinated and they had concluded their Pfizer vaccination for over a month,” she said.
“So that is very pleasing when we do hear about that.”
Lydia Lynch 11.20am:Palaszczuk sorry over hospital breach
Annastacia Palaszczuk has apologised for a virus containment breach which triggered her state’s latest lockdown.
A lapse in state inoculation protocols allowed an unvaccinated 19-year-old casual worker to man a reception desk outside a Covid isolation ward at Brisbane’s Prince Charles Hospital.
“I am more than happy to apologise, nobody wants to see this happen,” Ms Palaszczuk said after a defensive and blame-shifting press conference on Wednesday.
Dr Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at Mater Health, will lead the investigation into why the woman was not deployed to another part of the hospital given she was unvaccinated.
Heath Minister Yvette D’Ath said she had met with unions and doctors this week to discuss making vaccination mandatory for more hospital workers.
Ms Palaszczuk hit out at journalists who asked whether the state government’s Pfizer supply concerns was a “stunt”.
“I’m not going to answer people who are being rude,” she said.
READ MORE:Premier washes hands over hospital breach
Jess Malcolm11.15am:Three new vaccination hubs for NSW
Gladys Berejiklian has announced more vaccination hubs across the state, with the aim of achieving 200,000 jabs per week.
The NSW government will be opening up a mass vaccination centre in Wollongong, one in the Sydney CBD and another centre in Macquarie Fields in the city’s southwest.
These centres are in addition to a centre in the Hunter which has already been announced.
Vaccination through pharmacy settings will also be ramping up, with 22 new pharmacies coming online in rural and regional communities from July 19.
Ms Berejiklian said she is having ongoing conversations with GPs around the state to ensure they are ready to help when more doses arrive.
The NSW Premier also urged all Sydney residents to “assume you have the virus” airing concern the virus is still circulating in the community.
She is concerned there are still people transmitting the virus to other people, while shopping or other activities.
“We know how transmissible this variant of the virus is and we need to respond accordingly.
“So can I please urge anybody who leaves the house, assume that you have the virus or that people you come into contact with have the virus and act accordingly.”
READ MORE:Hyped up spat sparks fresh vax confusion
Jess Malcolm11.05am:NSW records 24 new cases
NSW has recorded 24 new local cases, half of which were in the community while infectious. The other half were in isolation for all or half of their infectious period, Premier Gladys Berejiklian says. Seventeen of the cases are linked to previous cases.
Of today’s 24 new locally acquired cases, nine were in isolation throughout their infectious periods. A further three cases were in isolation for part of their infectious periods. Twelve cases were infectious in the community.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 1, 2021
The numbers bring the total number of cases in the state to 195.
There were nearly 60,000 tests conducted in the last 24 hours.
READ MORE:Victoria’s remarkable virus result
Lydia Lynch11.00am:Qld CHO: younger you are, greater the risk
Queensland’s chief health officer has defended her advice for young people to avoid the AstraZeneca vaccine and denied she went too far with her comments.
Dr Jeannette Young, who has served as the state’s chief health officer since 2005, ignited debate among health experts during a fiery press conference on Wednesday when she said under 40s should wait for Pfizer.
“I don’t want an 18-year-old in Queensland dying from a clotting illness who, if they got Covid, probably wouldn’t die,” Dr Young said yesterday.
She doubled down on her comments on Thursday.
“The younger you are, the greater the risk,” she said.
“I’m giving my advice, I’m a doctor. I’ve been involved in Australia’s vaccination program now for 16 years.
“I want the right vaccine to go to the right person.”
Asked if her comments went too far she said: “I just put out the facts”.
“All vaccination should be an individual discussion with your GP.”
When questioned further she said: “This is getting absolutely silly”.
“I have put my advice out there very clearly.”
Annastacia Palaszczuk said her chief health officer was one of the most respected health professionals in the country.
“Other states can listen to their own premiers and their own chief health officers.”
READ MORE:Beautiful one day, anti-vaxxers the next
Staff reporter 10.48am:NSW update to come at 11am
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and CHO Kerry Chant will give an update on the Covid situation at 11am. It comes as a second nurse at Sydney’s Royal North Shore hospital tests positive.
Jess Malcolm10.45am:NSW Health warns of vaccine scam
NSW Health is warning against fraudulent vaccination clinics amid fears some people have been forced to pay for their Covid-19 vaccine.
Be sure to book your #COVID19 vaccine through the Eligibility Checker on the Australian Government website.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 30, 2021
We will never ask you for bank, credit card or other payment details.
Vaccination is FREE and voluntary. To book safely and securely, visit: https://t.co/62OZ8zWiK3pic.twitter.com/ZZ8Cefv9Xm
“Scam alert,” NSW Health wrote on Twitter.
“Be sure to book your #COVID-19 vaccine through the Eligibility Checker on the Australian Government website.
“We will never ask you for bank, credit card or other payment details.
“Vaccination is FREE and voluntary.”
The federal government is funding the Covid-19 vaccination rollout, meaning it is free for anyone who wishes to have the vaccine.
READ MORE:Joyce backs AZ for young Aussies
Lydia Lynch 10.35am: Hopes Qld lockdown will end Fri night
Queensland has been given new hope that the snap three-day lockdown imposed on 3.8 million people will end tomorrow night.
About three quarters of the state’s population were ordered to stay at home after an unvaccinated hospital receptionist tested positive to the Delta strain on Tuesday.
The Brisbane woman, 19, spent 10 days in the community while infectious but only one of her four household contacts have tested positive.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the lack of spread gave her confidence.
“I am very encouraged,” she said, but warned Queensland was not out of the woods, with contact tracers managing five separate clusters.
There have been no unlinked cases.
READ MORE:Beautiful one day, anti-vaxxers the next
Lydia Lynch10.10am:Queensland records two new cases
Queensland has recorded two new local cases in the 24 hours to 8pm. One case, a woman in her 30s, worked at the Qatar check-in desk at Brisbane airport, CHO Jeannette Young said. She became infectious last Friday, June 27 but had not spent much time in the community while infectious. However she had visited Coles at Murrumba Downs and OfficeWorks at North Lakes.
Of the two locally acquired cases, one is a contact of the Portuguese restaurant cluster and is already in quarantine, while the other is a worker at the Brisbane International Airport.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 1, 2021
The second new case of the Alpha (UK) variant was sourced back to a Portuguese restaurant cluster. The person was in isolation for their entire infectious period so was not a risk.
Annastacia Palaszczuk said the case numbers were “very encouraging”.
Dr Young said she was reassured by the 29,000 tests conducted on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Qld, WA lockdowns just embarrassing
Jess Malcolm9.55am:Berejiklian to announce new hub in Wollongong
Gladys Berejiklian will give her Covid-19 update at 11am this morning, where she is expected to announce a new vaccination hub in Wollongong.
She will address the media alongside Health Minister Brad Hazzard, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce and NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys.
Ms Berejiklian hinted at Wednesday’s press conference that more details would be revealed today.
“We are, and I’ll have imminent details about that,” she said.
READ MORE: App shows real-time updates on crisis
Jess Malcolm9.45am:2600 under-40s get AZ since Tuesday
The commonwealth’s Covid-19 operation chief has revealed over 2600 Australians under 40 have received the AstraZeneca vaccine after the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday night.
Since Scott Morrison’s announcement on Monday that younger Australians would be able to make an informed decision with their GP to have the AstraZeneca vaccine, Lieutenant General John Frewen said young people have been coming forward.
"We're getting all the Pfizer that we can get right now"
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) June 30, 2021
Lieutenant General John Frewen explains why Australia doesn't have more doses of MrNA coronavirus vaccines currently available to the public. pic.twitter.com/5D5fWpJQ2w
“In the last two days since the Prime Minister made this announcement, 2,616 Australians under 40 have chosen, with informed consent, to have AstraZeneca,” he told Sunrise.
“That’s 2,600 Australians who feel, right now, they would rather have the available vaccine than wait. I think all Australians have that right.”
Lieutenant General Frewen also said Australia should start seeing more Pfizer supplies in the “weeks” ahead but that supply will vary week-to-week.
“In all of the production lines, there can be variables,” he said.
“From one week to the next, we might get a little bit more, a little bit less. We’re hoping our Pfizer supplies will start to go up over the weeks ahead but that will be fingers crossed and we’ll work with what we get when we get it.”
READ MORE:Premier washes hands over hospital breach
Staff reporter 9.30am:Palaszczuk to give update at 10am
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young will give an update on the Covid situation at 10am.
Jess Malcolm9.10am:Second nurse at Sydney’s RNS positive: reports
A second healthcare worker at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital has tested positive to Covid-19, the ABC has reported.
The case has not yet been confirmed by NSW Health.
This comes after a 24-year old student nurse who worked across the Royal North Shore Hospital and Fairfield Hospital tested positive.
One of her household contacts has also tested positive which will be included in today’s numbers.
Both the Fairfield’s rehabilitation ward and cardiology ward and the Royal North Shore Hospital’s general abdominal surgery ward have been shut down after the initial case was recorded.
The Australian has contacted NSW Health to confirm and is awaiting a response.
READ MORE:Map shows Australia’s Covid crisis
Jess Malcolm8.55am:SA records no new cases
No new cases have been recorded in South Australia, Premier Steven Marshall has confirmed.
“We haven’t had any advice that anybody’s returned a positive sample from yesterday, but of course there’s still more testing to go on today,” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.
Mr Marshall said testing rates need to increase to help health authorities ensure there were no further cases of community transmission.
Authorities have been most concerned about passengers on the flight from Alice Springs with the mine worker, and 28 other workers who were in home quarantine in South Australia.
“There are a couple of groups we’re concerned about: one is the miners, they’ve already been having their testing and that will continue,” he said. “We’ll make sure we monitor them very carefully, they’re in home quarantine at the moment.
“My understanding is now that all of the passengers on that flight, I think there were around 120 in total, have been contacted.
“In this instance, because it’s the Delta variant, we’ve decided, out of an abundance of caution, to get in touch with everybody and put them into isolation.”
READ MORE:Victoria’s remarkable virus result
Jess Malcolm8.40am:Gunner: NT ‘miles off' vaccine targets
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner says he is “terrified” about the potential for an outbreak among the state’s Indigenous population, and that the state is “miles off” where he hoped vaccination rates would be.
Mr Gunner said 29 per cent of the total territory population had received their first dose and 15 per cent were fully immunised.
“We are doing everything we can to vaccinate the local population as quickly as we can. We’re not near where we need to be,” he told ABC News Breakfast. “The vulnerability of our population worries me a lot.”
Health authorities have identified 80 close contacts of the potentially infectious man who spent time in Alice Springs Airport sparking the three-day snap lockdown.
Mr Gunner said it was too early to say whether further transmission has occurred, but earlier this morning, Health Minister Natasha Fyles revealed there has been no further cases of transmission associated with the Alice Springs Airport.
READ MORE: Premier defiant over hospital breach
Adeshola Ore8.35am:Labor premiers ‘desperate to politicise’ rollout
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham says Labor premiers have been “desperate to politicise” the vaccine rollout, amid outrage at Queensland’s Covid-19 vaccine scare.
Epidemiologists and doctors have accused the Palaszczuk government of undermining the national Covid-19 immunisation program after Queensland officials warned against taking the AstraZeneca vaccine and accused Scott Morrison of putting lives in danger. But the commonwealth’s expert vaccine panel co-chair says young people should only receive the AstraZeneca vaccine when “circumstances are pressed for that.”
Senator Birmingham said Labor leaders, particularly Ms Palaszczuk were to blame for the confusion.
“I know that some of the state Labor leaders, particularly the Queensland Premier, have been desperate to politicise this, and frankly, that’s shameful,” he told the ABC.
“The advice for Australians hasn’t changed. The only thing that changed was an increase in support for GPs to do their job as part of nationwide rollout.”
“What we’ve made clear is that younger Australians should talk to their general practitioners, talk to their doctor.”
READ MORE:Hyped up spat sparks fresh vax confusion
Jess Malcolm8.30am:Birmingham: Australia at back of queue for Pfizer
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has admitted Australia is “at the back of the queue” for Pfizer, despite Health Minister Greg Hunt’s insistence that the country is at the front of the queue.
With the country still waiting for more Pfizer and other mRNA vaccines to arrive and Queensland health authorities warning they will run out of Pfizer in weeks, Mr Birmingham said: “We’ve had challenges in terms of supply because European countries and drug companies have favoured those nations who had high rates of Covid for the delivery of vaccines like Pfizer, which has put countries like New Zealand and Australia at the back of the queue.”
However he was hopeful to see large numbers of vaccination in the days and months ahead.
READ MORE:Outrage at Premier’s Covid vaccine scare
Jess Malcolm8.25am: Vic records no new local cases
Victoria has recorded no new cases of locally acquired Covid-19, following 29,149 tests.
There were also no new cases acquired overseas.
Yesterday the state recorded 19,219 vaccine doses, bringing the total number of vaccines administered to 1,101,572.
Reported yesterday: 0 new local cases and no new cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 30, 2021
- 19,219 vaccine doses were administered
- 29,149 test results were received.
More later: https://t.co/2vKbgKHFvv#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/KeJkCLErbP
Adeshola Ore8.20am:Lambie slams PM over vaccine confusion
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has hit out at the stoush over whether under-40s should receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, blaming Scott Morrison for the confusion.
Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said she did “not want under-40s getting AstraZeneca”, after the Prime Minister said all adults could access the vaccine if they consulted their doctor over the small risk it could cause clotting.
“What this is doing is our borders are not going to open because people, especially those young people … they’re now hesitant about getting any shot at all,” Senator Lambie told Channel 9.
“Let’s be honest. I’ve said this in the past: when it comes to communication skills, Scott Morrison doesn’t have them.”
Epidemiologists and doctors have accused the Palaszczuk government of undermining the national Covid-19 immunisation program. But the commonwealth’s expert vaccine panel co-chair says young people should only receive the AstraZeneca vaccine when “circumstances are pressed for that.”
READ MORE:Urgent alerts for Qld exposure sites
Jess Malcolm8.10am: ABF chief: 16pc of arrivals are foreign citizens
Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram has hosed down claims that most of the overseas arrivals coming into Australia were not Australian citizens or permanent residents.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles doubled down on his criticism of the federal government’s overseas arrivals policy on Wednesday, claiming that of the 20,000 people arrived last month, half were not Australian citizens.
But Commissioner Outram said the facts showed otherwise.
“In the most recent data snap shot from border force from June 17 to June 23, 83.9 per cent of people who came into the country were returning Australians, permanent residents and their families,” he told ABC’s Radio National.
He said 16 per cent of overseas arrivals were foreign nationals.
“The data is really clear, and it’s anchored around that,” he told ABC’s Radio National.
When asked about the policy of letting Australians travel overseas amid concern thousands were being allowed to leave and return, Commissioner Outram said the policy was “tough”.
The main three categories of people leaving the country are travel for three months (for study or work), business and compassionate and compelling reasons.
“There were 51,000 people who were able to travel and 52,000 refused.”
“We are actually being really tough.”
READ MORE: Business captains push staff vaccines
Jess Malcolm7.45am: Qld CHO out on very lonely limb: Coatsworth
Former Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth says the Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young is out on a “very lonely limb” after comments she made about the riskiness of the AstraZeneca vaccine for younger people.
Doctor Coatsworth called for “cold hard facts” in an emotionally charged conversation about the AstraZeneca vaccine.
“I want to say that nearly every medical leader distances themselves from Doctor Young’s comments yesterday which is unfortunately out on a very lonely limb,” he said.
“The risk of dying from an AstraZeneca vaccine is less than one in a million, and people need to have a choice if they’ve assessed that risk and then they’re perfectly entitled to choose as a consenting adult to have the AstraZeneca vaccine.”
Dr Coatsworth said the medical community was concerned with the comments, and that authorities should not interfere with the doctor-patient relationship and the patient’s right to choose.
READ MORE: Credlin:Leadership lost its way in national cabinet
Jess Malcolm 7.35am:Birmingham slams ‘extremist’ Qld vax remarks
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has called recent claims from Queensland health authorities “extremist”, and counter-productive against attempts to ramp up the nation’s sluggish vaccination rollout.
Leading doctors have accused Queensland Premier @AnnastaciaMP and the state's Chief Health Officer of 'scaremongering' after they warned young people against getting the AstraZeneca jab.@Riley7NEWS and @JaneCaro joined @Natalie_Barr to discuss. pic.twitter.com/hJyybp2Qwd
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) June 30, 2021
Speaking to Sunrise, Mr Birmingham said the challenges faced by governments in the vaccine rollout would not be helped by inflammatory comments by state premiers.
“I think the politicisation of the vaccine roller that’s been attempted by some, particularly by some state politicians in Queensland, is shameful,” he said. “7.6 million doses of vaccine have been distributed and received by Australians, that’s a really good start.
“All governments should be working collaboratively on the vaccine rollout stop yet it’s been challenging advice has changed along the way in terms of recommendations about which vaccine is preferred for different age groups.”
READ MORE:Queensland beautiful one day, anti-vaxxing the next
Jess Malcolm7.25am:Pfizer ‘still preferred’ for people under 60
The Commonwealth’s expert vaccine panel co-chair has disputed claims that younger Australians should be encouraged to get the AstraZeneca vaccine.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation Co-chair Christopher Blyth has told ABC’s AM that Pfizer is still the preferred vaccine for people under 60.
“I do not believe at this stage that young people should be receiving AstraZeneca at this stage unless their circumstances are pressed for that,” he said.
“There are some situations where that would be warranted but they are quite small.”
The comments come after the Prime Minister encouraged people under 40 to speak with their GP about getting the vaccine.
The debate ramped up yesterday when Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said she did not want to see people under the age of 40 getting the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pushed further on ABC’s 7.30 program, airing her public frustration with the Prime Minister and accusing him of setting up mass vaccination hubs to administer AstraZeneca to under-40s.
Mr Morrison denied the claims, with a spokesperson from his office calling them “absolutely incorrect”.
READ MORE: Letters – Tell us rate of sickness and death, not number of cases
Jess Malcolm7.10am:Alice Springs ‘confident’ outbreak can be contained
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Chief Medical Officer John Boffa says he’s “confident” health authorities can get on top of the outbreak in the Northern Territory.
Alice Springs was plunged into lockdown after a man spent seven hours at the town’s airport while potentially infectious.
Dr Boffa said while there was concern for vulnerable communities, authorities had acting swiftly.
“We are reasonably confident we can get on top of this,” he told ABC’s Radio National.
“We’ve got good systems in place. As you might expect since the news broke it’s not far from Alice Springs we’ve had our best vaccination week yet. We had one community where nearly everybody got vaccinated over two days.
“We want it to continue if you’ve got a cold and come forward for testing and forward for vaccination.”
READ MORE: New app shows real-time updates of Australian Covid-19 hot spots
Jess Malcolm6.30am: Almost half the nation is now in lockdown
Almost half the nation is in lockdown as Covid-19 continues to cause chaos in multiple states and territories.
Alice Springs was most recently plunged into lockdown as it scrambles to contain a potential outbreak. The newest positive case is a worker connected to the Tanami Desert mine, from which a cluster has now grown to 11. The man spent seven hours at Alice Springs Airport, mostly at the cafe, before flying home to Adelaide and returning a negative Covid-19 test. But health authorities were on high alert when he developed symptoms while isolating in Adelaide and all of his family had also tested positive.
SA Health has identified exposure locations associated with positive cases of COVID-19.
— SA Health (@SAHealth) June 30, 2021
Adelaide Airport (travellers and visitors) -
â—¾ï¸ Fri 25 June - 5.40pm to 6.30pm
Flight VA1724
â—¾ï¸ Fri 25 June - 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Find the relevant health advice at https://t.co/BPuCyDTNqi. pic.twitter.com/7ESn0dxjQq
While the risk is low, South Australia acted fast to implement restrictions on home gatherings including a cap of 10, and encouraged people to work from home where possible. Mask wearing is also recommended in retail settings and public transport.
NSW recorded 22 new cases, bringing the total number of cases in the outbreak to 171. Health authorities were optimistic that the state had dodged a major surge in cases. But two hospitals were put on high alert after a student nurse from Fairfield and the Royal North Shore had spent five days at work while infectious. Contact tracers are still racing to disseminate the source of her infection, and track down all of the patients that were discharged and staff that may have been infected.
PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERN
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 30, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of a number of new venues of concern associated with confirmed cases of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/0XdV7oQfXn
Late last night, NSW Health revealed they had provided the wrong advice to Customer Services Minister Victor Dominello, deeming him a close contact instead of a casual one. Mr Dominello appeared at a press conference alongside Gladys Berejiklian and health authorities on Wednesday, but was forced back into strict isolation. Dozens of MPs and staff are still in isolation after Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall tested positive after attending Christo’s Pizzeria in Paddington last week.
âš ï¸ Public Health Alert âš ï¸
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) June 30, 2021
A public health alert is being issued for two more Virgin Australia flights.
A new contact tracing location also exists for:
📠Newstead
Contact tracing venues and flights can be found at https://t.co/rujm8F3qL4pic.twitter.com/HAgMn7hRF8
Queensland recorded four new cases yesterday with authorities concerned about three cases who had spent time in the community whilst infectious. One new case was the brother of the Prince Charles Hospital clerical worker who tested positive for the exposure site. Health authorities took aim at the federal government over its overseas arrivals policy and the Prime Minister’s comments encouraging younger people to get the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Perth and Peel regions are waking up to their third day of lockdown this morning with the state recording its fourth case yesterday. The case was connected to the gym which now has grown to a total of three.
Media statement: COVID-19 update 30 June 2021 https://t.co/zcjdRFI2DM
— WA Health (@WAHealth) June 30, 2021
Victoria yesterday recorded one new case that was linked to an already-isolate infection. But health authorities are watching interstate cases with caution and have delayed the easing of restrictions ahead of the weekend. Authorities have also been cracking down on travel into Victoria, hoping to keep the virus out. There are just nine active cases remaining from the West Melbourne and Whittlesea clusters which first emerged in May.
For more information on today’s #coronavirus (#COVID19) situation in Victoria, see today’s media release: https://t.co/7kxcfq681g
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 30, 2021
READ MORE: Business captains push staff vaccines
Lydia Lynch5am:Palaszczuk washes hands over Qld hospital breach
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has refused to apologise for a breach in hospital infection control that plunged 3.8 million Queenslanders into a snap three-day lockdown.
A state-employed hospital receptionist, 19, was allowed to work shifts outside a Covid-19 isolation ward at the Prince Charles Hospital despite not being vaccinated.
The woman spent 10 infectious days in the community, including a holiday to Townsville and Magnetic Island, and passed the virus onto her younger brother.
Ms Palaszczuk admitted the receptionist should have gotten a jab but insisted Health Minister Yvette D’Ath was not to blame because “she doesn’t go out and do the vaccinations”.
In response to a series of questions from The Australian, Queensland Health on Tuesday admitted a third of staff were yet to receive their first jab, or were not documented as being vaccinated.
Read the full story here.
Greg Brown4.45am:Doctors outraged at Qld Premier’s vaccination scare
Epidemiologists and doctors have accused the Palaszczuk government of undermining the national Covid-19 immunisation program after Queensland officials warned against taking the AstraZeneca vaccine and accused Scott Morrison of putting lives in danger.
In the most significant rift within national cabinet, Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young said she did “not want under-40s getting AstraZeneca”, after the Prime Minister said all adults could access the vaccine if they consulted their doctor on the small risk it could cause clotting.
“I don’t want an 18-year-old in Queensland dying from a clotting illness who, if they got Covid, probably wouldn’t die,” Dr Young said.
The country’s two largest organisations representing doctors contradicted Dr Young, with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners accusing the Queensland government of “scaremongering”.
The college’s director Charlotte Hespe said she was “strongly of the belief that it is up to each individual to weigh up what their choices are”.
Read the full story here.
Yoni Bashan4.30am:Sighs of relief as case numbers ease in NSW
A predicted spike in NSW Covid-19 infections did not come to pass yesterday, with the state recording 22 new infections and authorities remaining hopeful that Greater Sydney’s two-week lockdown would curb the virus faster than expected.
Officials expressed relief at the lower-than-expected case numbers but cautioned that infection sites were growing; this included two Sydney hospitals where a student nurse contracted the virus and unknowingly worked a number of shifts. The state recorded 19 fresh cases on Tuesday and 18 cases on Monday.
Of the 22 most recently confirmed cases, 11 had been diagnosed while the patients were already in isolation and a further five cases were detected after their isolation period had already started, meaning they had spent some, but not all, their time in the community.
The NSW government announced on Wednesday it would begin mandating the use of QR code check-ins at workplaces and businesses from next month to increase data collection for contact tracing teams.
Read the full story here.
Additional reporting: Adeshola Ore, Lydia Lynch
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