Coronavirus Australia live news: NSW records 644 new cases, 4 deaths as Sydney lockdown extended; Victoria records 55 new local cases
Sydney’s lockdown has been extended until September 30 and curfew put on 12 LGAs with four more deaths and 71 infectious in the community.
- NZ extends lockdown, 11 new cases
- Curfew announced in 12 hotspot LGAs
- Lockdown extended, 644 NSW cases
- Vic cases rise to 55
- Andrews weighs longer lockdown
- NSW freedom plan for vaccinated
- Name change for AstraZeneca
Welcome to live updates on Australia’s battle with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Greater Sydney’s lockdown has been extended until September 30 after NSW recorded 642 new local cases. Victoria has recorded 55 new local cases, as Premier Daniel Andrews is unable to rule out an extension to Victoria’s lockdown after the state yesterday recorded its highest daily coronavirus case count since last year’s deadly second wave. And The Australian can reveal that NSW bars, restaurants and gyms would reopen to the fully inoculated once vaccination coverage across reaches 70 per cent, under a proposal awaiting sign off from Gladys Berejiklian.
Jess Malcolm9.00pmResidential aged care patients moved to private hospitals
Residential aged-care patients will be moved to Sydney private hospitals from Monday in a bid to ease pressure on the health system and redistribute public health resources.
St Vincent’s Private Hospital, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, has told The Daily Telegraph it has been advised by NSW Health it needs to administer residential aged care residents from “multiple areas”.
Some of these residents could include Covid-19 positive patients, and it was not clear which local government areas residents would be coming from.
One staff member told the Daily Telegraph the residents were being referred to as “Scovid cases” indicating that they had suspected Covid.
“Staff are nervous because they’ve fought 18 months to keep Covid out of SVPH,” the staff member said.
“We’ve been taking up public patients from St Vincent’s Public next door to free up their beds in the ICU.”
It is understood St Vincent’s Private Hospital is one of 19 other operators who will provide accommodation.
READ MORE: Premier pulls out the big guns
Remy Varga7.30pm All of Victoria may go into lockdown
The Victorian government will receive advice on further restrictions tomorrow as ministers and public health officials consider putting the entire state in lockdown.
A Victorian government spokeswoman confirmed “all options are on the table” and said all regional community sporting leagues had been asked to cancel their activities this weekend.
“The situation in Melbourne and across regional Victoria is extremely concerning,” she said.
“Advice will be provided to government tomorrow morning and all options are on the table.
“In the interests of not contributing to any further spread of the virus, all community sporting leagues across regional Victoria are asked to immediately cancel their activities for this weekend.
“A further update will be provided tomorrow.”
READ MORE:Gladys glum as Emperor Dan strikes back
Jess Malcolm7.00pm:‘Curfew will make policing easier’: Elliott
NSW Police Minister David Elliott says new curfew rules enforced in hotspot LGAs from Monday will make policing “a lot easier”, and help clamp down on high rates of household transmission.
Twelve LGAs under concern will be subjected to a 9pm to 5am curfew from Monday as authorities battle to improve compliance to the public health orders.
Mr Elliott said that while he would prefer people had more freedom, police needed extra powers to restrict movement.
“There’s no silver bullet when it comes to responding to the virus, but the police have said to me that this will make policing a lot easier particularly given in those LGAs, a lot of the transmission is occurring because people ignored the house to house visitors,” he told Sky News.
Mr Elliott also blasted fraudulent scammers who charged people for vaccination appointments meant for healthcare workers.
“We are hitting a new low in this country if people think they can sell vaccinations that are meant for nurses.”
Jess Malcolm6.00pm:Man who planned anti-lockdown protest jailed
A 29-year-old man has been sentenced to eight months prison for his involvement in organising an unauthorised protest, and multiple breaches of the public health order.
NSW Police released a statement following the man’s appearance at Hornsby Local Court today.
“He was arrested following an investigation by detectives from North Shore Police Area Command into breaches of Public Health Orders, including travelling from Queensland to Sydney and his involvement in planning an unauthorised protest for this weekend,” it read.
“(He) pleaded guilty to four counts of not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19, encourage the commission of crimes, and false representation resulting in police investigation.”
The man was sentenced to a maximum eight months in prison with a non-parole period of three months.
Remy Varga4.56pm:Shepparton outbreak grows again to 12 new cases
Another five cases have been confirmed in the regional Victorian town of Shepparton, around 190km north of Melbourne, bringing the total detected on Friday to 12.
In a statement, Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp said the immediate and extended family of a man in his 30s had tested positive for Covid-19.
“There are now an additional 11 people that have tested positive for Covid-19 today bringing the total of the outbreak in Shepparton to 12 at this time,” he said.
“All people that have tested positive are family members from two separate households and are now isolating.”
Paige Taylor4.32pm:WA residents in NSW: get home or get locked out
West Australians in New South Wales have five days to come home before they are locked out of their own state.
The McGowan government has for weeks limited the circumstances in which West Australians in NSW can return but at a press conference in Perth on Friday afternoon, premier Mark McGowan said he would further tighten the rules.
“The window is closing,” he said.
Mr McGowan said that from 12.01am on Thursday, his government would continue to allow defence personnel and a limited number of Commonwealth and state officials to travel into WA from NSW if they are prepared to self isolate and if they meet other criteria including returning a negative Covid-19 test. However, West Australians in NSW who want to return home must now meet the criteria for what Mr McGowan called “the most exceptional or extraordinary circumstances”. Any decision to allow a West Australian to come home from NSW after Wednesday would be made at the highest levels of WA Police Force and WA Health, he said.
While 50 contract tracers are already working remotely on the NSW outbreak, Mr McGowan said WA also wanted to help NSW’s health system by providing doctors and nurses if necessary.
He continued to criticise the Berejiklian government’s response to the outbreak.
“If they put the right things in place back in June I suspect they would be out of it by now but they didn’t,” he said.
“It is so frustrating to watch.
“They always put in place half measures they don’t go all the way and with Covid you have to go all the way
for some reason NSW always takes half measures and it doesn’t work.”
Remy Varga4.23pm:Crisis meeting to discuss tougher Vic lockdown
Victoria’s crisis cabinet will meet at 4.30pm today to discuss further strengthening Melbourne’s hard lockdown.
The Australian understands a statewide lockdown, further limits on exercise and time allowed outdoors, restrictions on childcare and the full standing down of the construction industry are being discussed.
Jack Paynter4.15pm:10.5m eligible Aussies have had at least one jab
Over 10.5 million people have now had at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine, and nearly 6 million Australians are fully vaccinated.
This marks 51 per cent of Australians half-vaccinated, and 28.9 per cent fully vaccinated.
NSW continues to lead the way with 5,639,016 doses given with 120,581 completed in the last 24 hours, followed by Victoria with 4,264,873 vaccines given.
ACT has the highest first dose vaccine coverage, followed by NSW, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and lastly West Australia.
A total of 693,200 vaccines have been administered in aged and disability facilities, with 10,104 given in the past 24 hours.
Jack Paynter3.55pm:Chant fights tears, speaks on resignation rumours
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant choked back tears on Friday as she announced another four Covid deaths in NSW before breaking her silence on resignation rumours.
The NSW chief health officer teared up and appeared to stumble over her words as she gave her update just after 11am on Friday.
Dr Chant extended her sincere condolences and sympathies to the loved ones of those who died.
“I do not want to be standing here every day, announcing these high rates of hospitalisations and these deaths. Every one of these deaths is someone’s mother, father, grandmother, grandfather,” she said as she choked back tears.
“I am asking everyone to hang with us for the next four to six weeks. Buckle down. I do not want to be standing here every day announcing deaths.
Dr Chant also said she had not threatened to resign during Sydney’s outbreak.
“I am so committed to seeing this outbreak behind us, I am so committed to doing all I can as part of a broader team across health and across government.”
The number of Covid-related deaths in NSW since June 16 now stands at 65, while 121 lives have been lost in the state since the start of the pandemic.
READ the full story here.
Jess Malcolm3.50pm:1400 police ready for illegal anti-lockdown protests
More than 1400 NSW Police officers will be deployed across Sydney to disrupt illegal anti-lockdown protests planned for the weekend.
The major police operation will include officers from the public order and riot squad, operations support group, dog and mounted unit, traffic and highway patrol, police transport command and police air.
Protesters should expect a significant “highly visible and agile” police presence in the CBD and surrounds, as well as on major roadways, public transport networks and Sydney Harbour.
NSW Police continue to monitor commentary about protest events planned for regional NSW, and will deploy officers if needed.
Jess Malcolm3.20pm:New Zealand extends lockdown, 11 new cases
New Zealand’s lockdown has been extended by four days after recording a further 11 new cases of local transmission on Friday.
Eight of the new cases were in Auckland, and three have been recorded in the nation’s capital Wellington.
Its total outbreak has now grown to 31 cases, with 19 linked to an outbreak in Auckland and 12 still under investigation.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned authorities still do not know the extent of the outbreak
Investigations are still underway to determine how a quarantine leak originating from a Sydney traveller spread into the community.
READ MORE: Cup clash cancelled amid Covid chaos
Remy Varga2.35pm:Shepparton confirms six new virus cases
The Victorian city of Shepparton, around 190km north of Melbourne, has recorded six new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total to seven.
READ MORE: Major concern in Vic cases
Debbie Schipp2.35pm:Bunnings to close stores across all Greater Sydney
Bunnings stores will be closed to all but trade customers across Sydney from Monday in response to today’s tougher lockdown measures.
The hardware store and other major retailers are being forced to close their doors and offer only click and collect in 12 hotspot LGA’s under the harsher restrictions, but news.com.au reports Bunnings will go a step further from Monday, August 23.
It will apply the new rules in all of its stores in Greater Sydney.
Trade customers will continue to have access Bunnings stores. But retail customers will only be able to purchase items online using click and deliver and contactless drive and collect, said Mike Schneider, Bunnings manager director.
READ MORE:Desperate Premier unveils ‘final list’ of restrictions
Remy Varga1.58pm:‘Real game changing’ vax number is 80pc: Andrews
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the “real game changing” proportion of the population that needs to be vaccinated before restrictions ease is 80 per cent.
His comments follow reports NSW counterpart Gladys Berejiklian is considering allowing bars restaurants and gyms to reopen to the fully vaccinated once coverage across NSW reaches 70 per cent.
Mr Andrews said under the plan agreed upon by national cabinet, some freedoms return at 70 per cent but the real game changing number was 80 per cent.
“Every leader in the country, regardless of what political party they’re from, is committed to that national plan,” he said.
“There are some changes at 70 but the big changes come at 80 per cent.”
Mr Andrews said letting the virus rip was not an option and said the “narrative” that we can live with the virus was unhelpful.
“if you don’t have these restrictions, it will run wild and not enough people are vaccinated, and then the hospitals will be absolutely full to the rafters with people,” he said.
“This notion that it’s just all well we just, you know, suck it up and we should live with it... No. That’s not an option.”
READ MORE:Melbourne’s new curfew heading for the courts
Nicholas Jensen1.46pm:TGA approves new Covid treatment for infected Aussies
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has granted provisional approval to the antibody drug Sotrovimab, allowing Australians at risk of hospitalisation to access the treatment before progressing to severe infection from Covid-19.
The approval comes after the federal government secured a shipment of 7700 doses earlier this month, with Health Minister Greg Hunt saying it would provide effective treatment against hospitalisation in mild to moderate Covid-19 cases.
“This treatment will provide another tool in the ongoing challenge against Covid-19, in addition to the vaccines … but it is not a silver bullet. ”
The new treatment, manufactured by drug giant GlaxoSmithKline, is administered via IV infusion to patients who do not require oxygen and who are at risk of progressing to severe disease.
After proving 85 per cent effective in reducing hospitalisations in its initial phase of clinical trials, Sotrovimab has been approved in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
Chief health officer Paul Kelly said the treatment is “not for everybody ... It will be mostly aimed at people that are not vaccinated and people who are at highest risk of severe disease”.
Alongside the monoclonal antibody treatment Regeneron, Sotrovimab is considered one of the most effective therapies in pinpointing antigens and fighting off Covid-19 infection.
READ MORE:Antiviral drug Sotrovimab adds to war on Covid-19
Remy Varga1.36pm:Andrews blasts PM’s Pfizer plan for 16-39 year-olds
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has cast doubt on the Prime Minister’s ability to deliver Pfizer to those aged between 16 and 39.
Mr Andrews said he hadn’t seen any of the additional Pfizer supplies and said he wouldn’t cancel any appointments for AstraZeneca.
“I wouldn’t be banking on anything being here in two weeks, like I haven’t seen that stock,” he said.
“Is it even here? I hope that by the end of the month 18 to 39-year-olds can get Pfizer. I don’t know whether they’ll be able to.”
Mr Andrews said he wasn’t informed ahead of the announcement and urged people to honour their appointments for AZ.
READ MORE:Vaccine efficacy against Delta wanes in months: study
Max Maddison1.20pm:PM warns premiers to ‘live up to agreed jab plans’
Scott Morrison has thrown his support behind NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s decision to enforce more draconian restrictions across Greater Sydney, as he warns states he expects them to “live up to the plans they’ve agreed to”.
“There are further restrictions that have been placed in NSW as they seek to make the lockdown work. It’s very important that the lockdown works. Very important the lockdown works,” Mr Morrison told journalists on Friday morning.
“Of course there are additional vaccines that have been rolling in this week … but that doesn’t take away from the necessity of the lockdown working. Those measures will add further to that.”
He also sought to address concerns West Australia Premier Mark McGowan may break his agreement to follow the national roadmap to reopening, after Josh Frydenberg warned city and state-wide economic support wouldn’t be forthcoming once vaccination thresholds were reached
“I expect the states and territories to live up to the plan they’ve agreed to. That’s what I expect them to do,” he said.
READ MORE:Desperate Premier unveils ‘final list’ of restrictions
Paige Taylor1.07pm:NSW outbreak reaches tiny Aboriginal community
The Covid-19 outbreak in western New South Wales has spread within 20km of the Queensland border to the tiny Aboriginal community of Goodooga. Two Aboriginal people in Goodooga are among the new cases announced on Friday morning at a press conference on the emergency response to the growing crisis. One of the people with Covid-19 in Goodooga has been deemed to have been infectious while in the community. Goodooga is a township of 247 people. Of those, 183 were Indigenous at the last Census in 2016.
The western NSW outbreak has now climbed to 194 cases, with one patient on a ventilator in intensive care at Dubbo hospital for the past two days.
Half of all people infected are under 30 years old and 65 per cent are Aboriginal, according to Western NSW local health district chief executive Scott McLachlan.
Most of the new cases - 21 - were in Dubbo and the majority were not infectious before they were isolated, Mr McLachlan said. There were two also new cases in Bourke and two new cases in Gilgandra.
READ MORE:Entire NSW town of Wilcannia told to get tested for Covid-19 and stay home
Remy Varga1.00pm:13 new Victorian cases linked to Youth Centre
Of Victoria’s 55 new cases, 13 are linked to the MyCentre Multicultural Youth Centre in Broadmeadows in Melbourne’s north.
Covid-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar said the earliest onset of symptoms among the cases was nine days ago on August 11.
Among the remaining cases, 14 are day 13 tests linked to the Al-Taqwa College cluster.
Three are linked to Glenroy West, four are linked to the Newport Football Club and two are linked to the Elite Gym in Newport.
Four new cases are linked to Pizza Central in Malvern, six cases are linked to St Kilda and one is linked to the Lygon St public housing tower.
Two are in Altona North, one case is in Doncaster East and one is a cabin crew member who worked in NSW, SA and Queensland.
There is one case in Pakenham, Point Cook, Port Melbourne, Brunswick and Shepparton.
READ MORE:Major concern in Vic cases
Remy Varga12.56pm:More than 1 in 4 Victorian cases are children under 10
More than one in four of Victoria’s active cases are children under the age of 10 as the Delta variant spreads among the state’s youth.
Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie said 89 children aged zero to nine had Covid-19, making up 26 per cent of the state’s cases.
There are 72 active cases among youths aged 10 and 19 and 120 cases among Victorians aged 20 to 39.
“This is a completely different epidemiological pattern than what we’ve seen previously,” acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie said.
There are six active cases aged 40-59 and 12 cases among people aged over 60.
READ MORE:Israel mandates Covid tests for kids as young as three
Lydia Lynch12.51pm:Police seize large drug stash during Covid border check
Queensland police have seized a large stash of crystal methamphetamine during a routine coronavirus border check.
A 40-year-old man was charged after being pulled over in his car at a border checkpoint on the Gold Coast on Tuesday morning.
Police allege the Hope Island man was driving while high and had 236.4 grams of a substance suspected of being crystal methamphetamine hidden behind carpet on the passenger side footwell as well as $1800 cash in the dashboard.
The man was charged with possessing drugs, proceeds of drug crime and drug utensils and was due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on Friday.
Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said people had continued to try and smuggle drugs across the border “periodically” throughout the pandemic.
“Probably not the wisest thing to do when you have got checkpoints manned by police,” he said.
“It clearly wasn’t successful.”
Max Maddison12.30pm:ACT records 12 new cases
The ACT has recorded 12 new infections, with 11 linked to known cases.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced the third day of falling case numbers on Friday, with one of the 12 cases currently under investigation. He said 20,372 people in the territory were currently in isolation.
Of the 94 cases, 87 are linked to known outbreaks. One person is in hospital.
ACT COVID-19 update (20 August 2021)
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) August 20, 2021
â–ªï¸ New cases today: 12
â–ªï¸ Active cases: 94
â–ªï¸ Negative test results (past 24 hours): 7,882
â–ªï¸ In hospital: 1
â–ªï¸ COVID-19 vaccinations in the ACT: 58.4% received first dose, 34.6% received second dose pic.twitter.com/kswnvDH0pc
Remy Varga12.25pm:Longer lockdown not ruled out: Andrews
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has refused to rule out introducing tougher restrictions, saying compliance with lockdown was the only way to crush the Delta outbreak.
Mr Andrews declared it a “bad day” for Victoria, with 30 cases infectious in the community.
“I have no restriction announcements to make, no rule changes to make today,” he said.
“But I can’t rule that out.”
Remy Varga12.20pm:Andrews: people will die if lockdown breached
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has issued a stern warning to people to follow lockdown, saying the state could not risk a repeat of last weekend.
Mr Andrews said cases would explode, people would die and Melbourne would turn into Sydney if people did not follow the rules.
“It’s not a tipping point, like we are right on the edge of this getting away from us,” he said.
Mr Andrews said he would not rule out strengthening restrictions in regional Victoria after a case was confirmed in Shepparton.
Find testing locations, opening hours and wait times at https://t.co/MISIpo0gkE
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 20, 2021
Money is available if you are worried about losing pay while you wait for a test result, or if you have to isolate. See more at https://t.co/Jm5W1tnkFL
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Nicholas Jensen 12.10pm:Berejiklian: We’re in uncharted territory
Gladys Berejiklian has again called on other state and territory leaders to learn from the NSW outbreak, saying “eventually we will all need to open up”.
“Delta is uncharted territory for Australia, and I’d like it if you speak to a few other state leaders and first ministers today, because they will tell you how difficult it is to keep the lid on it.”
Defending her government’s approach to the lockdown, Ms Berejiklian said NSW continues to “respond quickly to the advice, but we have also learned a lot”.
“I think the learnings on NSW can be applied to other states when they go through what all states will have to go through … to come to terms with the fact that eventually, you need to provide freedoms to your citizens, eventually we need to open up to the rest of the world.”
Nicholas Jensen12.00pm:NSW police chief: Wish I’d enacted curfew earlier
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has told reporters he wished he enacted the curfew on 12 LGAs of concern earlier in the outbreak.
“In hindsight, I wish that I raised curfew day one, but you probably would have laughed me out,” he said.
“There has been a progressive lockdown based on the numbers, based on whether we think there is compliance in areas and the spread of the virus,” he said.
However, Ms Berejiklian said the evidence that curfews are an effective tool against transmission remains unclear.
“While the evidence of curfews is mixed … I do not want us to have a look back and say we did not try, we do not put everything into.”
Dr Chant said the evidence for curfews was not strong, but stressed it may assist in changing people’s attitudes.
Nicholas Jensen11.55am:Residential properties ‘can be locked down’ Fuller
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said authorities will continue to crackdown on residents who break public health orders, focusing on those who choose to leave one of the 12 LGAs of concern.
“If someone enters an LGA of concern without excuse, not only will they be fined, they will be sent home and they will have to self isolate for 14 days,” he said.
Commissioner Fuller said the new powers given to the NSW Police will allow authorities to declare and lockdown a residential property “at risk”. He cited a case in Maroubra which led to eight infections following an illegal party.
In response to the evolving Delta outbreak, NSW will extend the current lockdown in Greater Sydney until the end of September, and introduce new rules targeting the local government areas of concern, where the vast majority of new cases are emerging. pic.twitter.com/KoKwl0GCin
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 20, 2021
“This is all about stopping the transmission of the virus from the areas of concern, those 12 LGA’s to the rest of Greater Sydney and certainly regional NSW. The police commission now has powers at residential premises that pose a Covid risk.”
Commissioner Fuller said new residential visits will not just make sure people comply with the health orders, but allow police and defence to “come across people who are gravely ill”.
Dr Kerry Chant said NSW Health supports the new powers given to the Police.
Remy Varga11.45am: Positive case detected 190km from Melbourne
A positive Covid-19 case has been confirmed in the regional city of Shepparton, about 190km north of Melbourne.
Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp said the person was isolating at home and any close contacts would be alerted shortly.
“Contact tracing is underway and will continue as a primary focus of GV Health‘s Local Public Health Unit,” he said.
“Further details regarding any community locations of concern will be provided once this information is known and if it represents a concern.”
Regional Victoria is not in lockdown.
Remy Varga11.40am: Andrews to provide update at 12pm
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will provide an update on the state’s Covid-19 situation at 12pm.
He will be accompanied by Health Minister Martin Foley, acting chief health officer Ben Cowie and logistics chief Ben Cowie.
Nicholas Jensen 11.35am:Five new cases in far west of NSW
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said five new cases had been reported in the state’s far west, including three in Wilcannia and two more in Broken Hill, while the central coast detected three cases in the Hunter New England local health district.
“Our focus and a message to the people of the central west, especially Dubbo, is to get tested if you have got symptoms to stay home … We saw how this escalated into Sydney, which allowed escalators in places like Victoria and the ACT, the basis for regional and rural NSW is to continue to get tested and more importantly get vaccinated.”
The state’s north coast had an additional case overnight in South Kempsey, which was a close contact to a previous case.
Nicholas Jensen 11.30am:Majority of patients in ICU unvaccinated
Deputy Chief Officer Kerry Chant said there were four deaths recorded in the last 24 hours, including a woman in her 80s from Sydney’s inner west, a man in his 70s from south-east Sydney, a man in his 80s from western Sydney and a woman in her 80s from south-west Sydney.
NSW Health confirmed there are currently 470 cases in hospital, with 80 patients in ICU. Dr Chat confirmed the vast majority of cases are not vaccinated.
“I am urging everyone, particularly those who have had the AstraZeneca vaccine, if you have had it within four weeks, bring your doctor and get an appointment.”
“Can I indicate that I understand that this is going to be so hard for everyone across New South Wales for the next 4-6 weeks. But I do not want to be standing here every day, announcing these high rates of hospitalisations and these deaths”
Nicholas Jensen11.20am:Curfew ‘to break chains of transmission’
Gladys Berejilikan said her government considered advice from police yesterday and decided to implement a 9pm to 5am curfew to help break chains of transmission across the region.
“Police will be stopping everybody who’s leaving their home from 9pm to 5am, and again this is based on police feedback received in the last few days about the type of activity that’s unfortunately being carried out by a small number of people.”
“I apologise deeply, to the vast majority of people in those communities for doing the right thing, but for our own health and safety we need to make these difficult decisions,” she said
Ms Berejiklian also said that residents in the 12 LGAs of concern must limit their exercise to one hour a day.
Nicholas Jensen 11.15am:Curfew announced for 12 hotspot LGAs
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said rising case numbers had given her no choice but introduce a curfew in the 12 LGAs of concern as well as extending the Greater Sydney lockdown.
25 are from Sth Eastern Sydney LHD, eight are from Northern Sydney LHD, three are from Hunter New England LHD, three are from Far West LHD, three are from Central Coast LHD, two are from Southern NSW LHD, one is from Mid North Coast LHD, & 12 cases are yet to be assigned
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 20, 2021
“From Monday at midnight, the Greater Sydney lockdown will extend until the end of September. I also want to state that the Central Coast and Shellharbour will be defined as regional.”
Ms Berejiklian said this will include all those areas that are currently in lockdown in Greater Sydney, except the Central Coast and Shellharbour.
Ms Berejikilian announced there would also be a curfew introduced in the LGAs of concern which will run from 9pm until 5am.
From Monday midnight, unless you are exercising, masks must also be worn outdoors at all times across NSW.
Nicholas Jensen11am:Lockdown extended as NSW records 642 cases
Greater Sydney’s lockdown has been extended until September 30 after NSW recorded 642 locally acquired cases of Covid-19, with at least 41 people infectious in the community.
There were four deaths recorded in the last 24 hours; two women in their 80s a man in his 80s and a man in his 70s.
Of the 644 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 256 are from Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), 222 are from South Western Sydney LHD, 47 are from Sydney LHD, 35 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 27 are from Western NSW LHD,
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 20, 2021
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the south west and western Sydney remain the key areas of concern.
There were over 132,000 vaccinations conducted across the state yesterday, reaching 5.6m jabs in NSW, with 29 per cent of the population fully vaccinated.
Lydia Lynch10.55am: Mandatory vax possible for travellers to Qld
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer has left the door open for mandatory vaccination for interstate travellers when the state’s border reopens.
From Friday, all essential workers from NSW must have at least one jab to enter Queensland.
Asked if it was likely this would be extended for all arrivals once the borders reopened, Dr Jeannette Young said it was “possible”.
Queensland has begun tightening eligibility requirements for those crossing state lines for work with thousands continuing to arrive from NSW every day.
Medical professionals, agriculture workers and those building critical infrastructure will still be allowed into the state is there is no staff in Queensland able to do the job.
“The more people we have crossing the border the more chance one of them, and it only takes one, has Covid,” Dr Young said.
“The aim here is to just slow the movement across the border.”
Nicholas Jensen10.46am:SA eases restrictions, opens border to NT, regional Qld
South Australia has softened its border rules for the Northern Territory and regional Queensland, after the state’s transition committee met this morning to consider the easing of restrictions.
Health officials have advised that home gatherings can now be raised from ten to 20 people, function centres can host 150 people and stand up drinking is allowed at private gatherings if there is 1 person per 2 square metres.
Travellers from south-east Queensland, including Brisbane, will also be permitted to enter, after they undertake a test and isolate until they return a negative result. However, residents from Katherine will not be allowed to cross the border.
The state’s borders remain closed to NSW, Victoria and the ACT.
Last week, the SA government declined to ease any restrictions after a case travelled through the far west of NSW while infectious in recent days.
Health officials remain on high alert following the detection of a Covid-19 case in Broken Hill.
Nicholas Jensen10.15am:Tasmania premier to release lockdown plan
Despite recording zero cases of Covid-19, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein says his government will release a lockdown plan to residents, explaining what will occur if a statewide lockdown is imposed.
“I haven’t sugar coated the information around the challenges that we face at any time over the last 18 months,” the Premier told a press conference this morning.
“Today we’ll be releasing additional information to help Tasmanians understand what will occur should a lockdown be necessary in the state … What we’re doing is putting in a plan to indicate to people what will occur (if we go into lockdown).”
Mr Gutwein stressed this did not mean there would be a lockdown, but said the example of other jurisdictions shows that it is crucial “to get on top of this as quickly as possible”.
“Our intention is to go in as hard as we possibly can, and to be in a lockdown for three to five days.”
It is understood the lockdown plan details restrictions on businesses, gatherings in homes, access to aged care facilities and hospitals, as well as the use of face masks and social distancing.
Mr Gutwein said there is no “magic number” to trigger a lockdown and how long the lockdown will last.
READ MORE: Do numbers on carrots and sticks
Lydia Lynch10.10am: Qld child tests positive after 4 negative tests
One new local case was confirmed in Queensland on Friday.
The child was in home quarantine for their entire infectious period after being named as a close contact.
They tested negative four times during their quarantine stay, but serology testing confirmed they did have the virus and had since recovered.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said 127 defence force members from the navy, army and airforce would begin patrolling the Queensland/NSW border on Wednesday.
Friday 20 August – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 20, 2021
No new community transmission in Queensland overnight.
1 new locally acquired case - a historical case detected in home quarantine, and linked to the Indooroopilly Delta cluster.
0 new overseas acquired cases.#covid19pic.twitter.com/BOjb7sMi24
Max Maddison 9.55am: Covid zero means zero travel: Porter
Industry, Science and Technology Minister Christian Porter says Australians have a right to travel “without threat”, as West Australia Premier Mark McGowan moves to completely cut off his state from NSW.
Mr McGowan has flagged he will continue to reserve his right to close the state’s border and lockdown in the pursuit of zero infections, even once the nation reached the thresholds outlined by the Doherty Institute, but Mr Porter said leaders needed to accept the virus would be around for years.
“It’s conceivable, I guess, that in some kind of geographical area, whether it’s a state or territory or an island or whatever it might be that you can potentially get close to zero Covid. But that would mean also getting very close to zero travel,” Mr Porter told Sky News on Friday morning.
“Australians have a right to travel. I think they want to travel. And I think that in the long run, what we have to do is structure an Australian society where people are able to travel,” he later added.
“Our federation, state to state, territory was built upon the simple premise that Australians, whether you’re a West Australian or a South Australian from Victoria, you are able to leave their state and return to their state without threat, and that is a founding principle.”
With the world reopening rapidly, Mr Porter said jurisdictions like WA would soon be forced to live with the emotional and economic consequences of zero Covid, if they decided to pursue an eradication strategy.
“Businesses suffer, the tourism industry gets completely destroyed in any jurisdiction that decides that they’re going to try and get close to Covid zero over the next decade,” Mr Porter said.
READ MORE:Why economy will get through crisis
Stephen Rice9.50am:Lockdown protest organiser Khallouf charged
One of the activists behind last month’s violent anti-lockdown march has been charged with breaching Public Health Orders after The Australian revealed earlier this week he had slipped into Sydney to organise a planned illegal rally on Saturday.
Anthony Khallouf, the founder of Australians vs The Agenda, arrived in Sydney on Sunday after driving from Queensland in breach of travel restrictions, and spent two days moving around the city in disregard of public health orders.
Mr Khallouf had booked into View Sydney, a luxury four-star hotel in North Sydney with expansive views overlooking Sydney harbour and the city.
Detectives from North Shore Police Area Command went to the hotel on Wednesday morning, only to discover Mr Khallouf had left.
On Wednesday afternoon Mr Khallouf live-streamed a brief call for help to his supporters on social media, saying: “I need everybody to call the NSW police right now and tell them there’s a threat to my life.”
.
Remy Varga9.40am:New alert over Melbourne vaccination hub
A vaccination hub in the Melbourne suburb Frankston has been declared an exposure site but has not been listed on the Victorian government’s website.
According to Peninsula Health, an asymptomatic person received a Covid-19 vaccine at the Frankston Community Vaccination Hub at Bayside Centre on Monday before testing positive on Thursday.
“Due to the positive case attending the venue earlier this week, the Frankston Community Vaccination Hub has been deemed a Tier Two Exposure site,” a spokesperson said.
“If you attended the venue between the times of 11.30am and 12.45pm on Monday August 16, please get tested as soon as possible and isolate until you receive a negative result.”
Nicholas Jensen9.30am:NZ cases spread to capital
New Zealand health authorities are bracing for more cases of Covid-19 today, following fears the outbreak has spread from Auckland to Wellington.
On Thursday New Zealand reported 11 local cases of the Delta variant, taking the number of total active cases to 21.
The New Zealand Herald is reporting there are now at least 30 local cases, with more details to be revealed later this afternoon.
It is understood at least two cases have been detected in Wellington, while authorities consider a lockdown extension, which is due to end on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said genomic sequencing confirmed the Auckland outbreak was linked back to the NSW outbreak, after a traveller returned from Sydney earlier this month.
READ MORE: WA threat to NSW
Remy Varga 9.20am:Vic exposure sites grow
Supermarkets, a McDonalds and a pizza restaurant are among new exposure sites in Melbourne as the number of possible sites of transmission increased to 536 overnight.
Victoria’s Health Department has declared the following sites tier two exposure sites, meaning anyone who visited the sites during the potential exposure period must urgently undergo testing and isolate until they receive a result
Reported yesterday: 55 new local cases and 2 new cases acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 19, 2021
- 28,601 vaccine doses were administered
- 48,273 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/0KXXl2mb0M
They are:
Coles Broadmeadows 10:05am - 10:55am on 17/08/2021
Jack Roper Reserve Broadmeadows 3:30pm - 4:25pm 13/08/2021
Pizza Boy Pascoe Vale 5:55pm - 6:35pm 13/08/2021 5:55pm - 6:35pm
Altona Gate Shopping Centre Altona North 11:30am - 1:30pm 17/08/2021
BP Keilor Park on Fullarton Road 3:20pm - 4:00pm 06/08/2021
The Reject Shop on Puckle St in Moonee Ponds 12:00pm - 12:45pm 17/08/2021
McDonald’s on Main St in Lilydale 2:14pm - 2:34pm 14/08/2021
READ MORE:Major concern in state’s new cases
Nicholas Jensen 9.00am:Families forced into iso as exposed teacher refuses test
More than 40 families in Melbourne have been forced back into mandatory quarantine, after a teacher refused to undertake a Covid-19 test.
The Herald Sun is reporting a Glenroy kindergarten teacher refused a test despite potentially being exposed to the virus.
According to reports, about 50 families linked to the York St Kindergarten, located in Glenroy West, will now be forced to complete another two-weeks of mandatory quarantine because of the refusal.
However, the teacher, who attended the kindergarten between August 6 and August 12, will not face any penalties because it is not illegal to refuse a test.
Premier Daniel Andrews said getting a test was the “least you can do” to stop the spread of the virus.
“If you’re asked to test because there’s a sense you may have the virus, and we want to rule you out … I don’t think that’s such a big ask,” he said.
Remy Varga 8.50am: Victoria records 55 new local cases
Victoria has recorded 55 new local cases in the 24 hours to Thursday night, of which 30 were in the community for at least part of their infectious period.
Of Friday’s cases, 49 are linked to known outbreaks.
There are 57 new cases reported today with 55 local cases and two cases acquired overseas. Of the locally-acquired cases, 49 are linked to known outbreaks and 25 have been in isolation for the entirety of their infectious period. [1/2]
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 19, 2021
Max Maddison 8.45am:Decision on jabs for 12-15 yr olds ‘next week’
Health Minister Greg Hunt says he expects the country’s expert panel on immunisation to decide on opening up Covid-19 vaccinations to 12-15-year-olds to get Covid-19 by “the end of next week”.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has already approved jabs for children who are immunocompromised or have underlying medical conditions, a cohort of around 220,000. But with the Delta variant indiscriminately impacting kids, Mr Hunt said a decision was imminent.
“They’re considering that at the moment and we’re hopeful by the end of next week they’ll be in position to have formed a view, but on balance, the early indications are that it’s likely that they will approve that,” Mr Hunt told Sky News on Friday morning.
Max Maddison8.40am:Hunt warns states: we keep common cause
Health Minister Greg Hunt has made a veiled swipe at states who are considering breaking ranks despite the agreed national roadmap, saying the direction for the country is “clear”.
With West Australia Premier Mark McGowan reserving the right to lockdown even once 80 per cent of the state was vaccinated, Mr Hunt signalled the need for unity across the nation, saying the targets give the country a “common purpose”.
Health Minister @GregHuntMP says he's "hopeful" a decision will be made on covid jabs for children aged 12-15 "within the next week" amid a huge surge in infections among kids. pic.twitter.com/ZVJt8cFzj4
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) August 19, 2021
“What it does do is it means we keep a common cause and a common direction and it plays an incredibly important role in that all states and territories have adopted and signed up to the 70 and 80 per cent thresholds,” Mr Hunt told Seven’s Sunrise on Friday morning.
“We have always respected their role as jurisdictions under the circumstances on the ground, but the direction for the country is clear. 70 per cent, 80 per cent: these numbers give Australians hope, a target, a common purpose and they give us a pathway.”
READ MORE:16 new cases in ACT
Nicholas Jensen8.30am: NT to vax 12 - 15-yr-olds from today
The NT government will begin to vaccinate children aged between 12 and 15 today in a bid to stop the transmission of the Delta variant amongst children and protect the territory’s Indigenous community.
In Greater Darwin, children aged 12 to 15 will only be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine if they have an underlying medical condition or if they are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. However, there remains no eligibility requirements for children outside the Greater Darwin region.
NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the government wanted to target vulnerable and exposed remote communities, and provide a range of delivery options.
“We know the Delta strain of the virus is more infectious than every previous variant and we need to take every step to ensure we are keeping Territorians safe,” she said.
“The vaccine is available, free and effective and I want to encourage every Territorian to get vaccinated so we can reach the other side of this pandemic.”
Earlier this week, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he was monitoring the crisis in NSW and concerned about the threat the virus poses to young people and Aboriginal communities in the NT.
The rollout expansion comes after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the Pfizer vaccine will be made available to all Australians aged 16 to 39 by the end of the month.
READ MORE: Job numbers straight out of Covid Disneyland
Andrew McMillen 8.20am:Splendour in the Grass cancelled
The horror run for major Australian events in 2021 continues, as the organisers of Byron Bay festival Splendour in the Grass announced on Friday that the event planned for late November has been rescheduled.
“With vaccine rollout progressing more slowly than anticipated, we have made the decision to move the 20th anniversary edition of the festival to July 2022,” said co-founders Jessica Ducrou and Paul Piticco in a statement.
“We are confident that moving the festival to July 2022 will finally see us enjoying Splendour in the Grass in all its glory,” they said. “More of the population will be vaccinated, international talent will have the ability to enter the country more freely and we’ll be able to deliver the Splendour in the Grass that you know and love.”
On yet another dark day for music fans, the one bright spot is that the headliners previously announced for the 2021 edition are all confirmed for the new dates, July 22-24.
Nicholas Jensen8.00am: Dutton welcomes NSW vax freedom plan
Defence Minister Peter Dutton has welcomed reports this morning that NSW will consider lifting some restrictions once its population reaches 70 percent vaccination, saying it will provide encouragement and hope for its residents.
Responding to reports in The Australian, Minister Dutton told the Today program: “If that plan is the case, and that is what has happened elsewhere in the world, let’s have a look at it ... It will give some hope for people and some encouragement and incentive to get the vaccine is important.”
While supporting lockdown measures, Mr Dutton said leaders need to be conscious “there is a big price to pay”.
“Reports of mental health conditions particularly amongst kids and the rest are concerning and we have to be mindful of that.”
Mr Dutton also called on Premier Gladys Berejiklian to move the NSW-Queensland border further south during the current outbreak.
“We have thousands of cars a day. People who can’t get to work at the Gold Coast Hospital and people who need treatment at the Gold Coast Hospital. If you are coming up from the Tweed you have just all this checkpoint drama which is not necessary.”
“If it was moved a little further south, that would be positive. Most of these people have much closer connections to the Gold Coast than they do Sydney,” he said.
READ MORE: NSW freedom plan for fully vaccinated
Nicholas Jensen 7.40am: NSW alerts list grows overnight
A supermarket, restaurant and backpacker residence have been named as the latest Covid-hit venues in NSW, with contact tracers racing to contain the spread of the Delta variant.
The sites are among a string of new locations that have been added to the state’s expanding list of exposure sites, including a Woolworths in Raymond Terrace, Summer House Backpackers in Newtown and Burger Urge in central Dubbo.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – NEW VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 19, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of new venues of concern across NSW that are associated with confirmed cases of COVID 19. pic.twitter.com/EFbhd2HsaX
Burger Urge, Shop 34-35, Dubbo Square, 177 Macquarie St, August 14, from 6.45pm to 7pm
Summer House Backpackers, Newtown, 5-11 Egan Street, all day August 12 and August 13
Woolworths, Raymond Terrace, MarketPlace, 39 Port Stephens Street, August 8, 7.20am to 10.50am
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days since they were there, regardless of the result.
READ MORE:Record calls to suicide line
Nicholas Jensen7.15am:States must reopen at 80pc vax: Frydenberg
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has warned state and territory leaders there should be “no expectation” of continued economic support from the commonwealth once their populations reach the 70 to 80 per cent vaccination threshold.
“All premiers, chief ministers and the prime minister had bought the same ticket out of this crisis and that’s to get the vaccination rates up to 70 to 80 per cent,” the Treasurer told Sky News this morning.
“At that point, there should be no expectation on behalf of the states and the territories that the commonwealth’s significant emergency economic support will continue at the scale that it has already been delivered.”
Mr Frydenberg said it was essential that state and territory leaders delivered on their promises and followed the recommendations set out in the Doherty Institute’s modelling.
“Once we get to that 70 per cent target, the Doherty Institute has said that stringent lockdowns become unlikely. And at that point, the state premiers and chief ministers have to level with their public and say we’ve met that target.”
“People have been faithful to reaching that target, they’ve gone out and got the vaccination. And at that point in time restrictions should ease.”
READ MORE: Melbourne curfew heading for the courts
Nicholas Jensen6.55am:Covid cases around the country
After recording 681 local infections, a new peak in daily cases, the NSW government announced an extension to the state’s regional lockdown, with restrictions to remain in place until at least August 28.
While 25 new cases were detected in western NSW, with three additional cases in Wilcannia, south-western and western Sydney remains the epicentre of the state’s Delta outbreak.
Merrylands, Guildford, Auburn, Granville, Lidcombe, Greenacre and Blacktown continue to show the fastest rates of infection.
NSW recorded 681 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 19, 2021
Of these locally acquired cases, 170 linked to a known case or cluster – 149 are household contacts & 21 are close contacts – & the source of infection for 511 cases is under investigation pic.twitter.com/kyq5RDvGzE
Despite spiralling case numbers, a defiant Gladys Berejiklian rebuffed her critics on Wednesday, telling reporters NSW remains the first state in the country to confront the challenge of the “insidious” Delta variant.
She warned other states and territories would also need to abandon their Covid zero targets and learn to live with the virus.
“This is the challenge that every state has to live with: the fact that once you get to 80 per cent double doses, and your population is allowed to live more freely, the Delta variant will creep in because we are so connected.”
“We are confronting this earlier than what we had hoped,” she added.
NSW administered 110,000 vaccinations on Wednesday, taking the state total to 5.5m.
Meanwhile, the ACT reported 16 new local infections, bringing its total number of 83
Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the capital was entering a crucial stage of the pandemic, warning the virus needed to be suppressed now or risk becoming like NSW.
ACT COVID-19 update (19 August 2021)
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) August 19, 2021
â–ªï¸ New cases today: 16
â–ªï¸ Active cases: 83
â–ªï¸ Negative test results (past 24 hours): 6,937
â–ªï¸ï¸ COVID-19 vaccinations in the ACT: 57.3% received first dose, 33.1% received second dose
More information: https://t.co/2rCcWDk4wlpic.twitter.com/k6HkKMcdsz
“We don’t want to live like Sydney with ever-growing case numbers two months into a lockdown, with the virus seeding out all over the country and into New Zealand,” he said.
The source of nine cases remain under investigation, including five further infections reported on Thursday.
The number of close contacts associated with Canberra’s exposure sites doubled in one day, with more than 19,000 residents identified.
In the Northern Territory, the lockdown of Greater Darwin ended on Thursday after zero local cases were recorded, while restrictions remained in place in Katherine.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the lack of cases meant authorities were comfortable lifting the lockdown in Darwin, but wanted to monitor Katherine for at least another 24 hours.
“We need Katherine to hang tight for another day,” said Mr Gunner.
Rachel Baxendale5am:Andrews weighs longer lockdown for Victoria
Victoria has recorded its highest daily coronavirus case count since the state’s deadly second wave last year, leaving Premier Daniel Andrews unable to rule out a longer lockdown.
Health authorities on Thursday said they were reassured the vast majority of new cases were quarantined throughout their infectious period but warned the battle was far from over as mystery cases continued to emerge.
Of 57 new community-acquired cases recorded in the 24 hours to midnight on Thursday, 44 were close contacts quarantined as part of a cluster that emerged just over a fortnight ago, starting with an Al-Taqwa College teacher in her 20s and her optometrist partner, who live in Newport in Hobsons Bay in Melbourne’s inner southwest.
That cluster now comprises 255 cases, and includes subclusters at the Caroline Springs Square shopping centre where the teacher’s partner worked, and the Newport football club where he played AFL, as well as a smaller cluster linked to a Melton family, and a larger one linked to Glenroy West Primary School.
A further 10 people spent time in the community while infectious and were linked to more recent clusters, including one centred on public housing towers in Carlton, another linked to cases in the Jewish Orthodox community in East St Kilda, and a third associated with an East Malvern pizza shop.
Three mystery cases include residents of Glenroy and Ascot Vale in Melbourne’s northwest, and a resident of Doncaster in Melbourne’s east.
Of 309 cases linked to Victorian outbreaks that have emerged since August 4, 156, or 50 per cent, have been in quarantine for the duration of their infectious period – up significantly from 36 per cent last Sunday.
Read the full story here.
Yoni Bashan4.45am:Freedom plan for fully vaccinated in NSW
Bars, restaurants and gyms would reopen to the fully inoculated once vaccination coverage across NSW reaches 70 per cent, under a proposal drawn up by government ministers and awaiting sign off from Gladys Berejiklian.
Businesses are unlikely to receive a September reprieve from the current NSW lockdown under the plan, which is expected to be finalised and announced next week.
Instead, individuals are likely to be the beneficiaries of low-risk adjustments to restrictions, with the state’s chief psychiatrist, Murray Wright, making assessments and submissions to the government for some rules to be eased over the next six weeks.
These are likely to include an expansion of the existing “singles bubble”, and other measures, but they are unlikely to apply to Greater Sydney’s 12 local government areas of concern, where the virus remains concentrated.
The NSW Premier has stopped short of detailing the road map, despite again raising the prospect of lifting some restrictions as vaccination rates rise.
Thursday was a record day for vaccinations, with 309,000 doses administered. More than half of all eligible Australians have now received at least one dose.
Read the full story, by Yoni Bashan and Geoff Chambers, here.
Jess Malcolm4.30am:AstraZeneca set for name change in Australia
AstraZeneca has changed the brand name of its Covid-19 vaccine to Vaxzevria after it was granted approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The pharmaceutical giant hopes the name change will help to smooth the pathway for Australians vaccinated with the domestically produced Vaxzevria to travel internationally.
Vaxzevria is the brand name already in use in Europe and the UK, approved by both the European Medicines Agency and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK.
The use of its previous name (Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca) had triggered concerns that some European countries or the UK may not recognise the Australian-produced AstraZeneca vaccine, or that it would be seen differently to the same vaccine made overseas.
Read the full story here.
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‘We have leadership role on climate change’
Anthony Albanese says Australia is playing a ‘leadership role’ in preparing the Pacific for climate change as he arrived in Samoa for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders.
Middle East ceasefire would help my CPI war: Chalmers
Jim Chalmers will make an economic case for a ceasefire in the Middle East and open a new front in Labor’s push to end conflict in the region, warning the ‘global middle class’ will be hurt.