Coronavirus Australia live news: ADF to boost Sydney Covid-19 compliance; record 239 cases for NSW as Gladys Berejiklian brings in new mask order, 5km limit
NSW calls in 300 troops and Gladys Berejiklian introduces tough new measures as state hits 239 cases, 70 of which were infectious in the community.
- ADF to boost Sydney Covid-19 compliance
- NSW records 239 cases
- Proof that vaccines save lives
- $1bn/week virus rescue package
Welcome to live updates on the Covid-19 pandemic.
NSW Police Commissioner Michael Fuller has confirmed that has formally requested the Australian Defence Force to assist with ongoing COVID-19 compliance operations across southwestern and western Sydney.
Gladys Berejiklian introduces mask mandate, 5km limits for hot spots as NSW records 239 cases, 70 of which were infectious in the community.
Vaccinations have prevented scores of infections in aged care during the NSW Delta outbreak, with only six cases recorded among residents in aged-care facilities despite a total of more than 2500 infections. The news comes as Scott Morrison and Gladys Berejiklian committed to a rescue package of $1bn a week to protect jobs and keep employers afloat.
Glenda Korporaal8.45pm: Get vax or stay at home: NAB boss
National Australia Bank chief executive Ross McEwan has told people who do not want to get vaccinated that they can “stay at home” while those who are vaccinated should be given more freedom.
In some of the strongest comments by a business leader, in an interview on Melbourne radio 3AW, Mr McEwan urged Australians to get vaccinated.
“Let’s get on with the job,” he said.
Robyn Ironside 8pm: Virus success leaves Bali in the shade
A resort island just a six-hour flight from Brisbane is aiming to be Australia’s new “Bali” as the world recovers from the brutal Covid-19 pandemic.
Saipan, which is the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific Ocean, has already managed to get 70 per cent of its adult population fully vaccinated and is on track to achieve 80 per cent, or the “herd immunity threshold”, in coming weeks.
In preparation for the islands’ economic recovery, Governor Ralph Torres is backing plans for a new leisure airline known as Marianas Pacific to operate services to other Covid-safe countries, with Australia high on the list.
Marianas Pacific chairman Neil Hansford, a veteran of Australian aviation, said as the Covid crisis eased, the demand for Covid-safe destinations would skyrocket with Saipan an obvious choice.
“No Australian health authority is going to allow travel to Bali any time soon, same with the Philippines. Australians are going to want to go somewhere that’s Covid-safe and Saipan ticks all the boxes,” Mr Hansford said.
“It’s the same distance (from Brisbane) as Bali, it has the same quality of hotels, the same sort of resorts, better diving, English is the main language and they’re in the same time zone as us.”
Sabrina Siddiqui, Tarini Parti 7.15pm:Biden to mandate jabs, tests for agencies
US President Biden is expected to announce on Friday AEST that his administration will require federal employees to get vaccinated or be regularly tested for Covid-19, according to a person familiar with the discussions.
The move would represent the latest effort by the administration to address the highly transmissible Delta variant of the coronavirus.
The person familiar with the situation said no decision has been finalised, and the policy is still under review. The person said the administration is also strongly considering more stringent masking protocols for unvaccinated federal workers. Such policies could affect millions of workers, depending on which categories of employees were included.
Dov Lieber, Rory Jones6.30pm:Israel to vaccinate children under 12
Israel has authorised the use of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for vulnerable children between five and 11 years old, as cases of the highly contagious Delta variant rise sharply.
Israeli officials said young children should be given the shot if they have a high likelihood of serious illness or death from Covid-19 because of underlying conditions such as severe obesity, chronic lung disease, immunosuppression or heart failure.
The health ministry said each individual case would require special approval and children would be given a lower dosage of the vaccine — 10 micrograms instead of the usual 30 micrograms — in accordance with data provided from Pfizer. A spokesman for Pfizer said dosing regimens reside with health authorities as opposed to the pharmaceutical company.
Joseph Lam5.45pm: New close-contact list
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed or travelled on the transport routes for more than 30 minutes is a close contact and must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.
● Pyrmont: Health Space Clinic, 172 Harris Street: Friday, July 23, from 9am to 10am
● Forest Lodge: Chambers Cellars, Shop T2/1A Dalgal Way: Saturday, July 24, 1.45pm to 2.05pm
● Annandale: Booth Street Bakery, 87 Booth Street, Sunday, July 25: 2.45pm to 3.15pm
● Train: From Gosford to Central: Friday, July 23, 4.32pm to 5.58pm
● Train: From Strathfield to Tuggerah: Friday, July 23, 12.31pm to 1.50pm
Anyone who attended the following venues or travelled on the following transport routes at the times listed is a casual contact who must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received. If your date of exposure at this venue occurred in the past four days, you must get another test on day five from the date of exposure. Wear a mask around others and limit your movements until you get another negative result.
● Chester Hill: Miller Road Pharmacy, 85 Miller Road: Monday, July 19, from 11.40am to 12.10pm
● Chester Hill: Miller Market, 93 Miller Road: Monday, July 19, from 11.30am to 11.50am
● Belmore: Belmore Lebanese Bakery, 339 Burwood Road, Thursday, July 22, from 2.13pm to 2.18pm
● Pyrmont: Goldsbrough Apartments — all residents, 243 Pyrmont Street: Friday, July 23, all day; Saturday, July 24, all day; Sunday, July 25, all day; Monday, July 26, all day; Tuesday, July 27, all day
● Train: From Cabramatta to Auburn Wednesday, July 21, 8.33pm to 8.52pm
● Train: From Yennora to Lidcombe: Friday, July 23, 5.11pm to 5.26pm
● Train: From Strathfield to Redfern: Monday, July 19, 8.59am to 9.10am
● Train: From Redfern to Burwood: Tuesday, July 20, 6.47pm to 6.58pm
● Train: From Burwood to Redfern: Tuesday, July 20, 9.37am to 9.48am
● Train: From Redfern to Burwood: Tuesday, July 20, 6.47pm to 6.57pm
● Train: From Burwood to Strathfield: Friday, July 23, 12.12pm to 12.14pm
● Train: From Central to Riverwood: Friday, July 23, 8.09pm to 8.39pm
● Train: From Burwood to Riverwood: Saturday, July 24, 3.36pm to 3.51pm
● Train: From Central to Riverwood Saturday, July 24, 3.54pm to 4.25pm
● Train: From Bankstown to Canterbury: Wednesday, July 21, 5.37pm to 5.51pm
●Train: From Canterbury to Bankstown Wednesday, July 21, 6.20am to 6.33am
Matthew Denholm5pm:Tasmania to open border to Victorians
Tasmania will reopen its borders to Victorians on Thursday night.
Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said from midnight Victoria “will no longer be designated as a high-risk area”.
“This means ... people in home or hotel quarantine in Tasmania because they were recently in Victoria will be able to leave quarantine, as long as they have not been at a high-risk premises in Victoria or another state, or anywhere in New South Wales, in the past 14 days,” he said.
“It also means that from tomorrow (Friday) people will be once again able to enter Tasmania from Victoria, provided they have not been at high-risk premises in Victoria or another state, or anywhere in NSW, in the past 14 days.
“People who have been at a high-risk premises in Victoria are still required to remain in quarantine until their quarantine and testing requirements have been completed.”
Joseph Lam 3.50pm: ‘We’ll throw the book’ at those charging for jabs’: Hunt
Greg Hunt says the federal government will “throw the book” at any medical facility that attempts to charge patients for costs associated with a Covid-19 vaccine.
Responding to reports GPs have been charging patients for consultation patients fees, the Federal Health Minister said it was not acceptable.
“This is plain bad behaviour,” he said.
“If we can have the details we will chase this and if that story is accurate, we’ll throw the book at them.”
Mr Hunt said the government had invested about $10 million into the vaccine rollout to cover administrative and consultation costs and that no clinic should be charging patients for either of those costs.
Joseph Lam 3.50pm: Greater Sydney hotspot status extended to August 28
The commonwealth hotspot status of greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains and central coast, has been extended until August 28.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the change on Thursday, noting payment assistance would be extended with the hotspot status.
“Most significantly, that brings with it an extension of the Covid disaster relief payment and other related payments,” he said.
The federal government will also be ramping up its messaging in multicultural communities, having sought assistance from multicultural community advisory groups.
Mr Hunt said the campaign would include “additional materials, additional advertisements going forward across a variety of platforms, whether that is online, whether it is in local papers, or whether it is in SBS or other channels,” he said.
This daily infographic provides the total number of vaccine doses administered in Australia as of 28 July 2021. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccine information here: https://t.co/vqZuOLzB2Ppic.twitter.com/vqFG0BfElM
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) July 29, 2021
Yoni Bashan3.36pm: ADF to boost Sydney Covid-19 compliance
NSW Police Commissioner Michael Fuller has confirmed that has formally requested the Australian Defence Force to assist with ongoing COVID-19 compliance operations across southwestern and western Sydney.
In a statement released on Thursday, Mr Fuller said the police force would be “significantly expanding” its enforcement activities over the coming days, with 300 ADF personnel requested to “boost its operational footprint”.
“I have now made a formal request to the Prime Minister for ADF personnel to assist with that operation,” Mr Fuller said.
Police Minister David Elliott said the army’s training and skills had been a valuable asset during previous operations targeting natural disasters, including floods and bushfires.
“This will be a functional, effective and dynamic team to fight this pandemic,” he said.
Heath Parkes-Hupton2.53pm: Hotspot man fined for sunrise trip to south coast
A man from one of Sydney’s coronavirus hot spots has been slapped with a hefty fine after escaping the city to “watch the sunrise”, police say.
Highway Patrol officers stopped the man, from Liverpool, on the M1 motorway at Wollongong after he was clocked travelling more than 20km/h over the speed limit.
He was fined for both speeding and breaching public health orders by leaving Sydney without a valid excuse.
In total the man was slugged $1494 and ordered to return home.
“Travelling from a Sydney hotspot to the south coast to see the sunrise is not a valid excuse for breaching the ‘Stay at Home’ Public Health Orders,” police said on Facebook.
“Nor is it an excuse for speeding.
“This gentleman was detected on the M1 Motorway at Wollongong travelling at 107km/h (in an 80km/h zone).
“When stopped, it was identified the male driver had travelled from his Liverpool address, and was heading down the south coast to watch the sunrise.”
Liverpool is within one of the eight Sydney local government areas under the strictest lockdown rules imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.
People in those areas are not allowed to leave their LGA unless they are health or aged care workers and can only travel 5km from their homes.
Erin Lyons2.11pm:Alarming numbers face job losses from Sydney lockdown
Tens of thousands of Sydneysiders are predicted to lose their jobs because of the strict lockdown measures as the Covid crisis continues to escalate.
One of the nation’s ‘big four’ banks has tipped between 50,000 and 60,000 workers in NSW would lose their jobs because of the lockdown.
But the lockdown extension means that figure could be much higher.
“We expect the recovery will be delayed for at least one month (from what we had previously factored in) to October,” a report from ANZ stated.
“As we’ve previously noted, hours worked, underemployment and participation tend to be much more affected by lockdowns than employment or unemployment rates.”
While NAB predicted the current lockdown won’t have too much of an influence on economic recovery and job loss, but that was before Gladys Berejiklian announced a four week extension to the stay-at-home orders.
“At this stage we do not see the recovery as having been derailed, given the significant momentum heading into the current disruptions but there are some downside risks to our forecasts if we see material extension to the lockdown,” a report from NAB revealed.
Unemployment is predicted to continue declining, reaching 4.8 per cent by end 2021, and 4.6 per cent by the end of 2022.
“While highly uncertain, we see full employment consistent with an unemployment rate in the low 4’s (per cent).”
On Wednesday it was revealed support was on its way for NSW with Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announcing that businesses were now eligible for payments of up to $100,000 per week. – NCA Newswire
READ MORE:Houses beat units in latest boom
Robyn Ironside 1.35pm:Digital health pass for all Qantas passengers
Passengers travelling overseas with Qantas or Jetstar when international borders reopen will be required to carry a new “digital health pass” with information about Covid tests and vaccination status.
A day after Qantas appealed to the federal government to mandate Covid vaccinations for aviation workers, the airline has revealed what will be required of travellers in future.
The travel pass developed by the International Air Transport Association has been trialled by Qantas on overseas repatriation flights this year and is considered the most secure and convenient way to verify a passenger’s Covid status.
Delivered in the form of a free smart phone app, the pass allows vaccine certificates and proof of a negative Covid test from a certified testing lab to be uploaded before a flight.
Ellie Dudley 1.24pm:‘Vax rejecters don’t base decisions on science’
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has labelled anyone who rejects the Covid-19 vaccine as “extremely selfish.”
“There are a lot of people who don’t base their decisions on science,” Mr Hazzard told Thursday’s press conference.
“We had a question from a journalist here before about some people not wanting to take vaccines. My message to them is you are being extremely selfish.
“If you think you cannot have a vaccine just because you don’t want to have a vaccine, well you should think about what you are doing to your family and the community.”
NSW recorded two new deaths of Covid-19 in NSW on Thursday. Both were elderly members of the community who had not been vaccinated.
READ MORE:The Mocker – Where’s the sisterhood defending Gladys against male premiers?
Erin Lyons1.11pm:Chilling ICU warning to younger people
There are 10 NSW residents younger than 20 in intensive care with Covid-19, issuing a chilling warning to young people.
A staggering 239 new infections were diagnosed overnight, marking the darkest day for the state since the pandemic began.
Fifty-four people were in ICU in NSW, including two teenagers and eight residents in their 20s.
Another four in their 30s and three in their 40s were also in intensive care, debunking a myth that Covid only impacts older people.
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said 22 people are on ventilators but did not reveal which age brackets they fit into.
“They’re young,” she said of the patients in ICU.
There are currently 182 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 54 people in intensive care, 22 of whom require ventilation.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 29, 2021
“Many of the cases are young. It's not only an old persons’ disease. So everyone should discuss vaccination. My message is get vaccinated.”
The warning comes after a 38-year-old woman died from Covid last week. Adriana Midori Takara died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital after she contracted the disease.
The Brazilian citizen, who was studying accounting in Sydney, had no underlying health conditions but died about 10 days after testing positive to the highly contagious Delta variant.
EXPLAINER: Just how contagious is the Delta variant?
Remy Varga12.22pm:Infectious traffic controller visited partner in unit block
A Covid positive traffic controller visited his partner at an apartment complex in the southwest Melbourne suburb of Newport while he was infectious.
Acting COVID-19 Commander Naomi Bromley said residents of the apartment complex had all been called this morning while a number of the traffic controller’s workplace contacts were in isolation.
How the man, who worked at the Moonee Valley racecourse testing site for two-days while infectious, contracted the virus remains under investigation.
Of Victoria’s six new cases, four are students from Bacchus Marsh Grammar who tested positive on their day fourteen tests.
The other two are linked to the LaCrosse apartment complex in Docklands.
There are about 30,000 Victorians who remain in isolation as primary close contacts.
READ MORE: Durie – Follow the global trend for worker jabs
Ellie Dudley11.49am:No fully vaccinated patients in hospital
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the strongest argument against vaccine hesitancy is that there are no cases in hospital at the moment who have been fully inoculated.
“There is no stronger evidence than the fact that two doses of the vaccine are keeping people out of hospital. They are also reducing how contagious you are,” she said.
“Unfortunately, we are seeing deaths in many people who haven’t had the vaccine. You don’t have to listen to me, listen to Dr Chant, she is the health expert and she strongly recommends that everybody come forward and get vaccinated.”
Chief health officer Kerry Chant said following the health orders will “help us”, but is also urging everyone to get vaccinated.
“That will give us an edge and we will need that over the Delta strain,” she said.
Ellie Dudley 11.38am:People delaying getting tests may be behind high numbers
Chief health officer Kerry Chant said the high level of case numbers could be due to people delaying their tests.
Dr Chant requested anyone experiencing symptoms come forward immediately for testing.
“The issues that we want to reinforce with the community is something forward for testing quickly,” she said.
“We are still finding that people are delaying getting a test and that means that by the time we find them, everyone in the household is positive and then also it means unknowingly, everyone is actually out in the community infectious.”
Dr Chant took the opportunity at Thursday’s press conference to restate correct mask-wearing protocol, including covering the nose and refreshing or cleaning the mask regularly.
More than half the cases are aged under 40
Dr Chant says that “well over 50 per cent” of the state’s active cases are under the age of 40.
While the communities in the high-risk areas of southwestern and western Sydney are particularly young, Dr Chant said they were the people “keeping the city going.”
“They have a lot of essential work that they undertake and they are more mobile, so that is why it is really important that we break this nexus,” she said.
“Following the health orders will help us but also I am urging everyone to get vaccinated.”
Ellie Dudley11.34am:Police patrolling streets, checking on homes
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said NSW Police conducted “hundreds” of home checks of close contacts and people with the virus overnight.
“We’ll continue to do that,” he said. “We know home-to-home transmission is a huge issue for us. “
Mr Fuller said the police would not conduct “random” checks, but “targeted” responses to complaints from Crime Stoppers.
“We’re getting a number of complaints,” he said. “We will be patrolling the streets and we have the right to seek information from people in terms of their residence.”
READ MORE: Harsh new rules for dozens of Sydney hotspot suburbs
Ellie Dudley11.29am:‘Far from perfect’, but Berejiklian won’t admit failure
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has refused to accept accusations that her government has “failed” in handling the state’s latest outbreak of Covid-19.
Ms Berejiklian has come under fire in recent weeks for not coming down “hard and fast” on greater Sydney when the first cases arose.
But on Thursday she refused to say her government had failed, but said “compared to other places in the world … we’ve kept thousands of people safe and thousands of people healthy.”
“We have harsher restrictions in place than any other state has ever had and even if you look at mobility data, which we have access to, the vast majority of our citizens are actually doing the right thing,” she said.
“If you compare our mobility data to when Melbourne was in lockdown, the majority of our citizens are doing the right thing.”
Ms Berejiklian conceded her government had been “far from perfect” in handling the pandemic.
“But if you look at other places around the world and the way the Delta strain has taken over communities, even when vaccination rates have been higher than ours, we can take some comfort in the fact that today we haven’t had thousands and thousands of cases,” she said.
Remy Varga 11.26am:Victorian health authorities to deliver update at 11.45am
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley, acting chief health officer Ben Cowie and acting COVID-19 Commander Naomi Bromley will provide an update on the state’s coronavirus situation at 11.45am.
Ellie Dudley11.18am: Toll rises to 13 as woman in 90s, man in 80s die
Two new Covid-19 related deaths have been recorded in NSW, bringing the death toll for the latest outbreak to 13.
The first, a woman in her 90s from south west Sydney, died on Thursday morning at Liverpool Hospital.
“She was not vaccinated and was a household contact of a confirmed case,” chief health officer Kerry Chant said. “She’s not linked to the Liverpool Hospital cluster.”
A man in his 80s from south west Sydney died on Thursday afternoon at Royal North Shore Hospital.
He, too, was a household contact of a confirmed case and had not been vaccinated.
Dr Chant said at the current level of case number “we’re still going to see more deaths” and encouraged all NSW residents to be vaccinated.
“When I reviewed the Commonwealth vaccination data, which is readily available online, sadly, 25 per cent of people over 70 are still yet to receive their first dose,” she said.
“I cannot urge you (more strongly), as members of the community, to reach out and support your elderly family members and friends to get vaccinated.”
Ellie Dudley11.06am: New mask mandate, 5km limit for hot spots
Residents of eight high-risk LGAs in southwest and western Sydney will now be required to wear a mask at all times when they leave their homes, premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced.
The LGAs include Parramatta, George’s River, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool Cumberland and Blacktown LGAs.
“If you step foot outside your household, you need to wear a mask at all times,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We’re seeing too much evidence of people who are not wearing masks when they need to, or if they are outdoors, they’re coming into contact with other people and not having a mask.”
The new mandate will take place from midnight Friday.
Residents of these areas will also only be permitted to move within a 5km radius of their homes.
“It doesn’t matter what the reason is,” Ms Berejiklian said. “Unless there are exceptional circumstances, you have to make sure you do not move within a 5km radius of your home.”
This mandate includes exercise and shopping.
NSW Police have been given greater powers in Sydney to encourage Sydneysiders to comply with new public health orders.
Police will now be permitted to close a public premise, a work site, a workplace, a business, if the entity flouts the public health orders.
“We’re noticing too much of a lack of compliance from businesses or from premises,” premier Ms Berejiklian said.
“If that’s the case, police will be given the power to close down those premises.”
NSW police minister David Elliott said the NSW Government and the NSW Police “detest the fact” that increased powers have been given to police.
“It is certainly not something that we want to do and it is, in fact, something that we cannot wait to shred,” he said.
“But it’s quite clear from the overwhelming number of people that are doing the right thing, that the same overwhelming number of people have had a gutful of their fellow residents doing the wrong thing.”
The penalty for not wearing a mask where required will be increased from $200 to $500.
These rules also apply to any NSW resident who works in one of the high-risk LGAs but lives in another one.
Ellie Dudley11.02am: NSW records 239 new cases, 70 infectious in community
NSW has recorded 239 new locally-acquired cases of Covid-19 as infections in greater Sydney continue to surge.
Up to 70 cases were active in the community for the entirety of their infectious period.
A total of 111,000 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
NSW recorded 239 new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/aJt7MoE522
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 29, 2021
“Things are likely to get worse before they get better due to the quantum of people infectious in the community,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
Ellie Dudley10.41am: Over 200 new virus cases expected in NSW
Sydney’s worsening outbreak of the highly-infectious Delta variant of Covid-19 is yet to reach its peak, says Gladys Berejiklian.
The state recorded 177 cases of the virus on Wednesday, with numbers expected to soar into the 200s today.
“(It’s) because so many people have been infectious in the community day on day, on day,” she told KIIS FM on Thursday.
She said cases will “get higher” before they drop, and NSW residents should prepare themselves for high numbers.
“It’s when people are out there in the community infectious it just keeps the ripple effect going,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian said the NSW authorities would provide further instruction to year 12 students who refuse to be vaccinated in eight hotspot LGAs in Sydney.
The 11am COVID updates are available in the following languages:
— Service NSW (@ServiceNSW) July 29, 2021
Watch in Arabic via https://t.co/JLnl7Q2wuU
Watch in Vietnamese via https://t.co/qiemgLStvB
Watch in Mandarin via https://t.co/bDJSXqBSH5
Watch in Assyrian via https://t.co/bluVgqo2kz#COVID19nsw#covidnswpic.twitter.com/YqDdIADsNU
On Wednesday she announced doses of the Pfizer vaccine would be redirected from regional NSW to schools in southwest and western Sydney for students aged 16 to 18.
“We’re working through those issues based on the health advice so we’ll have more to say about that but we are going to offer every year 12 student in those LGAs the Pfizer vaccine so they can get vaccinated before they go back to school,” she said.
READ MORE: Masks to stay after two hotel leaks
Ellie Dudley10.34am:Queensland records 0 cases amid traveller scare
Queensland has recorded no new local cases of Covid-19 despite scares after a returned traveller tested positive in a backpacker hostel in Brisbane CBD.
Health minister Yvette D’Ath said the traveller had contracted the Alpha variant of the virus while in transit on the plane.
“I can report now that the genomic sequencing has come in from the gentleman who came in from the Philippines to Brisbane and who was staying at the Roma Street City Backpackers.
“What we have identified is he is a direct match with three other travellers who he was on two flights with, Philippines to PNG and PNG to Brisbane.
“Those other three travellers were sent to a different hotel quarantine than this individual, which confirms for us that this gentleman has contracted it from one of the other travellers while in transit on the plane or through the airports.”
None of the backpackers staying in the Roma Street City Backpackers hostel have yet tested positive for the virus, after 59 of 62 returned negative results.
Due to the number of recent Covid-19 incidents in Queensland, Ms D’Ath said the mask-wearing laws would remain in place for high-risk LGAs for the next week.
“With the number of different outbreaks that we have had across Brisbane in recent times, (and) because of what we are still seeing in New South Wales … the restrictions will continue in relation to mask-wearing for the 11 LGAs for another week,” she said.
The high-risk LGAs include:
City of Brisbane
Moreton Bay Regional Council
City of Gold Coast
City of Ipswich
Lockyer Valley Regional Council
Logan City
Noosa Shire Council
Redland City
Scenic Rim Regional Council
Somerset Regional Council
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
READ MORE: Morrison stands firm on JobKeeper 2.0
Adeshola Ore 10.20am:Lockdowns may be needed beyond Christmas: PM
Scott Morrison says lockdowns in “targeted” and “extraordinary” situations may still be required beyond the end of the year, as he predicts life will be “very different by Christmas.
On Wednesday the Prime Minister said lockdowns would be a “thing of the past” by Christmas due to higher vaccination levels.
Mr Morrisons said he was confident about the Christmas deadline “barring any unforeseen circumstances.”
He told the ABC in the government’s four-phase pathway out of Covid, stage three would only require lockdowns in “extraordinary or targeted circumstances”.
Asked on 3AW radio if he could guarantee Australia would have no lockdowns by the end of the year, Mr Morrison said “no one can give those guarantees.”
“The virus is unpredictable and it would be irresponsible to do so,” he said.
READ MORE: A 5-step recipe for saving the world
Ellie Dudley10.03am: ‘No cases’: Shellharbour fury at lockdown extension
Mayor of Shellharbour Marianne Saliba has blasted the state government’s decision to force towns outside of Sydney under strict lockdown measures for another four weeks.
Ms Saliba’s city, more than 100km south of Sydney, must adhere to the same rules as those in greater Sydney where the outbreak is centred.
“I’m very disappointed to be honest,” she told the ABC.
“Gladys at her press conference yesterday said that if figures improved we would consider letting local government areas out of the lockdown.
“I do not know how they can improve more than zero.”
Ms Saliba said her city had “no cases, no traces and no venues” linked to the virus, and the people in Shellharbour should “have a right to be around in the community freely”.
She said she had written to premier Gladys Berejiklian on two occasions, but had not received a response.
READ MORE: Sydney GP tried to charge $250 for free Covid jab
Robert Gottliebsen9.58am: Pandemic goals and how to achieve them
As we continue to be sickened by the NSW Covid mire let us set some goals to be achieved by September or October or earlier — an AFL grand final at the MCG and an NRL grand final at the ANZ stadium, all with worthwhile audiences; visitors to aged care homes; business travel abroad; face-to-face schooling; an audience for Harry Potter on stage and protective clothing for vaccinating doctors and pharmacists.
The preliminary events for those goals started to happen yesterday. I would like to think that the major audience that my commentary earlier this week attracted played a role in accelerating the process and I thank my readers.
But the momentum has wide community impetus.
So let’s look at this week’s early developments that have the potential to make those goals and many others achievable.
We start in the UK where travellers from the US and most parts of Europe will be allowed to travel to Britain as long as they are fully vaccinated.
READ Robert Gottliebsen’s full analysis here
Tim Dodd9.52am:Give us the jab, say international students
International students waiting to enrol in courses have overwhelmingly expressed their desire to be vaccinated and spend time in quarantine if it means they can travel to their country of choice to study.
A new survey of 4000 students across 20 countries by IDP Connect found that 53 per cent had already been vaccinated and another 36 per cent wanted to get the vaccine as soon as they were able.
Nearly 9 in 10, or 88 per cent, of students were willing to quarantine if that was a condition for entering their country of study, and nearly a third of these were willing to pay the full cost of quarantine themselves if required.
However the survey also found that international students’ perceptions of Australia have worsened since earlier surveys on all key measures – response to coronavirus, safety of citizens and visitors, policies for international students, and post-study work visa policies.
Australia now ranks fourth, behind the UK, NZ and Canada and only marginally ahead of the US.
READ MORE:International students want to be vaccinated so they can travel
Ellie Dudley9.35am: Up to 99% of businesses eligible for support: Perrottet
Up to 99 per cent of businesses will be eligible for new support payments from the NSW and federal governments, state treasurer Dominic Perrottet says.
NSW authorities announced an expansion to the JobSaver program on Wednesday, to inject money into flailing businesses during the current outbreak.
JobSaver payments will now be available to businesses with an annual turnover of between $75,000 and $250 million, up from $50 million, which have experienced a revenue decline of 30 per cent or more.
The maximum weekly payment has also been substantially increased, with employing businesses that maintain their employee headcount now able receive between $1,500 and $100,000 per week, up from $10,000, with payments based on 40 per cent of their weekly NSW payroll.
“We will always change these policies as we go along and the pandemic evolves,” Mr Perrottet told 2GB on Thursday.
“We will do whatever it takes to keep people in work and businesses going.”
Mr Perrottet said the “substantive increase” to the JobKeeper payment will mean “99 per cent” of businesses will be able to access “some sort of payment.”
READ MORE: PM’s $1bn a week rescue
Remy Varga8.42am: Mystery case among Victoria’s 7 new infections
Victoria has recorded 7 new cases of COVID-19, including one mystery case that was announced on Wednesday.
Six of Thursday’s cases were in isolation for the entirety of their infectious period and are linked to known outbreaks.
The mystery case remains under investigation.
Reported yesterday: 7 new local cases and no new case acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 28, 2021
- 19,118 vaccine doses were administered
- 42,009 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl1hf3W#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/R5bKEgGSSf
More than 42,009 tests results where received while 19,118 doses of the vaccine were administered.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is due to speak at 10am.
READ MORE: Outbreaks boost desire to get the jab
Adeshola Ore8.29am:Beefed up disaster ‘payments to bring shorter lockdowns’
Josh Frydenberg says the commonwealth had no “no alternative” but to roll out beefed up financial rescue payments for Victoria and NSW.
The NSW rescue package, announced after the Greater Sydney lockdown was extended by at least four weeks, increases cashflow support for 460,000 businesses and provides $750-a-week Covid-19 disaster payments for individuals.
“Well, it’s certainly costing the economy, the budget and the country a significant amount of money. But we have no alternative other than to ensure that we get on top of these outbreaks when they occur,” the Treasurer told the ABC.
“My sense is that you’ll now see shorter and sharper lockdowns as the default position of state governments until we get a sufficient number of people vaccinated.”
In addition to the NSW payments, bankrolled by a federal-state funding split of about $750m and $325m a week, the Morrison government announced a joint $400m package with Victoria to support businesses impacted by lockdowns in that state.
READ MORE:Calls for JobKeeper return should now end
Ellie Dudley 8.04am:‘No playbook’: Barilaro’s bombshell admission
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has admitted he does not know what will happen if local infections do not drop when the state’s lockdown plans come to an end on August 28.
The state recorded 177 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday, 46 of which were infectious in the community.
“One of the things we keep saying is, it’s difficult to quantify what’s working and what’s not working,” he told Channel 9’s Today.
“And the reality is, even though we continue to see a rise in numbers, those numbers aren’t accelerating into hundreds and hundreds.
“In one way the restrictions are working but, of course, more needs to be done and that’s why yesterday there were a number of changes in relation to being able to move out of your local government area.”
Asked what would happen if the case numbers didn’t drop by the end of next month, Mr Barilaro said: “I have no crystal ball to tell you what we do next.”
“Let’s see what happens over the next four weeks,” he said.
Mr Barilaro said there was “no playbook” to get greater Sydney out of lockdown.
“We are throwing everything at it,” he said.
“What we’ve seen are stubborn numbers so [I can’t] sit here and say I know how to get this under control. It’s still testing the government and its resources.”
READ MORE:NSW cabinet is the crisis as it dithers and dallies
Stephen Lunn7.50am:Sydney spread slower than Melbourne, despite Delta
Sydney’s growth of new Covid-19 infections is running at a little more than half of that experienced by Melbourne last year at the same stage of its outbreak despite the fact NSW is grappling with a more infectious strain.
Victoria’s seven-day average of new Covid-19 cases stood at 10.1 on June 17 last year. By July 19 last year the seven day average of new Covid-19 infections had ballooned to 287.1.
Over the same 33-day period Sydney’s seven-day average of new cases has risen from 12.6 on June 26, when a lockdown was imposed on four Sydney local government areas, to 151.7 on Wednesday when Gladys Berejiklian extended Greater Sydney’s lockdown for 28 days.
Over the same comparable period 19 people had died in Victoria compared with 11 in Sydney.
The rate of growth in the two outbreaks was broadly similar for the first three weeks. Victoria’s seven-day moving average passed 100 on day 21 (102.3 on July 7, last year). While Sydney’s seven-day average of new cases jumped into the nineties on day 22 (96 on July 17) and stayed in the nineties until day 27, July 22.
Once Melbourne’s seven-day average had passed 100 it doubled over the next six days.
Sydney’s seven-day moving average has gone up by about 50 per cent in the six days since it passed a seven-day average of new cases of 100 – from 105 on July 22 to 151 on Wednesday.
Australian National University infectious diseases expert Peter Collignon said it was “good news that the trajectory of cases in Sydney is less steep than Melbourne, especially given the Delta strain Sydney is dealing with is twice as infectious”.
READ the full story here
Ellie Dudley7.30am:‘Not a race’ call was about regulation, PM insists
Scott Morrison has once again defended his early comments that the vaccine roll out “is not a race” claiming his statement was made in regards to regulating the vaccines.
The Prime Minister more recently referred to the vaccine rollout as “a gold medal run at the Olympics” raising questions about contradicting his earlier messaging.
“When we made those remarks, we were talking about the regulation of the vaccines,” he told Channel 7’s Sunrise.
“We have always treated this with the greatest of urgency. That is why we have been able to turn around the program from the early setbacks and the lack of supply of a vaccine and changing advice on AstraZeneca.”
Mr Morrison has come under fire in recent weeks as the NSW outbreak worsens and state leaders plea for more doses of the vaccine to curb the spread of the virus.
However, he said the country was “hitting the marks we need to now.”
An expanded Covid-19 Disaster Payment was announced on Wednesday by the federal government, providing up to $750 per week for individuals suffering the effects of the latest outbreak.
Mr Morrison said $400 million was “already out the door” and confirmed the payments would not be taxable.
“We are treating this as a disaster that has befallen people,” he said.
“In the same way that we make for bushfires and floods and other natural disasters, we are making these payments under that disaster payment framework.”
READ MORE: Editorial – Root problem is political hesitancy, not jab-shy folk
Ellie Dudley7.25am: Backpackers locked down in Brisbane hostels
Dozens of Queensland backpackers were locked in to two hostels on Wednesday evening after a new case of Covid-19 was detected in a returned traveller.
The man had returned to Queensland from the Philippines, had completed his mandatory 14 day quarantine period, but tested positive for the virus after falling ill.
He was staying at the Roma Street City Backpackers in Brisbane CBD.
The hostel guests were on Wednesday confined in Roma Street City Backpackers and neighbouring Joe’s Place Backpackers hostels, the ABC reported.
Both venues have been cordoned off with police tape as investigations ensue.
The hotel quarantine breach is the 29th in Australia since the pandemic began.
READ MORE: Jabs a must in aviation, Qantas says
Ellie Dudley 7.10am:Victoria grapples with new unlinked case
A new unlinked case was detected in Victoria on Wednesday, sparking concerns Covid-19 could still be in the community.
The state emerged from a thirteen day lockdown on Wednesday, after eight new cases were found, all of which had been in isolation for their infectious period.
But an additional case was found later in the day in a traffic controller from a busy Covid-19 testing facility in northwest Melbourne.
The man had been infectious in the community and left a trail of exposure sites.
The following venues have been listed as Tier 2 exposure sites, meaning anyone who attended them at the dictated times must be tested urgently and isolate until a negative test result is received.
Frankston South: Chemist Warehouse Baxter, 284/286 Frankston – Flinders Road Frankston South VIC 3199, July 24 3.45pm – 4.15pm
Frankston: Ritchies IGA Liquor (Towerhill), 6/145 Moorooduc Highway, Frankston VIC 3199, July 24 4.10pm – 4.35pm
Altona North: Woolworths (Borrack Square), 2/32 Borrack Square, Altona North VIC 3025, July 24 5.15pm – 6.30pm
Yarraville: 7-Eleven (Yarraville), Corner of Williamstown Road and Somerville Road, Yarraville VIC 3013, July 25 7.05am – 7.50am
Frankston: Karingal Hub Shopping Centre, 330 Cranbourne Road, Frankston VIC 3199, July 24 11.45am – 12.40pm
Frankston: Coles Supermarket (Karingal Hub Shopping Centre), Corner of Cranbourne Road and Karingal Drive, Frankston VIC 3199, July 24 11.45am – 12.40pm
Frankston South: United Petroleum Baxter, 284 Frankston-Flinders Road, Frankston South VIC 3199, July 26 7.15am – 7.30am
The sites listed below are Tier 3 exposure sites. Anyone who visited them at the stipulated times is expected to monitor for symptoms and be tested if they arise.
Moonee Ponds: Moonee Valley Racecourse Drive-Through Testing Site, 1 McPherson Street Moonee Ponds VIC 3039, July 25 7.20am – 6pm
Moonee Ponds: Moonee Valley Racecourse Drive-Through Testing Site, 1 McPherson Street Moonee Ponds VIC 3039, July 26 7.20am – 6pm
READ MORE: Sleeves rolled for gold, says Morrison
Ellie Dudley 7.04am:Supermarkets, Bunnings feature on NSW exposure list
A number of new Covid-19 exposure sites have been added to NSW Health’s ever-growing list, after the state had another day of record case numbers on Wednesday.
A total of 177 positive cases were detected, up to 46 of which were infectious in the community.
Anyone who visited the following venues at the stipulated times have also been classified as a close contact, and must be tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.
Engadine: GoVita, 1052 Old Princes Highway, Wednesday July 21 9.45am to 9.55am
Gwynneville: Gwynneville Bakery, 3/168 Gipps Road, Saturday July 24 9am to 9.30am
Belfield: Mancini’s Original Woodfired Pizza, 21 Burwood Road, Saturday July 24 All day
Those who attended any of the following venues at the time listed are classified as casual contacts, and should get tested immediately and isolate until a negative result is received:
Campsie: Campsie Centre, 14-28 Amy Street, Friday July 23 All day, Saturday July 24 All day
Bellambi: Bunnings, Corner Bellambi Lane and Watts Lane, Tuesday July 20 11am to 11.15am
Zetland: Coles East Village, O’Dea Avenue, Sunday July 25 4pm to 4.30pm
The Ponds: Costis Seafood and Grill, The Ponds Shopping Centre, 101 The Ponds Boulevard, Saturday July 24, 4.05pm to 4.15pm
Smithfield: Bunnings Smithfield, Corner Cumberland Highway and Stuart Highway, Saturday July 24 3.30pm to 4pm
Canley Heights: Carter Gs Coffee Shop, 199 St Johns Road, Wednesday July 21 7.40am to 7.50am
Cabramatta: Accounting Dynamics, Level 1, Office 4/90 John Street, Tuesday July 27, 4.20pm to 7.30pm
Fairfield: Woolworths Fairfield Heights, 1/29 Court Road, Friday July 237.30pm to 8pm
Lidcombe: Bunnings Warehouse Lidcombe, 23-29 Parramatta Road, Friday July 23 2.15pm to 3.15pm
Lidcombe: Woolworths Lidcombe, 92 Parramatta Road, Friday July 23 3.30pm to 4.30pm
Plumpton: Woolworths Plumpton, 260 Jersey Road, Sunday July 25 1.30pm to 1.50pm
Summer Hill: Summer Hill Newsagent, 4 Lackey Street, Saturday 17 July 8am to 9am, Wednesday July 21 8am to 9am
Casula: Coles Casula, Kurrajong Road, Saturday 17 July 12.10pm to 1.30pm
READ MORE: Lockdown makes NT police murder trial a remote possibility
Ellie Dudley6.30am:How new restrictions will affect Sydneysiders
NSW will wake up under a swath of tougher restrictions this morning, after Gladys Berejiklian announced the lockdown would be extended for another four weeks.
The state recorded 177 new cases of Covid-19 on Wednesday, with 46 of those infectious in the community.
“In the last few days, it would have not been possible for us to get out of lockdown tomorrow or Friday and given also the advice, it would not have been realistic for the NSW government to make a decision in the next two weeks given where we are today,” the Premier said.
Eight hot spots have been identified by the NSW government: Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Cumberland, Blacktown, Parramatta, Georges River and Campbelltown.
No-one from those areas are permitted to leave their residence for work unless deemed a critical worker.
Critical workers from the Canterbury-Bankstown local government area must be tested every three days for Covid-19, along with aged care or health workers from Cumberland or Fairfield.
Outside those eight LGA’s, non-occupied construction will resume across Sydney from 12.01am Saturday, July 31.
A shopping limit has been imposed on all Greater Sydney residents, meaning no one may shop outside of 10km from their home. The mandate allowing just one member of the household to shop per day remains.
Ms Berejiklian also announced the state government would redirect Pfizer doses from regional communities to vaccinated 16-18 year old HSC students in hotspot areas, to have the students return on August 16.
A singles bubble was also instated, which allows anyone living by themselves to nominate one person to visit them.
The 10-person limit on funeral attendees remains, while 20 people may go to a wedding.
NSW recorded 177 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/UPgvzflhFm
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 28, 2021
READ MORE: Spread slower in Sydney, despite Delta variant
Natasha Robinson5am:Need proof vaccines save lives? Here it is
Vaccinations have prevented scores of infections in aged care during the NSW Delta outbreak, with only six cases recorded among residents in aged-care facilities despite a total of more than 2500 infections.
All six of the residents who have contracted Covid-19 in aged care during the NSW Delta outbreak are in a stable condition, with none becoming seriously ill.
Five of the six residents were vaccinated.
At this time last year as the Victorian second wave gathered pace, there had been 547 cases of Covid-19 among residents in aged-care facilities since the start of the pandemic and 73 deaths among a total of 15,304 cases.
To date, 685 residents of aged-care facilities have died of Covid-19 during the pandemic, with 2060 infected.
A record 196,982 COVID-19 vaccinations yesterday. Thank you Australia.
— Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) July 28, 2021
If you are eligible, please come forward for your first or second dose. If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, please get tested. pic.twitter.com/nfuf6TCZah
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the total prevention of aged-care deaths and the very low numbers of infections in aged care during the Delta outbreak in NSW despite rising case numbers was proof that vaccinations were reducing the chances of infection and saving lives. Eighty-two per cent of residents in 2566 aged-care facilities have now been fully vaccinated, with 86.4 per cent having received at least one dose.
Mr Hunt said the nightmare scenario in Victoria during its second wave – when there were 4148 cases among residents and staff in aged care and 655 residents died – was now being prevented because of vaccination. “The difference is just inconceivable,” he said.
“There couldn’t be stronger proof that vaccination saves lives and protects lives.”
Read the full story, by Natasha Robinson and Rhiannon Down, here.
Geoff Chambers4.45am:$1bn rescue package for NSW businesses, workers
Scott Morrison and Gladys Berejiklian will spend more than $1bn a week to protect jobs and keep employers afloat, boosting payments to NSW businesses, full-time workers, casuals, sole traders and dole recipients amid fears an extended lockdown could drive thousands onto welfare.
The NSW rescue package, announced after the Greater Sydney lockdown was extended by at least four weeks, increases cashflow support for 460,000 businesses and provides $750-a-week Covid-19 disaster payments for individuals.
The Prime Minister on Wednesday rejected a return to the $90bn JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme and revealed the new payments system would be the model for future responses to lockdowns sparked by the more contagious Delta strain.
In addition to the NSW payments, bankrolled by a federal-state funding split of about $750m and $325m a week, the Morrison government announced a joint $400m package with Victoria to support businesses impacted by lockdowns in that state.
Read the full story, by Geoff Chambers and Patrick Commins, here.
Yoni Bashan4.30am:Harsher, longer lockdown as Sydney cases surge
A rising number of Covid-19 infections across western Sydney has forced almost two million residents into harsher stay-at-home conditions, with eight local government areas now identified as hot-zones because of an upsurge in cases in surrounding regions.
Announcing an extension of Greater Sydney’s ongoing lockdown, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said stay-at-home orders would continue for another month until August 28.
She would not rule out further extensions if transmissions were not sufficiently reduced.
Pivoting to a strategy that would seek to suppress the virus while also accelerating vaccinations, the government on Wednesday said students aged between 16 and 18 and living in the city’s most vulnerable regions would be given priority access to the Pfizer vaccine.
Read the full story here.
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