Coronavirus Australia live news: No NSW lockdown as Gladys Berejiklian tested for Covid
Premier says she’s negative after attending a ‘superspreader event’; announces no further restrictions as 11 new cases emerge in NSW’s ‘scariest period’.
- NSW records 11 new cases
- Ag Minister Adam Marshall positive
- Brad Hazzard isolating
- Pfizer supply to hit 2 million per week
- Two jabs needed for Delta protection
Welcome to live updates on the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the latest in politics from Canberra and around the nation.
Gladys Berejiklian announces no further restrictions for NSW yet. The Premier has been cleared as NSW cabinet and some regional MPs have been asked to get tested and isolate until July 6, after a Nationals budget dinner. It comes as NSW recorded 11 new locally aquired Covid-19 cases.
NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall has tested positive to the virus, while Health Minister Brad Hazzard is isolating after possibly being exposed.
State borders around the country have slammed shut to NSW and five million Sydneysiders face tough new restrictions after a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases.
Rhiannon Down11.30pm: Exposure list grows
NSW Health released an extensive list of timeframes for numerous shopping and food outlets stretching from Sydney’s western to eastern suburbs late on Thursday, setting the scene for another grim day of Covid-19 case numbers.
Dine-in patrons at Coffee, Tea & Me in Potts Point, Cantine Verte Café and The Pommery Café in Alexandria, inner-western Sydney, have been identified as close contacts and asked to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Anyone who used the swimming area, poolside showers and change rooms at the Elixr Health Club at Bondi Junction have also been put on high alert as close contacts.
A further 18 venue locations and times were added to the list, with anyone who visited now identified as a casual contact, including: La Piadina, Harry’s Bondi and Bondi Relish at Bondi Beach, Mr Vitamins at Royal Randwick Shopping Centre, Wings Dragon in Vaucluse, Amart Furniture in Bankstown and several other furniture outlets at Crossroads Homemaker Centre in Casula, wouthwestern Sydney.
Shoppers at Kmart Parramatta, Kensington 7-Eleven, East Sydney Woolworths, Domino’s Pizza and Big Bun at Merrylands and Priceline Pharmacy in North Sydney have also become casual contacts and must isolate until they receive a negative result.
An industrial complex on Ralph Street in Alexandria has also been listed with exposure windows across two days.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERTâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 24, 2021
MORE VENUES OF CONCERN IN SYDNEY’S INNER WEST, EASTERN, NORTH SHORE, WESTERN AND SOUTH-WESTERN SUBURBS pic.twitter.com/Z4oqBhE3uy
Rhiannon Down10.15pm:Exposure times expanded
NSW health authorities have dramatically expanded its exposure windows, urging anyone who visited high-profile Double Bay salon Joh Bailey hairdresser anytime between Tuesday, June 15, and Wednesday, June 23.
Patrons of SKIIN Medi Spa & Wellness in Double Bay between Wednesday, June 16, and Wednesday, June 23, have also been asked to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
Exposure windows have also been listed at the Lyfe Café in Bondi, Michael’s Charcuterie in Double Bay, the Royal Hotel in Bondi and the Fitness First Platinum and Fitness First Spring Street gyms at Westfield’s Bondi Junction.
Diners at Totti’s Restaurant (in The Royal Hotel) on Sunday, June 20, between 7.50pm and 9.30pm have also been identified as casual contacts.
Bourke in western NSW has also been put on high alert after viral fragments were detected in the sewage network.
Sydneysiders in the hotspot LGA’s were barred this week from leaving the city out of a fear the virus would spread to the regions.
“The sample was taken on Tuesday, 22 June, at a sewage treatment plant which serves an area of about 2,000 people. There have been no prior detections at this site,” NSW Health said.
“NSW Health is urging everyone in this area to be vigilant for the onset of any cold-like symptoms, and to get tested immediately and isolate if they appear.”
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – SEWAGE DETECTION IN BOURKE, WESTERN NSW, AND MORE SYDNEY EASTERN-SUBURB VENUESâš ï¸ pic.twitter.com/OKRLhQK84i
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 24, 2021
Natasha Robinson10pm:Instant transmission pushes tracers to limit
It’s the brave new world of contact tracing – the fleeting moments of crossover between individuals for just a second or two that until now would not have been considered a high risk of virus transmission.
The ease with which the Delta variant is infecting individuals has been demonstrated by CCTV footage inside a shopping centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs which showed how the new variant can spread after moments of inadvertent contact lasting only seconds.
The transmission of Covid-19 within Sydney’s Westfield Bondi Junction among shoppers who only briefly crossed paths, and to an outdoor diner at a cafe who had no contact with an infected case, has proven one thing beyond any doubt – the virus is airborne.
But what is it about the Delta variant that makes transmission following fleeting contact more likely to occur?
“This virus has the ability to grow to a very high viral load very quickly,” said University of Queensland virologist Ian Mackay. “So there’s a lot of virus in the airways. And when we breathe that virus out, we’re expelling more virus than we would be if we had one of the other variants that preceded Delta.
“Some of this terminology like fleeting contact, very short contact and inadvertent contact may simply be related to the fact people are walking through clouds of higher concentrations of virus from an infectious person when they’re infected with Delta.”
Nicholas Jensen 9.15pm: Melbourne family braves outbreak
The Covid-19 clampdown may have kept Sydney’s CBD eerily empty on Thursday – but they weren’t enough to scare away one intrepid Victorian family.
The Vowles family chanced the restrictions and the threat of border closures, travelling from Ballarat to Sydney for a holiday they described as “a rite of passage”.
On Tuesday, Lisa Vowles and her twin daughters, Matilda and Darcy Henning, 13, flew from Melbourne to Sydney after previous outbreaks and border closures had forced them to cancel their plans.
“We’ve been trying to do this trip for more than 18 months,” said Ms Vowles. “First it was the Ruby Princess then it was another outbreak, so we just decided to go for it and take the chance.
“Our plane was cancelled first thing in the morning, but we just went to the airport and were lucky enough to get some tickets up and we’ve been touring around for the last couple of days.”
Ms Vowles, who is fully vaccinated, says the prospect of future lockdowns and border closures no longer deters her, adding: “It’s been great to come to Sydney now in a way because we’ve seen it when it’s quiet and without so many people around.”
AFP8.30pm: UK man tested positive for virus for 10 months
A 72-year-old British man tested positive for coronavirus for 10 months in what is thought to be the longest recorded case of continuous infection, researchers said on Thursday.
Dave Smith, a retired driving instructor from Bristol in western England, said he tested positive 43 times, was hospitalised seven times and had made plans for his funeral.
“I’d resigned myself, I’d called the family in, made my peace with everybody, said goodbye,”, he told BBC television.
His wife, Linda, who quarantined with him at home, said: “There was a lot of times when we didn’t think he was going to pull through. It’s been a hell of a year”.
Ed Moran, a consultant in infectious diseases at the University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust, said Mr Smith “had active virus in his body” throughout.
“We were able to prove that by sending a sample of his virus to university partners who managed to grow it, proving that it was not just left-over products that were triggering a PCR test but actually active, viable virus.”
Mr Smith recovered after treatment with a cocktail of synthetic antibodies developed by the US biotech firm Regeneron.
This was allowed on compassionate grounds in his case but the treatment regime is not clinically approved for use in Britain.
Results of a clinical trial published this month showed the treatment reduced deaths among severe Covid-19 patients who are unable to mount a strong immune response.
“It’s like you’ve been given your life back”, Mr Smith told the BBC.
He and his wife cracked open a bottle of champagne when he finally tested negative, 45 days after receiving the Regeneron drug and some 305 days after his first infection.
Mr Smith’s treatment was not part of an official medical trial but his case is now being studied by virologist Andrew Davidson at the University of Bristol.
A paper on his case will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in July, saying that his is thought to be “the longest infection recorded in the literature”.
“Where does the virus hide away in the body? How can it stay just persistently infecting people? We don’t know that,” Davidson said.
Mr Smith had a history of lung disease and had recently recovered from leukaemia when he caught the virus in March last year.
He told The Guardian daily that since his recovery, he still gets breathless but has travelled in Britain and is teaching his granddaughter to drive.
“I’ve been down to the bottom and everything’s brilliant now,” he said.
AFP 8.50pm:Russia’s daily cases, deaths hit January highs
Russia has reported more than 20,000 new coronavirus infections and 568 deaths, reaching January highs, as the country battles a surging outbreak of the Delta variant worsened by a sluggish jab drive.
In total, officials reported 20,182 new cases across the country over the past 24 hours, including just over 8,500 infections in Moscow, the epicentre of Russia’s outbreak.
The Russian capital also recorded 92 deaths — the highest in one day since the start of the pandemic, according to the state-run TASS news agency.
The explosion of new cases since mid-June has been spurred by the highly infectious Delta variant first identified in India. It represents 90 per cent of new infections in Moscow, the city’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin has said.
Russia has several coronavirus vaccines that have been available for free since early December, but its campaign to inoculate its population against Covid has lagged.
As of Thursday, just 20.7 million out of a population of about 146 million had received at least one dose of a vaccine, according to the Gogov website which tallies Covid figures from the regions and the media.
Earlier this month, some 60 per cent of all service industry workers in Moscow — just over two million people — were ordered to be fully vaccinated by August 15, including taxi drivers, staff of cultural venues and restaurant workers. A number of regions are following suit.
Russia, with 131,463 deaths officially recorded, is the hardest hit country in Europe.
Under a broader definition for deaths linked to Covid, statistics agency Rosstat has counted at least 270,000 deaths since the pandemic began.
Remy Varga7.10pm:Second Vic case linked to Sydney superspreader
Two Victorian cases have been linked to a superspreading event in Sydney after a workplace contact of the first case tested positive.
Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said a workplace contact of the first case, a man in his 60s, at a dry cleaners Sandringham had tested positive after health authorities were alerted to the primary case on Thursday morning.
“QR code data from this business is being analysed and close contacts are being identified and contacted by public health officials with advice,” Professor Sutton said.
“The business has been closed for deep cleaning.”
The family of the second case are undergoing testing and are in isolation.
The first case, an Oakleigh resident, had stayed at his daughter’s house in the western Sydney suburb of West Hoxton, then a green zone, on Saturday night.
He flew to Melbourne on the Jetstar flight JQ523, which left Sydney at 5.30pm and arrived at Terminal Four at Melbourne Airport Tullamarine at 7.05pm.
Professor Sutton said a risk assessment was being undertaken of the residential complex where the man lives alone in Oakleigh and other residents will be given support.
“He developed symptoms late on Tuesday night at his home in Oakleigh, where he lives alone, and was tested on Wednesday,” he said.
“He is currently unwell and is being supported by public health officials.”
Victorian health authorities are operating on the assumption the new cases are the highly infectious Delta variant but genomic confirmation is pending.
Rhiannon Down7pm: NZ extends travel pause
New Zealand has extended its pause on quarantine-free Trans-Tasman travel with NSW until July 6, as Sydney battles rising case numbers.
“The pause on quarantine-free travel from New South Wales to New Zealand will continue for a further 12 days,” the government said.
New Zealand moved to pause travel from NSW for three days earlier this week, as the Bondi cluster grew to dangerous new proportions.
Wellington was plunged into a level two public health level this week after a Sydney man spent time in the nation’s capital whilst infected with the virus.
The Quarantine-Free Travel pause for travel from New South Wales to New Zealand will be in place until 11.59pm (NZST) on 6 July.
— Unite against COVID-19 (@covid19nz) June 24, 2021
AFP6.45pm:Pandemic fallout to be felt ‘for years’: UN
The coronavirus pandemic is pushing more people into drug use, while illicit cultivation could also get a boost, the UN says, warning that the crisis’s fallout was likely to be felt “for years to come”.
The Vienna-based UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which each year pulls together data from its wide network of member countries in its annual report, said it also feared illicit opium poppy and coca leaf cultivation could rise as the economic crisis caused by the pandemic led to joblessness and other problems around the globe.
“The new report shows that drug markets have swiftly resumed operations after the initial disruption at the onset of the pandemic” last year, a statement by agency said.
Top opium producer Afghanistan reported a 37 per cent jump in the amount of land used for illicit poppy cultivation during 2020 compared with the previous year, the report said.
Inequality, poverty and mental health conditions — known factors that push people into drug use — are also on the rise across the world, it said in a chapter entitled “Covid-19 fallout likely to be felt in drug markets for years to come”.
Most countries have reported a rise in the use of cannabis during the pandemic, it said, noting generally people decreasingly saw risks in its use.
The crisis has also seen an increase in the non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs, while consumption of drugs that are “typically used in social settings”, such as cocaine, has dropped.
UNODC noted ever bigger shipments of illicit drugs and increased smuggling amid disruption to commercial air traffic.
Remy Varga6pm:Infected man flew Jetstar after ‘superspreader’ party
The Melbourne man believed to have contracted the virus in Sydney returned home on Jetstar flight JQ523 on June 20.
The man, who attended a superspreading event on Saturday, flew home on Sunday.
The flight departed Sydney Airport at 5.30pm before arriving at Melbourne Airport at 7.05pm
Rhiannon Down5.15pm:High alert: NSW parliament, dining room exposure sites
Diners at the Stranger’s Dining Room at NSW’s parliament house have been placed on high alert, after the venue was added to the state’s list of exposure venues.
Anyone who visited the Macquarie Street dining room on Tuesday June 22 between 6pm and 9pm has been asked to immediately get tested and self-isolate until they receive further direction from NSW Health.
Health authorities have also asked anyone who was at Parliament at any time on Tuesday June 22 to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they appear.
Frankie’s Beans shop and Vinfafe Café in Darlinghurst have also been added to the list of exposure sites with anyone who dined there during the exposure windows asked to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 24, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of new venues of concern, including Parliament House, associated with confirmed cases of #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/K96ZzR1UKw
Rhiannon Down5.10pm:Negative Minns backs Gladys ‘casual contact’ status
NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns has backed Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant for deciding that Premier Gladys Berijiklian was a casual contact for COVID-19.
Mr Minns confirmed he had also taken a Covid test today and in some “good news” had returned a negative result. inns
NSW parliament has been on high alert since it was revealed today that Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall had tested positive to the virus after he was exposed at a Paddington Pizza restaurant on Monday night.
“I think the Premier’s defence, which is essentially that it’s the decision of the Chief Health Officer in relation to whether she’s a close contact or not, is something that we would rely on,” he told Sky News.
“We’ve said from the beginning, certainly of my leadership, we trust making decisions on expert health opinion and I don’t want to criticise the decision of the Chief Health Office.
“The rationale that was described, I heard it on Sky News earlier today, sounds reasonable given contact tracing and the 18 months of reasonably and very effective Covid management, and given that I offer bipartisan support that they’ve made the right decision.”
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Rhiannon Down4.10pm:No symptoms, but Covid MP feels ‘miserable and lousy’
Covid-positive NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall says he hasn’t experienced any symptoms, but feels “miserable and lousy” about those down the line who may also be infected.
“Physically, I am fine. I do not have any symptoms at this stage at all and hope that remains the case,” he told the ABC.
“I’m more concerned about the implications this will have for all of my parliamentary colleagues and for everyone at parliament.”
Mr Marshall said his infection at Paddington’s Christo’s Pizzeria on Monday night, where he didn’t even come into contact with the positive case, highlighted the contagiousness of the Delta variant of the virus.
“It is a very concerning time and I think just highlights again everything that has been said about this new Delta variant is true,” he said.
“It is incredibly infectious and can be passed very easily.
“The place where I caught it was a place where I had no physical contact with anyone at any time, and yet I am now positive for COVID-19.
“I think it is a timely reminder and a lesson to us all that we cannot be careful enough at the moment.”
Mr Marshall was speaking from his home, where he is in isolation.
“I feel miserable and lousy about it because while I am not worried about how it impacts on me, I am isolating for 14 days and hopefully I should be OK, but it is the down the line impact it has on everyone else,” he said.
“I would hate to think that someone else gets infected in the same way that I was infected at a close contact venue earlier this week.”
READ MORE:Sydney’s virus exposure sites list explodes
Rhiannon Down3.50pm:Australia closes in on 7 million jabs
The nation is just hundreds of vaccine doses away from reaching 7 million jabs, as NSW battles to contain the latest Covid outbreak after the Bondi cluster grew to 36 cases.
Some 2,869,795 jabs were administered by the states and territories and 4,129,403 by the federal health system, with 138,922 jabs being administered in the last 24 hours across the board, according to the latest Department of Health figures.
NSW Health has administered 17,979 doses in the past 24 hours, as the state races to ramp up its vaccine rollout to tackle its spiralling Covid situation.
This comes as Scott Morrison admitted that it was “disappointing” that the Bondi outbreak was triggered by an unvaccinated limousine driver.
Some 3,708,272 doses have been administered through primary care in total, and 421,131 jabs in the aged and disability care sectors, including 2574 jabs in the past 24 hours.
Adeshola Ore\3.38pm:Speak up on workplace culture, says Mr Speaker
Speaker of the lower house Tony Smith has urged MPs and their staff to contribute to an external review into parliamentary workplace culture.
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins is leading an independent inquiry into the workplace at Parliament House and its process of handling allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
The Morrison government established the inquiry in response to the 2019 rape allegation by former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins which became public in February.
At the end of the last question time before the winter break, Mr Smith said all first-hand experiences were vital to inform the review.
“Members and senators should encourage staff to participate,” he said.
Ms Jenkins is currently interviewing current and former parliamentary staff.
READ MORE: Australia ‘fell behind’ on sexual harassment
Dennis Shanahan 2.55pm:Keith Pitt seeks medical advice over Covid contact
Resources Minister Keith Pitt has sought medical advice after being told he may have been a close Covid contact after attending a dinner.
But the minister has been told he was not a close contact and is permitted in the chamber.
He has to only take further action if he develops symptoms.
Adeshola Ore2.49pm:Labor lays blame for NSW outbreak at feds’ feet
Labor has used question time to place blame on the federal government for NSW’s growing Covid-19 outbreak which is now at 49 cases.
Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler noted the unvaccinated aircrew driver at the centre of the NSW outbreak.
“The government’s hand-picked adviser Jane Halton says she warned the government last year that transport arrangements were, quote, “A potential hole and had to be a higher priority,” he said.
“Why did the Prime Minister ignore that advice and does he now take any responsibility for the Sydney outbreak?”
Scott Morrison accused the government of trying to score political points during a pandemic.
“The responsibilities are held at a commonwealth level and a state level, Mr Speaker,” he said.
“On this case that worker was not vaccinated and the New South Wales Premier has made it very clear that they’re investigating into how that occurred.”
Jess Malcolm2.46pm:New Zealand to review travel bubble to NSW
New Zealand health authorities say the travel bubble to NSW is set to be reviewed today.
The news comes after the country recorded no new cases of Covid-19.
Wellington has been plunged into a level two public health after a Sydney man spent time in the nation’s capital whilst infectious with the virus.
Advice for travellers from New South Wales:
— Unite against COVID-19 (@covid19nz) June 24, 2021
Quarantine-Free Travel with NSW has been paused for 72 hours from 11:59pm (NZT) on Tuesday 22 June, while the source of infection of new cases announced in Sydney is investigated. The pause will be reviewed again later today.
The case triggered a 72-hour pause on the quarantine-free travel bubble between NSW and New Zealand.
They have also released advice for travellers from Queensland after it recorded three new locally acquired cases that were all linked to a Portuguese flight attendant.
“New Zealand health officials have determined at this time, the Covid-19 public health risk from this to New Zealand is low,” the statement read.
Adeshola Ore 2.02pm:Barnaby Joyce briefly absent from QT due to Covid scare
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is back in the chamber after seeking medical advice about whether he was a close contact of a coronavirus case.
Leader of the government in the house Peter Dutton told parliament that Mr Joyce had attended a function and was seeking advice.
Josh Frydenberg led the government in the house in Mr Joyce’s brief absence.
Mr Joyce was re-elected as Nationals leader on Monday following a partyroom spill.
My understanding is B Joyce was around people who were around the pharmacy guild close contact who went to the function last night. But he saw them yesterday not last night I am told so has realised he is clear.
— Andrew Clennell (@aclennell) June 24, 2021
Mr Joyce told the house he was alerted prior to question time that he may have been in contact with a person who was a close contact of a Covid-19 case.
“I immediately sought further information and advice from Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd,” he said.
“As I am not a close contact, I’m now able to attend the chamber.”
It is unconfirmed whether Mr Joyce attended the same event that has forced some NSW Nationals MPs to self-isolate. Agriculture Minister and Nationals MP Adam Marshall today confirmed he had tested positive to Covid-19.
NSW announced 11 new cases today.
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Remy Varga1.40pm:Infected Melbourne man attended Sydney party
Victoria’s contact tracing boss Jeroen Weimar said the man attended the party that NSW has declared a super spreading event.
“My understanding is he has not yet been contacted by the NSW contact tracing team,” he said.
The man arrived in Melbourne on a 5.30pm flight from Liverpool on Sunday.
The Oakleigh resident works at a laundromat in Sandringham and did not catch public transport to work.
Contact tracers have so far identified one close contact.
It is not yet known if the man was vaccinated, Mr Weimar said.
Olivia Caisley1.30pm:Nationals split with Liberals on water
The Nationals have again split with the Liberals on water policy with the junior coalition partner bringing moves to try and blow up the Murray-Darling Basin Plan to the lower house.
It comes as the Nationals blindsided the Liberals by proposing major reforms to the MDBP in the Senate on Wednesday in the party’s first major policy initiative since Barnaby Joyce returned as Deputy Prime Minister.
Nationals whip Damian Drum moved amendments in the House after the Nationals failed in their efforts to tack amendments on to separate legislation installing an Inspector-General on Wednesday.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton attempted to shut the Nationals down, which Labor tried to stop, in an attempt to force the coalition partners to vote against each other.
Mr Drum said that while there is a “gulf within” the beliefs of the Nationals and Liberals on water policy the junior coalition partner won’t vote against the Liberals.
“By agreeing to a dissension motion that is going to allow us a political debate that has nothing to do with the amendments,” Mr Drum said. “I am not going to be a party to this grandstanding from the Labor Party to produce dissension with the Liberal Party.”
Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie, who spearheaded the Nationals’ push in the Senate on Wednesday, is watching on from the public gallery.
READ MORE:Coalition unease as Nationals’ policies diverge
Jess Malcolm1.23pm: West Hoxton birthday party ‘still poses concerns’
Health authorities are racing to trace a total of three unlinked cases associated with the emerging outbreak since it began.
The first is a 9-year-old primary school child from St Charles Catholic School in Waverley. CHO Kerry Chant confirmed there have been no further cases detected in the school community, but testing is still ongoing.
The second case is a hairdresser from Western Sydney who worked at Jo Bailey in Double Bay.
The last case is a “person in a health facility” where a patient attended in the waiting room, Dr Chant has confirmed.
But she flagged that NSW health authorities are still concerned about further chains of transmission from the West Huxton party.
“We are keeping in regular contact with the public health unit there to assess the risk and as I said, it clearly, we are concerned about the fact that the community, this West Hoxton party, has generated a number of cases.”
“I thank those individuals for their cooperation and getting promptly tested and isolating, the vast majority of them were isolating from the Monday night so they were potentially in the community for a limited amount of time.”
Sydney residents are also being urged to check the updated exposure venues with a large number of transport routes set to be added later today.
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Remy Varga 1.20pm:Victoria finds new Covid case linked to NSW cluster
An additional Covid case linked to NSW has been identified in Victoria, says Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley.
Mr Foley said the man attended his daughter’s house in a green zone in Sydney before flying back to Melbourne on Sunday.
He developed symptoms on Tuesday and was tested on Wednesday.
Mr Foley said health authorities were waiting for genomics analysis to confirm the man, aged in his 60s, had contracted the NSW strain.
He said contact tracers were working to nail down the man’s movements and it was as of yet unknown how many people were on his flight from Sydney to Melbourne. None of his fellow passengers have yet to be contacted.
The man lives alone at an address in the City of Monash and his workplace in Sandringham has been shut down for deep cleaning.
Mr Foley thanked the man for getting tested on his own volition.
“Today’s case is a stark reminder of how important it is to get tested,” he said.
Victoria will classify all of Greater Sydney and Wollongong as a red zone from 1am Friday, meaning travellers returning home will need to obtain a permit before quarantining at home for two-weeks.
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said Victoria Police would enforce the border closure at roads and in airports.
He said mobile police units would be armed with license plate scanners to ensure border compliance on the roads.
READ MORE: Sydney’s virus exposure site list explodes
Jess Malcolm1.11pm:I’ve had no contact with infected minister: Premier
Gladys Berejiklian says she has had “zero” contact with Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, enabling her to be cleared as a casual contact.
“I was there for a short time, addressed the crowd and didn’t have contact with (Adam Marshall) whatsoever,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The Premier said her case is like anyone else who has been notified of exposure, as the risk assessment is subject to change pending further health advice.
Kerry Chant also addressed questions on how authorities deem someone a close or casual contract, saying there are multiple factors.
“What we do is we assess each venue, so not every venue is the same, with the size of the venue, you have to pass on the venue, if it is a venue the size of a massive area that is very different than a single room, is the duration you are there, there are multiple factors as well as the infectivity that is assessed of the individual that is there at the time.”
Dr Chant said the case in Parliament, which has been revealed as Adam Marshall, had “very low infectivity” but health authorities are acting with caution.
“We can’t preclude that he was infectious the previous day, when that person was present in Parliament.”
“We are working through that, we convened an expert panel this morning, and those investigations are continuing in terms of the interviews, so it will take us a while given the complexity of the workplace, but our contact traces are conducting those interviews now and there has been extensive testing undertaken.”
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Jess Malcolm 1.00pm:Why NSW is able to avoid lockdown so far
NSW has avoided a lockdown today because health authorities are not battling a “backlog” of contact tracing, Kerry Chant says.
When asked why NSW has not been plunged into a three day snap lockdown, the Chief Health Officer said she felt confident that the current restrictions were enough.
“Three days is not long enough and if you have a look at the reasons for the three days, it is a pause where you are, you have a sudden surge of cases and you want everybody to stay in the same place, and that allows you to get any backlog of any contact tracing.”
But Dr Chant forecast a lockdown could be enforced if the number of unlinked cases gets worse.
“I am not dismissing any situation, but that is the purpose of that strategy, to get it to a pause, we are not that situation where we are not getting to people in terms of the contact tracing,” she said.
“We know that because we have some unlinked cases, so there must be some missing links there.”
“Because of that, we do not know the size of the chains that those missing links have established, and therefore, that is the reason for the concern, as well as the fact that we have seen transmission in settings.”
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Jess Malcolm 12.56pm:Premier awaiting police report on limousine driver
Gladys Berejiklian has refused to answer questions on the health order protocols which allowed an unvaccinated contract driver to transport aircrew to quarantine.
The NSW Premier said her focus today is ensuring people come forward to get tested, and follow health advice.
“We will have more to say about that once police have completed their investigations, but let me make it very clear,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Everybody in New South Wales who works in our systems know their obligations, and we certainly look forward to providing certainty around what occurred in this situation.
“I am as upset and frustrated as anybody. We all worked so hard and it is really disappointing when things don’t go the way they should.”
NSW Police are expected to hand a report to the health ministry next week.
Jess Malcolm12.51pm:NSW contact tracing holding strong: only 1 unlinked case
NSW’s contact tracing is so far holding strong against the highly infectious deltra strain, with only one of 18 new cases today under investigation.
Health authorities have reiterated that unlinked cases are crucial in their decision whether to extend restrictions.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said it is still critical to follow the health advice, isolate and get tested
“At the beginning of the day we often start with unlinked cases but as you can see, those linkages have been made and by the time we closed off the numbers, we were able to report that 17 of those 18 cases were all linked,” Dr Chant said.
“We will be monitoring that situation closely.”
The sole unlinked case today is a Western Sydney hairdresser who was infectious while at work at a Double Bay hair salon.
Jess Malcolm 12.31pm: No new restrictions as Berejiklian tests negative
Gladys Berejiklian, large parts of NSW cabinet and some regional MPs have been asked to get tested and isolate until July 6, after a Nationals budget dinner at NSW Parliament was visited by a positive case on Tuesday night.
Everyone who attended the Nationals Budget Dinner at NSW Parliament has been told to isolate until July 6 and get tested. This includes the Premier, large sections of NSW cabinet, and regional MPs who have already flown back to their electorates. pic.twitter.com/LvxM4gTGiO
— Yoni Bashan (@yoni_bashan) June 24, 2021
NSW Health advises that Parliament House’s Strangers Dining Room has been exposed to Covid-19.
The Premier called the current outbreak “the scariest period” that the state has faced, but announced that restrictions will not be tightened today.
he NSW Premier stressed that her level of concern was “medium to high” but that it was pleasing to see all new cases except one were linked.”
“It is a very contagious variant but at the same time we are at this stage comfortable that the settings that are in place are the appropriate settings, but that is so long as everybody does the right thing,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Please know that wearing a mask does not mean you are protected from the virus. We have always said that mask wearing is the fourth line of defence was up you need to socially distance, you need to hand sanitise.”
Ms Berejiklian also confirmed that she has been deemed a casual contact after Parliament House was placed on high alert.
“I was interviewed by Health. Health has made their assessments and deemed that I am a casual contact. I was tested very early this morning and isolated and returned a negative test a couple of hours ago and I will continue to follow health advice.”
Adeshola Ore12.27pm: TGA gives provisional approval for Moderna vaccine
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has granted provisional approval for the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine.
In a statement, the TGA said if approved, the vaccines would be given in two days 28 days apart and would be given to individuals aged 12 and over.
“The granting of a provisional determination means that the TGA has made a decision that Moderna is now eligible to apply for provisional registration for the vaccine in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG),” it said.
“Provisional determination is the first step in the process. It is anticipated that Moderna will submit an application for provisional registration shortly.”
Australia has secured 25 million doses of the Moderna vaccine, including 15 million booster shots.
Australia will receive as many as 2.3 million Covid-1 vaccine doses from Pfizer every week by the start of October, when it will phase out the use of AstraZeneca.
READ MORE: Two jabs needed for Delta coverage
Jess Malcolm12.10pm: Berejiklian attended NSW budget ‘superspreader event’
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said a budget dinner attended by dozens of MP’s and staffers could be deemed a superspreader event.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Barilaro said the dinner was held after the budget attended by about “60 or 70 attendees” who could be considered close contacts of Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall.
It seems that everyone in that room is going to be deemed a close contact.
— Laura Jayes (@ljayes) June 24, 2021
That includes the Premier @GladysB who’s about to hold a media conference. https://t.co/u1rkqs5lY7
Mr Marshall has also told Sky he was in the same room as Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet after contracting the virus but before he was told to get tested.
The minister attended a Paddington restaurant on Monday night which was also visited by a positive case associated with the Bondi cluster.
“We had the normal budget day of Parliament, a series of meetings, but nothing out of the ordinary at all,” Mr Marshall said.
“I feel pretty ordinary … that he (the Treasurer) is going to be impacted by me testing positive particularly given the nature of Parliament and the number of people who have been in the building due to budget week.”
READ MORE:The Mocker – What Brett Sutton should have said ... ‘I had to eat’
Adeshola Ore11.40am:Human error to blame for outbreaks: Dutton
Defence Minister Peter Dutton says regional quarantine facilities will not prevent coronavirus outbreaks, as the Bondi cluster continues to spread across Sydney.
NSW’s health officials today announced 11 new locally acquired cases, bringing the total outbreak to 49. On Wednesday, Labor used question time to seize on the increasing number of cases, claiming the Morrison government had failed to deliver purpose-built quarantine facilities and an effective vaccine rollout.
But Mr Dutton said all quarantine centres could be subject to “human error”.
“It wouldn’t matter if it was a federal quarantine facility, or a hotel quarantine facility, a tent out in a paddock, if there’s human error then it doesn’t matter what part of the process you are talking about, the virus will spread,” he said.
He also backed the approach of Queensland and NSW to avoid a full border shutdown or state-wide lockdown.
“I think it’s a positive thing that we’re moving away from that,” he said.
READ MORE:Savva: Morrison didn’t allow space for McCormack to shine
Jess Malcolm11.26am:Another hair salon sparks urgent tracing effort
NSW Health authorities are racing to contact and trace anyone who attended a popular inner-city hair salon.
Anyone who attended Crown Hair in Kings Cross on Tuesday June 22 from 9am to 5pm is a close contact, must immediately call NSW Health, get tested and immediately isolate regardless of the result.
NSW Health is still continuing to ask anyone who was at Westfield Bondi Junction (including the car park), particularly Fitness First between June 12 to June 18 to get tested.
These people do not have to isolate, but are strongly urged to avoid gatherings and minimise their movements.
Testing rates in NSW surged to 48,402 yesterday, compared to the previous day’s total of 44,640.
There were 17,976 vaccinations administered yesterday, bringing the total doses administered in NSW to 1,993,638.
READ MORE:Sydney outbreak is Scott Morrison’s viral landmine
Jess Malcolm11.05am: NSW records net 11 new cases
NSW Health has announced 11 new locally acquired cases, bringing the total outbreak to 49 cases, 36 of those linked to the Bondi cluster.
NSW recorded 18 locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, 13 of which were already announced yesterday morning.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 24, 2021
NSW Health has also been notified of six new locally acquired cases overnight. These cases will be included in tomorrow's numbers. pic.twitter.com/D7SVhhSF6z
There were 18 new cases in the past 24 hours, 13 of which were announced yesterday.
There were six more cases recorded after the reporting cut off period.
NSW Health is urgently investigating a hairdresser from Western Sydney who worked in Double Bay is currently unlinked to a known case or cluster.
The salon is suspected to be one run by celebrity hairdresser Joh Bailey which was listed as an exposure site late yesterday.
Today’s cases also include a man in his 70s from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who is linked to the Bondi cluster.
There is also a man in his 50s from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who is linked to the Bondi cluster.
Five further locally acquired cases were notified to 8pm last night including a woman and a man from Sydney’s south west who are linked to the birthday party, attended by previously reported cases linked to the Bondi cluster.
A teenager from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who is linked to the Bondi cluster has also tested positive, and a woman in her 20s from Sydney’s eastern suburbs who is a close contact of a previously reported case.
Six new locally acquired cases which will be included in tomorrow’s numbers include a man in his 30s who attended the Christo’s Pizzeria in Paddington. This case has been confirmed as Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall.
Three women who are close contacts of a previously reported case who work as a hairdresser at a Double Bay hair salon. All of these cases have been in isolation while infectious.
A man in his 40s who is linked to the West Hoxton birthday party, attended by previously reported cases linked to the Bondi cluster.
A man in his 40s who is not yet linked to a known case or cluster.
READ MORE:Two jabs needed for Delta coverage
Matthew Denholm 10.47am:Bob Brown loses High Court forest challenge
Bob Brown has lost his High Court bid aimed at directly subjecting forestry operations to national environment laws, claiming the decision “sends shockwaves” and will lead to further forest destruction.
The High Court on Thursday rejected a bid by the Bob Brown Foundation to appeal a Federal Court ruling that validated Regional Forest Agreements.
These deals, between the states and the federal government, effectively exempt forestry operations from the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Instead, federal environment protections are provided through the RFAs and forest practice codes, but conservationists and some scientists say these are woefully inadequate.
Dr Brown, the former Greens leader and veteran environmentalist, said loss of the case was “abysmal”, however forestry groups and some Coalition MPs are expected to herald it as a vindication of the industry.
READ the full story here
Lydia Lynch 10.31am:‘Great Wall of Coolangatta’ may stage a comeback
Queensland is considering bringing back its concrete border wall if cases continue to surge in NSW.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles bringing back the hard border, dubbed the “Great Wall of Coolangatta”, was under “active consideration”, but there were no immediate plans “at this stage”.
Chief health officer Jeanette Young warned Queenslanders not to travel to regional NSW saying there was “absolutely” a chance she would lock out the entire state if cases numbers continued to climb.
Queensland’s border slammed shut to Greater Sydney on Thursday morning. Travel to regional NSW is still allowed, but not recommended.
“This is not the time to go down to NSW,” Dr Young said.
“I am concerned, as I have ever been but I am also confident we have really good systems in place.”
School holidays begin in Queensland, Victoria and NSW on Friday.
The border wall at the southern end of the Gold Coast was dismantled in November.
Meanwhile, Dr Young revealed there had been no detection of Covid-19 outside of greater Sydney this morning, but has urged residents not to travel to NSW.
“NSW has a very, very good sewerage detection program in place and I get that data every single morning, so I can report this morning that there have been no detections in the sewerage outside of Metropolitan, greater Metropolitan Sydney,” Dr Young said.
“None in regional areas, so that is really good, particularly that northern area. But that could change.”
Deputy Premier Steven Miles and Dr Jeannette Young have strongly urged Queensland residents to not travel to Sydney as it battles an evolving outbreak.
“This is not the time to go down into New South Wales. You could end up exposing yourself and putting yourself at risk.”
“Particularly given where we are with our vaccine rollout. We’re doing a great job there given the amount of vaccine that we’re able to get from the commonwealth and we’re using all of that vaccine.” – With Jess Malcolm
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Jess Malcolm10.26am:Berejiklian’s Covid update pushed back to 12.30pm
Gladys Berejiklian is expected to address the media at 12.30pm today, alongside Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard will likely not attend as he is currently in isolation after being exposed to Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall who tested positive after dining at a Paddington restaurant.
Today’s numbers will include 13 new infections announced yesterday, and any further positive cases.
Will Glasgow10.18am:We’re not insecure, Beijing tells Canberra
China’s foreign ministry has brusquely denied Beijing is “dogged by insecurity” following a frank character assessment of Xi Jinping’s administration by Australia’s top diplomat.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also questioned a survey by the Lowy Institute that found only 16 per cent of Australians trusted Xi’s China to act responsibly in the world.
“Whether its conclusions are reliable remains a question,” he said.
The authoritative Lowy poll — based on a survey of 2,000 respondents and now in its 17th year — found two-thirds of Australians now view China as a security threat rather than an economic partner.
It was the third poll of Australian attitudes to China released in the last fortnight that revealed the sharp souring of sentiment in the last year, following the Xi administration’s campaign of economic coercion on Australian farmers and miners.
Australia’s top diplomat Frances Adamson on Wednesday said President Xi’s China had become an increasingly ideological country, suspicious of external threats.
“This siege mentality – this unwillingness to countenance scrutiny and genuine discussion of differences – serves nobody’s interests,” she said.
Ms Adamson — a former ambassador in Beijing — said Xi’s China had “a deeply defensive mindset” and was obsessed with “external threats”.
READ the full story here
Lydia Lynch10.08am:Queensland records 3 new local virus cases
Three new local cases have been detected in Queensland, all linked back to a Portuguese flight attendant who tested positive at the weekend.
Health authorities are not concerned about the new cases who all tested positive while already in quarantine.
Thursday 24 June – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) June 24, 2021
Three locally acquired and detected in quarantine, one overseas acquired and detected in hotel quarantine. #covid19pic.twitter.com/j2SVoge3hi
The flight attendant, aged in her 30s, tested negative days zero, five and 12 of hotel quarantine.
She left quarantine on day 14. Her infection was picked up by a routine weekly Covid swab required of all international flight crew.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles warned travellers from Sydney to stay away from Queensland.
“This outbreak really could test all of our systems,” he said.
READ MORE: Gottliebsen – New tech could change nuclear’s ‘dirty’ tag
Jess Malcolm 10.03am: Infected NSW minister wasn’t vaccinated
NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall was not vaccinated, a spokesperson from his office has confirmed.
At 38 years old, Mr Marshall was not yet eligible to receive a vaccine.
NSW MPs have been ordered to “stay put” until further updates later this morning.
The NSW Whip has ordered anyone currently in Parliament House must remain, and if not, must remain at home.
READ MORE:Minister tests positive, Hazzard isolating
Jess Malcolm9.54am:Victoria records one new local virus case
Victoria has recorded one new case of locally acquired Covid-19, following 22,812 tests reported to 8pm last night.
Reported yesterday: 1 new local case and 3 new case acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 23, 2021
- 17,803 vaccine doses were administered
- 22,812 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/2vKbgKZgn3#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/d1t6LE4ORw
Health authorities have confirmed the new case of community transmission is a primary close contact of a previous infection who has been in quarantine throughout their infectious period.
There were also three new cases recorded in hotel quarantine.
There are currently 52 active cases in the state.
Yesterday, the government also administered 17,803 vaccines.
READ MORE:Margin Call – Queensland’s ‘people’s governor Jeaneatte Young’ is not short of palaces
Max Maddison9.37am: Slow vaccination rollout ‘linked to Sydney’s pain’
Manager of Opposition Business Tony Burke says there’s a “direct line” between the slow vaccination rollout and the “pain that’s going to be felt throughout Sydney”.
With the deteriorating situation in Sydney magnifying the ongoing problems with the inability to vaccinate swathes of the population, and the procurement of mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna, Mr Burke said the federal government should have had vaccination contracts with five or six companies.
“When you only give yourself two options, you’re playing with fire. And that’s what Mr Morrison did to the Australian population,” Mr Burke told Sky News on Thursday morning.
“The government bet the house on a result, and now you have a situation where the health advice has changed. What I am critical of is that we have nowhere else to go.”
READ MORE: Jack the Insider – Is the vaccine rollout designed to be slow?
Adeshola Ore9.12am: Queensland tourism industry has PM’s sympathy
Scott Morrison says he feels for the Queensland tourism industry, after the state closed its border to Greater Sydney as the Bondi cluster continues to spread across the city.
Queensland Health on Wednesday expanded its border restrictions to people from Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour.
The Prime Minister said the Queensland tourism industry would want people from NSW to be able to travel into the state for the school holiday period.
“It’s important those restrictions get lifted as soon as they possibly can,” he told 4BC radio
“I feel for the Queensland tourism industry, I hope we can get these border bans out of the way as quickly as possible.”
Mr Morrison said he had faith NSW would be able to bring the outbreak under control.
“NSW will do, I think, a fantastic job of getting on top of this as they’ve demonstrated time and again,” he said.
“They haven’t locked down Sydney, but they have some restrictions in place which are sensible.”
READ MORE: Pace of lockdown relief ‘cruels events industry’
Jess Malcolm9.09am: ‘Doing fine’: Ag Minister confirms positive test
NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall has released a statement formally confirming he has tested positive to Covid-19.
Mr Marshall attended Paddington’s Christo’s Pizzeria on Monday night.
“I have been in isolation in Sydney since last Tuesday night when I received a text message from NSW Health advising of my attendance at a close contact venue on Monday evening, and the need to present for testing,” the statement read.
Parli start now delayed until 10.30am and staff told not to attend. I would presume there’s more to come.
— Jodi McKay (@JodiMcKayMP) June 23, 2021
“To everyone that has contacted me this morning, thank you for your thoughts and well wishes - I’m doing fine and will continue to strictly follow the advice of health authorities.”
“To our wonderful NSW Health staff, who continue to do an amazing job in these challenging times, thank you for your support and efforts keeping all of us safe and well.”
“Take care everyone.”
Former opposition leader Jodi McKay said NSW Parliament had been delayed to 10.30am this morning when Chris Minns was set to deliver his opposition reply speech.
READ MORE: Contentious reef call sparks international concern
Jess Malcolm8.55am:I want to close loopholes over limo driver today: Hazzard
Brad Hazzard says he is prepared to fix the holes in the state’s health orders, after it was revealed there was no forced requirement for the limousine driver to be vaccinated or wear a mask while transporting aircrew.
“Based on the health advice that’s come back so far I would like these issues addressed quickly,” Mr Hazzard, who is isolating after a possible exposure to a possible virus case, told 2GB.
“I want them to give me orders today for it to be fixed.”
2GB revealed this morning that the unvaccinated limousine driver who sparked the latest Bondi outbreak worked for a Bondi-based limousine company.
The Australian has contacted the company for comment.
Aircrew employ sub-contract drivers to pick up flight crew, who are required to have daily Covid saliva tests.
NSW Police are now investigating why the limousine driver did not have a test after he picked up three aircrew from an American Fed-Ex plane on June 11.
He then developed symptoms four days later after which he had already infected his wife, and both of them had spent time in various locations across Sydney’s east.
Under the current public health order, drivers must be tested daily and it is a recommendation for drivers to be vaccinated or wear masks.
2GB has reported that police are having difficulty proving if the driver knew he had to take daily swab tests, and it is unlikely that he would be prosecuted.
It is currently still not a requirement for contract drivers to be vaccinated or wear masks.
NSW Police will hand a final report to Mr Hazzard next week.
READ MORE: High society hair scare
Max Maddison8.26am:Berejiklian taking the right course, Morrison says
Scott Morrison has praised NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian for her resistance to locking down swathes of Sydney despite the Bondi cluster continuing to spread across the city.
With NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard in isolation after being possibly exposed at Parliament House, expectations have risen that Ms Berejiklian will plunge parts of Greater Sydney into a lockdown to stem the outbreak.
But the Prime Minister said he believed Ms Berejiklian was “taking the right course” and said he had “no doubt” restrictions would be eased as soon as possible.
“The premier and I spoke at some length yesterday and I have been keeping in contact over the course of this last week with the situation in NSW,” Mr Morrison told Seven’s Sunrise.
“I think the approach that she is taking is the right one. There are sensible restrictions that are being put in place and they are affecting people right across Sydney.”
He said he wasn’t surprised by the lack of more draconian measures, saying it was the “disposition” of the NSW government to avoid placing unnecessary burdens on their citizens.
“I think that encourages people, particularly in NSW, knowing that as soon as those restrictions are not necessary they will be lifted because that is what Gladys Berejiklian and her government have always sought to do during the course of this pandemic,” he said.
READ MORE: Morrison facing a viral landmine in Sydney
Jess Malcolm 8.18am:NSW Agriculture Minister tests positive to Covid
NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall has tested positive for Covid-19, 2GB has revealed.
Mr Marshall went to Christos Pizzeria on Monday night, along with three other MPS.
NSW Parliament has been placed on high alert after the minister spent Tuesday in parliament before he got tested that evening.
“I’ve just received a call from NSW Health, formally advising me that I am positive,” Mr Marshall told Ben Fordham via text.
“No doubt from the pizza joint I went to on Monday evening.”
Health minister Brad Hazzard is also in isolation after authorities advised him he was a potential close contact of a positive case.
READ MORE: We can’t keep going like this, tourism sector says
Jess Malcolm 7.48am: ‘The longer you delay lockdown, the harder it’ll get’
Prominent epidemiologist Tony Blakely says a lockdown will be “longer and harder” if the Berejiklian government delays the decision, with the current settings leaving it open to further chains of community transmission.
Professor Blakely slammed the Berejiklian government for not imposing further restrictions such as closing bars, gyms and restaurants and limiting visits to people’s homes down to two or zero.
“Each day you delay means that if you need a lockdown, which I think is more than likely now, it will be longer and harder if they don’t do it soon,” he told ABC News Breakfast.
“One of the other measures is keeping gyms open at the moment, even with people wearing masks, is, frankly, crazy.”
“You’ve got 20 people in there exercising heavily, the mask is not gonna stop lateral spread of the air.”
Professor Blakely admits NSW has a “50/50” chance of getting through the outbreak without a lockdown, but that it was “chance-based”.
“If they do pull it off, it will embolden the strategy a little bit more for holding off on lockdowns in the future.”
“It's a really difficult decision to make.”
READ MORE: Ferguson – Sydney vs Melbourne virus battles a landmine for Morrison
Jess Malcolm7.26am:Morrison on unvaccinated driver, vaccine rollout
Scott Morrison has labelled the recent Bondi outbreak being triggered by an unvaccinated limousine driver as “disappointing”.
Speaking to Sunrise from isolation, the Prime Minister said it was a requirement for people who are working in or in connection to quarantine to be vaccinated.
“When talking about large numbers of people, hundreds of thousands of people coming through the system, the virus is insidious and will find those points of weakness, but I know the government will continue to double down on their processes,” Mr Morrison said.
“It’s been a common issue we’ve raised around the national cabinet table. It was our first priority to get those working around quarantine vaccinated, but clearly on this occasion that was not met.”
When pressed on the troubled vaccination rollout, Mr Morrison said all residential aged care facilities have had their first dose and 99 per cent has had their second dose, and that the rollout more broadly will ramp up significantly from July.
“Early on in the program we were frustrated by two things, one was the non-delivery of AstraZeneca vaccines from overseas, several million of those in the first few weeks, and on top of that, we had two decisions from our target that constrain the use of AstraZeneca to those over 60.
“We will see the doses available from July escalate significantly, and that will rise again in September or October.”
READ MORE:AstraZeneca vaccine to be phased out
Jess Malcolm7.02am:Hazzard tempers Sydney lockdown fears
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has hosed down fears Sydney will go into another lockdown, calling the new restrictions in the city “proportionate”.
While admitting he may not be able to attend the morning’s announcement, Mr Hazzard refused to reveal what case numbers the state should expect.
“I don’t believe that we will go into a lockdown, I’ve made that point,” he said.
“I think we actually need to take health advice and the health advice is that the new orders that came into play yesterday afternoon are proportionate to our risk. But people do need to be extremely cautious.
“We’ve had a very successful balance here in NSW of keeping our economy open. Our economy leads the country. That’s very important for mental health and obviously for, more broadly, our health.”
READ MORE:Pfizer supply to hit two million a week
Jess Malcolm6.55am:NSW Health Minister a possible contact, isolating
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard is isolating after he received a text during the night warning he was a possible close contact of a case linked to NSW parliament.
Mr Hazzard, who appeared on ABC News Breakfast via phone, said that he was not suffering any symptoms but had been asked to isolate until he received further advice from NSW Health.
“I was advised when I woke up at about 5.30am, there was a text message that had come in sometime during the night telling me that a case had been detected as a likely positive, and that I was a possible close contact,” Mr Hazzard said.
“I’m quite confident that the majority of people in the New South Wales parliament will be either no contact or casual contacts, so that won’t be a major issue.
“But certainly from my point of view, I was identified as a possible close contact, and I believe that was after an interview that occurred with a person who may be positive, and they’re just working through those issues.”
Mr Hazzard clarified the positive case was not a journalist, but an employee of state politics.
READ MORE:Queensland slams door on Sydney
Jess Malcolm6.45am:NSW authorities were warned about aircrew drivers
Chair of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Jane Halton says she warned the NSW government of the potential for Covid-19 to leak from aircrew to drivers at Sydney Airport.
The revelation comes after the recent Bondi outbreak was triggered by an unvaccinated limosciene driver who contracted the virus while ferrying international aircrew.
“I’m really, really, really disconcerted by this,” she said. “When I did my review of hotel quarantine last year and, to be fair, international crew were not part of the remit, I actually drew people’s attention when I briefed them on this particular issue.
“I actually said that this was a potential hole and people needed to be very, very aware that these people and their transport arrangements had to be a high priority.
“Now we know that people come in and out of systems, their jobs change, but we need everybody, including the people who deliver things like transport, to be on the same program.
Mask wearing, particularly in the vehicle, I’m really, really not happy about that. Then also making sure these people are vaccinated.”
The Bondi outbreak has now grown to at least 31 cases, with several others unlinked, and plunged millions of Sydney residents under strict restrictions.
READ MORE:Two jabs needed for Delta coverage
Jess Malcolm6.28am:NSW exposure site list grows to over 100 venues
NSW has listed several more exposure venues on its list which has now ballooned past 100 sites including a popular Darlinghurst Cafe, a cinema and several bus and train routes.
The fresh alert comes after the state recorded 10 new cases on Tuesday.
At least another 13 cases will be added to the numbers this morning after they were detected after the 8pm reporting period.
Health authorities are still racing to trace four mystery cases.
While the majority of the cases were already in isolation, Gladys Berejiklian gave another strong indication in state parliament on Wednesday that she had not “ruled out” imposing further restrictions.
Residents of Sydney are now spending their first day under new restrictions, including mandatory mask wearing for all indoor settings including workplaces, and travel restrictions for seven local government areas.
Mask wearing in workplace settings is the first time this mandate has been applied as the state battles the highly infectious delta strain.
Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed is a close contact and must immediately call NSW Health, get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
• Tropicana Cafe (Dine in), 227 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, Friday June 18 from 12pm to 2pm
• Ikaria Bondi, 70 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach, Sunday June 20 from 5pm to 7pm
Anyone who attended any of the following venues at the times listed is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
• Coles Express at Shell Petrol Station, 120-138 Birrell St, Bondi Junction, Friday June 18 from 7.15pm to 7.45pm
• Woolworths Metro Bondi Beach, 184 Campbell Parade, Bondi Junction, Sunday June 20, 1pm to 1.30pm
• Tropicana Cafe (Takeaway), 227 Victoria St, Darlinghurst, Friday June 18 from 12pm to 2pm
• BWS, 55 Church Avenue, Mascot, Saturday June 19 from 5pm to 5.30pm
• United Cinemas Narellan, Narellan, 326 Camden Way, Monday June 21, 5.40pm to 6pm
• TAFE NSW Meadowbank Campus (Building J), See St, Meadowbank, Wednesday June 16 from 8.40am to 5.20pm
• 338 Pitt St (Anyone in the lobby or in the lifts of this building), Sydney, Monday June 21 from 8.30am to 5.30pm
• Coles Kings Cross, 88/94 Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point, Monday June 21 from 8pm to 9pm
Anyone who attended the following stores at the listed times should monitor for symptoms and if they appear, isolate and get tested until a negative result is received:
• TAFE NSW Meadowbank Campus (anywhere but building J), See St, Meadowbank, Wednesday June 16 from 8.40am to 5.20pm
• Transport NSW Training Centre, 2 Trafalgar St, Petersham, Monday June 21 from 4pm to 4.10pm
Anyone who travelled on the following bus and train routes at the times listed is a casual contact and must immediately get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
• Bus 333, from Oxford St after Newland St to St Matthias Anglican Church, Oxford St, Tuesday June 22, departed 1.07pm and arrived 1.12pm
• Bondi Junction to Mascot train, Friday June 18, departed 6.55pm and arrived 7.22pm
• Mascot to Central train, Saturday June 19, departed 5.26 and arrived 5.35pm
• Central to Glenfield train, Saturday June 19, departed 5.53pm and arrived 6.38pm
READ MORE:Morrison facing a viral landmine in Sydney
Lisa Allen5.50am:‘We can’t keep going like this’: $80bn blow to tourism
Covid lockdowns and border closures punched an $80bn revenue black hole in Australia’s tourism sector last year as international holiday-maker arrivals collapsed.
On the domestic front, tourism operators were crippled by the slump in overnight trips to the tune of 45 million fewer hotel and motel stays.
Figures to be released by Deloitte Access Economics on Thursday, prepared for the federal government’s key tourism marketing authority, Tourism Australia, came as Western Australia and South Australia closed their borders to NSW residents on Wednesday, as the NSW government implemented a host of emergency Covid-19 restrictions for Greater Sydney for at least the next week.
At the same time, rising Covid cases has prompted Queensland to extend Covid restrictions for Greater Sydney, which means travellers from the region will be barred from entering the state.
The travel restrictions, which are taking place just ahead of the winter school holidays, drew a rebuke from tourism and airline executives.
“This is another crushing blow for the industry as school holidays are about to start,” Sydney Airport chief executive Geoff Culbert said. “We can’t keep going like this.
“The only path out is the vaccine and these border closures should snap us out of any complacency about getting vaccinated. If you’re in the tourism industry it is a race for survival.”
Olivia Caisley5.15am:Covid fears: states slam shut as outbreak spreads
State borders around the country have slammed shut to NSW and five millions Sydneysiders face tough new restrictions after a spike in the number of Covid-19 cases.
The NSW government has not ruled out a lockdown of the city, with health officials concerned the cluster is fast spreading out of its eastern suburbs epicentre – and the commonwealth officially declaring parts of the city hot spots.
Business groups are so far supporting NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s response as “proportionate”, saying it underscores the urgency in accelerating the vaccination program.
Sydneysiders and residents of the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour are now required to wear masks in all non-residential indoor settings and the number of household visitors is limited to five, including children.
Residents of seven local government areas – Sydney, Woollahra, Randwick, Waverley, Inner West, Bayside and Canada Bay – are also banned from leaving the city for non-essential regions.
Queensland on Wednesday afternoon became the latest state to close its borders to Sydney, along with the surrounding regions. Victoria, which emerged from the last of its extended Covid-19 restrictions, has also stopped travel from the seven local government areas, as has South Australia.
Western Australia has closed its borders to all of NSW.
There were 10 new cases reported to 8pm on Tuesday, and another 13 recorded after that period which will be official added to the count on Thursday morning. chief health officer Kerry Chant said the vast majority of new cases were already in isolation.
Despite the rise in cases, Ms Berejiklian said the state was “not going to restrict people’s movement or what they do”.
The Business Council of Australia and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it supported the NSW government’s response but said it was concerned about the impact border closures and a lockdown could have on the business community.
The cluster in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has also led to restrictions in Wellington, with authorities in New Zealand putting limits on gatherings and reintroducing masks on public transport after a traveller flew from NSW.
Read the full story, by Olivia Caisley and Ellie Dudley, here.
Natasha Robinson5am:Pfizer vaccine supply to hit 2 million per week
Australia will receive as many as 2.3 million Covid-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer every week by the start of October, when it will phase out the use of AstraZeneca.
Under pressure over the uncertainty of future vaccine supply, the commonwealth’s Covid-19 task force on Tuesday published detailed timelines which show AstraZeneca stocks to the states and GP clinics increasing to between 2.2 million and 2.6 million a week in July before decreasing in September and being phased out the following month.
The fall in AstraZeneca vaccines will come as the number of Pfizer doses rises rapidly from between 650,000 and 750,000 in July to between 1.7 million and 2.3 million in October.
Despite the planned increase, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Karen Price said the projected allocations meant demand for vaccinations would still likely outstrip supply until September.
“It looks like in quarter four, we’re going to be okay,” Dr Price said. “But I do think we’ll have a period where we’ll still have to stratify that demand a little bit.”
Read the full story here.
Natasha Robinson4.45am:Two jabs needed to protect against Delta
Australians who have received one Covid-19 vaccine dose have relatively little protection against the Delta variant, with immunity only rising substantially after two doses.
As health chiefs in Australia warned the Delta variant was transmitted as the result of “inadvertent” contact between people sometimes lasting only seconds, UK authorities have estimated the ability of vaccines to protect against illness from the Delta variant after one dose to be low.
Public Health England estimated the Pfizer vaccine offers only about 36 per cent protection against the Delta variant after one dose, while AstraZeneca offered around 30 per cent protection after one dose. Protection from the Delta variant rose to 88 per cent for Pfizer and 67 per cent for AstraZeneca after two doses.
Only about 5 per cent of the population in Australia have received two vaccine doses.
Read the full story here.
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