ATAGI sets earlier second dose AstraZeneca benchmark in outbreak areas

Australia's advisory body on vaccines is calling on people in outbreak areas to get their second jab as soon as possible, and has strongly reinforced its recommendation that the benefits of vaccination with AstraZeneca outweigh the risks of adverse effects in over 60s.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has reiterated that vaccinating this older age group is essential in the context of the highly infectious Delta variant outbreak, as is the case right now in Greater Sydney.

As such, ATAGI is urging those who received their first dose of AstraZeneca to contact their vaccine provider and receive a second dose as soon as possible.

The advisory group has also called for a shorter interval between the first and second doses of AstraZeneca when outbreaks occur, from the standard guidance of 4-12 weeks, down to 4-8 weeks.

In circumstances where the supply of Comirnaty (Pfizer) is constrained, adults younger than 60 who do not have immediate access to the vaccine should re-assess the benefits of being vaccinated against the rare risk of serious side effects.

The advisory group also reinforces that any person who receives the vaccine should be provided with information about the common and rare side effects, including symptoms and signs of the thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).

It has also been recommended that any additional unallocated supplies of both vaccines (AstraZeneca and Pfizer) should be prioritized to populations and areas of greatest risk of COVID-19.

Currently, recommendations around the use of Pfizer in non-outbreak settings remain unchanged.

Updated at 4.00pm AEST on 13 July 2021.

SA reopening to all of Queensland from Friday

Travellers arriving from anywhere in Queensland will be permitted to enter South Australia from this coming Friday without having to go into isolation as border restrictions ease.

Previously, a hard border was in place with Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Gold Coast, Logan, Redland, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and Somersert, but that will be removed at 12.01am on Friday 16 July.

Those regions will instead move to Level 3 restrictions, in line with Townsville, meaning testing is required on days one, three and 13 from arrival in SA.

In addition, people who have been in home quarantine in SA on arrival from southeast Queensland over the last 14 days will be allowed to leave isolation from 12.01am on Friday.

Today the SA Premier Steven Marshall also gave an update about the COVID-positive removalist who spent some time in SA while infectious.

The Premier says a new exposure site in SA has been identified - the Shell service station in Tailem Bend on 9 July from 5.20-7pm.

Anybody who was at that service station on 9 July at the time listed will need to go into quarantine, get tested, and make themselves known to SA Health.

SA recorded two new cases of COVID-19 yesterday: a man in his 40s and a boy who both acquired their infection overseas and have been in a medi-hotel since their arrival.

Updated at 2.28pm AEST on 13 July 2021.

Testing blitz for Fairfield as NSW reports 89 locally acquired COVID-19 cases

Residents of the Fairfield local government area (LGA) who leave the zone for work will be required to get tested every three days as part of the New South Wales government's latest efforts to stamp out a COVID-19 outbreak in southwest Sydney.

The new health order comes as NSW reports 89 new cases of local transmission today, with 21 of those cases in the community while infectious.

With the majority of today's new cases reported in southwest Sydney, the NSW Government has introduced a new health order requiring residents of Fairfield who leave the area for work to get tested every three days even if no symptoms are present.

In addition to Fairfield, health authorities have also called upon increased testing for residents of Roselands, Rosebery, Canterbury, Belmore, Sutherland Shire, St George, West Hoxton, Glenfield and Green Valley.

"In addition to Fairfield local government area they're the areas we want increased testing," NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

"This reflects past risk. Every time anyone leaves their home, they should assume that anyone they're interacting with has COVID and act accordingly to protect themselves and their loved ones."

Of the new cases, the majority were acquired by household and close contacts, with only a few unlinked, which Dr Chant says highlights the importance of only interacting with those in the same household.

"It is essential that we stay at home and only leave home for the most essential reasons," Dr Chant said.

"Do not visit other family members in other households. The unit we want to keep together is the household. We do not want you inadvertently spreading it to other family members by visiting them."

Sadly, a man in his 70s who was a confirmed COVID-19 case died yesterday - the second casualty of Sydney's latest outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

The outbreak has also spread to regional NSW, with one of today's new cases reported in Goulburn - about 200km from Sydney. 

As such, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was keeping a "very close eye on what's happening in NSW".

"I just want to reassure Queenslanders that if it gets to the stage that we have to close we will," she said.

"But at this stage we are monitoring it every single day."

Updated at 11.30am AEST on 13 July 2021.

NSW records 112 cases as more young people infected in Sutherland Shire, Bayside, Georges River

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's prediction that daily case numbers would surpass 100 today has come true, after 112 people tested positive to COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night including at least 34 who were in the community while infectious.

The Premier said it was that the daily number of cases with exposure to the public which would need to be reduced to "as close to zero as possible" before NSW Health would be able to advise the government to end the lockdown, now in its third week for Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains,  Shellharbour and Wollongong.

"I want to stress the vast majority of these cases are family members or very, very close contacts," Premier Berejiklian said.

"If you put yourself at risk, you're putting your entire family and that means extended family as well as your closest friends and associates at risk, and the numbers are telling in that regard."

The daily cases are still concentrated in the three local government areas of Fairfield, Canterbury Bankstown and Liverpool.

Three in every four new cases were from the South Western Sydney Local Health District (LHD), but the second-largest source of cases was South Eastern Sydney with 16.

"I just want to highlight that we are also seeing cases emerge among young adults in the 18 to 20-year-old age group in the Georges River, Bayside and Sutherland local government areas," chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant added.

"And they are largely spreading it, again to echo the Premier's words, to their closest friends and family, so it's crucial that young adults also limit their social interactions at this time and also come forward for testing.

"NSW Health is also working with an apartment block in the eastern suburbs where we have eight cases of COVID, and they've been identified in recent days across five households in a block of 29 units."

There are currently 63 COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital in NSW with 18 people are intensive care of whom four are ventilated.

Of the hospitalised COVID patients, 14 are under the age of 35, including one person in their 20s and another in their 30s in intensive care, further "dispelling the notion that you are not going to get sick from COVID if you're young".

The Premier also urged people not to go to the pharmacist or GP if they have symptoms, but rather go straight to a COVID-19 testing centre.

"We're seeing people unfortunately turn up to waiting rooms of medical centres or GP clinics or else going into pharmacies when they've got symptoms and unintentionally passing the virus on to other people in the waiting area or the GPs or the pharmacists," Berejiklian said.

"We need to make sure that if you have symptoms your first stop should be to the COVID test. Stay home until you get the results and you get the health advice.

"If you have symptoms and you need medical attention, please call and that medical attention will arrive."

NSW Police Commissioner Mike Fuller said there were 105 infringements written overnight for non-compliance with health orders across the greater metro Sydney.

"[This] brings the total to 376 since Friday [where] the police operation intensified," Fuller said.

"We also saw the same in cautions, nearly 400 in cautions showing the police will continue to work with communities but there are still some who are not taking the message seriously.

"Over the weekend we saw 3,000 calls alone from members of the community who were concerned about COVID breaches."

The NSW Government has also announced it will now accept anyone over 40 who wants to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine. This is provided they sign the appropriate consent forms and are willing to take on the risk of potential side effects such as blood clotting, which is extremely rare but can be fatal.

There have been 678 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021, when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.

Updated at 11:45am AEST on 12 July 2021

Queensland to ease restrictions from Friday as Victoria shuts border to NSW, ACT

It has now been an entire week since Queensland last recorded a locally acquired case of COVID-19, encouraging the state's health authorities to wind back some restrictions on gatherings and hospitality from this Friday.

However, unlike Victoria, Queensland will not be closing its border to the entirety of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Sydney grew rapidly over the weekend.

Queensland health authorities have decided from 6am Friday 16 July masks will only be required to be worn on airports and on planes, there will be no more restrictions on hospitals and aged care facilities, and dancing is once again permitted.

Further, homes gatherings can have unrestricted numbers of attendees on the condition that details be kept if numbers exceed 100, and pubs, clubs and cafes can increase patron numbers to three per four square metres.

"We can't say we're totally free of any risk going forward," QLD chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young said.

"As long as everyone who is out there in home quarantine remains in home quarantine and has an exit test on day 12, then we can be very confident that we don't have any transmission in the community."

Deputy Premier Steven Miles has urged Queenslanders still in New South Wales to return home, noting that a total border closure to all of NSW and the ACT is unnecessary now as cases remain contained to Greater Sydney.

"Sydney continues to be the greatest national concern and we will monitor the border situation day by day while Greater Sydney remains locked down," QLD Deputy Premier Steven Miles said.

"[While] cases remain within that locked down area, we don't need to close the border just yet.

"For the sake of the nation, we all need NSW to get on top of these outbreaks."

Victoria shuts out all of NSW and ACT as Sydney case numbers spike

After the number of locally acquired COVID-19 cases hit a new daily high for Sydney's latest outbreak over the weekend, Victoria has moved to close its border to all travellers coming from both NSW and the ACT.

Under VIC's travel permit system, all of NSW and the ACT are now red zones, meaning the border is effectively closed to all travellers except to returning residents who must quarantine for 14 days from arrival and those living in border communities.

"With case numbers continuing to increase in New South Wales, Victorian public health authorities are concerned about the risks of transmission beyond current red zones in Greater Sydney and surrounds, and the potential risks this poses to the Victorian community from people entering our state," the Victorian government said.

It comes after NSW reported 77 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 yesterday, of which 33 were in the community while infectious.

Yesterday also marked the first death from COVID-19 resulting from this latest outbreak of the infectious disease - a woman in her 90s from southwest Sydney.

Because of the large number of new cases who were in the community while infectious, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she expected cases to continue surging today.

"I'm anticipating the numbers in New South Wales will be greater than 100 tomorrow. Now, that's what I'm anticipating," Berejiklian said yesterday.

"And I'll be shocked if it's less than 100 this time tomorrow, of additional new cases."

As such, it is expected Sydney's lockdown will continue past Friday 16 June.

"Given where we're at and given the lockdown was supposed to be lifted on Friday, everybody can tell it's highly unlikely at this stage, given where the numbers are," the Premier said.

"We've always been up-front about that."

WA returns to COVID-normal

As of midnight, all remaining COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in Western Australia, with Perth and Peel returning to business as usual. All mask requirements are gone and crowd limits are no more. 

Restrictions on hospital and aged care facilities are gone, dancing is back in venues, and major events can return. However, businesses are still required to maintain a COVID safety plan and events with 500 or more patrons will need to create a COVID Event Checklist.

WA will also open its borders to the Northern Territory, but NSW and QLD remain blocked off. Travel to and from New Zealand is also permitted. 

Currently, 8.8 per cent of the WA population are fully vaccinated making them the fourth most vaccinated state in the nation. 

Updated 10.39am AEST on 12 July 2021.

Further restrictions for Greater Sydney as daily cases hit 44

"Unless there's a dramatic turnaround in the numbers, I can't see how we'd be in a position to ease restrictions by next Friday," NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

The NSW Government will be further tightening stay-at-home restrictions in Greater Sydney and four surrounding regions after reporting 44 new COVID-19 cases for the 24 hours to 8pm last night, while the number of close contacts of infected people has doubled to 14,000.

This large spike in the net of people who may have been infected is due to numerous large venues listed as exposure sites including the Ikea in Tempe, an Aldi and a Kmart in Merrylands, and two grocery stores in Auburn.

But the underlying message is that any suburb under lockdown is at risk after it was reported 29 people were out in the community in some way while infectious in recent days. Under half of the new cases were in the key area of concern in Southwestern Sydney, seven were from Western Sydney and eight were from Southeastern Sydney.

People in all the NSW capital's suburbs have been urged to follow orders if the city is to get out of this mess, but a call was made for vigilance - such as coming forward for testing - in numerous areas including Sutherland Shire and suburbs outside of recent focal points such as Maroubra and Hurstville.

"Please assume that every time you leave your home you are at risk of getting the virus and bringing it home to the family you are at risk at of spreading the virus to those closest to you," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

Tightened restrictions including a new 10km radius limit for exercise, limiting the number of people who can exercise together to two, and a limit of 10 people at funerals from Sunday.

The Premier emphasised nobody from outside a household is allowed to make a private visit except to receive care from one person, such as dropping off essential items, for health reasons or exceptional circumstances.

"New South Wales is facing the biggest challenge we have faced since the pandemic started, and I don't say that lightly," the Premier said.

"Unless there's a dramatic turnaround in the numbers, I can't see how we'd be in a position to ease restrictions by next Friday.

"This is not the time for complacency, not the time to cut corners. Compliance is so important."

Both the Premier and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant sought to remove any idea from people's minds that NSW could simply 'live with the virus' given the very low vaccine rates in the state.

"When we had the lockdown in March, people were seeing images from overseas which sort of reinforce the fear and concern about COVID, and now people are looking at countries overseas where they're seeing people go about their work and pleasure in a sort of semi-normal way," Dr Chant said.

"That's because those countries have got vaccination coverages for their adult population, and in some cases down in the child population.

"We have only got 9 per cent vaccination coverage. We cannot let this virus take further foothold and lead to an exponential rise in cases. It will have significant impacts in terms of health and wellbeing of our community."

Dr Chant reiterated yesterday's calls for people to reconsider their need to shop at retail and to buy online wherever possible. Yesterday she also urged young people to step up and take an active role of raising awareness about testing and restrictions with their extended families and on social media.

"COVID cannot affect people if you do not come in contact with them, and therefore that is the basis of the stay-at-home orders," Dr Chant said.

There are now almost as many people in hospital (43) with COVID-19 as the latest daily case rate, including a person in their 20s on a ventilator. There are currently four people on ventilators, out of 10 who are in ICU. 

Seven of the 43 people hospitalised with COVID-19 in NSW right now are aged under 35. 

There are currently 37 cases that have not been directly linked to a known case or cluster, with a further 117 who are linked to these 37 unlinked cases.

Updated at 12:13pm AEST on 9 July 2021.

Image via WikiMedia Commons.

PM waives liquid asset test for disaster payments ahead of Sydney's third week in lockdown

The requirement for lockdown-affected workers to prove they have less than $10,000 in liquid assets to receive the Federal Government's COVID disaster payment will be waived for the third week of Sydney's stay-at-home orders, according to Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The asset test will be removed, giving more Sydneysiders access to the $325 and $500 payments depending on their work status.

"It doesn't matter what funds you've got available to you, you can access those payments," the PM said.

"[We are] recognising that we're not just dealing with a one-week period or a two-week period, that this is now going into a third week with further decisions to be taken."

Previously, workers had to self-declare they had less than $10,000 in liquid assets to receive the payments, effectively locking out aspirational homeowners who are saving for their deposits or those who have invested in the share market from receiving the support.

The payment will still be made on a week-by-week basis, granting $500 to those who would ordinarily work more than 20 hours per week, or $325 for those who would work less than 20 hours in a seven-day period.

In addition, they must also self-declare that they would have worked during the relevant period of lockdown, that they have lost income during the period, and have insufficient leave entitlements to cover them. Applicants will not be required to take annual leave.

The change has been welcomed by Australian Retailers Association CEO Paul Zahra.

"Casual workers in particular are the forgotten faces of COVID lockdowns, with many forced out of work and left struggling to pay their bills and rent with no proper safety net in place," Zahra said.

"The existing Covid disaster payments prevent people with liquid assets of $10,000 from accessing payments of either $325 or $500. Pleasingly, that asset test will be removed for people out of work and about to enter their third week of a Covid lockdown in Greater Sydney.

"Lockdowns not only have a financial cost - they have a social one as well. They take an enormous toll on people's health and wellbeing and we need to ensure adequate support measures are in place to support people and businesses."

The PM also announced today that an additional 300,00 doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be delivered to NSW next week, half of which will be Pfizer and the other half AstraZeneca.

The announcement comes as NSW reported 38 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, including 11 who were infectious in the community for several days.

Of the new cases 21 are from southwestern Sydney where the outbreak continues to be of great concern for authorities, while transmissions within and between households continue to be the major sources of infection.

Updated at 3.03pm AEST on 8 July 2021.

"Those numbers are too high": NSW records 38 new cases

NSW has reported 38 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, including 11 who were infectious in the community for a number of days.

The number of people in intensive care has risen to 11 from seven yesterday, and while the local government areas of Fairfield, Canterbury, Bankstown and Liverpool remain focal points, more cases are popping up in other places.

Of the new cases 21 are from southwestern Sydney where the outbreak continues to be of great concern for authorities, while transmissions within and between households continue to be the major sources of infection.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian notes nine people out of the latest cases were only in isolation for part of their infected period, which means more than half of the new cases were out and about in the community.

"Those numbers are too high. We need to get those numbers down, and I want to say in the strongest possible terms - please avoid contacts with other households, please avoid visiting family and friends because you're not allowed to," she said.

Chief health officer (CHO) Dr Kerry Chant notes a 'redefinition' of family needs to take place in order to minimise the spread throughout the Greater Sydney community and surrounds.

"In terms of our caring responsibilities that should be one person that has to care, and it's not a discretionary visit, it's not because the person wants to see you, it's because you absolutely need to be there to either deliver food, to check something, to fix something," she says.

"What we're asking people to do redefine the sense of family - the family unit is the household, people you live directly with.

"It's important to know that we've had 40 COVID patients delivered to hospital. There are 11 people in ICU [intensive care unit], three of whom are ventilated. 17 people admitted to hospital at the moment with COVID are under the age of 55, and of those 10 are under the age of 35."

The CHO is calling on young people in particular to encourage COVID-19 testing via social media networks, as well as educating family members about restrictions.

"They can do that quicker than our contact tracers can. Make sure that they're really encouraging high rates of testing among their social groups, and they can play a part in reinforcing these messages," Dr Chant said.

"We know that young people care deeply about their loved ones and wouldn't want to put them at risk, so if granny says that they want to have a visit, please do it on the phone or FaceTime, and please explain to others why it's so important that we don't have that connectivity across outside at this time."

Whilst it is permitted for people to shop for essentials, the CHO is urging people to consider what they "absolutely need" before leaving the house.

"This is not the time for browsing," she says.

"This is not the time for 'what I might need'. We're asking the community to only shop for those essential goods - now, the reason we haven't defined essential is because people may need blankets, rugs, school shoes, these are the sorts of things that are defined essential.

"Whenever you can, shop online."

There have now been 395 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021 when the first case of the Bondi cluster was reported.

Shrinking percentage of NSW cases in iso / quarantine for full infectious period

17 / 37 today in full iso = 46%

% who were in full iso

Jun 29 - 37%
Jun 30 - 50%
Jul 1 - 38%
Jul 2 - 42%
Jul 3 - 66%
Jul 4 - 81%
Jul 5 - 69%
Jul 6 - 61%
Jul 7 - 48%
Jul 8 - 46%#COVID19nsw

Juliette O'Brien (@juliette_io) July 8, 2021

Today's #COVID19nsw LGA's to watch: Canterbury-Bankstown. Fairfield, Liverpool.
14-day testing coverage are low as % of pop.
Next charts show testing for Northern Beaches and Crossroads Outbreaks (see @juliette_io's great work on comparisons of these outbreaks). pic.twitter.com/xGNiTDeiSM

Citizen Science (@DeadInLongRun) July 7, 2021

Thank you @GladysB for making it clear that there is no "living with Delta." We cannot negotiate with Delta nor stipulate how much community transmission we would like. Delta will sweep through the population if we let it.

Global Biosecurity (@Globalbiosec) July 8, 2021

SA drops hard border with WA, NT

Travellers are now permitted to arrive in South Australia from Western Australia and the Northern Territory from today, however the state's hard border with the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and parts of Queensland will remain in place.

While the hard border has been removed, travellers from WA and the NT will still be required to get tested on days one, five and 13 from arrival, with SA moving border restrictions to the two jurisdictions to 'Level 3'.

It is anticipated that, subject to no further cases of local transmission of COVID-19, all border restrictions to WA and the NT will be able to be eased from this coming Sunday.

Meanwhile, a hard border will remain in place for the entirety of NSW and the ACT as the COVID-19 situation in the former remains of concern to SA health authorities.

This hard border to the ACT will stay despite no cases of COVID-19 being reported in the territory, with SA Premier Steven Marshall saying the lack of local transmission in Canberra "confounds" health authorities.

"We know that there are no cases there, we haven't had community transmission in Canberra for an extended period of time, but this in some ways confounds the epidemiologists because we know there's a very porous border," the Premier said.

"We would like to ease the border restrictions that there are between ACT and South Australia, but because of the Delta variant and because of our concerns there, we won't be doing that today."

The border restrictions with Queensland are now varied, depending on where a traveller has been and is coming from, with the Premier saying SA is taking a "nuanced risk-based stance".

A hard border remains in place with Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Gold Coast, Logan, Redland, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, and Somerset.

SA has moved to Level 3 restrictions for people arriving from Townsville and those who attended the Big Red Bash at Birdsville, meaning testing is required on days one, three and 13 from arrival.

For the rest of Queensland, the SA border is completely open to travellers.

"As I say, we don't want to have any restrictions in place for one day longer than we need to," Marshall said.

"But these changed border restrictions will keep our state safe."

Updated at 11.48am AEST on 8 July.

Sydney lockdown extension a $3 billion blow for retail

The Australian Retailers Association (ARA) is calling for an expansion of business support measures with lost retail trade set to mount to around $3 billion as the Greater Sydney lockdown is extended for another week.

ARA CEO Paul Zahra said yesterday's announcement was a bitter blow for small businesses in particular, who are hanging on for survival without a JobKeeper safety net.

"Whilst we are supportive of the NSW Government's efforts to keep the community safe, we can't ignore the devastating impacts this lockdown is having on retailers, and small businesses in particular," Zahra said.

"This lockdown is now set to cost around $3 billion in lost retail trade, which is just not sustainable without adequate support measures in place for businesses and their staff.

"We have grave concerns for smaller retailers in the CBD, who were already crippled by the ongoing Covid impacts before this latest outbreak, with low office populations and a lack of tourists contributing to sluggish trade throughout the pandemic.

READ MORE: Business NSW says longer lockdown a "crushing blow"

Zahra said there needed to be an expansion of existing support measures from the Federal and State Governments to help impacted businesses and staff.

"The Federal Government has activated Covid disaster payments, but this is only available for people who live and work in hotspot areas and there are many more in regional areas of NSW that are missing out," Zahra said.

"Whilst we are grateful for the business support grants and payroll tax deferrals from the NSW Government, this doesn't go far enough to compensate the downturn businesses will suffer during a three-week lockdown.

"We certainly hope this lockdown doesn't go on for longer than is absolutely necessary. This once again highlights how important it is to expediate Australia's Covid vaccination program and the retail community stands ready to support this effort in any way it can."

Updated at 11.59am AEST on 8 July 2021.

Business NSW says longer lockdown a "crushing blow"

Peak organisation Business NSW has highlighted the "huge impact" an extended Greater Sydney lockdown will have on the community after recent surveys showed worrying consequences for business revenue and job losses.

Business NSW has been working with members since the lockdown began, and initial analysis of survey data shows 48 per cent of those surveyed believe the revenue impact of the current two-week lockdown is already somewhat equivalent to the revenue impact of two months, following the first major lock down late last year.

"Concerningly, around 1 in 5 businesses say they only have enough cashflow to get them through the next month of operations so an extended lockdown will see businesses close down, and unlikely to reopen," Business NSW chief executive Daniel Hunter said.

"And this time around there's no JobKeeper to help cushion the fall."

The NSW Government has offered grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses across NSW, while a Commonwealth-designated hotspot status allows for weekly payments of between $325-500 for staff who have lost work during the lockdown and have less than $10,000 in savings.

Hunter said the lockdown would not only lead to a loss of jobs but would also have a huge impact on the mental health of those business owners and their employees who have dedicated their lives to their businesses.

"Balancing the health and economic pressures of this pandemic is a very difficult assignment for the Government, and business understands the importance of community safety above all else," he said.

"There is going to be extra pressure placed on business owners next week with employees needing to supervise children who are learning from home, so at a time when they are doing it tough, they'll have to be even more accommodating which adds even more pressure.

"While the NSW Government has always balanced the health and economic outcomes of this pandemic, there's no hiding that this will be a huge blow for business, big and small, right across the NSW economy."

Hunter said it was now more important than ever that the community does the right thing when it comes to obeying the rules, always checking in and out with QR codes, and getting vaccinated when possible,

Updated at 12:12pm AEST on 7 July.

Sydney lockdown extended by a week as household infections rise

"Of the seven people in ICU, one is in their 30s - a bit of a wake-up call to young people," says NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant.

The current lockdown for Sydney and its surrounding regions has been extended until midnight, 16 July after 27 new COVID-19 cases were reported overnight, of which more than half were in the community while infectious. 

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reiterated her strategy of avoiding a scenario where the lockdown is lifted prematurely only to be reapplied again.

"Our strategy is about saving lives but also saving businesses and jobs and keeping the economy open, and whilst it is painful for all of us, please know this decision wasn't taken lightly," the Premier said.

"For that extra week, we think it's well worth it if it's going to prevent us from having to go in and out of lockdown."

The ongoing lockdown applies to all of Greater Sydney, as well as the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shellharbour and Wollongong.

"I appreciate that communities like the Central Coast or Shellharbour or Wollongong, who may have had a number of cases in the last little while, but they will be particularly frustrated that they have to do another week but this is really to prevent mobility.

"We know that for essential items or essential work people are still moving, and it's really easy to transfer the virus from one community to another."

Berejiklian said most of the cases recorded overnight were from people spreading the virus in their own households, families and friendship circles.

"Dr Chant (Chief Health Officer) and I can recount the number of examples where people are feeling enormous guilt because they've gone home and given the virus to their children, to their partner and to other extended members of family if they live in one household," she said.

"That's the last thing any of us want - the guilt of having passed on the virus to those closest to us. That's what's happening."

NSW health authorities have shifted their focus to the southwestern Sydney local government areas of Fairfield, Canterbury, Bankstown and Liverpool.

"I can foreshadow overnight that we've had a number of cases more than we would have liked to have seen, so I'm anticipating that tomorrow's number will be higher than what we've seen today. But they are at the moment concentrated in three local government areas," the Premier said.

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant noted that of the 37 COVID cases in hospital, 14 were aged under 55, which should dispel the myth that this virus is something that only leads to impacts for the elderly.

"Of the seven people in ICU (intensive care unit), one is in their 30s - a bit of a wake-up call to young people; one in their 50s, two in their 60s and three in their 70s," Dr Chant said.

Updated at 11:44am AEST on 7 July 2021.

Dancefloors back, crowd numbers to increase when Melbourne restrictions ease on Friday

COVID-19 restrictions in Melbourne will be brought into line with the rest of the state once settings ease on Friday as the state goes one week today without recording any new locally acquired cases of the coronavirus.

The easing of restrictions is being done "carefully and cautiously" on Friday, with the state's health authorities acknowledging the deteriorated condition elsewhere in Australia.

As such, from 11.59pm on Thursday 8 July, the following restrictions will come into effect:

• Masks will continue to be required in indoor, public-facing settings, but they will no longer be required at schools for students and staff, or at workplaces if you don't interact with the public, for example if you work at an office or a factory.
• A range of venues across Melbourne will apply density limits of one person per two square metres including hospitality, gyms and physical recreation venues, community facilities, creative studios and places of worship provided a COVID check-in marshal is on-site to make sure people are checking in.
• Dancefloors will be allowed with a COVID check-in marshal, but no more than 50 people can be on the dance floor at any one time.
• The limit on private gatherings will stay the same, with up to 15 people able to attend a home per day.
• Crowd numbers will increase at approved public events. Outdoor stadiums can welcome 75 per cent of their capacity, up to 40,000 people, and indoor stadiums can open to 75 per cent of their capacity, up to 7,500 people.
• Theatres will also open to 75 per cent of their capacity, up to 2,000 people.

These settings will be in place for at least 14 days, subject to assessment of epidemiological risks by Victorian public health teams.

"Today's changes show just how far we've come thanks to the hard work of all Victorians we're able to once again have the same settings in place for the whole state," Victorian Minister for Health Martin Foley said.

"We're seeing across the country just how fast-moving the Delta strain is which is why we need to remain vigilant and follow the directions to protect the gains we've made."

Meanwhile in Queensland the state recorded one new locally acquired case of COVID-19 today - a person who was isolating during their entire infectious period and is asymptomatic.

Updated at 11.08am AEST on 7 July 2021.

Melbourne F1 Grand Prix cancelled

For the second year in a row the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne has been cancelled due to the ongoing effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister for Sports, Tourism and Major Events Martin Pakula blamed the pandemic and the "slower than forecast" rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine program by the Commonwealth Government for the cancellation of both the F1 Grand Prix and the MotoGP at Phillip Island.

The F1 Grand Prix was schedule for 21 November, but the sport's governing bodies required assurances this week that the event could proceed as planned.

"Given the lower-than-expected vaccination rates and the impact of the National Cabinet decision, those assurances could not be provided within that time frame," the Victorian Government said.

"The Victorian Government understands the need for Formula 1 management and MotoGP controller Dorna Sports to confirm their schedules and the decision not to proceed in 2021 was mutually agreed with those bodies."

The Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix has been a pillar of the major events calendar since it was enticed from South Australia in 1996.

The latest contract extension agreed with Formula 1 management means that the race will be held at Albert Park until at least 2025. The Australian MotoGP is contracted to Victoria until 2026 and has been held at the Phillip Island circuit since 1997.

"It's very disappointing that these much-loved events can't proceed but this is the reality of the pandemic but until we get much higher vaccination rates we cannot return to more normal settings," Pakula said.

"We are getting to work on plans for 2022 immediately and can't wait to welcome the world's best drivers and riders and all motorsport fans back to Albert Park and Phillip Island."

Updated at 4.39pm AEST on 6 July 2021.

NSW chief health officer: "Assume everyone has COVID"

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant has called on more Greater Sydney residents to get tested for COVID-19, especially in the Fairfield and Bossley Park communities, after 18 new local cases of the virus were recorded for the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Of those 18 people, five were in the community while infectious for one day while two were out and about for longer.

While the figure represents a halving of the 35 new cases reported for the prior period, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked people not to jump to any conclusions ahead of tomorrow's announcement as to whether the lockdown will be lifted or extended on Friday.

"New South Wales want this to be the last lockdown until we get the majority of our citizens vaccinated," the Premier said, highlighting how the Delta variant makes today's situation very different to previous outbreaks.

"This strain is very different to what we've experienced, and if you look at other jurisdictions around the world, we can see that you can't afford to let this get away from you.

"What our community want is certainty. People want to know what life will look like beyond Friday midnight, and I'm keen to provide that certainty to people tomorrow so that people can arrangements if they need to moving forward."

Dr Chant also revealed numbers of COVID-19 patients in NSW hospitals and called on more people to get vaccinated.

"Two doses of both Pfizer or AstraZeneca are very effective at preventing hospitalisation and death, so I would urge the community to respond now," Dr Chant said.

"It is important to note that we currently have 26 COVID patients that have been admitted to hospital. Of these patients, six are in ICU, two whom are ventilated.

"This is a salient reminder about the impact that COVID can have on you and your loved ones, so please as you move about the community assume everyone has COVID, follow the public health advice, and please minimise your exposure to others, particularly in indoor settings."

Updated at 12:07pm AEST on 6 July 2021.

Dancing and singing back on in SA as restrictions ease after one week

South Australia has eased COVID-19 restrictions today to the delight of the hospitality industry as dancing and singing are once again permitted and capacity limits are now more lenient.

It comes just one week after restrictions were reintroduced, with the state moving early to ensure an outbreak of the highly infectious Delta strain as seen interstate did not occur in SA.

As such, hospitality businesses can revert to the three people per four square metre rule, home gatherings can have a maximum of 200 people, and South Aussies can drink while standing up.

In addition, the requirement that visitors from Victoria get tested on arrival in SA has also been lifted, allowing for free travel between the two states.

SA Premier Steven Marshall says he is working closely with the Stadium Management Authority to ensure the AFL 'Showdown' between the Crows and Port Adelaide can go ahead on Thursday.

However, the state could have been in a very different situation were it not for the miner who returned to SA last weekend and followed health guidelines to a tee.

Marshall said he spoke with the miner and his family, who all tested positive to COVID-19, reporting that the group were in "extraordinarily good spirits".

"The reality is, if they hadn't got their test on Saturday morning, it came back negative, and they'd gone out into the public and ignored the restrictions were in place...we could have been in a very different situation in South Australia," Marshall said.

Updated at 3.09pm AEST on 5 July 2021.

NSW records 35 new community cases of COVID as aged care outbreak grows

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the lockdown of Sydney and surrounding areas is proving to be "effective" with most of today's 35 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases having been in isolation while infectious.

However, the update comes as an outbreak of COVID-19 at the SummitCare aged care facility in Baulkham Hills has continued to grow with two new cases reported today.

Of the 35 new cases, 33 are linked to known cases or cluster and 20 are household contacts.

In addition, 24 of the new cases were in isolation for the entire time they were infectious, and four were in isolation for part of their infectious period which chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant says highlights "the importance of getting to cases very soon".

"Even by the time we get to cases often they're transmitted to their family and their family might be in isolation for one day," says Dr Chant.

"But we need them in for that full infectious period."

The update from the NSW Government comes as two new cases were reported in an aged care facility in Sydney's north-western suburbs, bringing the total number of infections associated with the facility to five.

Both cases are women in their 70s one is fully vaccinated, and the other has not been vaccinated at all.

"Out of an abundance of caution all of the five residents have been transferred to Westmead Hospital for observation," Dr Chant said.

Dr Chant also mentioned NSW may continue to see case numbers arise from a Gold Coast to Sydney flight that had five COVID-infected people on board.

"It's pleasing to see that when we've contacted those individuals, we had already identified them as close contacts and they were isolating and they pose no other risk to the community," Dr Chant said.

"But my message is, we may continue to see cases arise from that plane."

The rise in infections comes as NSW is expected to ease lockdown restrictions for Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour on Friday 9 July.

However, Premier Berejiklian has implored residents of the local government areas to continue abiding by the rules so restrictions can ease on Friday.

"The lockdown certainly has been effective in not doubling or tripling the figures that we were worried about," the Premier said.

"But unfortunately, having a party when you're not supposed to have a party is not doing the right thingsome of the cases today are a result of issues or a result of incidents where people have done the wrong thing.

"Please, if you are contacted for information, please be as open as you can because that will determine what life looks like for us beyond Friday."

Elsewhere in the country, Victoria has no new local cases and Queensland has reported four new locally transmitted cases, all linked to known clusters. 

Updated at 11.45am AEST on 5 July 2021.

Perth and Peel to exit lockdown tomorrow but some restrictions will remain

The Perth and Peel regions in Western Australia will exit lockdown tomorrow after five days as scheduled, but transitional restrictions will remain for a period of time.

The lockdown in Perth and Peel will end at 12.01am on Saturday and comes after WA recorded one new case of community transmission today - a partner of an already confirmed case who has been isolating while infectious.

Meanwhile, the capital of the NT and the central Australian town of Alice Springs have already seen lockdown measures ease at 1pm today with residents currently living under more lenient settings.

In WA two tranches of eased restrictions will be in place until Monday 12 July, at which point the Perth and Peel regions will be back at pre-lockdown settings.

However, from midnight tonight Perth and Peel will be under 'post-lockdown interim restrictions' until 12.01am Tuesday 6 July pending the latest health advice including:

• Everyone must continue to wear a mask in indoor and outdoor public places, while at work and on public transport, unless exempt or for outdoor vigorous exercise;
• People who can work from home or remotely, are encourage to do so;
• Limit of 10 visitors to all homes;
• Limit of 20 people for private outdoor gatherings;
• Four square metre capacity rule and 20 patron limit for restaurants, cafés, pubs, bars, casinos, nightclubs, entertainment venues and public venues - for seated food and drink service only;
• Four square metre capacity rule and 20 patron limit for beauty, nail and hair services;
• Public venues such as recreation centres, outdoor playgrounds, museums, swimming pools can open with the four square metre capacity rule and 20 patron limit in place;
• Universities, TAFEs and training services can reopen;
• Places of worship can open with four square metre capacity rule and 20 patron limit;
• Weddings and funerals can proceed with up to 20 guests;
• Professional and outdoor community sports, including training, are permitted, but without spectators. Indoor community sport is not permitted;
• Fitness venues including gyms, pilates, yoga, dance studios can open with four square metre capacity rule and 20 patron limit in place;
• No visitors to aged and disability facilities and hospitals, except for compassionate reasons and advocacy;
• No visitors to residential aged care and/or disability facilities except for exceptional circumstances such as essential care, compassionate reasons, end of life and advocacy; and,
• No visitors to hospitals except for compassionate reasons, end of life, accompanying a child or supporting a partner giving birth.

The intrastate Perth and Peel border will removed, meaning people can travel within WA, with the exception of some remote Aboriginal communities.

However, anyone who has been in Perth and Peel since Sunday, 27 June is subject to same mask wearing requirements and will not be allowed to visit hospitality, entertainment, recreation venues or other public gatherings. People are permitted to enter retail venues and purchase takeaway.

Following this upcoming three-day period, further eased transitional restrictions will take effect at 12:01am 6 July, and remain in place until 12:01am Monday 12 July - pending ongoing health advice:

• Masks will not be required outside where physical distancing is possible;
• Masks will remain mandatory for indoor public venues, including in the workplace and on public transport. Exemptions apply including for medical reasons and primary school aged children or younger. People should use common sense and take a mask with them whenever they leave home;
• 30 person limit will apply in all homes for indoor private gatherings and 150 person limit for outdoor private gatherings;
• Two square metre capacity rule and 150 patron limit will apply to most venues, including weddings and funerals;
• Indoor and outdoor community sport will be able to resume with spectators;
• Patients in hospital, or people in aged care or a disability facility can have four personal visitors per day. Masks will remain mandatory for staff and visitors; and
• Major stadiums, including Optus Stadium, RAC Arena and HBF Park will be able to operate at 50 per cent capacity.

"We intend for these subsequent transitional restrictions to be in place for just six days, from Tuesday through Sunday to take us through the full 14-day incubation period," says WA Premier Mark McGowan.

"Assuming everything goes well for these restrictions, and health advice permitting, we intend to take the final safe and sensible step and return to our pre-lockdown life by 12:01am Monday 12 July.

"It's a quick, safe and sensible approach to keep our State safe, and get us back to the incredible freedoms that we've enjoyed for most of the last year."

Post-lockdown restrictions for Darwin and Alice Springs

For Darwin and Alice Springs new COVID-19 restrictions are now in place, including:

• Travel will be permitted across the Territory.
• Face masks must be worn when you are unable to physically distance this includes at places like the supermarket, shops and hairdresser. Workers who come into close contact with patrons, or who work in crowded environments will need to wear a mask.
• Up to 10 people can visit your home at a time.
• Restaurants, cafes and pubs will re-open for seated service only. Patrons will be required to wear a mask when they go to the bar to order.
• Big events must have The Territory Check In QR Code system in place and be able to comply with physical distancing and mask wearing requirements.
• No close contact sports. Indoor exercise including at gyms, Zumba, barre, pilates and yoga studios will remain closed.
• Places of worship will open. Masks must be worn and physical distancing applied.
• Schools, vacation care and childcare centres will open.

Updated at 4.25pm AEST on 2 July 2021.

National Cabinet sets path to lockdown-free Australia

"When it is like the flu, we should treat it like the flu. And that means no lockdowns," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said, signalling what life might be like in a COVID-vaccinated country.

We're nowhere near that stage yet, but the above quote from the PM represents the ambitions set out in today's National Cabinet between federal, state and territory governments, putting the wheels in motion for a four-phase pathway towards a 'new normal' - suppression, post-vaccination, consolidation and returning to normality.

• Inbound international arrival caps temporarily cut by 50 per cent
• Vaccination benchmark to be determined through scientific modelling
• Home quarantine trials considered for SA
• Digital vaccination certificate system in development
• Taskforce to define and propose pathway details this month

Following NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian's call for an 80 per cent benchmark of COVID-19 vaccination before international borders are reopened, the National Cabinet has agreed to set a specific percentage for a 'post-vaccination' phase based on modelling that is underway.

"This will be a scientific number. It won't be a political number, it won't be an arbitrary number," the PM said.

That phase, which is the second on this pathway, may give rise to eased restrictions for vaccinated residents, a condition that lockdowns only be used in extreme circumstances to prevent escalating hospitalization and fatality, and a return to higher inbound passenger caps.

The final details are yet to be determined by the COVID-19 Risk Analysis Response Taskforce, which Scott Morrison explained would be hashed out over the course of this month.

But for now, given the increased risks of the Delta strain of the virus, the National Cabinet has agreed to temporarily reduce passenger arrivals into Australia by 50 per cent, although the Federal Government plans to up the ante on international repatriations into the National Resilience Facility at Howard Springs, NT.

"Simply reducing the caps doesn't necessarily provide a failsafe, but because of the particular virulency of the Delta stain, it is believed that that is a prudent action while we remain in the suppression phase of the virus," he said.

"We will also extend the international freight subsidy scheme to ensure maintenance of the central freight supply lines by air impacted by the reduction of commercial caps at international airports."

Currently we are in what's been described as the 'suppression' phase of 'vaccinate, prepare and pilot'. This includes trials for alternative quarantine options such as home quarantine for returning vaccinated travellers.

"South Australia has indicated that they will be seeking to work with the Commonwealth having the necessary digital applications to support that," he said.

"It will be a very small-scale trial, but we want to make sure that before it goes to any scaled-up use that we work through that. And this will be a very transparent exercise with other states and territories.

"We will continue to expand the commercial trials for limited entry of student [and] economic visa holders."

Building on the Medicare vaccination certificate that is automatically generated, the PM reiterated he expected a digital system to be available by the end of the month, for example in Apple wallets and the like.

"We will put in place a digital vaccination authentication at border that we will prepare now," he said.

"And there will be a further review of the national hotel quarantine network to ensure that the standards of infection control procedures and the like are being adhered to."

After these two phases, the plan is for Australia to move into a much more ambitious third phase of consolidation, whereby "the hospitalisation and fatality rates that you'd see from COVID-19 would be like the flu, or, arguably better, and we're already seeing evidence of that in other jurisdictions that have higher levels of vaccination".

"When it is like the flu, we should treat it like the flu. And that means no lockdowns," the PM said.

At that stage it is possible we will see abolished caps on returning vaccinated travellers, and vaccinated residents would be exempt from all domestic restrictions. At that point, the PM expects "very high" caps on student, economic and humanitarian visa holders.

Outbound travel would thus be unrestricted for vaccinated people, and in that phase three period the Federal Government would hope to extend the travel bubble that exists with New Zealand to other candidate countries such as Singapore and some Pacific nations.

"Moving into the consolidation phase will be based on a further benchmark determined by that modelling process," he said.

The final phase, described by Morrison as the "penultimate phase to moving completely back to normal", could potentially include uncapped inbound arrivals for all vaccinated people without quarantine, as well as uncapped arrivals of non-vaccinated travel subject to pre-flight and on-arrival testing.

"So you may still have at that point unvaccinated people coming to Australia at that final phase - if they are picked up on testing...they'd of course go into quarantine which would be common sense," the PM said.

He concluded what the pathway means is that once Australia gets vaccinated, we will be able to live differently.

"Winning in the post-vaccination phase looks very different to winning in the phase we're in now," he said.

"Winning now means we suppress the virus as best as we can, which means that from time to time - such as we're experiencing in New South Wales - we have to go through these experiences. It's regrettable, and I have every confidence having heard further from the NSW Premier today that they continue to get on top of that.

"We will continue to fight on in this period and we'll continue to do everything we possibly can to vaccinate the population as fast as possible, and I think the performance in the most recent June month indicates just how much we've been able to ramp up - a million doses in eight days, 3.5 million doses or thereabouts in one month. We keep that pace up and we'll get this done Australia."

Updated at 1:26pm AEST on 2 July 2021.

31 new cases for NSW and more to come, says Premier

With 13 of New South Wales' 31 newly recorded COVID-19 cases having been in the community while infectious, Premier Gladys Berejiklian is expecting numbers to continue to rise.

At today's daily COVID-19 press conference, Berejiklian warned infection numbers would likely keep going up as 13 were active in the community before lockdown measures were implemented.

"I do want to stress that this pretty much reflects the days just before the day we went into lockdown," the Premier said.

"So we're anticipating that there could be an increase in numbers over the next few days and then hopefully early next week we should see the impact of the lockdown really churning and having a positive impact."

As such, the Premier has reiterated the importance of staying home during the lockdown period to slow the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus.

"Stay at home means stay at home. Don't leave the house unless you absolutely have to," Berejiklian said.

"And please make sure that if you are a worker doing an essential job that you do not turn up if you have the mildest of symptoms. This strain is so transmissible, so infectious, that even a fleeting passing can have that impact.

"The next few days are critical because we know that what we're doing until this point in time is mopping up in the last few days leading into the lockdown."

There have been 226 locally acquired COVID-19 cases reported since 16 June 2021 when the first case of the Bondi cluster, a driver who transported international flight crew, was reported.

Of these, 188 are now directly linked to the Bondi cluster.

Updated at 11.50am AEST on 2 July 2021.

Brisbane lockdown extended: "We need another 24 hours"

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced lockdowns will be lifted for much of Queensland this evening as planned, but the detection of two new cases who visited numerous central Brisbane sites means the state capital's restrictions will be prolonged for an extra day.

The ongoing lockdown will apply to both the Brisbane City Council and Moreton Bay Regional Council areas, after a mother and daughter from Carindale got tested yesterday and returned positive COVID-19 results. A third locally acquired case has also been reported - the partner of a case from yesterday.

"They had been out quite extensively around Brisbane," the Premier said.

"Because our contact tracers need that extra time, we need another 24 hours," she said.

"We will come back early tomorrow morning once our contact tracers get on top of this, and we'll look at the case numbers overnight."

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young revealed several venues the mother and daughter had visited:

• Harris Farm Markets, West End - Sunday, 26 June (11:50am-1:50pm)
• Woolworths, West End - Sunday, 26 June (approximately 1:50-1:55pm)
• Greek Orthodox Community Centre, South Brisbane - Monday, 28 June (most of the day)
• Greek Orthodox Community Centre, South Brisbane - Tuesday, 29 June (most of the day)
• Espresso Engine, Turbot St - Tuesday, 29 June (7:20-7:30am)
• Woolworths Metro, Turbot St - Tuesday, 29 June (9:30-9:35am)
• JB Hi-Fi, Albert St - Tuesday, 29 June (12:20-12:30pm)
• Zara, Queen St - Tuesday, 29 June (12:30-12:41pm)
• Mecca Maxima, Queen St - Tuesday, 29 June (12:42-12:50pm)

"We will get more information but you can see there's a lot of venues there that we're now going to have to go and contact trace," Dr Young said.

"I also need to know whether they're linked to any of our current Delta outbreaks, because of course, that's more contagious, or whether to our Alpha outbreak related to the Portuguese centre.

The local government areas (LGA) where the lockdown will end tonight are Noosa, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Lockyer Valley, Somerset and Townsville, but some restrictions will still apply in these regions for the next two weeks.

"That means everyone will have to carry a mask on them and wear that mask whenever they're outside of their home, but of course not when you're driving your vehicle," the Premier said.

"This is our added protection at the moment until everyone gets their vaccine."

The Premier will also be calling for a 50 per cent reduction in Queensland's international arrivals intake at today's National Cabinet to reduce pressure on the health system.

Updated at 8:55am AEST on 2 July 2021.

Negative COVID-19 test now a requirement to enter New Zealand

Australians wanting to travel to New Zealand are now required to present a negative COVID-19 test before departure as the country ramps up its response to pandemic developments on this side of the Tasman Sea. 

Travellers will now need to have had both a COVID-19 sample taken and a result returned no more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the first international flight.

It comes as quarantine-free travel to New Zealand is currently paused from every Australian state and territory in response to the ongoing outbreaks across the country.

Travel from New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia is paused until at least 11.59pm NZT on Tuesday 6 July.

Meanwhile, quarantine-free travel from Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia to NZ is expected to resume at 11.59pm NZT on Sunday 4 July.

Once the bubble reopens to certain states those travellers must also not have been in NSW after 11.59pm on 22 June or in QLD, the NT or WA after 10.30pm on 26 June in order to enter NZ.

Updated at 9.42am AEST on 1 July 2021.

NSW businesses have two weeks to prepare for mandatory QR codes

If the current lockdown in Greater Sydney and a handful of nearby local government areas (LGAs) is lifted as planned on Friday, 9 July, businesses will have the weekend to make sure they're on top of new compulsory laws for QR code check-ins at a wider range of venues.

Use of the Service NSW QR code will be mandatory at all workplaces and retail businesses from 12 July, including supermarkets, retail stores, gyms and offices.

Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said expanding the mandate would give NSW Health contact tracers real-time access to QR code data from a greater number of venues.

"This is about keeping customers and staff safe and getting all businesses open again as soon as possible," Dominello said.

"We know the Delta variant of COVID-19 moves quickly and we must do everything we can to get it under control.

"While many retail businesses, including large supermarkets and hardware chains, have voluntarily adopted the Service NSW QR code, this measure will ensure check-in rates are high across the board and contact tracers have access to reliable records."

From 12 July, these businesses will need to display the Service NSW QR code and take reasonable steps to ensure people entering their premises check-in using the Service NSW QR codes or digital sign-in sheet:

• Retail businesses and supermarkets
• Individual shops within shopping centres
• Shopping centres will also be asked to display QR codes at entry points where practicable
• Gyms
• Offices, including call centres
• Manufacturing and warehousing
• Universities and TAFE
• Schools including teachers and visitors (such as parents and contractors) but excluding students.

Businesses such as hospitality and hairdressers that were already using the Service NSW QR code will also need to ensure staff and visitors such as maintenance workers and delivery drivers check-in, when they resume services after the lockdown period.

Hospitality businesses will now need to extend the use of the Service NSW COVID-Safe check-in to all customers including takeaway orders.

Businesses that fail to comply with the new health order requirements may be subject to fines and in case of flagrant breaches, temporary closure orders.

"There is no excuse not to check-in everywhere you can businesses and customers all have a part to play to keep NSW safe," Dominello said.

"In the same way customers routinely check into cafes, restaurants and bars, we need them to adopt the same approach when visiting a supermarket, retail store and workplace.

"Inspectors have been asked to monitor the situation alongside the NSW Police."

There are more than 5.2 million active users of the Service NSW app. The NSW Government emphasises the data captured by the check-in is only used for the purposes of contact tracing by NSW Health. It is deleted after 28 days.

The expansion of the app's scope mirrors developments in Queensland and Victoria where it is now mandatory across a greater range of venues. Mandatory check-in usage is also in place across a variety of settings in South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania.

Updated at 12:59pm AEST on 30 June 2021.

No lockdown for SA as mask recommendation and new gathering restrictions come into play

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has confirmed his state will not go into lockdown after five cases of "linked transmission" were recorded today.

Instead, home gatherings will be reduced to just 10 attendees, and masks are now recommended when South Australians are out in public.

The new restrictions come after the state recorded five new cases of what the Premier has called "linked transmission" a man, his wife and three of his four children.

The man is a worker at the Tanami mine in the Northern Territory and has been in isolation with his family since Saturday 26 June.

The family has since been transferred to SA's quarantine hotel in the Adelaide CBD.

"While this is a very concerning turn of events we are very relieved that this person and his family have been at home since Saturday," SA Premier Steven Marshall said.

"We do know that this Delta variant is particularly worrying, we're seeing further deterioration of the situation around the country again today, so we all must remain extraordinarily vigilant."

In addition to the new home gathering limit and recommendation South Australians wear masks in public, the Premier has also advocated people work from home if possible.

The restrictions build on already announced COVID-19 rules for SA which include the banning of dancing and the reintroduction of the one person per two square metre rule.

The news comes after Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner imposed a snap lockdown for Alice Springs from 1pm today.

That lockdown is in response to the movements of the infected Adelaide man who spent an extended period at the Alice Springs airport last Friday.

Updated at 12.51pm AEST on 30 June 2021.

As scarcity plagues Pfizer supply, QLD urges against AstraZeneca vaccines for under-40s

"I don't want an 18-year-old in Queensland dying from a clotting illness, who if they got COVID probably wouldn't die," says Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young.

Queensland health authorities forecast some of the state's vaccine centres could run out of Pfizer supplies in just eight days, after a call for Canberra to lift incoming weekly volumes was rebuffed.

The state's Health Minister Yvette D'Ath told a press conference this morning some sites, including the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, were at "critical" levels and on track to running out of Pfizer vaccines by as soon as the week of 5 July. 

She explained the state would be receiving 64,500 doses a week in July, although to meet demand a request had been made for an additional 152,100 doses which was denied by Lieutenant General John Frewen.

The minister has questioned whether a possible shortage might be the reason why Prime Minister Scott Morrison called on young Australians yesterday to get AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccinations despite the nation's leading medical authorities recommending it only be administered to people aged 60 and over.

"It can't simply be because we have a lot of stock of one vaccine and not enough of the other to start recommending that people get a particular vaccine. That advice should always be based on clinical advice," D'Ath said.

"I am disappointed that we have been denied any extra vaccines despite the reasons we've been given, despite the fact that we are going to start running out of vaccines, and I would welcome the Commonwealth telling us exactly how much vaccines they currently have on stock.

"We are getting to that point that we will have to start prioritising only second doses if the Commonwealth do not have any vaccines left."

Ever since the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and the Federal Government raised alarm bells in April around the potential effects of AstraZeneca in younger demographics, there has been a focus on "informed consent" for vaccination that has overlayed public health policy even as age recommendation limits rose.

Therefore nothing has actually changed regarding the possibility for young people to consult with their doctor and get the AZ jab if it's available - keeping in mind the extremely low probability of complications - but for the Australian Medical Association (AMA) the message came as a surprise. 

While the PM's comments came after a National Cabinet meeting in which a no-fault indemnity scheme was introduced for GPs and vaccine providers, on the request of the AMA, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk emphasised this did not equate to a decision on an AZ roll-out for younger people.

"There is some clear guidelines that have been put in place by the Chief Health Officer, ATAGI and the AMA, and there has been no National Cabinet decision about providing AstraZeneca to the under 40s," she said.

"The advice is for people aged 40 to 59 to get Pfizer and people 60 and over to get AstraZeneca."

Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said an urgent meeting had been called by the Commonwealth today with chief health officers around the country to talk through the issue.

"I don't want an 18-year-old in Queensland dying from a clotting illness, who if they got COVID probably wouldn't die," she said.

"We've had very few deaths due to COVID 19 in Australia in people under the age of 50, and wouldn't it be terrible that our first 18-year-old in Queensland who dies related to this pandemic died because of the vaccine?"

"The borders are not genuinely closed" @StevenJMiles The Federal government's "commitment" to strong borders and effective quarantine exposed by Deputy Premier and ABS figures. And these so devastating that @ScottMorrisonMP has directed ABS to stop publishing them. https://t.co/S6n0hpl0dX

Bill Bowtell AO (@billbowtell) June 30, 2021

Queensland's Deputy Premier Steven Miles doubled down on his calls to tighten restrictions on international arrivals, raising questions around Federally-granted permits for frequent travellers in and out of the country without vaccinations.

"The borders are not genuinely closed, and these travellers are displacing Australians who are genuinely stranded overseas, genuinely trying to get home," he said.

"In addition to the non-Australians returning every month, about 40,000 Australian citizens and about 6,000 permanent visa holders are allowed to leave the country. Many then seek to return, rejoining the queue, going back through hotel quarantine, putting our community at risk."

He noted genomic sequencing confirmed Queensland's Delta case - an unvaccinated 19-year-old woman who had worked as a casual employee at the Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane's north, and who was in the community while infectious for a week including on a family holiday to Magnetic Island - was linked to a returned traveller from Indonesia.

Minister Miles claimed that returned traveller had been given permits to travel back and forth to Indonesia during the pandemic, but had not been vaccinated.

"There are a large number of people that are traveling overseas for business for a whole range of reasons, and there are questions that need to be answered about why they are not vaccinated leaving," added Premier Palaszczuk.

"And also, if people are coming to Australia, why are they not getting their vaccinations? Because it is overseas arrivals that are bringing this delta virus into our state."

The Sunshine State reported three new COVID-19 cases today - one linked to the casual hospital worker, one who is a close contact of the Portuguese restaurant cluster, and one who is a close contact of the Virgin flight crew member.

Today's developments come as more than half of Australia's residents are currently in lockdown conditions, including snap lockdowns in Southeast Queensland, the region around Townsville, Darwin, Alice Springs, and Perth and Peel in WA, as well as a two-week lockdown in NSW for Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour.

Updated at 12:21pm AEST on 30 June 2021.

Alice Springs to enter snap lockdown for 72 hours

Update (12.32pm AEST): South Australian Premier Steven Marhsall has since confirmed the Tanami mine worker tested positive for COVID-19 as well as his wife and three of his four children. 

Alice Springs will go into a snap lockdown for 72 hours from 1pm today after a COVID-infected man spent an extended period in the Central Australian town's airport last week.

Though the Northern Territory reported no new cases of COVID-19 today, the state's Chief Minister Michael Gunner says he is concerned contacts at the airport may have brought the virus into the community.

The man in question is currently isolating in Adelaide with symptoms of the virus, and four out of five of his household contacts have since tested positive.

As such, Alice Springs will enter a full lockdown from 1pm today for 72 hours, with the rules applying to everyone in the town's council boundaries and town camps.

Gunner explained the man worked at the Tanami mine site and spent an "extended period of time" at Alice Springs airport on Friday 25 June.

"He arrived at the airport via a charter flight on Friday morning and remained at the airport between 9:00am and 3:50pm. He did not exit the airport. On Saturday 26 June, after returning to Adelaide, he got a COVID test. That result was not positive," Gunner said.

"However, he has since developed symptoms while isolating in Adelaide and four of his five household contacts have now tested positive. For this reason, we believe he is positive for COVID-19 and we believe that he is highly infectious.

"It is unlikely that he was highly infectious during his time at Alice Springs airport. But, like all other decisions we will not take a punt on this. We will operate on the assumption that he has COVID-19 and we will operate on the assumption that he was infectious while in the Territory."

Gunner urged people not to leave Alice Springs and has emphasised the town has ample supplies to manage the lockdown period.

"To everyone in Alice Springs, I know this is really challenging. The reason we are doing this lockdown is the size of the exposure window and vulnerability of the local population. I will take no risk with that," he said.

"To all Territorians. I woke up this morning hoping this was a day for good news and there is some good news, there is zero cases today, but we are still in a dangerous period. The Territory is still under threat."

It comes as Darwin remains under lockdown settings until 1pm on Friday 2 July after 900 workers left a mine northwest of Alice Springs on the weekend where a Victorian man had earlier tested positive.

Updated at 12.09pm AEST on 30 June 2021.

Image credit: View of Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia, from Anzac Hill by Bahnfrend.

Parts of Queensland in lockdown from 6pm tonight for three days

Much of Queensland, including the entirety of the state's southeast, will go into lockdown from 6pm tonight as health authorities scramble to trace outbreaks of COVID-19 on multiple fronts.

As such, residents of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Palm Island, Ipswich, Logan City, Moreton Bay, Redlands, Noosa, Somerset, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim will be in lockdown for three days until 6pm on Friday 2 July.

Residents can only leave the home for one of these four reasons:

• To buy essentials such as groceries or medications
• Work or study if you can't do either from home
• Exercise in your local area
• Healthcare or to provide help, care or support

The restricions mean non-essential businesses are not permitted to operate, with cinemas, entertainment and recreation venues, hairdressers, beauty and personal care services, gyms and places of worship to close.

Childcare centres will remain open.

Restaurants and cafes can provide take away or home delivery services only, and commercial hotel operators are permitted to continue trading from their attached bottleshops.

Funerals will be limited to 20 people, and weddings will be limited to 10 people, including the celebrant and the couple.

Restrictions on aged care, hospitals, disability care and correctional facilities apply with no personal visitors allowed.

It comes as the state recorded two new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, including a 19-year-old woman - a healthcare worker who was not vaccinated and was active in the community for 10 days.

QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said health authorities were very concerned about the movements of the unvaccinated 19 year old.

"I am absolutely furious about this," she said.

"We need to make sure that we are getting our population vaccinated, right across the state."

RELATED: QLD Deputy Premier calls for tightening of international arrival exemptions

The 19-year-old woman developed symptoms on Monday a week ago but was infectious in the state for 10 days, and had travelled from Brisbane to Townsville and then to Magnetic Island. As such, everyone that lives on Magnetic Island has been encouraged to come forward and get tested for COVID-19.

The infected person also visited the Sandgate Woolworths, the Bay Health Gym in Brisbane, caught the VA369 flight from Brisbane to Townsville on Thursday 24 June, and went to the Townsville Sunday Markets.

A full list of the exposure sites and relevant times is now available here.

"This leaves us with no other option," the Premier said.

"We've got these multiple issues happening across the southeast and now some risk of exposure in Townsville and regional Queensland, we've got that outbreak linked to the Portugese restaurant, we've got the flight attendant from Sydney who came up on multiple flights.

"We need to act quickly, we need to go hard, we need to go fast."

VIC and WA to close border to QLD LGAs

In response to the outbreaks in QLD and Western Australia the Victorian Government will impose border restrictions from 1am on Wednesday 30 June.

The local government areas (LGAs) of Perth and Peel in WA and the 11 LGAs in southeast QLD going into lockdown will all become red zones under the VIC travel permit scheme, meaning arrivals from those locations must undertake 14 days of quarantine on arrival.

In addition, WA is reintroducing a hard border with all of Queensland, transitioning the state from 'low risk' to a 'medium risk'. As such, travel from QLD to WA will no longer be permitted from 3pm today (AWST).

Updated at 11.58am AEST on 29 June 2021.

NSW unveils support package for small businesses

Small businesses across New South Wales will be able to take advantage of a new support package announced by the state government today to alleviate financial pressure associated with the ongoing lockdown.

Grants make up the core of the support package, with eligible small businesses and sole traders in NSW able to claim up to $10,000 depending on the nature of the loss in turnover they can demonstrate.

In addition, payroll and gaming tax liabilities are being deferred for hotels in the state through to August.

Further, the state's 'Dine & Discover' voucher program has been extended until the end of August, meaning those living in the state have more of an opportunity to order takeaway or delivery from eligible restaurants at the government's expense.

"Our message today to every business and every person right across New South Wales is that we've got your back," NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said.

"We know that many businesses and individuals in regional New South Wales are also going through a difficult time, particularly in circumstances where this lockdown period has occurred during the holiday season."

Small businesses and sole traders will be eligible for the grant payments if they have up to 20 full time employees or have payrolls of up to $1.2 million plus turnover of more than $75,000 per year.

Businesses will receive a payment of $10,000 if there's a turnover reduction of 75 per cent, a payment of $7,000 if there's a turnover reduction of 50 per cent, or a $5,000 payment if turnover has reduced by 30 per cent.

The payment will also be available to businesses in the tourism, hospitality and accommodation sector with payrolls of up to $10 million.

Funds will be available from 19 July.

NSW recorded 19 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Seventeen of these cases are linked to previously confirmed cases and the source of infection for two cases is under investigation.

Click here to see the full list of case locations and alerts for NSW.

Updated at 11.00am AEST on 29 June 2021.

Public health alerts issued for The Oasis Shopping Centre on the Gold Coast

Update: Parts of Queensland will go into lockdown from 6pm tonight for three days. Read more here.

A public health alert has been issued for two sites on the Gold Coast overnight after the Queensland Government imposed new COVID-19 restrictions.

The two sites are both in the Oasis Shopping Centre in Broadbeach, and anyone who was at the places at the times listed must immediately quarantine and get tested for COVID-19:

• Woolworths Oasis, The Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach on Saturday 26 June from 1.25-1.50pm
• BWS Bottleshop, The Oasis Shopping Centre, Broadbeach on Saturday 26 June from 1.30-2pm

The alerts come as much of Queensland is living with new COVID-19 restrictions this morning after the state recorded two locally acquired cases yesterday.

A mask wearing mandate and other restrictions are now in force for the following QLD local government areas (LGAs):

• Noosa
• Sunshine Coast
• Ipswich
• Logan
• Redlands
• Morton
• Brisbane
• Gold Coast
• Scenic Rim
• Lockyer Valley
• Somerset

Venues will return to the one person per four square metre rule, dancing will be banned except for at weddings, eating and drinking must be done while seated, and Queenslanders must remember to check in at venues.

The new settings will be in place for two weeks.

Updated at 10.04am AEST on 29 June 2021.

Perth and Peel in lockdown after Delta strain enters Western Australia

Those living in the Perth and Peel regions of Western Australia have woken up to a four-day lockdown this morning after one new case of COVID-19 was uncovered in the state overnight.

It also comes after WA health authorities determined the three locally acquired cases in the state have the highly infectious Delta strain, with genome sequencing linking the cases directly to the Sydney outbreak.

People will be required to stay at home unless they need to:

• work because it is not possible to work from home or remotely;
• purchase or provide essentials such as food, groceries, medicine and necessary supplies;
• attend medical or healthcare needs including a COVID-19 vaccination, and looking after the vulnerable; and
• exercise with a maximum of two adults from the same household (children under 18 years are not counted), limited to one hour per day within a five kilometre radius from home, and masks must be worn (except for vigorous exercise).

Schools, boarding schools and childcare centres in the Perth and Peel regions will remain open except for the three schools that have been directly impacted as they are a listed exposure site.

Universities, TAFEs and training colleges will be closed unless for critical activities.

Unless exempt, people in Perth and Peel are required to wear masks outside of the home, at all indoor settings, on public transport, and outdoors at all times unless for vigorous exercise or you are travelling in your private vehicle with members of your household.

Anyone who has travelled outside of the Perth metropolitan area and Peel region since Sunday, June 27 2021 must continue to wear face masks in public.

Anyone who has been to one of the potential exposure locations will need to get tested and quarantine as per the instructions they are given.

"We now know we are dealing with the highly infectious and dangerous Delta strain, which is a new beast that has entered WA," WA Premier Mark McGowan said.

"Escalating to an immediate lockdown will help us break the circuit and give contact tracers an opportunity to track and trace so we can get on top of this situation sooner.

"I acknowledge lockdowns are frustrating but they are a necessary response to the threat we face."

The following restrictions apply for the lockdown period:

• people can enter the Perth and Peel areas only to access or deliver essential health and emergency services and other essential requirements;
• restaurants, cafés, pubs and bars to provide takeaway service only;
• casinos, nightclubs, entertainment venues and public venues to close;
• beauty, nail and hair services to close;
• retail permitted but only for essential health services and essential goods such as supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware, petrol and others;
• public venues such as swimming pools and recreation centres to close;
• fitness venues including gyms, Pilates, yoga, dance studios to close;
• places of worship to close;
• community sport is not permitted;
• private outdoor gatherings are not permitted and events and functions are not permitted;
• weddings are restricted to five people - for compassionate reasons only;
• funerals are restricted to 10 people;
• no visitors will be allowed in homes unless it is for essential services, critical maintenance, caregiving and compassionate reasons or in an emergency;
• no visitors to residential aged care and/or disability facilities except for exceptional circumstances such as essential care, compassionate reasons, end of life and advocacy;
• no visitors to hospitals except for compassionate reasons, end of life, accompanying a child, supporting a partner giving birth;
• category 2 and 3 elective surgeries will be postponed until Friday July 9. People are urged not to contact hospitals directly as they will be contacted to reschedule their appointments;
• travel outside the Perth and Peel region is not permitted unless you are exempt to obtain or provide essential goods or services, or other compassionate and medical reasons; and
• travel remains prohibited to remote Aboriginal communities.

"I am asking everyone to please do the right thing here and follow the health advice and instructions we are putting in place," McGowan said.

"The developments with the additional case is disappointing but we can take comfort in the fact we have acted quickly and always we have followed a careful and cautious approach which has worked."

The announcement came after Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the nation following a meeting of National Cabinet.

The PM announced National Cabinet agreed to make vaccinations mandatory for aged care workers and to put into place an indemnity scheme for GPs administering COVID-19 vaccines.

As such, GPs can continue to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australians under 60 years of age with informed consent.

Updated at 9.21am AEST on 29 June 2021.