More support for SMEs incoming as loan scheme extended

The Federal Government will be extending and expanding its 'SME Loan Guarantee Scheme' as part of its commitment to provide up to $40 billion in lending to small and medium enterprises.

So far, more than 35,000 loans worth more than $3 billion have already been provided, but now the scheme will be targeted to support businesses that have still been relying on JobKepper during the March quarter.

The expanded Scheme will also increase the size of eligible loans, increasing from $1 million under the current Scheme to $5 million. Maximum loan terms under the expanded Scheme will also be increased from 5 to 10 years.

"This SME Recovery Scheme is part of the next step in our plan to help small businesses stand on their own two feet as the economy recovers from COVID-19," Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said.

"The expansion and extension of the loans will back businesses that back themselves and will help businesses who continue to do it tough build a bridge to the other side of the crisis and keep their staff employed."

Further, the $50 million Business Events Grants Program will also be extended by three months to support Australian businesses to hold multi-day business events, covering up to 50 per cent of costs incurred in participating business events during the 2021 calendar year.

The support has been welcomed by the Australian Banking Association (ABA) CEO Anna Bligh, saying it will help fuel Australia's economic recovery.

"This is the right product for the times. It includes more flexibility, and will allow small businesses to re-stock, rebuild and recover", Bligh said.

"The new phase of the scheme will make more businesses eligible and allow banks to provide more funding and support to businesses, particularly those still doing it tough."

The Government has also extended the following programs to 30 September 2021:

• the Domestic Aviation Network Support (DANS) and Regional Aviation Network Support (RANS) programs,
• the 50 per cent waiver of domestic air services charges for Regular Public Transport (RPT) and aeromedical flights, and
• the International Freight Assistance Mechanism.

The $94.6 million Zoos and Aquarium program will be extended by six months to support zoos, aquariums and wildlife parks to maintain their animal populations where their tourism revenue has been affected by travel and social distancing restrictions.

The COVID-19 Consumer Travel Support Program will also be extended for three months beyond 13 March.

Updated at 11.46am AEDT on 11 March 2021.

After a year of pain, here's how the COVID-19 pandemic could play out in 2021 and beyond

One year ago today, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the first caused by a coronavirus.

As we enter year two of the pandemic, let's remind ourselves of some sobering statistics. So far, there have been more than 117.4 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 around the world; more than 2.6 million people have died. A total of 221 countries and territories have been affected. Some 12 of the 14 countries and territories reporting no cases are small Pacific or Atlantic islands.

Whether the race to end the pandemic will be a sprint or a marathon remains to be seen, as does the extent of the gap between rich and poor contestants. However, as vaccines roll out across the world, it seems we are collectively just out of the starting blocks.

Here are the challenges we face over the next 12 months if we are to ever begin to reduce COVID-19 to a sporadic orendemic disease.

Vaccines are like walking on the Moon

Developing safe and effective vaccines in such a short time frame was a mission as ambitious, and with as many potential pitfalls, as walking on the Moon.

Miraculously, 12 months since a pandemic was declared, eight vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have been approved by at least one country. A ninth, Novavax, is very promising. So far, more than 312 million people have been vaccinated with at least one dose.

While most high-income countries will have vaccinated their populations by early 2022, 85 poor countries will have to wait until 2023.

This implies the world won't be back to normal travel, trade and supply chains until 2024 unless rich countries take actions such as waiving vaccine patents, diversifying production of vaccines and supporting vaccine delivery to help poor countries catch up.

The vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective in preventing symptomatic and severe COVID-19. However, we need to continue to study the vaccines after being rolled out (conducting so-called post-implementation studies) in 2021 and beyond. This is to determine how long protection lasts, whether we need booster doses, how well vaccines work in children and the impact of vaccines on viral transmission.

What should make us feel optimistic is that in countries that rolled out the vaccines early, such as the UK and Israel, there are signs the rate of new infections is in decline.

What are the potential barriers to overcome?

One of the most salutary lessons we have learnt in the pandemic's first year is how dangerous it is to let COVID-19 transmission go unchecked. The result is the emergence of more transmissible variants that escape our immune responses, high rates of excess mortality and a stalled economy.

Until we achieve high levels of population immunity via vaccination, in 2021 we must maintain individual and societal measures, such as masks, physical distancing, and hand hygiene; improve indoor ventilation; and strengthen outbreak responses testing, contact tracing and isolation.

However, there are already signs of complacency and much misinformation to counter, especially for vaccine uptake. So we must continue to address both these barriers.

The outcomes of even momentary complacency are evident as global numbers of new cases once again increase after a steady two month decline. This recent uptick reflects surges in many European countries, such as Italy, and Latin American countries like Brazil and Cuba. New infections in Papua New Guinea have also risen alarmingly in the past few weeks.

Some fundamental questions also remain unanswered. We don't know how long either natural or vaccine-induced immunity will last. However, encouraging news from the US reveals 92-98% of COVID-19 survivors had adequate immune protection six to eight months after infection. In 2021, we will continue to learn more about how long natural and vaccine-induced immunity lasts.

New variants may be the greatest threat

The longer the coronavirus circulates widely, the higher the risk of more variants of concern emerging. We are aware of B.1.1.7 (the variant first detected in the UK), B.1.351 (South Africa), and P.1 (Brazil).

But other variants have been identified. These include B.1.427, which is now the dominant, more infectious, strain in California and one identified recently in New York, named B.1.526.

Variants may transmit more readily than the original Wuhan strain of the virus and may lead to more cases. Some variants may also be resistant to vaccines, as has already been demonstrated with the B.1.351 strain. We will continue to learn more about the impact of variants on disease and vaccines in 2021 and beyond.

A year from now

Given so many unknowns, how the world will be in March 2022 would be an educated guess. However, what is increasingly clear is there will be no "mission accomplished" moment. We are at a crossroads with two end games.

In the most likely scenario, rich countries will return to their new normal. Businesses and schools will reopen and internal travel will resume. Travel corridors will be established between countries with low transmission and high vaccine coverage. This might be between Singapore and Taiwan, between Australia and Vietnam, and maybe between all four, and more countries.

In low- and middle-income countries, there may be a reduction in severe cases, freeing them to rehabilitate health services that have suffered in the past 12 months. These include maternal, newborn, and child health services, including reproductive health; tuberculosis, HIV and malaria programs; and nutrition. However, reviving these services will need rich countries to commit generous and sustained aid.

The second scenario, which sadly is unlikely to occur, is unprecedented global cooperation with a focus on science and solidarity to halt transmission everywhere.

This is a fragile moment in modern world history. But, in record time, we have developed effective tools to eventually control this pandemic. The path to a post-COVID-19 future can perhaps now be characterised as a hurdle race but one that presents severe handicaps to the world's poorest nations. As an international community, we have the capacity to make it a level playing field.

Michael Toole, Professor of International Health, Burnet Institute

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

QLD offers $200 vouchers to boost Far North tourism

Tourism operators in the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region will be given a demand-driven lifeline now that JobKeeper support will finish at the end of this month, with the state government offering $200 vouchers to travellers in the region.

There will be 15,000 of the vouchers available to Queenslanders who spend on tourism experiences in the region over the next four months, and if the scheme proves successful the model could be rolled out elsewhere in the state.

Launched yesterday, people have three days until 11 March to enter the draw to secure one of the vouchers that can be used anytime between 15 March and 25 June.

As a tourism destination that has been historically highly dependent on international visitors, Cairns has been particularly hard hit economically be COVID-19.

"Our Cairns Holiday Dollars offer will be rushed as similar schemes in other states have been heavily oversubscribed," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said, drawing on similar initiatives in NSW and VIC.

"The vouchers give people the chance to go on tours and experience some of the attractions in the Far North and we'll cover 50 per cent of the cost, up to $200.

"The vouchers can be used for trips to the Great Barrier Reef, guided tours around the region, bungy jumping, day spas, and entry to wildlife parks, zoos and aquariums."

The $3 million injection is the first time in Queensland that a government has offered vouchers to bolster and support the tourism industry, according to Palaszczuk.

"But these are extraordinary times and Tropical North Queensland tourism operators have done it very tough over the last 12 months," she said.

"It's expected the initiative could generate an extra visitor spend of up to $14 million for the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef economy.

"If the $3 million plus promotion, in partnership with Tourism Tropical North Queensland proves a success it could well be rolled-out for the Gold Coast, the Whitsundays and Brisbane."

Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Cairns and Port Douglas were world-famous for their warm Far North Queensland hospitality.

"The Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef region has always been a popular gateway destination for international visitors," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 800,000 overseas visitors had landed in Cairns every year and contributed more than $1 billion to the region's economy.

"To have almost a third of your visitor economy wiped out by COVID's closure of the international border is a big hit in anybody's language."

He said the travel vouchers were the perfect excuse for Queenslanders to pack a bag this Easter and discover why the Far North has such an "impeccable international visitor reputation".

"By spoiling yourself with an unforgettable Cairns tropical holiday, you'll be supporting jobs and helping Queensland tourism rebuild better.

"Supporting Queenslanders is what Queenslanders do."

Member for Cairns Michael Healy said rebuilding the tourism industry was an important part of the government's economic recovery plan for Tropical North Queensland.

"This strategy will pump millions of dollars into local businesses which is exactly what we need right now," he said.

Incentivising tourists to travel to the Tropical North won't only deliver a great return for operators in the short-term, it will help us to grow our domestic visitor base long into the future."

Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen welcomed the Cairns Holiday Dollars as an incentive for visitors to add an additional experience to their Cairns and Great Barrier Reef holiday.

"Our region's diverse tourism experiences showcasing two World Heritage areas have helped turn the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef region into an international destination," he said.

"This is an exciting opportunity for Queenslanders to discover that you can experience the Great Barrier Reef with an Indigenous sea ranger, see the world's oldest rainforest while floating on a raft or go jet boating alongside the city."

Eligible tourism experiences could include boat or bus tours, other on-land or marine tourism experiences, reef experiences, scenic flights, short day trips, multi-day tours, spa experiences, galleries and exhibitions.

Mass redundancies forecast nationwide

The Australian Tourism Industry Council (ATIC) has today warned tourism businesses are already planning mass redundancies across industry due to the lack of certainty with the impending end of JobKeeper.

ATIC Executive Director Simon Westaway said to avoid further redundancies tourism enterprises need immediate answers on whether direct federal support will be available.

"Tourism businesses only require short-term assistance until the national vaccine rollout brings back confidence in domestic travel," Westaway said.

"The federal tourism package must include direct financial assistance to at risk tourism businesses."

He said the tourism business in capital cities was most at risk due to the downturn in interstate travel.

"The tourism Industry is not looking for more grant programs or pork-barrelling in a few regions," he said.

"Direct financial assistance should go to all tourism businesses at risk including sole traders and small family businesses as well as major airlines.

"Industry surveys show significant tourism job losses and business closures will occur due to a lack of confidence in domestic travel."

Photo: Australia.com

Updated at 7:17am AEST on 8 March 2020.

Italy blocks AstraZeneca vaccine shipment bound for Australia

A shipment of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine destined for Australia has been blocked by Italy and the European Commission.

According to Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio, the shipment of 250,000 doses ordered by the Australian Government was blocked because the pharmaceutical giant had failed to supply the European nation with promised doses.

Italy's decision was backed by the European Commission, with EU regulation allowing countries that manufacture vaccines to prevent doses from being exported and marketed overseas.

Di Maio said in a Facebook post that Italy holds no hostility toward Australia, noting the EU considers Australia a "non-vulnerable" country with regards to COVID-19.

The move is believed to be the first time a European country has blocked a shipment of vaccines to an overseas nation.

Italy is in a very different position to Australia currently, with more than 20,000 new COVID-19 cases recorded yesterday, and nearly 100,000 dead since the beginning of the pandemic.

As of 3 March 2021, Italy had administered more than 4.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, representing just a fraction of the country's more than 60 million citizens.

It comes as the first doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Australia today.

A doctor in regional SA was the first to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine this morning, with a further 1,000 doses to be administered to the population of Murray Bridge.

Updated at 10.42am AEDT on 5 March 2021.

International travel ban extended by three more months

International travel will be off the cards for Australians until at least 17 June after the Federal Government extended the ban for an additional three months.

The ban is part of the Government's 'human biosecurity emergency' declaration, which gives the Australian government powers to take measures in order to prevent and control COVID-19 spread.

According to a statement from Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt, the extension of the emergency period is informed by medical and epidemiological advice.

"The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) has advised the Australian Government the COVID-19 situation overseas continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk to Australia, including the emergence of more highly transmissible variants," Hunt said.

"The extension of the emergency period for a further three months is about mitigating that risk for everyone's health and safety."

In addition to banning Australians from travelling overseas, the powers also include the following emergency determinations which have been extended for a further three months:

• Pre-departure testing and mask wearing for international flights;
• Restrictions on the entry of cruise vessels within Australian territory;
• Restrictions on trade of retail outlets at international airports.

"These restrictions can be amended or repealed if no longer needed," Hunt said.

"In particular, the Australian Government continues to work closely with state and territory agencies, national health committees and the cruise industry to develop a framework for the staged resumption of cruise ships in a manner that is proportionate to the public health risk."

While the COVID-19 situation in Australia is currently under control, overseas the virus continues to spread.

Yesterday, 294,930 new coronavirus cases were detected in the world, bringing the global total to more than 114 million.

The USA recorded the most new cases yesterday with 53,547 infections, followed by Brazil with 38,394, and Italy with 13,094.

Updated at 9.35am AEDT on 3 March 2021.

Victoria returns to pre-lockdown restrictions

Despite recording two new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19, from tonight Victoria will return to settings that were in place prior to the state's latest lockdown.

As such, more visitors will be allowed in homes, mask wearing will be reduced, and more workers will be permitted to head back to the office.

From 11.59pm, masks will be only be required on public transport, rideshare vehicles and taxis, sensitive settings such as aged care facilities, and in some larger retail settings including indoor shopping centres, supermarkets, department stores and indoor markets.

Victorians will be able to host up to 30 people in their home per day. Outdoor gatherings in public places like the beach or the park will increase to 100 people.

The planned increase for office workers to return to work will go ahead at 75 per cent across both public and private sectors. For most workers, this will mean returning to the office from Monday 1 March.

Density limits in pubs, restaurants and cafes will remain at one person per two square metres for both indoors and outdoors with no other limit, so long as electronic record keeping is used.

For beauty services, businesses remain at one person per two square metres if they also introduce electronic record keeping. For businesses where that's not possible, density limits of one person per four square metres will apply.

Retail businesses also remain at one person per two square metres and electronic record keeping is recommended where practical.

Funerals and weddings are subject to a density limit of one person per two square metres. The same rules will apply to nightclubs and community facilities, like libraries, RSLs, and community halls.

In gyms, the density limit remains one person per four square metres with exercise classes limited to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors.

"I want to thank every Victorian for making today's announcement possible and I want to thank every Victorian for their patience," VIC Premier Daniel Andrews said.

"It's been a hard slog, but Victorians are doing what they do best as we work to beat this virus: staying the course and looking out for each other."

The changes come as VIC records two new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19.

Both cases were in isolation during their infectious period and pose no threat to the public, according to health officials.

It also comes as other states prepare to reopen to Melbourne following border closures in response to an outbreak of the coronavirus.

Queensland will reopen to Melbourne from 1am on Saturday, and South Australia will reopen from midnight tonight.

Updated at 12.19pm AEDT on 26 February 2021.

Queensland reopening to Melburnians from Saturday

With Queensland's health officials to lift a hotspot declaration for Greater Melbourne, the state will soon allow all travellers from the Victorian capital to enter without restrictions.

As such, from 1am on Saturday, 27 February, Queensland will reopen its border to all of Greater Melbourne, with travellers to no longer require a border pass to enter the state.

"It's great news for families and Victorian friends who can once again experience all that our great state has to offer," said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Victoria once again recorded no new cases of COVID-19 today from 18,282 test results.

Updated at 12.04pm AEDT on 25 February 2021.

SA opening to Melbourne from Friday, dancing allowed in clubs

Melburnians will be free to travel into South Australia from 12.01am this Friday as state Premier Steven Marshall eases restrictions on venues to allow for dancing.

With Victoria yet again recording no new cases of COVID-19 today, the South Australian Transition Committee has made the decision to reopen borders to Melburnians from Friday.

As such, anyone from the Greater Melbourne area will be free to travel into SA without going into mandatory quarantine, nor will they need to be tested on arrival.

"I know this is going to be a huge relief," Marshall said.

"Victoria has got on top of their outbreak, we're grateful for the work that they have done, and now we're looking forward to welcoming people from across that border."

SA has also eased some restrictions on nightlife venues to allow the state's partygoers to dance while drinking.

For venues with a capacity of 200 people or less, dancing while drinking is now permitted as long as other COVID-19 requirements are abided by, including mandatory QR code scanning, and the presence of a COVID marshal.

For venues with a capacity of 200 to 1,000 people, dancefloors will be permitted but limited to 50 people at a time.

Venues with a capacity of more than 1,000 people will only be allowed to have dancing if an approved COVID safety plan is in place.

"I know a lot of people are going to be relieved that dancing is allowed back in South Australia," Marshall said.

"We're going to be very carefully monitoring how this goes and hopefully it goes extremely well.

"As the vaccination program rolls out there may be a further easing of restrictions down the track."

NSW eases gathering restrictions

From 12.01am on Friday, February 26, some restrictions in New South Wales will ease to hold larger gatherings at homes and allow dancing at weddings.

The new rules will allow for:

• 50 visitors allowed in homes
• 30 people allowed to dance at weddings, with guests permitted to rotate on and off the dance floor
• 50 people allowed in gym classes subject to the 4 square metre rule
• 30 people allowed to sing indoors
• 100 per cent capacity at cinemas

Updated at 12.32pm AEDT on 24 February 2021.

Starpharma's anti-COVID nasal spray approved in Europe and the UK

Australian pharmaceutical company Starpharma's (ASX: SPL) anti-COVID nasal spray VIRALEZE has been approved for sale in Europe and the UK today, and is now on track to launch next month.

Shares in SPL have spiked on the announcement, up more than 9 per cent in early trade.

Starpharma hopes the launch of the product will be a major step forward in the fight against COVID-19, with the product shown to be virucidal rapidly inactivating more than 99.9 per cent of SARS-CoV-2 within 60 seconds.

"Starpharma is pleased to have successfully developed a product that has the potential to assist with the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic," says Starpharma CEO Dr Jackie Fairley.

"We have already undertaken substantial launch preparations, including manufacturing in Europe, to ensure VIRALEZE is available to consumers and businesses as early as possible.

"The spray is easy to use and convenient and works rapidly, without being absorbed into the bloodstream. If you are about to walk into the supermarket, you would use it. The same is true for public transport, elevators, planes, bars and restaurants."

VIRALEZE has been shown to be effective against other respiratory viruses, including influenza, RSV, and other cold-causing coronaviruses in laboratory studies.

The product is expected to be available for sale online, direct to European and UK consumers next month.

A roll-out of VIRALEZE to European pharmacies is planned, and in parallel, Starpharma is undertaking discussions with B2B consumers, as well as with potential commercial partners seeking sales and marketing rights.

"Starpharma is focussed on making the product as widely available as possible, with further registrations and roll-out planned," says Fairley.

"We know from consumer research conducted with the Boston Consulting Group, that VIRALEZE has strong appeal for European customers across all age groups."

Despite a widespread rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine worldwide, the number of new infections continues to grow in the countries Starpharma is targeting.

Yesterday the UK reported more than 9,000 new infections of the coronavirus and 214 deaths.

France is currently in the midst of a surge in cases, with more than 22,000 new cases detected yesterday, and thousands of cases were reported in countries like Spain, Italy, and Germany.

Shares in SPL are up 9.55 per cent to $2.41 per share at 10.17am AEDT.

Business News Australia

Victoria records three new cases, all in isolation

Three new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 have been detected in Victoria overnight, but they pose no threat to the public.

According to Victoria's health minister Martin Foley, the three new cases are from the same family and were previous residents of the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn where the COVID-19 outbreak occurred.

"One member of the household, who was not at the Holiday Inn, was considered a secondary contact and had been isolating from other family members," Foley said.

"All three had negative tests - multiple negative tests between the 10th and 12th of February. All have been quarantining at home during their infectious periods."

These latest cases come just after Victoria completed its five-day circuit-breaker lockdown to quash an outbreak of the highly infectious UK variant of COVID-19.

The entire state left lockdown at midnight on Wednesday, but some restrictions remain limiting gathering numbers at homes and imposing caps on hospitality venues.

Masks are also mandatory in Victoria indoors.

Overseas the COVID-19 situation is different; global deaths from the coronavirus are approaching 2.5 million. In the US alone, deaths have surpassed 500,000.

Australia is set to commence the rollout of a COVID-19 vaccination program next week, with the most vulnerable Australians and frontline health workers to be vaccinated first.

Updated at 11.22am AEDT on 19 February 2021.

Repayments resume on 91 per cent of deferred loans

New data from Australia's largest banks shows 91 per cent of deferred loans have resumed repayment, with just 5 per cent of deferred business loans yet to resume.

From the four major banks, 78,556 loans remain deferred. 60,562 are housing loans, 11,263 are business loans, and the remainder are a mixture of personal loans and credit cards.

According to the Australian Banking Association (ABA) these figures demonstrate an "encouraging sign of recovery", but the organisation notes there are still many Australians who need further support as the pandemic continues.

"Every customer is different. Banks are taking a careful and measured approach that takes into account every customer's individual circumstances", ABA CEO Anna Bligh said.

The ABA says banks will be working directly with those in hardship on an individual basis as part of the next phase of pandemic support to find a tailored solution.

As part of this support, banks have developed an industry-wide, consistent approach to hardship and a new online tool to guide customers in financial hardship and improve transparency.

"This is about ensuring that no customer is left in the dark as we emerge from the pandemic. It represents a compact between banks and their customers as we navigate the uncertain path ahead," Bligh said.

"Customers can expect a thoughtful and compassionate approach, with clear and transparent explanations, regardless of who they bank with. This step-by-step guide will help customers navigate the path out of the pandemic.

"Australian banks will continue to help customers and businesses turn the corner after the pandemic, while providing a fair and compassionate approach to those who can't get back on their feet."

Updated at 12.16pm AEDT on 18 February 2021.

Victorian lockdown ending tonight as state records no new cases

With no new cases recorded in Victoria overnight, the state's Premier Daniel Andrews has announced the five-day "circuit-breaker" lockdown will end tonight.

As such, from 11.59pm AEDT today, most of the harsh restrictions will fall away with Victoria essentially returning to pre-lockdown rules.

Victorians will be allowed to leave the house for any reason and can travel anywhere they like within the state as the 5km bubble rule is removed.

However, masks will still be required to be worn indoors, and outdoors where physical distancing is not possible.

Households will be permitted to have five visitors at any one time, and schools will reopen tomorrow.

Public and private sector workers can return to the office with 50 per cent allowed on site.

Retail and hospitality can resume with the same density limits that were applied pre-lockdown.

The same goes for religious gatherings, weddings, and funerals, which must abide by location-specific density limits.

Sport can resume, and entertainment will also restart with capacity limits in place

Andrews said the next nine days will be vital to ensure the current Holiday Inn outbreak remains under control.

"There are still nine days to go for the 14-day period of the last of the positive cases," Andrews said.

"Next Friday we'll be able to be even more definitive about the epidemiological picture across the state.

"And that means that whilst we can revert to almost all of the settings that applied last Friday, our COVID-safe Summer settings, there are some exceptions."

The news comes as Victoria reports no new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19, and none in hotel quarantine.

These good results came from 39,258 test results the biggest single day of testing that Victoria has done throughout the pandemic.

"To see so many people go and get tested is proof that we know what to do, we stick together, there's great community spirit and its really acknowledgement that this is a shared challenge," said Andrews.

Updated at 10.57am AEDT on 17 February 2021.

Victoria looking to construct purpose-built quarantine centre

The Victorian government is exploring the possibility of a purpose-built quarantine centre, in order to avoid yet another COVID-19 outbreak from a Melbourne CBD hotel.

Speaking to the press this morning, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said this new facility, if approved, would replace most of the work currently being done by hotels to accommodate international arrivals.

The centre will be based on the Howard Springs model used by the Northern Territory government to house returned travellers, and would be located either at Avalon Airport or Melbourne Airport.

If the centre is constructed, people would be staying at the same location but would not share the same spaces.

Based on advice from public health experts and COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria, the following specifications would be implemented in the design of any such hub:

• Flat structures (not multi-storey) that are adequately spaced are preferable;
• Designs that allow for strict IPC protocols that are already in place in the existing program;
• Individual rooms that cater to a variety of family sizes with self-contained bathroom facilitie;
• High quality or separate ventilation systems per room, including the use of windows;
• Surfaces that are easily cleaned, to enable the highest standard of IPC protocols; and
• Separate and adequately sized staff facilities.

"I think that there is a compelling argument for this not just in Melbourne, not just in the Northern Territory; I know the Queensland Government are working in partnership with the Commonwealth around a facility of similar structures," Premier Andrews said.

"I think we do have to have a proper conversation at a National Cabinet level about what we can do to reduce the risk, particularly in light of this UK strain.

"We're going to get on and built it, so it's just a matter of exactly how big it is. But Melbourne and Avalon Airports are standout candidates."

The Victorian government says the facility could also be used in the future for emergency needs, including ongoing quarantine arrangements or bushfire emergency accommodation.

The announcement comes as Victoria reports two new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, both connected to the Holiday Inn outbreak.

Both cases were isolating meaning there are no further exposure sites in Melbourne.

The state is expected to emerge from a strict five-day lockdown tomorrow at midnight, with Andrews today saying he will have further announcements about the next steps tomorrow.

"This strategy is working. We are well placed to be making changes tomorrow night," Andrews said.

"I'm not in a position to definitively commit to that, because these next 24 hours will, of course, be crucial."

Updated at 12.15pm AEDT on 16 February 2021.

Pfizer vaccine reaches Australian shores

The first shipment out of 20 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 have arrived in Australia ahead of the country's first vaccinations that are planned for next week.

More than 142,000 doses have landed at Sydney Airport, and have been securely transported to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for batch testing to ensure the vaccines meet Australia's strict quality standards.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the country is on track for the first and most vulnerable Australians to start receiving the vaccine from 22 February.

"The vaccine has landed and we're stepping up our fight against the pandemic," the Prime Minister says.

"Once the final safety checks are completed we can start rolling out the vaccine to our most vulnerable Australians and to our frontline border and health workers.

"The hard work of Australians has meant we're in an enviable position in our fight against the pandemic so we've been able to take the time to properly assess our vaccine decisions and give our world-class regulator the time they need to review the safety of the jabs."

He says while the government is taking the time neede to get the roll-out right as part of Australia's COVID-19 Vaccine and Treatment Strategy, he is confident all Australians who wish to be vaccinated against the virus will receive a vaccine this year.

Approximately 80,000 doses will be released of the Pfizer vaccine in the first week. Approximately 50,000 vaccines will be made available for the states and territories for hotel quarantine and border workers and frontline healthcare workers. Approximately 30,000 vaccines will be made available for the Commonwealth vaccine in-reach workforce to aged care and disability care residents.

It is expected that of these, at least 60,000 will be administered by the end of February with others to be continually administered thereafter.

Subject to TGA approval and shipping confirmation of the international AstraZeneca vaccine, it is expected these numbers will double from early March. Phase 1a remains on track for first round doses to be delivered within a six week period.

In lessons learnt in rollouts around the world and on the advice of experts, approximately 60,000 vaccines will be provisioned to ensure consistent supply and sufficient stock for second doses. The second dose of the vaccine will be administered at 21 days after the first dose.

The Phase 1a priority groups will ensure our quarantine and border workers, frontline healthcare workers and aged care and disability care residents and staff that the most vulnerable will receive priority access to the vaccine.

"The Pfizer vaccine will save lives and protect lives," says Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt.

"Australians can be reassured this vaccine has gone through rigorous, independent testing by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to ensure it is safe, effective, and manufactured to a high standard.

"These vaccines will now go through further batch testing to further check for quality and efficacy, ensuring all Australians have confidence in the vaccines they receive."

Logistics company DHL has been engaged to support the distribution of the Pfizer vaccine across Australia.

The company, along with a network of 200 ultra-low temperature portable freezers, will ensure Australians across the country, including in rural and remote areas, are able to access the Pfizer vaccine, which needs to be stored at minus 70°C.

By following the medical advice, Australia has maintained a diverse portfolio of vaccines, and are constantly engaging with international counterparts and vaccine sponsors to access the best available information on vaccine developments worldwide.

Pending TGA approval, the Government has also secured 53.8 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses and 51 million doses of the Novavax vaccine. Each is sufficient to vaccinate every Australian who chooses to be vaccinated in 2021.

The Australian Government has also signed up to the international COVAX facility, which provides access to a range of vaccines to immunise up to 50 per cent of the Australian population.

Updated at 1:49pm AEDT on 15 February 2021.

Australia shuts out New Zealanders over Auckland COVID-19 outbreak concerns

Australia's travel bubble with New Zealand has been suspended once again after three new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Auckland over the weekend.

The New Zealand city has gone into a three-day lockdown to ensure the outbreak does not worsen.

According to a statement from the Department of Health, Australia's chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly convened an urgent late-night meeting yesterday to discuss Auckland's lockdown.

"It was decided at this meeting today that all flights originating in New Zealand will be classified as Red Zone flights for an initial period of 72 hours from 12.01am on 15 February," the Department of Health said.

"As a result of this, all people arriving on such flights originating within this three-day period will need to go into 14 days of supervised hotel quarantine."

The Federal Government will leave individual states and territories to decide how to manage people who have already arrive in Australia from New Zealand and who may pose a risk of transmitting COVID-19.

Meanwhile in Australia, Victorians are in the middle of a five-day "circuit-breaker" lockdown to slow the spread of a highly transmissible variant of COVID-19 in Melbourne.

The state's Health Department announced this morning there is one new locally acquired case of COVID-19, and one new case in hotel quarantine.

Yesterday, there were two new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, and one new locally acquired case on Saturday.

Updated at 9.57am AEDT on 15 February 2021.

Victoria to enter five-day lockdown from midnight tonight

All of Victoria will enter a strict five-day lockdown from 11.59pm tonight in order to slow the spread of the Holiday Inn COVID-19 outbreak that has since grown to 19 cases.

According to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, the Stage 4 lockdown is necessary to allow contact tracers to manage this outbreak of the UK variant of COVID-19, described as "the fastest moving, most infectious strain of coronavirus we have seen".

In response, Queensland has announced it will be closing its border to all people who have been in Greater Melbourne from 1am on Saturday with the measures to be in force for 14 days at which point a review will be made.

New South Wales is requiring any Victorian that entered the state on or after 29 January 2021 to remain at home or place of residence until midnight on Wednesday, while Western Australia has implemented a hard border with VIC. 

As such, from 11.59pm AEDT today, Victorians will be required to stay at home for five days until 11.59pm on Wednesday.

Exceptions have been made for Victorians to leave the house for four reasons:

• Shopping for necessary goods,
• Caregiving and compassionate reasons,
• Essential work or permitted education,
• And exercise for two hours per day with household members, an intimate partner, or one other person who is not from the same household.

However, Victorians must stay within 5km of their homes if leaving.

In addition, masks must be worn everywhere other than in the home

Private and public gatherings will not be permitted, and all Victorians have been encouraged to work from home where possible.

Schools will close but will remain available on Monday to Wednesday next week for vulnerable children and children of frontline health workers.

Places of worship will be closed other than for broadcasting of services, funerals can have a maximum of 10 people in attendance, and all weddings are not permitted.

Most non-essential businesses and places of gathering will close too including:

• Hairdressing and beauty services
• Real estate auctions
• Indoor physical recreation and sport venues
• Outdoor recreation and community sport
• Swimming pools
• Community facilities including libraries
• Creative studios
• Entertainment venues
• Non-essential retail

Hospitality venues will move to takeaway only and outdoor playgrounds will stay open.

Andrews also indicated that flight cancellations are likely during the five-day period, except for those already on their way.

As reported by the Associated Press, the Australian Open tennis tournament will continue but no crowds will be permitted to spectate. 

In addition, Victoria's Department of Health has updated its earlier public health alert about a café in Melbourne Airport to include all of Terminal 4.

As such, anyone who was in Terminal 4 of Melbourne Airport on Tuesday 9 February between 4.45am to 2pm must isolate for 14 days and get tested for COVID-19.

Outbreak moving "at light speed"

According to Premier Andrews, the five-day lockdown is warranted because of the way positive infections are presenting to Victorian health officials.

He said onces cases test positive, they have already infected all of their close contacts making it difficult to conduct contact tracing.

As such, this "circuit-breaker" lockdown will give contact tracers the room required to get on top of this fast-moving variant of COVID-19.

"It's not moving quickly. It's at light speed," Andrews said.

"We must assume there are further cases in the community than we have positive tests for and that it is moving at a velocity that has not been seen in our country.

"If we wait for that theory to be proven correct, it will be too late. Then we face the prospect of being locked down until a vaccine is rolled out...that's months."

This five-day lockdown is similar to successful circuit-breaker lockdowns done in SA, QLD and WA.

"This is a short, sharp blast the same as we've seen in Queensland and WA that will give us the what we need to get ahead of this faster moving virus," Andrews said.

"Right now, we are reaching close contacts well within the 48-hour benchmark. But the time between exposure, incubation, symptoms and testing positive is rapidly shortening. So much so, that even secondary close contacts are potentially infectious within that 48-hour window.

"It shows just how incredibly infectious this virus is. And our public health team tell us it's only getting faster."

Andrews has also called upon the Federal Government to consider changing the rules around repatriation of Australian citizens and oter international travellers.

"It's a different virus and we should have a mature discussion about just how many people are coming back (to Australia) and the circumstances in which they're coming back and why they are given the opportunity this way," he said.

States implement border restrictions

In response to Andrews' announcement, Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has announced the border will be closed to people who have been in greater Melbourne for a period of 14 days, starting 1am saturday.

QLD will review the new border arrangement with Melburnians in 14 days.

South Australia, which closed its border to Greater Melbourne earlier this week, has now shut its borders to the entire state of VIC.

Further, anyone in SA who has been through Tullamarine Airport from 7 February is required to get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

Western Australia has now implemented a hard border to VIC.

In New South Wales, anyone who has been in VIC at any time on or after Friday 29 January 2021 remains at their home or place of residence for the five-day period lockdown period.

Tasmania has declared all of VIC a high-risk state, meaning all travellers to Tasmania will have to self-isolate for two weeks at their home or in hotel quarantine.

Victorians will also be blocked from entering the Australian Capital Territory from midnight tonight, and any returning residents will be required to isolate at home until the five-day period is over.

Finally, any Melburnian entering the Northern Territory will be required to isolate for two weeks at the Howard Springs quarantine facility.

Updated at 1.35pm AEDT on 12 February 2021.

WA sets hard border for VIC, but doors to open for NSW travellers

As Victoria enters a five-day lockdown to contain COVID-19 with much of the country soon closing borders to travellers from Greater Melbourne, Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan (pictured) has announced a drop of good news.

Whilst WA will be implementing a hard border with Victoria in response to recent developments, McGowan has announced safe travel will be permitted from NSW to the state from 12:01am on Tuesday, 16 February.

McGowan highlighted NSW had not recorded a community case of COVID-19 since 15 January.

"As a result, we can safely move NSW from low risk to very low risk. A decision was taken for this to occur from 12:01 on Tuesday, February 16; that is Tuesday morning, pending no further outbreaks," he said.

He said safe travel was permitted from NSW but on certain conditions, including the completion of a G2G pass declaration stipulating the person does not have COVID-19 symptoms and which jurisdictions the traveller has been in over the previous 14 days.

For airport arrivals, people coming from NSW will need to undergo a health screening and temperature test.

McGowan expressed his support of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews putting a circuit-breaker lockdown in place.

"As we know in WA it is just so important to reduce the risk and prevent community transmission," he said.

"Currently under our border controls, arrivals from Victoria are required to return a negative COVID test result and complete 14 days of self-isolation.

"This border control puts us in a very strong position to be able to handle any outbreak...however, given the concerning ongoing situation in Victoria, the Chief Health Officer has recommended Victoria be reclassified as medium risk for a short period until the situation is resolved.

This means that travellers arriving in Perth Airport from Victoria today will be tested before going into a fortnight of self-isolation, before a 72-hour hard border is put in place at 6pm with only some exemptions permitted such as senior government officials, active military personnel and certain workers in transport and logistics.

In terms of local rules in Western Australia, where 10 months have passed without community transmission, current transitional restrictions that followed Perth's snap lockdown earlier this month will be lifted from midnight on Saturday night.

"We will revert back to where we were on the 30 January. Only a few restrictions will apply - the standing capacity rules, restrictions on remote Aboriginal communities, mandatory contact registration, and of course our controlled interstate border," he said.

"The wearing of masks will no longer be compulsory as of Sunday morning.

"Please keep up your COVID safe practices, wash your hands, keep a distance where possible, get tested when unwell, and keep using SafeWA."

Updated at 11:23 AWST on 12 February 2021.

Melbourne Airport café named latest COVID-19 exposure site

Melbourne Airport's Brunetti café is the latest COVID-19 exposure site named by Victoria's Department of Health as the state records five new locally acquired cases of the coronavirus.

Health authorities added the location overnight, and anyone who visited the Brunetti café between 4.45am and 1.15pm on Tuesday 9 February must isolate for two weeks and get tested.

It comes as Victoria reports five new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total number of active cases in the state to 19.

The new cases are all linked to the Holiday Inn outbreak, meaning there are still no cases unlinked to any active outbreaks in the state.

VIC Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to front the press today in response to the growing COVID-19 cluster.

As reported by the Herald Sun, a snap lockdown of Melbourne to come into effect as early as tonight is on the table, though a final decision on new restrictions has not yet been reached.

So far, South Australia has implemented a hard border to all travellers from Greater Melbourne in response to the outbreak.

Queensland has banned entry to all travellers if they have been to any of Melbourne's exposure sites, while Western Australia has extended its hard border to VIC for an extra week.

New South Wales currently remains open to all Victorians, but incoming passengers are being screened on arrival.

Updated at 9.39am AEDT on 12 February 2021.

New Victorian exposure sites revealed as SA locks Melburnians out

Victoria's Department of Health has announced new exposure sites in the south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Glen Waverley after two new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were discovered.

It comes as South Australia imposed a hard border to all travellers from Greater Melbourne overnight in response to an outbreak connected to the now-closed Holiday Inn quarantine facility.

The two new locally acquired COVID-19 cases are both linked to the Melbourne Airport Holiday Inn outbreak, bringing the total number of cases reported in VIC to 20,458.

As such, the VIC Department of Health has updated its list of exposure sites to include:

• Commonwealth Bank, Glen Waverley Tuesday 9 February, 1.30pm-2.45pm
• HSBC Bank, Glen Waverley Tuesday 9 February, 2.15pm-3.30pm

South Australian health officials imposed a hard border to travellers from Greater Melbourne at midnight, after new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were detected in the Victorian capital.

However, those who made it in before the deadline and test negative will then be allowed to leave isolation.

Travellers from regional Victoria will not be impacted by this change to the border restrictions.

Updated at 10.56am AEDT on 11 February 2021.

SA locks out Melburnians from entry

South Australian health officials imposed a hard border to travellers from Greater Melbourne at midnight, after new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were detected in the Victorian capital.

Yesterday the government announced its intention to enforce the strict measures, allowing travellers from Melbourne into the state until midnight last night on the condition they isolate on arrival and get tested on the first day in SA.

Those who made it in before the deadline and test negative will then be allowed to leave isolation.

Yesterday SA's Police Commissioner Grant Stevens (pictured) said he was waiting for more specific details about the latest outbreak in Melbourne from VIC's Department of Health.

"We're looking for the indicators that those jurisdictions are getting on top of whatever issues they have, and that their contact tracing and quarantine processes are effective, and the community testing for COVID-19 is also at the level we believe is satisfactory to identify any community transmission," Stevens said.

"It's a very dynamic and moving situation. Our steps in South Australia are taken with an abundance of caution to make sure that we are minimising the risk."

Travellers from regional Victoria will not be impacted by this change to the border restrictions.

Updated at 10:05am AEDT on 11 February 2021.

Melbourne Holiday Inn quarantine facility to close

The Holiday Inn quarantine facility at Melbourne Airport will close after two staffers at the hotel contracted COVID-19 while on the job.

The accommodation facility will be closed for an indefinite period for a "terminal clean" - the highest of cleaning standards.

As such, all guests currently accommodated at the Holiday Inn will be moved to alternative hotels while the clean is completed.

In addition, anyone who has spent more than 15 minutes inside the hotel, be that residents, workers, or visitors, is now considered a primary close contact of the outbreak and will be required to isolate for two weeks.

"That will be very challenging for those people, but we simply cannot run the risk of this hyper infectious strain of COVID-19 getting out into the community," Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said.

"An abundance of caution is required in this case."

Victorian Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton explained the Department of Health's working hypothesis about the outbreak within the facility.

He said it occurred due to a medical device called a nebuliser.

"It vaporises medication or liquid into a very fine mist, and it that's breathed in, especially when it's used as medication, and someone is infectious or later tests positive, then that picks up the virus and that mist can then be suspended in the air with very fine aerosolised particles," Sutton said.

"So we think that the exposures are all to that event, the use of a nebuliser, which meant that the virus was carried out into the corridor and exposed the authorised officer, the food and beverage service worker, and also the other resident."

Victoria reported two new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 yesterday: a worker at the Holiday Inn, and a resident of the facility who had left quarantine and tested positive two days later.

Globally there are now more than 107 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, and more than 2.3 million deaths attributed to the coronavirus.

Updated at 11.05am AEDT on 10 February 2021.

Public health alerts issued after Victorian quarantine worker tests positive for COVID-19

A number of public health alerts in Sunbury, north of Melbourne, have been issued overnight after a Victorian hotel quarantine worker tested positive for COVID-19.

The worker from the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport was one of two new COVID-19 cases uncovered in Victoria yesterday, with the other being a resident of the same facility who tested positive after completing the 14-day quarantine period.

While the resident poses no threat to the public as they did not leave their home post-release from quarantine, the Holiday Inn worker visited a number of places over the weekend.

As such, a list of exposure sites has been published by the Victorian Department of Health, and anyone who has been at any of these sites must immediately isolate, get tested, and remain isolated for 14 days.

Friday, 5 February 2021:

• PJ's Pet Warehouse, Sunbury 3.37pm-4.10pm
• Bakers Delight Sunbury Square Shopping Centre, Sunbury 3.40pm-4.15pm
• Aldente Deli Sunbury Square Shopping Centre, Sunbury 3.45pm-4.23pm
• Sushi Sushi Sunbury Square Shopping Centre, Sunbury 3.53pm-4.28pm
• Asian Star Sunbury Square Shopping Centre, Sunbury 3.57pm-4.30pm

Saturday, 6 February 2021:

• Sunny Life Massage Sunbury Square Shopping Centre, Sunbury 4.30pm-6.30pm
• Cellarbrations, Sunbury 6.17pm-7.02pm

Sunday, 7 February 2021:

• Cellarbrations, Sunbury 5.44pm-6.19pm

Updated at 9.24am AEDT on 10 February 2021.

New South Wales and Victoria on alert after new locally acquired COVID-19 cases discovered

Two states are on high alert after locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were detected in New South Wales and Victoria overnight.

In NSW, state health authorities are carrying out precautionary contact tracing in relation to a returned overseas traveller who tested positive to COVID-19 two days after leaving hotel quarantine.

The person, based in the Wollongong area, did not test positive for the coronavirus during their quarantine period, but underwent testing as part of the recently enhanced day-16 follow-up.

Test results indicate the person has a low level of infection and their household contacts have returned negative results to date.

NSW Health says investigations to date suggest the infection was likely acquired overseas and there is no indication at this stage that there was transmission in the hotel setting.

Close contacts of the case not associated with venues have been identified and are already in self isolation.

The case visited a number of venues in Wollongong and surrounding areas.

Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed below should immediately get tested and self-isolate until further advice from NSW Health:

• Headlands Hotel, Austinmer Tuesday 2 February, 1pm-3pm
• Bulli Beach Café, Bulli Saturday 6 February, 1.30pm-4pm

Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed below is a casual contact who must get tested immediately and self-isolate until you receive a negative result. If any symptoms appear, get tested again:

• Mootch & Me, Brighton Le Sands Tuesday 2 February, 10.54am-12pm
• Optus, North Wollongong Thursday 4 February, 1pm-1.15pm
• Officeworks, Fairy Meadow Thursday 4 February, 3.45pm-4.05pm and Friday 5 February 3pm-3.25pm

Anyone who attended the following venues at the times listed below should monitor for symptoms. If symptoms appear, please get tested:

• Woolworths, Bulli Wednesday 3 February, 9.15am-10am
• Corrimal Memorial Park, Corrimal Wednesday 3 February, 12pm-1pm
• Thirroul Beach, Thirroul Wednesday 3 February, 3pm-4.30pm
• Sublime Point Walking Track, Madden Plains - Thursday 4 February, 8.30am-10am
• Figtree Grove Shopping Centre (Australia Post, Kmart, Blooms The Chemist, Subway), Figtree Thursday 4 February, 2pm-3.30pm
• Fedora Pasta Factor, Fairy Meadow Friday 5 February, 3.30pm-3.35pm.

Melbourne quarantine worker tests positive

Victoria's Department of Health has also issued a number of public health alerts after a hotel quarantine worker at Melbourne Airport's Holiday Inn tested positive for COVID-19.

The individual was tested on 4 February and returned a negative result.

They returned to work on 7 February, developed symptoms, were tested and then returned a positive result.

VIC Health has contacted Holiday Inn Airport workers and others considered primary close contacts. They are required to immediately isolate, get tested, and remain isolated for 14 days.

As such, public health alerts have been issued for the following venues:

• Marciano's Cakes, Maidstone Friday 5 February, 9.45am-10.25am
• Dan Murphy's, Sunshine Friday, 5 February, 5.50pm-6.30pm and Saturday 6 February, 6.50pm-7.30pm
• Off Ya Tree Watergardens, Taylors Lakes Saturday 6 February, 1.17pm-1.52pm

VIC Health says those who have been in one of those exposure sites in the specified times are required to immediately isolate, get tested, and remain isolated for 14 days.

Updated 9.29am AEDT on 8 February 2021.

South Australia removes hard border with Western Australia

With Perth coming out of lockdown this evening, South Australian health officials have decided to remove a hard border with Western Australia immediately.

However, travellers from WA will still be required to get tested on days one, five and 12 from arrival, and isolate until the first negative test result is received.

Further, anyone who is currently in quarantine after arriving from WA can leave immediately, excluding those who were at the Four Points Hotel.

Since WA went into lockdown on Sunday after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive for COVID-19, the state has not recorded any more locally transmitted cases of the coronavirus.

This has given SA Health the confidence to reopen the state's borders to travellers from WA.

In addition, SA Premier Steven Marshall said his state will be accepting more international travellers through February.

While SA won't return to accepting 600 returning travellers per week anytime soon, the number will be increasing to hit approximately 530 per week by mid-February.

"We're not in a position to go right back to where we were," Marshall said.

"We do want to play our role in the repatriation of Australian citizens, but we've looked very carefully at the acceptable capacity that we can have here in South Australia so that it will provide us with that capacity if we do need to isolate people that are coming in from another state or if we do have anything that develops in here in our state."

SA reported one new case of COVID-19 today a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.

SA Health says this case is an "old" case but it will be added to the state's numbers from today.

Interstate, no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 were recorded today.

In particular, NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases and no new cases in hotel quarantine for the first time since 25 November 2020.

Updated at 1.33pm AEDT on 5 February 2021.

Western Australia outlines post-lockdown plan

Pending no further locally acquired COVID-19 cases in Western Australia, the state will emerge from its five-day lockdown period at 6pm (AWST) tonight, but some restrictions will stay in place.

The South-West region will return immediately to pre-lockdown conditions from 6pm, in line with the rest of regional WA.

However, the Perth and Peel regions will be subject to transitional restrictions until 12.01am, Sunday, 14 February.

The post lockdown transitional measures for the Perth and Peel regions, include:

• Everyone must continue to wear a mask in public and while at work, unless exempt or for outdoor vigorous exercise;
• All business and venues can re-open, except for the casino and nightclubs;
• 4 square metre capacity rule and 150-person capacity at hospitality, entertainment, fitness venues and events including weddings, funerals (excluding staff);
• community sport can involve up to 150 people including players, officials and spectators;
• Seated service only at hospitality venues;
• Dancing only permitted at weddings and dance studios;
• 20-person limit for private indoor and outdoor gatherings;
• Visits to aged care and disability care facilities restricted to compassionate grounds and advocates;
• Residential school and boarding facilities can resume with a COVID Safety Plan; and
• Only essential travel, including work, is permitted in and out of the Perth and Peel regions to other parts of WA.

Under the post-lockdown transition measures, Perth and Peel schools will start from Monday, February 8, with the mandatory mask rule applying to all school staff and secondary students. Masks are not required for primary school students.

Masks are also mandatory for staff at childcare facilities as well as students and staff in higher education, including TAFEs and universities.

Elective surgery at WA public hospitals will resume and people will be contacted directly to re-schedule and re-book their appointments which were suspended due to the five-day lockdown.

FIFO workers will once again be able to leave the Perth and Peel regions, but documentation will be required, and they must follow strict health protocols.

Pre-lockdown requirements for the entire State still remain in place, and include:

• Mandatory contact registers for most WA businesses and venues;
• Capacity restrictions for major venues;
• Restrictions on travel to remote Aboriginal communities; and
• WA's controlled interstate border arrangements.

WA Premier Mack McGowan has thanked West Australians for their cooperation during the lockdown period.

"It's been a simply remarkable achievement and the credit goes to each and every Western Australian who made sacrifices this week to keep the community safe and get our State back to normal as soon as possible," he said.

"While the lockdown will end tomorrow and people in Perth, Peel and the South-West regions will be able to leave their homes, a number of restrictions will remain in place and particularly for Perth and Peel, a new transitional arrangement will be in place until next Sunday.

"As always, we'll continue to monitor the situation closely, and if we need to make any changes, we will."

WA recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 yesterday.

Updated at 9.56am AEDT on 5 February 2021.

Australia secures another 10 million Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines

The Commonwealth Government has acquired an additional 10 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, meaning Australia will receive 20 million doses of it in 2021.

In total Australia now has access to more than 150 million vaccine doses.

It comes as the country is due to commence a vaccination program in late February for the first priority group of vulnerable Australians.

"[Vaccination] is the big agenda item for us, obviously, because it provides the pathway to so many of the other things we wish to achieve this year," the Prime Minister said today.

"We are still, though, on track to commence later this month.

"That puts us in a very good position, particularly with our sovereign vaccine production capability, ahead of many countries, like New Zealand, for example, we understand, won't commence until April, I think it is."

As the rollout begins, people who need protection the most will get the vaccine first. This includes aged care and disability care residents and workers, frontline health care workers, and quarantine and border workers.

The priority groups have been determined based on the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) which oversees Australia's immunisation program.

The Australian Government is also extending free access to COVID-19 vaccines to all visa-holders in Australia.

"I encourage people to get vaccinated when their turn comes every vaccination helps us defeat the virus," Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

"Australians understand that vaccines work. They save lives and improve lives. They protect lives. We can be confident that every COVID-19 vaccine approved in this country will be safe and effective.

"Australia is a vaccination nation. We have one the highest vaccination rates in the world."

Secretary of the Department of Health Professor Brendan Murphy said the additional purchase gives Australia more options.

"There was always an option to increase our stake in the mRNA vaccination, should registration and trials be successful," Professor Murphy said.

"We are now in the wonderful position of having three vaccines rolling out this year - two of them early, the Pfizer and AstraZeneca, depending on the TGA registration, of course, of AstraZeneca, and then Novavax later on.

"All of these three vaccines have now been shown to be highly effective at preventing clinical COVID disease, and particularly severe COVID disease. That is a position that we wouldn't have dreamt of a year ago, six months ago. It is a very, very nice position to be in."

Updated at 3.49pm AEDT on 4 February 2021.

Masks mandatory and gatherings restricted as Victoria records one new case

Update: Rules for travellers from Victoria into South Australia and Queensland have now changed, but borders will remain open.

A number of COVID-19 restrictions have been reimposed in Victoria after a resident support officer for the Australian Open tested positive to the coronavirus.

VIC Premier Daniel Andrews announced the new restrictions during a press conference last night, with mandatory mask wearing and gathering restrictions now back in force.

The following new state-wide restrictions came into effect overnight:

• The limit on the number of people gathering in a household have been reduced from 30 to 15, meaning the household members plus 15 visitors (excluding children under 12 months of age).
• Masks are mandatory in public indoor spaces.
• The 75 per cent 'return to work' cap in both public and private sectors scheduled for Monday 8 February has been paused and the current cap of 50 per cent will remain in place.

According to Premier Andrews the 26-year-old man tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday.

The man worked at the Grand Hyatt quarantine hotel on 29 January and undertook a COVID test at the end of his shift and returned a negative result.

Subsequently, he developed symptoms and was tested again on 2 February, receiving a positive result this time. There were six positive infections in the hotel when the man was working there.

As such, public health officials have contacted all Australian Open players, officials and support staff who were staying at the Grand Hyatt during the entire period between 29 January and 2 February. All 520 of these people are considered casual contacts and must immediately isolate and get tested.

Additionally, all hotel staff working at the Grand Hyatt are considered primary close contacts and must immediately isolate, get tested and remain isolated for 14 days.

None of the man's close family contacts have tested positive for COVID-19 so far.

Premier Andrews says the man has been a "model employee".

"We have reviewed literally days worth of CCTV footage, and it's fair to say that this person has been a model employee and has done everything that he should do," says Andrews.

"Whether its donning PPE, all the other protocols, all the other rules that are followed. And of course he's also provided us with very detailed accounts of where he's been."

Victoria Department of Health has issued a number of possible exposure sites where the man has visited. Anyone who visited these sites during these times must immediately isolate, get a COVID-19 test, and remain isolated for 14 days.

Update (9.49am AEDT): Victoria's Department of Health has updated the list of exposure sites:

States introduces new rules for arrivals from Melbourne

In response to the new COVID-19 case in Melbourne, South Australia has introduced rules for arrivals from Metropolitan Melbourne.

Arrivals from Melbourne will be required to isolate on arrival in South Australia and get tested on the same day.

If the test is negative on day one they will be free to leave isolation, but will still be required to get tested on days five and 12.

However, any traveller who has been to Melbourne's Grand Hyatt quarantine hotel from the 28th must immediately isolate in a quarantine hotel in Adelaide.

In Queensland arrivals from Melbourne exposure sites must isolate for 14 days on arrival and get tested for COVID-19.

Updated at 9.23am AEDT on 4 February 2021.

Reprieve for NSW bars and clubs as restrictions set to ease

Hospitality venues in Greater Sydney will have reason to celebrate on Friday, 12 February, when the two square rule is expected to be introduced.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says unless there are any "unexpected outbreaks" before then, restaurants, bars and places of worship will move from the current restrictions which limit their venue capacity to one person per four square metres.

The planned easing of social distancing restrictions comes after the state recorded 17 days without any cases of COVID-19 from community transmissions, with 12,000 tests recorded overnight.

There were just two new cases recorded from overseas visitors in hotel quarantine.

Berejiklian foreshadowed the easing of some restrictions last week in Greater Sydney, Wollongong, the Central Coast and the Blue Mountains, and says today's announcement is aimed at providing certainty for businesses.

"We are considering reviewing our mask wearing policy in view of the position NSW is in," Berejiklian says

"Mandatory masks on public transport will continue. We feel this gives assurance for people to get about their daily business.

"If there's no evidence of community transmission, we would recommend or revert back to previous mask wearing policy but that's yet to be determined.

"So, whether it's a hospitality worker or a place of worship, you still need to wear a mask until at least next week when we consider that position."

Mask wearing also remains in place for hospitality workers facing the public in gaming rooms and beauty salons.

The NSW Government last week increased the limits to private gatherings to 30 indoors and 50 outdoors, while also allowing up to 300 guests at weddings and funerals based on the 4 square metre rule.

Updated at 12.18pm AEDT on 3 February 2021.

Perth enters five-day lockdown to curb potential COVID-19 outbreak

Parts of Western Australia have gone into a five-day lockdown after one new COVID-19 case was recorded in the state, breaking an almost 10-month coronavirus-free streak.

As of 6pm last night the entire Perth metropolitan area, the Peel region, and the South West region went into a full lockdown for five days until 6pm Friday 5 February.

People in these regions are required to stay home unless they are shopping for essentials, for healthcare needs, for exercise within their neighbourhood (with one other person, for one hour per day), or where one cannot work from home or remotely.

In addition, everyone in these three regions is now required to wear a mask at all times.

In response, all other Australian states and territories have put new border controls in place for travellers leaving WA.

The strict lockdown measures have been put into place after one new locally acquired case of COVID-19 was discovered - a man working at the Sheraton Four Points hotel quarantine facility in Perth.

When the man was working at this hotel there were four active cases of COVID-19 confirmed in retuned travellers completing quarantine.

According to WA health officials, the man was working on the same floor as a positive UK-variant case of COVID-19 - a more transmissible type of the coronavirus.

The man developed symptoms on Thursday 28 January and phoned in sick and did not go to work at the quarantine facility since then.

In order to curb this potential outbreak of COVID-19 in Perth the following businesses, venues and locations will close during the lockdown period:

• Pubs,
• Bars,
• Clubs,
• Gyms and indoor sporting venues,
• Playgrounds,
• Skate parks,
• Outdoor recreational facilities,
• Entertainment venues,
• Casinos,
• Large religious gatherings and places of worship,
• Libraries and other cultural institutions.

Restaurants and cafes have also closed but will be permitted to continue with takeaway services during the five-day lockdown period.

Supermarkets and businesses that sell other essential goods will remain open during the five day period.

Only 10 people will be allowed to attend a funeral, and all weddings have been cancelled for the next five days.

In addition, no visitors are allowed to other homes (unless in an emergency or when caring for a vulnerable person).

No visitors are allowed in aged care facilities, hospitals, or disability facilities either.

Elective surgery and procedures for categories two and three will be suspended from Tuesday 2 February, but category one and urgent category two surgeries will be allowed to continue.

Schools have also closed as of this morning.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said the situation was "very serious" in Perth.

"We have acted decisively and swiftly in the circumstances," he said.

"I want to thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding.

"Throughout the pandemic, the response of Western Australians has been second to none. The community has done everything we've asked them, they have made great sacrifices and has kept our state safe."

States slam borders shut to WA

In response to the potential outbreak of COVID-19 in WA a number of states have closed borders to the western state.

Queensland declared Perth a COVID-19 hostpot last night, meaning anyone who has been in the three WA regions under lockdown must go into 14 days of mandatory hotel quarantine on arrival.

New South Wales is requiring any WA travellers who have been to any of the venues of concern to WA Health to isolate for 14 days on arrival.

Those who have not been to those locations but are from any of the three regions in lockdown will have to get tested within 48 hours of arrival in NSW and stay at home for five days until 9pm Friday 5 February. If they do not get tested they are required to stay at home for 14 days.

South Australia has completely closed to any travellers from WA as of 10.15pm last night.

WA travellers who have entered SA anytime since 26 January must immediately self-quarantine for 14 days and get a COVID-19 test immediately and on days five and 12.

South Australians will be permitted to return from WA still, as well as those who have a permit to travel for essential purposes.

Victoria has moved the three areas under lockdown to 'red zone' classification under its traffic light permit system.

Those in the 'red zones' will be required to isolate and get tested within 72 hours of arriving and remain self-isolated until they receive a negative result. 

Tasmania has declared the three areas of concern in WA as 'high-risk', meaning anyone who has been there on or since 25 January should self-isolate.

Travellers from those areas are no longer permitted to enter TAS without special approval.

The Northern Territory is requiring any person travelling from the areas in lockdown to undertake 14 days of mandatory supervised quarantine on arrival.

Further, anyone who arrived in the territory between 25 to 31 January must get a COVID-19 test and self-isolate until a negative test is returned.

The ACT has asked all travellers from the Perth Metropolitan area since 25 January to get tested and isolate for five days.

They will be self-isolating until Friday at 9pm even if they test negative for the virus.

Updated at 9.34am AEDT on 1 February 2021.

Victoria will open to most of Sydney from tonight

Travellers from most of Greater Sydney will be permitted to enter Victoria from 6.00pm AEDT tonight, with the last red zone in New South Wales transitioning to an orange zone.

This means everyone from NSW will be allowed to enter Victoria with a permit. However, those from the local government area (LGA) of Cumberland in Sydney's west will still need to isolate on arrival.

The Greater Sydney LGAs of Blacktown City, Burwood, Canada Bay City, Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield City, Inner West, Parramatta City and Strathfield Municipality and Liverpool will move from orange to green.

Wollongong and the Blue Mountains will also move to green, leaving Cumberland as the only remaining orange zone.

Travel from an orange zone requires people to self-isolate on arrival in VIC, get tested within 72 hours of arrival and remain in quarantine until they receive a negative result.

"We're extremely happy to see the last red zone in New South Wales be downgraded," VIC Premier Daniel Andrews said.

"We're reminding people to get tested if they're returning from an orange zone, so we can continue to enjoy an open and COVIDSafe summer." 

The news comes as VIC reported no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and one positive infection from a returned traveller in hotel quarantine.

Tasmania to remove border restrictions with all of Greater Sydney

From Sunday, anyone in Greater Sydney will be permitted to travel to Tasmania without having to go into isolation as the island state announces the removal all remaining restrictions.

TAS will remove the 'medium risk' COVID-19 designation on 10 LGAs including Blacktown, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Inner West, Liverpool, Parramatta and Strathfield.

Further, anyone still in quarantine in Tasmania who had been in these areas will be free to leave quarantine from 12:01am Sunday.

Updated at 12.34am AEDT on 29 January 2021.