What happened, Wednesday 5 January 2022
Speaking of summaries, we will wrap up the blog for today.
Here is what went down today:
- National cabinet decided to make RATs free for concession card holders, ease testing requirements on a range of situations, and no longer require PCR tests after a positive rapid test result.
- Labor called for free rapid antigen tests, after days of pressure.
- The Australian Medical Association and the Public Health Association of Australia called for rapid antigen tests to be made free as a matter of equity.
- NSW reported a record 35,054 new cases and eight deaths, with 1,491 people in hospital.
- NSW premier Dominic Perrottet admitted the health system was “under pressure” but denied nurses are working while Covid-positive.
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Victoria recorded 17,636 new cases and 11 deaths, with 591 people in hospital.
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Queensland reported a record 6,781 new cases overnight, with 265 people being treated for Covid in hospital.
- Tasmania reported a record 867 new Covid-19 cases, with 72 at a community facility.
- The ACT reported 810 new daily cases, with 16 people in the hospital, including one person in ICU who is on a ventilator.
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South Australia recorded 3,493 new Covid cases, with 125 people in hospital, 12 in intensive care and one on a ventilator.
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Western Australia recorded five new local cases of Covid.
- The Northern Territory has recorded 117 new cases, which is up from yesterday’s 75 cases.
- Epidemiologist Adrian Esterman said the fourth Ashes test in Sydney will be a super-spreading event, calling it a “recipe for disaster”.
- The decision to grant Novak Djokovic an exemption from Covid-19 vaccination requirements to play in the Australian Open in Melbourne has been labelled “appalling.”
- The Victorian health department announced elective surgeries will be cancelled, in a bid to ease pressure on the health system.
Thanks for reading.
Updated
Summary of today's national cabinet meeting
OK, you’d be forgiven for watching that presser and thinking it was all a bit much. Fear not, here is a quick summary of what was announced:
- Rapid antigen tests (RATs) will be made free for concession card holders, who will receive 10 free tests every three months from pharmacies.
- RATs are free for close contacts and the symptomatic, available at testing sites.
- PCR tests are no longer necessary after a positive RAT. Other testing requirements have been scrapped, including for truck drivers, hospital attendees, and for interstate travel.
- Supply of RATs will remain an issue over the next couple of weeks.
- Boosters and vaccines to be made available to children aged five to 11 from 10 January.
Updated
As a doctor who has been studying or training for over 11 years, you don’t just “gain access” to workforce. Our replacements don’t grow on trees.
— Dr Michelle Li (@michelle_li) January 5, 2022
Recognise understaffing for the true crisis that it is. Beds don’t look after patients, we do. pic.twitter.com/LBAgrJQdW9
So Scott Morrison has wrapped up his presser, but an alarming detail was discussed towards the end, when a journalist asked about reports that Coles is imposing limits on the amount of meat you can buy.
The PM says the treasurer is working with major retailers on such issues:
The treasurer has been working with Woolworths and Coles and the other suppliers, and there are a lot of issues that we are monitoring very closely.
I think that is a precautionary step they have taken and a wise one. I wouldn’t read too much into it.
That is why it is just important that we are working with their distribution centres and treating their workers the same we would healthcare workers and those in aged care.
Updated
“It was always a state responsibility” says Morrison about procuring at home rapid antigen tests. Amazing how much responsibility the states have in this pandemic when it suits.
— Amy Remeikis (@AmyRemeikis) January 5, 2022
As always with @ScottMorrisonMP it’s too little, too late - some grudging support for 4 million Australians, while millions of working families are yet again left in the lurch by a PM who’s out of touch and out of ideas. Just. Make. Them. Free! https://t.co/gSzaTrAi8I
— Mark Butler MP (@Mark_Butler_MP) January 5, 2022
Very strange. Asked how many he's personally paid for, Scott Morrison says he'll have to ask Jenny as she buys them. But last month he described going to pharmacy in Terrigal where he "picked one up" himself pic.twitter.com/RBmoiZpo0t
— Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) January 5, 2022
Victoria cancels most elective surgeries
As the prime minister was speaking, the Victorian health department has announced that elective surgeries will be cancelled in Melbourne and major regional cities, in a bid to ease pressure on the health system.
In a statement, the government says only emergency and urgent elective surgery will be allowed from tomorrow:
As the Omicron strain continues to spread rapidly, these changes will reduce the strain on our hospitals by ensuring as many resources as possible are available across the system to manage both Covid-19 demand as well as other patients with emergency and urgent medical needs.
Updated
The PM is asked a question about how rapid antigen test results will be reported, and essentially says they won’t be.
He urges anyone who tests positive to contact their GP, but did not answer that question:
That is always your first point of contact when it comes to managing your illness, if you are not in hospital. And your GP would be able to assist you through telehealth if you need to go and get further treatment in hospital.
As we have seen, there are very low incidence, particularly with Omicron, which is what we have seen in a state like Tasmania, which is now starting to see cases.
Obviously, the majority of their cases are Omicron, which is far less severe, hence we are not seeing the same rate of hospitalisation, which gives us a bit more confidence about their workers being able to return sooner rather than later.
Updated
Morrison has just blamed pressure on the transport system as a reason to not mail out free tests, referring to them “non-essential tests”:
The reason we are not mailing rapid antigen tests out to everybody ... was because we know there is already enough stress on the transport distribution network.
General knows better than anyone, [we] want to focus on vaccines. We don’t want to put additional stress on what are non-essential tests and that is why we didn’t go down that path. The United Kingdom is finding that is a very difficult system to run and the supplies are exhausted within an hour of being posted.
No magic solution there. There are no magic solutions.
Updated
Morrison is asked if he has ever personally bought a rapid antigen test, and says his wife purchases them for the family, so he has never bought one.
Updated
So will pharmacies set aside RATs and not sell them to people wanting to buy, to make sure there are some available for concession card holders when they need them?
— Dale Drinkwater (@DaleDrinkwater) January 5, 2022
PM says Novak Djokovic must provide evidence to support vaccine exemption
The PM is asked whether Novak Djokovic should be allowed to play in the Australian Open:
Novak Djokovic, when he arrives in Australia, I don’t think that will be too far away, he has to, if he is not vaccinated, he must provide acceptable proof that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to be able to access the same travel arrangements as fully vaccinated travellers.
We await his presentation and what evidence he provides to support that. If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else and will be on the next plane home. There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever.
If medical exemptions have been provided by medical professionals and that has been furnished to him as a proviso for him to get on that plane, well, that will have to stack up when he arrives in Australia. But he will be treated no different to anyone else.
Updated
Morrison is asked whether Australia is in a position to “ride out” the Omicron wave, as the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, has said.
The PM points to Australia’s high vaccination rate as a difference between the two contexts, before saying he thinks the country is in “a good position to push through”.
We have no choice but to ride the wave. What is the alternative?
We are in the top 10 most vaccinated OECD countries in the world both on first dose and on second dose. So we are in a good position to push through, ride the wave or whichever way people might want to describe it. That is why we just have to keep carefully managing these issues as they present.
I am confident we will continue to manage them as we have over the last two years and meet the challenges that come, and principally by doing what we did today. There are a lot of knockers out there of national cabinet, I get that. The federation, it isn’t the most efficient of systems, but it is a lot more efficient than a lot of the alternatives.
Updated
As Australia moves from officially recorded PCR tests to RAT tests, how will we be able to record the true number of COVID-19 cases?
— Dr Brad McKay (@DrBradMcKay) January 5, 2022
Another journalist asks why there aren’t more supplies of RATs, and the PM gives a rather short answer:
The Australian government did secure testing supplies we need for rapid antigen testing to deal with commonwealth responsibilities.
In aged care, we already had 4m to be dispensed through the aged care network and secured 10m as part of that group, and now we have added a further 50m on top of that and another 20m on top of that.
The commonwealth in terms of our responsibilities for rapid antigen testing that were agreed in early November we have fulfilled.
He goes on to hang the blame of accessibility onto the states:
The suggestion that somehow this responsibility shifted from state to commonwealth is false. It was always a state responsibility.
Updated
Scott Morrison’s first question is about whether these measures will actually ease the burden on testing infrastructure, with the PM first saying that RAT supply will continue to be an issue over the coming weeks:
But those supplies will be constrained for the next few weeks, and so people then should exercise caution when they are coming in contact with vulnerable people for exactly that reason.
But if you are not symptomatic, and you are not a close contact, then there isn’t a requirement for you to go and have that test.
The PM goes on to say it “stands to reason” that these measures will remove “unnecessary sources of demand”.
Updated
Vaccinations for five- to 11-year-olds begins 10 January
The Covid-19 taskforce commander, Lt Gen John Frewen, has announced that the administration of vaccines for five- to 11-year-olds will begin on 10 January:
The program for the 2.3 million kids in that category will commence on 10 January. Again, the very particular supply for that cohort is in country, has been tested and is being distributed as we speak, and there will be adequate paediatric doses to meet the first dose requirement for all kids, prior to the commencement of school ... either within January or in the early weeks of February.
Updated
Before handing over to the chief medical officer, Morrison makes a point about the plan for schools, saying all leaders have agreed they don’t want schools opening and closing, and they want to avoid disruptions:
The objective here is very clear and we are all very shared in our view that schools go back and stay back. On day one of term one.
He says officials in each jurisdiction will meet to develop a national framework that will cover “any furloughing issues, matters relating to health and safety, matters relating to vaccination and of other issues that will be defined over the course of the next month by the secretaries to ensure that we have a clear common approach as best as we are able to achieve across all states and territories”.
Updated
new national cabinet decision to no longer require a PCR test to confirm a positive rapid test result
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) January 5, 2022
unless there's some new way to capture results of RATs at home, this basically means the published case numbers each day (of PCRs) are going be FAR less meaningful now, right?
Morrison says he has tasked the attorney general and the employment minister from each jurisdiction to work out a way around “the obligations of employers in relation to their occupational health and safety obligations”.
Alluding to testing requirements, and the pressures it is placing on workplaces, especially critical places such as aged care facilities, Morrison says the new isolation requirements may be extended:
Employers are concerned that under those OHS rules that they have to require their staff to be tested in order to meet those obligations. We will be working to ensure that that obligation will not be required.
If businesses are wanting to test their staff for other reasons, well, that is a matter for them. Supplies are short and in the next few weeks we want to make sure they are going to where they are essentially required, which is, once again, close contacts and people who are symptomatic.
We will be working together with them to clarify those arrangements and to ensure that particularly small businesses and medium-sized businesses are not imposed with the burden of having to pay for tests simply to comply with the regulation that would not be considered necessary.
Updated
He also announces anti-hoarding measures, saying the government will work with retailers to prevent any extreme hoarding:
We’re also to agree with the industry that we will have some anti-hoarding provisions put in place by the retail sector, where you can buy only one at a time ...
They will be administered and monitored by the retail industry themselves and many of them are already doing that right now. It includes the supermarkets, where they already have those rules in place.
Updated
The PM says measures will be introduced to prevent price gouging, saying the government will be using the Biosecurity Act to prevent businesses from adding up to 120% markups:
Which means that if you are selling a rapid antigen test for more than 120% markup on what you have paid for it to supply it, then you will be in breach of that regulation.
And that carries a penalty of $66,000 and up to five years in jail.
Updated
PM announces model for concessional access to RATs
Morrison has announced a system for concessional access to tests and stressed that providing them universally for free is not what national cabinet agreed on:
Universal free access to tests was not agreed by any of the states and territories today, or the commonwealth. Make that very clear.
Universal free access was not considered the right policy response by all of the states and territories in attendance today, and the commonwealth. What was agreed, though, was providing, as I flagged two weeks ago, a model to provide concessional access for tests over a three-month period, and they will be made available through the pharmacy network.
If you are symptomatic or a close contact and you are a concession card holder, and I will go through the cards in a second, do not go to a pharmacy, go to the testing centre.
We don’t want people who are symptomatic or who are close contacts and may be carrying the virus going into pharmacies. That raises further health risks for people who are in pharmacies. You get a free test at the testing centre.
Updated
PM says RATs no longer required for interstate travel and government providing 10m tests
Morrison says rapid antigen tests will no longer be necessary for interstate travel, with only Western Australia being the exception.
He also says the commonwealth will be providing 10m RATs to states and territories to be used as both self-testing as well as point-of-care testing.
You will find yourself in the next couple of weeks, they will be transitioning where you either get a rapid antigen test provided at that site and you will get your result there and then, within 15 minutes. You won’t have to wait for the test results to come back from the lab.
This will take the pressure off the pathology labs which are out there, which will speed up the test results for PCR tests. They are needed for those who are essential to get PCR tests. We are looking to move the queues quicker, moving to get results quicker and for those having their rapid antigen tests at a testing centre, it means ... if they have a negative test, they can go home and get on with their life.
Updated
PM confirms free tests for close contacts and symptomatic people
We’ve moved on to the announcements, and the PM has confirmed that tests will be made free for close contacts and for the symptomatic, while also saying they were always free, which is rather confusing.
The PM also announced that a PCR test is no longer necessary to confirm a positive RAT, saying it will ease the burden on PCR tests:
I want to stress at the start as we confirm today that tests for close contacts and those who are symptomatic, they are free. They have always been free. They are the essential tests that are required for public health management. These are the tests that are recommended by the medical expert panel, the AHPPC. These are the tests that they say must be done.
So if you are a close contact, as recently redefined, if you are symptomatic, then you need to go and get a test from the testing clinic. If you are not a close contact, if you are not symptomatic, you do not need to get a test.
That is the advice that we have – to get a test.
We need to ensure we focus the testing resources on the essential tests that are required, not the casual test. I will come back to those issues in a moment. We also agreed today to remove the requirement for a PCR test to confirm a positive rapid antigen test result.
So if you have gone along, if you are a close contact and had a rapid antigen test and it is positive, you do not need to get a PCR test to confirm that. That will take pressure off PCR testing lines.
Updated
PM says strain on hospitals 'well within capacity'
The prime minister has begun his press conference by dismissing reports that the nation’s hospital systems are under strain.
He says the current case load faced by hospitals is “well within the capacity of the hospital system”:
We are dealing with much higher levels of cases and as we look through the impact on the hospital system, which we discussed at length today, and we can still see that particularly in areas of most acute serious disease in ICU and ventilated patients that they remain at very low levels and well within the capacity of the hospital system.
Hospital system challenges relate more particularly to continue to gain access to workforce.
That is the key constraint on the hospital system at present and that relates to a set of rules around testing arrangements and furlough and isolation arrangements and we discussed those at length today as we looked at both the demand issues that relate to testing as well as the supply issues that relate to testing and seeing how we can address those.
Updated
Scott Morrison begins press conference after national cabinet
And with that, the prime minister has stepped up for his national cabinet update.
Updated
While we wait for the PM, the vice-president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Chris Moy, has hit out at politicians urging people not to call triple zero without explaining why:
Note to politicians under pressure: Refrain from irresponsibly telling people NOT to call Triple Zero without telling them when they SHOULD call Triple Zero @ama_media
— AMA VICE PRESIDENT (@ama_vice) January 5, 2022
COVID Emergency Symptoms- call Triple Zero🚑:
— AMA VICE PRESIDENT (@ama_vice) January 5, 2022
So breathless you cannot to speak in sentences
Unconscious/fainting/drowsy
Skin turning blue/pale
Cold/clammy or pale/mottled skin
Pain/pressure in chest
Confusion
Passing no/lot less urine
Coughing up bloodhttps://t.co/z89dglZqPv
Updated
And we have a preview of the decisions made in national cabinet:
BREAKING: Understood National cabinet has agreed to free RAT tests as per push from Qld
— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) January 5, 2022
- Free rat tests.
- Collect from pharmacies. 10 tests over three months.
- same ID checks as SUDAFED @newscomauHQ PM to announce shortly
The PM is due up in minutes.
Updated
The Prime Minister will hold a press conference at 5:10pm, APH #auspol
— Political Alert (@political_alert) January 5, 2022
I wanted to just return to the Western Australia Covid press conference earlier today, where the vaccine commander, Chris Dawson, was asked whether the state will be able to keep the new variant out, especially as it prepares to open its borders.
Dawson dismissed the idea of eradicating the virus, calling it “fanciful”:
I wouldn’t share a lot of confidence we’ll keep Omicron out, because one, we’ve already got it here so to totally eradicate it would be fanciful.
What we do know, and it’s very compelling, is that the third dose is particularly important in the extra layer of protection for the Omicron variant but there are still some members in our community who haven’t had a first dose.
Updated
WA border with ACT and Tasmania will be hardened to Extreme Risk from 8th Jan - meaning all jurisdictions bar NT now considered Extreme #border #covidwa @10NewsFirstPER
— Natalie Forrest (@nat_forrest) January 5, 2022
NSW hospitals, we know, are filling up fast with Covid cases topping 35,000 today with some regional areas reporting a tripling of daily numbers (see forthcoming article).
But Sydney’s hospitals are struggling to cope too. Liverpool hospital’s tally of Covid patients, for instance, has now passed 180 and is rising about 10% daily. “Not manageable,” was the comment of one doctor to Guardian Australia.
The Royal Prince Alfred hospital, another big Sydney medical centre, now has as many as 110 Covid patients, while Concord hospital, in the same health district, is approaching 70 patients.
While RPA has about 950 beds and Concord 500, it’s not as though they had a lot of spare capacity, prior to the latest Covid wave.
Staff have told us their condition of employment requires them not to speak to the media.
As one WA-based doctor tells us, that gag order “is a severe breach of freedom of speech and means the true severity of the situation isn’t reflected in media. Anyone I know working in NSW describes it as a total disaster”.
We’re not sure it’s quite a “total disaster” - yet.
If you know more, please contact us, such as via peter.hannam@theguardian.com
Updated
Pharmacy Guild calls for RAT rationing
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia is calling on the government to implement a rationing system on rapid antigen tests, to prevent stockpiling.
In a statement released today, the Guild says they are working with the government to develop a “voluntary code” which will limit the number of tests someone can buy.
Rationing of RATs to ensure equitable access #auspol pic.twitter.com/DbyHvg91FI
— Political Alert (@political_alert) January 5, 2022
We are working with the commonwealth through the National Co-Ordination Mechanism to implement a voluntary code which will place limits on Rapid Antigen Tests at point of sale.
These voluntary mechanisms are put in place to prevent stockpiling and ensure as many people as possible have access to these tests.
Good afternoon, Mostafa Rachwani with you this afternoon, and a quick thanks to Cait Kelly for her sterling job today.
And with that, I am going to say adieu for the afternoon and hand you back to the exceptionally capable Mostafa Rachwani who will take you through to the evening.
This article that went up earlier today has drawn many responses from across the country about the difficulties regional hospitals are suddenly finding themselves in.
Here’s a comment from one nurse from a major coastal hospital in NSW:
I work in a regional ICU. We have 24 fancy beds with frosted glass ... Our capacity sounds very good when relayed to the anxious general public.
We were staffed to use 14 of them.
Our hospital is broke, so our staffing levels were recently dropped again.
We were in crisis before the outbreak.
It’s not about nurses whingeing and wanting more money. It’s not because we want the luxury of taking sick leave or mental health days.
We can’t stand to see people suffer, our patients are absolutely suffering because there aren’t enough nurses to provide basic and essential care. Many of them are old, confused and sick.
Visitors are banned and there is no one to advocate on their behalf. It makes me sick to the stomach.
There’s a lot more to come from the regions, not least because vaccination levels were typically lower than the big cities to start with, but also because of the distances and availability of skilled healthcare workers that add to the challenges of providing an acceptable level of care even before Covid.
Updated
The home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, has released a statement on Novak Djokovic and his exemption from vaccine requirements to play in the Australian Open.
“Any individual seeking to enter Australia must comply with strict border requirements.
While the Victorian Government and Tennis Australia permit a non-vaccinated player to compete in the Australian Open, it is the Commonwealth Government that will enforce our requirement at the Australian border.
Since 15 December 2021 fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can travel to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption, and enter eligible states and territories quarantine for free.
If an arriving individual is not vaccinated, they must provide acceptable proof that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to be able to access the same travel arrangements as fully vaccinated travellers.
Australian Border Force will continue to ensure that those who arrive at our border comply with our strict border requirements.
No individual competing at the Australian Open will be afforded any special treatment.
Quarantine requirements for international arrivals in Victoria, including for non-vaccinated individuals are a matter for the Victorian Government.
Updated
Dawson says 93% of people in WA have now had their first dose of the vaccine.
10% of eligible Western Australians have received their third dose.
Updated
We just lost the live stream for a second but we are back with WA now.
The vaccine commander Chris Dawson is talking.
“We expect it will enter WA and will have a big impact on us.”
He is thanking those on the frontline.
Cook says the ACT and Tasmania are now high risk.
Today I can also provide an update on WA’s border controls. With case numbers dramatically increasing in ACT and Tasmania, the chief health officer has recommended these jurisdictions be elevated to extreme risk.
As of 12.01am on Saturday, 8 January, Tasmania and ACT will move from high risk to extreme risk.
Updated
Cook says there are more exposure sites online.
As of this morning, 787 close contacts in total have been identified in the Delta backpacker cluster, 12 of whom are yet to be tested.
775 of these close contacts have produced a negative result. There are also 1,464 casual contacts. 1,245 tested negative and 214 are yet to be tested.
Updated
Cook says if you were at the:
- Lucky Shag bar in Perth on Wednesday, 29 December, between 1.30pm and 11pm and on Friday, 31 December, between 11am and 3.30pm
- Aviary bar, also in Perth, on Thursday, 30 December, between 6.30pm and 10.30pm
You need to get tested immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result, unless directed otherwise by WA Health.
Updated
WA records five new local cases of Covid
WA deputy premier Roger Cook is up.
I can advise that overnight, WA has recorded 16 new cases of Covid-19. This includes five new local cases in total. Three are related to the Delta backpacker cluster. Two of these cases are considered to have been infectious while in the community.
And this includes the one case announced yesterday linked to the two exposure sites in the city, in the Lucky Shag and Aviary bars. One of the other local cases is not part of the Delta backpacker cluster and is a hotel quarantine worker at the Hyatt Hotel, and an investigation is underway into this case.
The fifth local case is a household contact of a recent interstate arrival who is currently quarantining at home and was previously announced.
There are also seven cases related to interstate travellers, two cases related to returned overseas travellers, and two cases related to aircrew. All these cases are in quarantine.
Updated
A call to #natcab: Changing the definition of ‘hospitalisation’ will not make you look more in control of this outbreak- just more out of touch with the chaos in healthcare due to Omicron. We need a new strategy to protect the vulnerable & essential services including healthcare
— AMA President (@amapresident) January 5, 2022
Just putting the icing on a hectic afternoon is ex-tropical cyclone Seth, which is making its way towards Queensland.
Ex-Tropical Seth off the southeast coast of Qld is expected to drift the towards coast in coming days. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to increase over #SEQ as a result. Warnings still current for marine areas. https://t.co/l3kCoJ1bPD https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/roPLW7uuk0
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) January 5, 2022
Updated
The Australian Reptile Park’s animal hire service has come under fire for allowing koalas to be rented out to hotel rooms or private homes for $2,000 an hour.
As of January 4, the “Koalas to Your Room” page on the Australian Reptile Park’s website was advertising the service.
“Our friendly keepers will come to you with a koala or other native species to let you enjoy the animal in the peace and comfort of your hotel room or home,” it read.
“Koalas are not toys for the ultra-rich,” NSW upper house MP for the Animal Justice party Mark Pearson said.
“Koalas are wild, native animals that deserve a life of freedom away from unnecessary human stress. No animal should be treated like this, dragged from hotel to hotel for the sake of making somebody money. This isn’t conservation or education - this is exploitation.”
The page on the Australian Reptile Park’s website has since been taken down but the archived page can still be found.
“I’m appalled Australian Reptile Park ever thought this was acceptable and I urge them to discontinue this practice, using any animal, immediately,” Mr Pearson said.
The Australian Reptile Park has been contacted for comment.
Updated
We are just waiting on WA deputy premier Roger Cook who will address the media very soon.
Updated
Shelves are empty in supermarkets once again as staff shortages due to illness or isolation combine with ongoing supply chain difficulties.
Australia hit the grim milestone of more than 500,000 Covid cases since the pandemic began on Tuesday. Daily cases in the states and territories continue to rise, forcing tens of thousands into quarantine and even more close contacts into isolation.
Between a third and a half of Australia’s transport workers are absent every day, interrupting the supply to supermarkets, the Transport Workers Union said.
From AAP:
NSW Labor has named the candidate it hopes can retain former leader Jodi McKay’s seat of Strathfield ahead of upcoming byelections sparked by a spate of resignations.
Former United Nations lawyer turned investment firm chairman, Jason Yat-sen Li, announced his candidacy for the seat on Wednesday, having previously run for Labor at federal elections in the house and the senate in 2013 and 2019.
Li says he hopes to apply his skills and experience in the private sector to help the Strathfield electorate, “a community that really reflects my family and my upbringing”.
“It is hardworking, it wants to make itself better. It embraces tradition and change and it really understands the importance of family and the value of education.”
It was announced in December that Bridget Sakr would contest the seat for the Liberals.
Sakr’s 11-year-old daughter died along with three other children when they were hit by a drunk and drugged driver at Oatlands in 2020.
Updated
RACGP president, Dr Karen Price, has tweeted that the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is also calling for free RATs.
The @RACGP is calling on the federal Government to urgently expand access to rapid antigen tests. We must ensure free access to everyone, supply permitting, and prioritise target populations during any periods of short supply. The time for action is now. #Covid_19 #RATs
— Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) President (@RACGPPresident) January 5, 2022
Updated
Morrison was also asked about Novak Djokovic getting an exemption to travel to Australia.
Well, that is a matter for the Victorian government. They have provided him with an exemption. That is how it works. States provide exemptions to enter.
The Victorian government have made their decision on that, so I would have to refer you to them.
Updated
Morrison was speaking to reports just before he went into the Nat-Cab meeting which is happening now.
Here are a few things he had to say:
I want to stress, [for] those that are required to have a test, a RAT or a PCR test, those tests are free. Those tests are free to all Australians, always have been, that hasn’t changed.
For what I call peace of mind tests ... I’ll be putting a proposal to the premiers today on how we can offset the costs.
The Omicron variant has been a major disruption in many respects, not just in Australia but all around the world.
This massive demand ... is caused by the sheer volume of the variant. Under Delta, it was very, very different. That is affecting all countries around the world, not just Australia.
Making everything free is not a silver bullet.
Updated
Hello Guardian Australia. This is Cait Kelly and I will be taking you through the next two hours.
If you see anything that you think should be on the blog, tweet me @cait__kelly or email cait.kelly@theguardian.com.
Let’s get into it!
Updated
And with that I will hand the blog back over to the ever capable Cait Kelly.
AMA & Public Health Association of Australia call for RATs to be free
The Australian Medical Association and the Public Health Association of Australia have released a joint statement calling for rapid antigen tests to be made free as a matter of equity.
Both associations call the tests an “essential tool” in the fight to control the virus, and said governments should work towards making them free.
PHAA chief executive, Adjunct Prof Terry Slevin, says market forces shouldn’t determine who can and can’t get tested.
RATs do, and must continue to play, an essential role in a pandemic that is looking increasingly out of control,
With the difficulty of getting a PCR test, many people just want to be confident they don’t have the virus before they interact with others.
We cannot diminish the incredible work of our public health and healthcare workers across the continent by letting market forces decide who can afford to get and use RATs during this health emergency.
Equity matters – as it does for every aspect of public health. The people most at risk from the pandemic are often least able to afford RATs, if they can find any.
AMA president, Dr Omar Khorshid, said the community benefits from free tests, not just individuals.
Given the soaring case numbers which most likely represent just a fraction of actual infection rates, and the stretched capacity for PCR tests, we are running out of time to get widespread use of RATs in the community underway and support people to do the right thing.
There’s no time for piecemeal measures, like targeted subsidies which might be difficult to implement. We need to harness the goodwill in the community to use RAT kits and free access for everybody.
Updated
And the South Australian press conference has wrapped up, so we’re sticking with the Northern Territory now, with health minister Natasha Fyles saying they have enough rapid antigen tests for now.
Fyles says they have a “sustainable supply” of the tests, and will give them out free of charge.
However, she did say there was a shortage of tests available at supermarkets.
They are a precious resource, so please only use them if [you’re] required to, [they’re] not for a ‘worried well’, so to speak.
Fyles also said people can get the kits at a testing site for free if they are isolating.
Updated
Flipping back to South Australia, Marshall has said that hospitalisation rates are lower than expected.
Marshall said they estimated the Delta variant would hospitalise around 5% of cases, but that Omicron is hospitalising less than 1% so far.
We’d been working at around 1% in terms of Omicron.
But the data in South Australia would suggest it’s 0.5%, so there is some upside.
But the problem is 0.5% of a very large number is still a very large number.
And that’s why we’ve got to space those cases out, and that’s why we’ve got those restrictions in place, and that’s why we’re asking people to go and have that vaccination.
Updated
NT records 117 new cases
The Northern Territory has recorded 117 new cases, which is up from yesterday’s 75 cases.
39 of the new cases are from community transmission, 31 are close contacts, 46 are recent interstate arrivals, two are international arrivals, and nine are under investigation.
Five of the cases are from Katherine, with the majority of the rest from Darwin.
Updated
Meanwhile, back in SA, Marshall has said that the state is expecting a million new rapid antigen tests per week.
Marshall said there is “no shortage” of the tests in South Australia, and that a “big shipment” of the tests arrived yesterday.
We’re expecting around a million rapid antigen tests for use within the state system every single week from now on.
We’re very satisfied with that.
Updated
And the spate of press conferences continues, with Northern Territory authorities due to give an update any minute.
Good afternoon, Mostafa Rachwani with you this afternoon, and a quick thanks to Cait Kelly for covering the morning’s headlines. We’re in South Australia for their Covid update, with premier Steven Marshall saying that six of the 12 people in ICU are unvaccinated.
Updated
I am just going to hand you over to Mostafa Rachwani to take you through the rest of this presser.
Updated
The SA premiere says the state is moving to rapid antigen tests for close contacts. Only symptomatic people will be able to get PCR tests in the coming days.
Updated
Marshall says almost 20,000 people got vaccinated yesterday. 50% of people in the ICU were unvaccinated.
“The critical message to all South Australians is that vaccination is crucial.”
He says 271 healthcare workers are Covid positive at the moment and 535 are furloughed.
Updated
South Australia records 3,493 new Covid cases
We are going to jump over to South Australia, where premier Steven Marshall is speaking.
There are 125 people in hospital, 12 in intensive care and one on a ventilator.
“Our hospital system has ticked up slightly to 125 in hospital, but that’s of course well within our current capacity,” he says.
“So we still have patients who are in the ICU, same as yesterday, and one person who was on a ventilator, which is again also the same as the day before – so no increase in ICU.”
Updated
Tasmania will scrap quarantine for international arrivals from midnight tonight, he said. “Public Health and the state control centre have reviewed this and the associated risks are now considered equivalent to domestic arrivals.”
Vaccination and testing requirements will still be in place, and arrivals will still be required to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they develop.
Updated
Gutwein said the wait time for PCR tests is about 40 minutes at the moment. “Please be patient as we work through this.”
He said to be aware “that Covid is around”.
Tasmania has ordered 5 million RAT tests, he said. “If you are being asked to test, you’re a close contact, we will provide them.”
Updated
85% of the state’s cases are under the age of 50 and nearly 60% are aged between 20-39.
He said people “need to be sensible”.
“If you’re young and out and about, don’t go and visit vulnerable people or vulnerable settings.”
Updated
Tasmania has recorded 867 new cases
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has been talking in Tasmania. He said that 92 % of the state’s population over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated.
The state should expect daily case numbers as high as 2000, according to Gutwein. Most of them will be “quite mild”.
“But I don’t want to sugarcoat this; we will, over time, see more people in hospital simply through the increased cases we’re seeing,” he said.
Updated
Because so many people are infected so quickly with Omicron we can expect this wave to be shorter than in the past. This has been the experience in South Africa. But the next 2 months are going to be pretty challenging.
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
I know everyone will do their part to get through it. pic.twitter.com/5tx3lbCxJS
We need to talk about our health care system. Omicron is less severe, both because vaccines are holding up and also because it doesn't seem to infect our lungs as much. So that's good on an individual level and means 🤞 there will be an ICU bed for anyone who needs it.
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
But because so many people are getting Omicron all at once, our Emergency Departments and our Hospitals are at real risk of being over run. Plus our doctors and nurses are getting COVID. So much so they are being asked to come to work with COVID!!https://t.co/qYV9MYRnoe
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
Needless to say this is not sustainable
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
Again, we all need to do what we can right now to stop the spread.
Now, because there is so much COVID in circulation we all need to be prepared that we may get COVID. We now all know someone who has had it.
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
We need to prepare and take care. @DrJaneMunro comes through with the steps you can takehttps://t.co/ipbrbycORf
The head of the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Nancy Baxter, has this really good thread on getting/avoiding Covid.
It’s long, so I am going to break it up in two posts.
Part one:
The numbers this morning are confronting and the lack of capacity for testing is making everyone very anxious.
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
We need to collectively get through the Omicron wave and then move forward differently
A 🧵
What do we do about omicron?
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
It is now crystal clear that even a "mild" variant of COVID can have a serious impact on our essential services. With over 50,000 cases in Australia today just between NSW and Victoria we all need to act to manage this outbreakhttps://t.co/JAWKo4eGLr
Doing what you can to prevent transmission is Job #1 for all of us.
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
COVID is airborne and Omicron is no different. What does this mean? First COVID spreads when you inhale the exhaled air of someone with COVID. So limiting social contacts is important.https://t.co/H0AeJZ4EyC
This is now the personal responsibility phase of the pandemic. Seriously
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
When you do need to be in situation where there is exhaled air of other people, assume they have COVID. It really is everywhere. So you need to be masked. And you need a good mask - well fitted, high quality.
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
Here's a great thread on N95/P2 maskshttps://t.co/NAFzNjcpb9
These masks are more expensive - but good news is you can re-use them until the elastic bands break!https://t.co/QFrGSfpq60
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
Can't get your hands on some? Remember masks work through filtration (preventing particles of covid from being inhaled) and fit (preventing unfiltered air coming in from the sides.
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
So double masking with a surgical mask (good filtration) and a cloth mask (good fit) is an option pic.twitter.com/s9cG781IyC
Boosters, Boosters, Boosters
— Nancy Baxter MD PhD (@enenbee) January 5, 2022
Omicron is spreading because it can get around our immunity from vaccines or prior infection.Vaccines are still doing well in preventing severe disease. But pumping up our immune system with a booster will help prevent spreadhttps://t.co/PO3G4hTfXz
Updated
Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath said if you are not a household contact and you have been in contact with a case, but you do not have any symptoms, you do not need to test.
This is who needs to test:
- People with symptoms
- Household close contacts
- People who already have a positive RAT result
Updated
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she will be pushing national cabinet for free RATs for pensioners and low-income workers.
“This needs to be as simple as possible,” Palaszczuk said.
“For our pensioners, for our health cardholders, these should be made available for free.”
Gerrard said the “real number” of cases in the state is “significantly higher” than what the state is recording.
“We know that number is going to increase in the coming weeks,” he said.
Updated
It has been a huge spike for Queensland, which recorded 6,781 cases today, up from 5,699 yesterday.
More than 29,000 people were tested in the last 24 hours.
There are now more than 32,000 active cases in the state, with 265 people being treated for Covid in hospital.
Updated
Six more Covid testing sites will open in Brisbane tomorrow.
They will be:
- Indooroopilly
- Cleveland
- Ashgrove
- Boondall
- Wilston
- Bundle
Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard is up.
He says it is difficult for people to access PCR and RAT tests at the moment.
“The vast majority of us, particularly if we are young and healthy and we don’t have underlying immune disorders or major medical conditions will have a mild illness with Covid.”
He said those people should just stay at home, and that people should only dial 000 if they were very unwell.
Updated
Queensland reports 6,781 new cases
Annastacia Palaszczuk is addressing media now.
Updated
ACT records 810 new cases
The ACT has reported 810 new daily cases, with 16 people in the hospital, including one person in ICU who is on a ventilator.
There are now 3,069 active cases of the virus in Canberra.
Updated
Allan is asked if more restrictions will be put in place to curb numbers.
“Obviously, with the arrival of Omicron and its spread around the country, we’re seeing the challenges that are presenting here and around the world.
“We are very carefully monitoring the settings and we’ll continue to review those and consider the advice.
“Really these are the question of settings and any forward changes is a matter for the minister for health.”
She says people need to get vaccinated, wear a mask, socially distance and wash their hands.
Updated
Dr Laila Ibrahim, a paediatrician in Melbourne, is speaking now.
She says they are seeing an increase in referrals from children in the community:
The good news, however, is that there is still a small proportion of children being admitted to hospital.
Most of us hope that our kids if they do get Covid get a runny nose, but there will be some quite a significant proportion who will have high fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, blocked nose.
They will have significant symptoms for several days. These children can be cared for at home.
Unfortunately, we are seeing children who are severely affected ... but the majority make a full recovery.
She says many children will test positive in the coming days, the majority will be able to be treated at home. Some will become severely sick and need hospital care.
The best thing parents can do is vaccinate their children.
Updated
Allan says Victoria has now secured 44m RATs.
“As the first batch of those tests arrives in the state in the coming days we will have more to say about how they will be made available throughout Victoria.”
Updated
Allan says Victoria has some of the highest rates of child vaccination anywhere in the world.
From 1pm children can get bookings at state-run clinics.
Updated
Allan says vaccinating children was not just about protecting them, but other family members who might be vulnerable.
She says “a lot of thought and care” has gone into supporting vaccinating children.
At 18 of the clinics, there will be an animal theme decoration “to make the experience as enjoyable as it can be”.
Updated
Allan says parents can make a booking for their children aged 5-11 from this afternoon.
“From next week children aged 5-11 become eligible for the Covid vaccine.”
Updated
Victorian press conference begins
Here we go – Jacinta Allan up first.
“Firstly on vaccinations, we are seeing just over 11% of Victorians age 12 years and above who have received three dose of the vaccine and 93% have received their second dose.”
She said Victoria has 591 people in hospital, with 106 in ICU and 20 on a ventilator. The state has seen 11 people pass away.
There were 17,636 positive cases out of 59,682 tests.
Updated
Acting premier Jacinta Allan and deputy secretary of the Victorian Department of Health Naomi Bromley are expected to address media any moment now.
Albanese:
We’ve tried to give the government some space to get its act together here, but it’s getting worse, not better. The solutions they’re putting forward are getting more costly. It’s not more simple.
And we know that if people don’t access testing, and they’re unaware of their status, then there are complications there.
Then what that does is add to the cost down the road.”
Updated
Albanese:
“The national plan relied upon test, trace isolate and quarantine as well as vaccinations.
“This government is not delivering on that, because people aren’t able to get the tests.”
Albanese said Labor was “happy to work with the government” on this.
“We’ve seen a range of different costs [for RATs]. We have costs as low as $12, but as high as $50 for a single test. Now, that’s not affordable.
“It’s very clear that the simplest way to do it is to make these tests free and to make them available.”
Updated
Albanese:
It’s clear from Scott Morrison’s ridiculous proposal today of making payments to people, so that they can then purchase rapid antigen tests that aren’t available, and some of which are the subject of price gouging, just shows how out of touch the prime minister is.
The fact is that people are crying out for action. Small business is crying out for action. There’s an economic cost to this health failure, which is small business and other businesses not being able to open because they can’t get staff.
There’s a real issue with staff at health facilities. with staff in aged care facilities. We have childcare being shut.”
Updated
Time for PM to show leadership: Albanese
Anthony Albanese was speaking in Sydney earlier, where he announced Labor’s proposal to make RATs free.
This is some of what he had to say:
We have circumstances of people who are feeling unwell travelling around from venue to venue to venue, trying to get access to a rapid antigen test.
And if they actually get access to one, then they might not be able to afford it.
It’s time that this prime minister actually showed some leadership. Labor calls upon the government today, to ensure that antigen tests are available and are free.”
Updated
Professional Pharmacists Australia is urging Australians to get their booster shots as soon as possible.
President of Professional Pharmacists Australia Geoff March said:
The booster shot reduces potential for serious illness and lowers the impact on a fragile health system, including pharmacies.
Pharmacists are an option for those looking to get their booster shot and while we appreciate this is putting pressure on the pharmacy workforce, the burden will be much more severe if people are not getting boosted, and experience more serious illness.
So, while working pharmacists are stretched, we’re saying: book your booster now.”
Updated
A testing line at a drive-through site in Melbourne's east is 2.5km long. I actually measured it on Maps. Traffic controllers said most who rocked up at 8.30am wouldn't get seen today. Scary to think how this is playing out across the city.
— Kristian Silva (@kristian_silva) January 5, 2022
I have received this email from a reader who said I could share his story with you all – I’ll just keep his name out of it.
I am 65 and have what they call comorbidity conditions and I am on povertykeeper. I have to, like almost everyone else, fulfil my “mutual obligations”.
In my case, I am a volunteer tutor at a job service provider teaching English to, mostly, older foreign students. There is no way I can afford RATs and yet I still have to attend two days a week in a closed room with a lot of people.
This whole federal government stuff up has put me into a difficult position.”
Updated
We are expecting the Victorian press conference at 11.30am.
Updated
Are you Covid positive? We want to talk to you!
Hello,
Our daily news podcast, Full Story, is looking to speak to people who have contracted the Omicron variant. Whether you are asymptomatic, have a few symptoms, or have been to ICU – they are keen to hear about your experience with Omicron.
If you would like to remain anonymous, that is more than ok.
You can leave them a voicemail on (02) 8076 8550, or send them an email at australia.fullstory@theguardian.com with a way to get back in contact with you.
Thanks!
Updated
Everything is cool and normal
People in Torquay have taken to parking their cars in COVID testing queues at night so they're guaranteed a spot in the line the following day. Things are dire.
— Karen Sweeney (@karenlsweeney) January 4, 2022
Tasmania reports 867 new COVID-19 cases
From AAP:
Tasmania has recorded 867 new Covid-19 infections, another new daily record for the island state, which now has 3,118 active cases.
Of the fresh cases reported on Wednesday, 333 are being managed at home and 72 at a community facility.
The active cases have come from 2,412 tests.
Five people with coronavirus are in hospital for unrelated medical conditions.
Tasmania’s previous daily high was 702 cases reported on Tuesday.
It comes as the state government launches a testing blitz on remote King Island due to concerns a positive case visited several large events before knowing they were infectious.
The state’s health department has urged anyone on the island with symptoms, regardless of how severe, to isolate and get tested as soon as possible.
Updated
Victorian employment minister Jaala Pulford has said she hopes when Australian Open defending champion Novak Djokovic arrives in Australia in the next day he will explain why he was granted a medical exemption from requiring to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to participate in the tennis tournament.
She said only he can disclose the reason he was granted the exemption.
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said it would be helpful if Djokovic explained the medical condition, “but ultimately it is up to him”.
Officials said as part of the assessment process, the panels would have examined the relevant medical documents Djokovic to look for “official seals” and other ways to prove the documents are legitimate.
Tiley said players and other workers at the tournament are required to do daily rapid antigen tests when on-site, and have supervised tests on day one, five and seven.
Updated
On Labor’s delay to announce, they do in fact support free RATs, news.com.au political editor Samantha Maiden had this take:
Sounds like they may have also waited for PM to reveal his policy and then set a trap to outflank him with free actually. https://t.co/J2lvhQRwz2
— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) January 4, 2022
Labor calls for free RATs
And here we go – after spending the first part of the week calling for “affordable” rapid antigen tests, Labor is now saying they should be free.
Rapid antigen tests should be free and available. We are in a pandemic. Everyone needs access. pic.twitter.com/D1CxkjIXeG
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 4, 2022
Updated
Many will be upset by Djokovic decision, says Victorian government
Tennis Australia and the Victorian government have acknowledged people will be upset and frustrated about the decision to give a vaccination exemption to defending champion Novak Djokovic to attend the Australian Open, but have assured that no one received “special treatment.”
In a press conference on Wednesday, Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said Tennis Australia “completely understands and empathises” with people who are upset about the decision announced by Djokovic overnight, due to Djokovic’s past comments about vaccination.
Victorian employment minister Jaala Pulford acknowledged people would be upset about the decision:
I wanted to recognise and acknowledge that this outcome is something that many of the Victorian community find frustrating and upsetting. But I want to make absolutely clear that as has been the case the whole time, no one is receiving special treatment because of who they are or what they have achieved professionally.
She said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) criteria for granting exemptions were very narrowly defined, and the process by which Djokovic received an exemption – whereby his application was removed of identifying information when reviewed by the panels – was robust.
Pulford would not comment on what premier Daniel Andrews thought of the exemption, given his previous comments around vaccination at the Australian Open, noting Andrews was still on leave save for attending national cabinet later today.
Updated
We are just going to jump to Tennis Australia quickly...
Pearce says NSW has acquired millions of rapid antigen tests, which will start arriving next week. She says the state is already handing out RATs to people who need them.
“What we’ve been doing is distributing them to vulnerable groups of people to homeless, to people in refugee areas, and to Aboriginal medical services as well.
“So, that work will continue to make sure the most vulnerable people in our society will have access to RAT tests provided by the state.”
Updated
Pearce says there were 3000 healthcare workers furloughed yesterday.
“It’s been a really challenging period for the health system to get through this and we will get through it.
“There’s a lot of work going on in the community at the moment and our health teams who are supporting tens of thousands of cases in the community every day are going unrecognised.
“We have done our best our absolute best to get in front of this by providing information to people who are Covid positive, to help them to care safely at home.”
Updated
'No evidence' NSW nurses are working while Covid-positive
Perrottet says national cabinet will also discuss isolation requirements for health care workers.
He is asked about an exclusive article in Guardian Australia yesterday showing Covid positive nurses are returning to work – sometimes with symptoms.
He throws it to Health deputy secretary Susan Pearce:
“The suggestion that people are being brought back to work when they’re positive is certainly – we have no evidence of that.
“If you are a close contact and you’re a health staff member and there is a critical need for return, there is a process to be gone through that’s really important to understand.”
Updated
Perrottet says they are working on plans to get kids back in the classroom on the first day of term.
“There will be challenges but we will do everything we can to meet them, to minimise disruption to have schools opening.”
He says NSW overcame the majority of disruption last year to get kids back in classrooms.
“I can’t guarantee that there won’t be disruption from time to time based on what comes our way, particularly the question in relation to isolation requirements at the moment and as case numbers increase.”
Perrottet says the next few weeks will be challenging.
“The faster we can get those rapid antigen tests into the hands of people across the state ... we will. We want to see that, and will work with the commonwealth government.”
Perrottet says RATs will play an important part when school returns.
Updated
Perrottet is up again and he is asked about RATs.
“We’ve obviously put a substantial order here in New South Wales for the antigen test and we want to make sure those who need access to rapid antigen test get access to that now.”
He says there is no dollar figure that NSW won’t put on the table.
“There is no dollar fee that we will not put on the table to ensure, as we move through this next phase, rapid antigen tests are available to anybody right across the state who needs one.”
Updated
O’Meara says the best way of protecting children aged over 5 years is to vaccinate them and the best way to protect younger children is to have everyone in the family vaccinated.
“Covid can be a severe disease in a small number of children. So it’s worthwhile getting the best protection you can and then getting vaccinated as of today.”
Updated
NSW chief paediatrician Dr Matthew O’Meara is up and he is talking about the importance of vaccinating children.
“A few children can become very unwell and data from earlier strains in largely unvaccinated children in New South Wales showed that between one or two in every 100 children would need to go to the hospital, and about one 1000 would end up in intensive care, and about one in 3000 would develop a serious inflammatory condition.”
Updated
Pearce says the government is “revisiting plans” made in the last two years and that the health system is under a lot of pressure.
“Our plea to people is please do not call triple zero unless you have an emergency.”
NSW health system 'under pressure'
NSW Health deputy secretary Susan Pearce says the system is under strain.
“What has been carrying out is what was predicted – that is that Omicron is less severe than previous strains, but the sheer number of cases is obviously resulting in people needing to come to hospital and that will continue.
“So we expect for the next several weeks that we will see that pressure continuing.
“We also expect that once it starts to decline, it will likely decline quite quickly but we have got some challenging weeks ahead of us.”
Updated
Perrottet says 2.5 million people are now eligible for booster shots.
He is now addressing the PCR queues.
“I appreciate very much the patience that everyone is showing in lining up and rest assured we’re doing everything we can put downward pressure on that system.
“We have a number of rapid antigen tests arriving as of next week that will significantly assist, but my clear message today is if you are not required to get a PCR test, please do not line up in those queues.”
Updated
Dominic Perrottet media conference begins
Perrottet is up now.
He says he understands people feel anxious but NSW “will get through”.
“The key to that success has been the vaccination rate. Yesterday first dose vaccination rates had one of the highest days ever.”
He said even though the state had high vaccine rates, people were still coming forward for their first shot – which was good to see. Over 1000 people came forward yesterday.
NSW is now at 95% double vaccination he said.
“That has been incredibly successful in ensuring we are able to keep our hospital system in its very strong position.”
Updated
NSW premier Dominic Perrottet is set to address media at 10am.
We are also going to have the Tennis Australia presser then so Josh Taylor will bring you a few lines on that.
Fasten seatbelts, hold those hats, etc.
Updated
Decision to grant Djokovic medical exemption for Australian Open labelled 'appalling'
The decision to grant Novak Djokovic an exemption from Covid-19 vaccination requirements to play in the Australian Open in Melbourne has been labelled “appalling”, with some players expressing surprise at the late decision.
On Tuesday night, the defending Australian Open champion posted on Instagram that he was coming to Melbourne to participate in the tennis tournament with an “exemption permission”.
All Australian Open participants must either be fully vaccinated or apply for and secure a medical exemption in order to enter Victoria without undertaking the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Updated
Disabled pensioner here. Was told by Vic Health to do a RAT & only get PCR if RAT showed positive. We came up neg. Cost $100.00 for RAT kits. Next day told to do PCR regardless. $100.00 is our 7 day food budget. We’re eating baked beans & soup until Thursday. 🤬🤬🤬
— Steve Long (@LongjohnShorts1) January 4, 2022
The reactions over the Novak Djokovic decision just keep on coming:
Australian Open ballboys heading onto centre court for a Novak Djokovic match: pic.twitter.com/OvufsnsHEL
— Byron Kaye (@byronkaye) January 4, 2022
I reckon the crowd reaction to this is going to be very unpleasant indeed. And they will have a heck of a time explaining the exemption grounds beyond him being Novak Djokovic. https://t.co/IEdok8Sf6M
— Neil McMahon (@NeilMcMahon) January 4, 2022
It is now everyone’s duty to cheer for Rafa to win the Open and break the 20-20-20 Grand Slam tie before Djokovic does. #ausopen #tennis #RafaelNadal
— Neil McMahon (@NeilMcMahon) January 4, 2022
Updated
From AAP:
Rapid antigen tests would be subsidised for people on low incomes under a plan being taken to the next national cabinet meeting by the prime minister.
The plan, set for discussion at today’s meeting, will see welfare recipients and pensioners get cash payments for up to five rapid tests, or even more if states also put money on the table.
They would need to meet eligibility requirements to qualify for the subsidy.
Scott Morrison could also announce the government will provide millions of free RAT kits to be handed out at state and territory testing centres.
The national cabinet is meeting on Wednesday for the first time in 2022 to discuss community concerns around access to the rapid testing kits, which have been difficult to source and have escalated in price.
Infectious diseases expert Prof Robert Booy said the proposed measures would go some way to alleviating pressure on testing clinics, but they should be made free for everyone. He told the Nine Network:
We can’t have a system that doesn’t work, we need to be able to test people by PCR if they have got symptoms or if they are a very close contact. We need to do something and rapid antigen tests are the solution.
The prime minister has faced increasing pressure to make RAT kits universally free.
Updated
We’ve just learnt that at 10am Tennis Australia will be holding a press conference to talk about the medical exemption granted to Novak Djokovic.
Grab yer pitchforks!
Updated
Victoria records 17,636 new cases and 11 deaths
Victoria has continued to see a steep rise in Covid cases, with a new record of 17,636 cases overnight.
The state’s cases have doubled in just three days – on Monday Victoria recorded 8,577 cases.
Across the state, there are 591 people in hospital, which is 75 more than yesterday.
Of those, 53 are in ICU and 20 are on a ventilator.
Find a vaccination centre at https://t.co/rrlztsOjb5
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) January 4, 2022
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/H0h1xnFSKB
Updated
NSW records 35,054 new cases and eight deaths
Across the state, 1,491 people are in hospital, which is 225 more than the previous record set on 21 September when NSW was struggling to contain the Delta outbreak.
Today’s number of people in hospital marks a rise of 147 people on Tuesday’s figures.
ICU numbers continue to rise – 14 more people than yesterday but they’re still short of the peak of 244 in September last year.
NSW #COVID19 update – Wednesday 5 January 2022
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 4, 2022
In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night
- 95% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 93.6% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/o89DYX39GD
Updated
Between a third and a half of Australia’s transport workers are absent every day, leading to empty supermarket shelves, the Transport Workers’ Union says.
The major supermarkets are all experiencing shortages of products including fruit, vegetables and meat.
Rapid antigen tests are also hard to find because of a lack of supply.
Union national secretary Michael Kaine said it had written to prime minister Scott Morrison in October asking for rapid tests for transport workers to “keep drivers on the road”.
Large transport operators have told the union that up to half the workforce is missing because of Covid infection and Covid-related isolation:
[We] have a completely predictable scenario where drivers are delivering rapid tests to be sold on the shelves of supermarkets and pharmacies – but they, like most Australians, can’t access them themselves.
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Yesterday Ben from @_ausposters on Instagram sent me this to lighten my afternoon – I thought you would also appreciate it:
@_ausposters also do a summary based on the film:
Scott. J. Morrison has placed six separate gold cells on different spreadsheets in his 2022 budget. The lucky four Liberal states who find these cells discover an opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to own 2 million R.A.T.s., locked up in one of Jerry Harvey’s warehouses.
These 8 contestants must now race each other to be the first to the stockpile at $15 to $25 a pop.
There are no rules in place and everything that could possibly happen, does. Whilst, behind the scenes, Scott’s associates are placing their bets and making their trades.
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ACTU president Michele O’Neil wrote to Scott Morrison late yesterday to ask him to reconsider the federal position on rapid antigen tests and make them free.
Overnight the UK PM Boris Johnson announced that his Conservative government will provide 100,000 critical workers with free rapid tests to help keep essential services and supply chains running, allowing workers to take a test every working day.
These will be separate to those delivered for free to pharmacies and households.
O’Neil says the ACTU urged the federal government to secure RATs in October:
Unfortunately, to date you have left this problem in the hands of the market. Now, with Omicron upon us, PCR testing sites are at risk of being overwhelmed, Australians are scrambling to find Rapid Antigen Tests and struggling to afford them.
This puts at grave risk public health and our country’s economic recovery.
Australia’s system of universal public health care, Medicare, is a source of national pride and an article of national faith. The previous decision of your Government to make PCR tests free has received broad public support as a critical public health measure.
It is essential for an effective response to the next stage of this pandemic and the highly contagious Omicron variant that Government does not abandon this approach for a “user pays” pandemic response.
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Today one of the things Nat-Cab will discuss is how to make rapid antigen tests affordable for low-income Australians.
Why does everything always have to be so complicated https://t.co/SXjyMz7wg2 pic.twitter.com/3kuFgdutLk
— Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) January 4, 2022
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Novak Djokovic has set the internet on fire ...
Luring Novak into Melbourne so that he will end up having to isolate for 7 days when he inevitably gets covid and has to watch Nadal beat his record from a hotel room.
— Thor (@thunderson23) January 4, 2022
What a rort. Watch everyone dodge the responsibility for him somehow getting an exemption. pic.twitter.com/sT70Z8pflC
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) January 4, 2022
Guys, it’s important to note we don’t *know* Djokovic got an exemption because he’s a famous tennis player. It might have just been because he’s rich.
— Adam Liaw (@adamliaw) January 4, 2022
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Here is the full statement from Tennis Australia:
Tennis Australia statement regarding Novak Djokovic’s medical exemption from vaccination to play in the Aus Open: pic.twitter.com/Ay1esZLimM
— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) January 4, 2022
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Everyone is talking about Novak Djokovic this morning, and the mood is, well ...
Whoever knocks Djokovic out of the #AusOpen may never need to buy a beer In Australia ever again.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshMedia) January 4, 2022
The whole of Australia spent the day standing in queues in the summer heat, scouring the shops for rapid antigen tests that got more expensive as the day progressed, with no political leadership in sight.
— Saffron Howden (@saffronhowden) January 4, 2022
The collective anger of a nation is now directed at Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic awarded medical exemption to come to Australia unvaccinated after he contracted a serious case of being rich
— Chaser Interns (@ChaserInterns) January 4, 2022
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'I can almost guarantee it will be a super-spreading event', expert says of fourth Ashes Test
As the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England in Sydney gets under way today, some are concerned about the risk of Covid spread.
It has the potential to become a super-spreader Covid event without stricter public health measures in place, a leading epidemiologist has warned.
Adrian Esterman, a professor at the University of South Australia and a former principal epidemiologist for that state, says the match could become a super-spreader Covid event without stricter public health measures in place:
It’s a recipe for disaster unless they have really good public health measures in place. I can almost guarantee it will be a super-spreading event.
The Sydney Cricket Ground Trust on its website “strongly recommended” spectators wear a face mask when entering, navigating and exiting the ground.
With seating for 48,000 fans, the Test was likely to draw 30,000 to 35,000 spectators on day one, “a tick under 30,000” on the second day, and more than 30,000 for Jane McGrath Day on Friday, the spokesperson said.
But Esterman said few spectators at the MCG Test match were wearing face masks. Along with New Year’s Eve gatherings, the Test – which drew 140,671 fans over three days – would have fuelled some of the surge in Victorian cases, he said:
If you were in charge of public health for a state and you knew that you’re getting massive number of cases, the hospital systems creaking round its ears, would you actually have a mass sporting event without strict crowd numbers and face masks mandates and and things like that?
No, you wouldn’t – it’s crazy.
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From AAP:
Extreme demand for ambulances in Melbourne has prompted a “code red” from the service.
For three hours between midnight and 3am on Wednesday the service advised there would likely be a delay in ambulances arriving because of an extremely high demand in the metropolitan region. Ambulance Victoria said:
Our priority is to provide care to Victorians who require life-saving assistance.
It reminded people to call NURSE ON CALL on 1300 60 60 24 or visit their local GP if their case was not an emergency.
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There has been a lot of reaction to the news Novak Djokovic has received a medical exemption to enter Australia for the Australian Open.
Freelancer Ben Rothenberg asks a good question (and one I am sure will be repeated) here:
Though we now know that Djokovic plans to play the #AusOpen, there will still be considerable speculation about the legitimacy of his exemption.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 4, 2022
What “acute major medical condition,” as listed here by Australian authorities, could a healthy #1-ranked athlete have? pic.twitter.com/Qe12SWTMJo
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Yesterday nearly 300 childcare centres around NSW were closed because staff are unwell with Covid, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Elizabeth Death, the chief executive of the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia, said:
Early Learning and Care was experiencing a workforce shortage before the COVID-19 pandemic. We are now in a workforce shortage crisis.
Currently, there are 303 services closed in NSW, 30 in Victoria, 29 in South Australia, 22 in Queensland, three in the ACT and one in NT. Of these closures, 298 are due to health emergency.
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Good morning
Good morning from Guardian Australia. This Cait Kelly – I’ll be taking you through the day’s news.
A few other big things around this morning:
The queues for Covid tests are getting long again and the search for rapid antigen tests continues.
National cabinet is meeting today and Scott Morrison reportedly has a proposal to provide cash payments for low-income earners, welfare recipients and pensioners to buy some RATs – assuming you can get your hands on one.
Supply and distribution of that hot commodity is top of the meeting agenda, but state and territory leaders will also discuss a definition of a Covid hospital admission.
There are plenty of questions this morning too about how Novak Djokovic managed to get an exemption to play in the Australian Open.
The World No 1, who won’t reveal his vaccination status, posted last night that he was on his way to Melbourne for the grand slam after getting an exemption. We will have all the reaction to that announcement this morning.
And with that – let’s get into it!
