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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Donna Lu , Cait Kelly and Mostafa Rachwani (earlier)

Test positivity rates soar as nation records record high daily cases – as it happened

The day that was, Wednesday 29 December

Alright, it’s time to wrap up the blog for the day. Here’s what happened:

  • It was another day of record Covid figures across Australia, with a total of 18,243 cases.
  • NSW recorded 11,201 cases and three deaths; Victoria recorded 3,767 cases and five deaths.
  • Queensland recorded 1,589 cases, as state premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that from 1 Jan, interstate arrivals would not require a PCR test for entry but a negative rapid antigen test result would suffice.
  • SA recorded 1,472 new Covid cases, with premier Steven Marshall announcing a reduction in elective surgery, and that the state would no longer conduct pre-departure PCR tests for interstate travellers.
  • The ACT recorded 138 cases, Tasmania 55, the NT 19, while two community cases were recorded in WA.
  • Prime minister Scott Morrison brought forward the planned national cabinet meeting to tomorrow, in light of the growing Omicron epidemic.
  • Pathologists warned Australian laboratories were “running at capacity”, while the Australian Medical Association’s vice president, Dr Chris Moy, said the peak body had asked the government for a testing plan when it announced the country was opening up.

Ciao for now!

Updated

An update on the Perth hills bushfire, from AAP:

A bushfire in the Perth hills has been controlled and an evacuation order has been downgraded to watch and act.

The blaze is burning within containment lines in High Wycombe, 18km northeast of the city, at the foot of the hills and close to Perth Airport.

“There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a fire is approaching in the area and conditions are changing,” the updated warning issued on Wednesday afternoon said.

An earlier emergency warning had instructed residents in the path of a bushfire to leave, with homes under threat.

Updated

A run on rapid antigen tests (RATs) in chemists and supermarkets across Australia has left governments scrambling for supplies as they seek to change the way people get tested for Covid.

RATs have been available in the US, Europe and parts of Asia since March this year, but the Australian testing regime has relied on the more expensive PCR tests as its program’s cornerstone.

Now, as case numbers surge and the system comes under increasing strain, state and federal governments have sought to promote RATs as an intermediate step before people join a queue to be tested.

In response, RATs have been flying off shelves in supermarkets and pharmacies, raising concerns about a lack of supply.

Read the full story:

Updated

Summer heat predicted to round out 2021

It’s hard to believe it’s only two years since much of eastern NSW and Victoria was blackened by the huge bushfires of the 2019-20 Black Summer (which actually began in the spring, but that’s a quibble).

Anyway, parts of the south-east will get a blast of summer heat to round out 2021 and usher in the New Year. The Bureau of Meteorology is already putting out a few warnings:

Bom has highlighted a heatwave will build in coming days.

Melbourne, for instance, is in line for 38C on Friday for New Year’s Eve, which would make it the second-hottest day of 2021 for that city, if that prediction is reached. January 1 won’t be much cooler, with a 23C minimum before a 36C maximum for the Victorian capital.

Adelaide is also in the hot zone, with a string of 36, 38 and 37C days, starting tomorrow.

Bushfire risks will be elevated in both SA and Victoria, reviving memories of the big blazes from a couple of years ago for more than a few.

Residents in path of Perth bushfire told to evacuate

Residents in the path of a bushfire in the Perth hills have been told to evacuate their homes.

The south-west of WA has experienced a record-breaking heatwave this week, with concerns about the rate at which the region is drying out due to climate change.

AAP reports:

The emergency warning was issued for a blaze in High Wycombe, 18km northeast of Perth at the foot of the Darling Scarp and close to Perth Airport.

“You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes,” the warning issued on Wednesday afternoon said.

The fire started near the intersection of Sultana Road West and Smokebush Place east of the airport.

Residents have been warned that leaving at the last minute could be “deadly”.

“If the way is clear, leave now for a safer place,” the warning said.

By about 1pm on Wednesday Perth had reached temperatures of 39.5C.

Updated

Summary: Australia's Covid figures

To recap, 18,243 new cases were recorded in Australia today:

  • NSW: 11,201 cases, three deaths
  • Victoria: 3,767 cases, five deaths
  • Queensland: 1,589
  • SA: 1,472
  • ACT: 138
  • Tasmania: 55
  • NT: 19
  • WA: two cases

The test positivity rate reported today was 7.1% in NSW, 6.47% in SA, 5.01% in Victoria, and 4.56% in Queensland – the highest they’ve ever been.

To quote NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant from earlier today: “there’s probably more disease in the community than the numbers reflect”.

Across the ditch, New Zealand has reported its first community exposure to the Omicron variant.

The person, who arrived from the United Kingdom earlier this month, tested positive after briefly being active in the community in Auckland.

Read more:

Australia’s share market has risen to its highest level in more than three and a half months, according to AAP. The ASX 200 closed 1.21% higher at 7509.8 points.

The rise “has been helped by a broad-based rally across sectors as investors largely ignored a surge in Omicron coronavirus cases locally and overseas.”

So that’s good news, I guess.

A Covid update from SA Health. The figure reported at the press conference this morning was 1,471 new Covid cases in the state, but this appears to have been revised to 1,472 cases.

Here’s Adrian Esterman, a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of South Australia, on the situation in Queensland:

And on the NT:

As a reminder, the Reff – the effective reproduction number – gives an estimate of the number of people an infected person will pass Covid on to, on average.

We’ve been hearing a lot about ridiculously long testing queues over the past week. Our video team has collated some footage from around the country. Take a look:

It’s been a tough two years for the arts, with no sign of reprieve anytime soon, unfortunately.

Elissa Blake has been reporting on Covid sweeping through the casts of musical theatre shows in Sydney and Melbourne, with major live productions forced to cancel performances.

At least 90 performers have tested positive to the highly infectious virus and whole companies have been forced into isolation.

Here’s the story:

Here’s a summary of today’s Western Australia Covid update:

To recap:

  • Two new locally acquired cases were recorded overnight, from 4,352 tests. That brings the state to 25 active cases currently.
  • The first case is a known close contact of the French backpacker and already in quarantine. The second case is yet to be interviewed by contact tracers.
  • WA Health has identified 704 new close contacts (54 yet to be tested) and 1,260 casual contacts (214 yet to be tested).

Updated

Economists watching for signs of Omicron impact

Just a couple of weeks ago, there was every reason to expect Australia’s economy in 2022 would be booming, with the peak nicely aligning with the likely federal election period.

The Omicron variant had just landed in the country, though, and posed only a cloud on the horizon at that point.

By mid-December, though, modelling indicated NSW alone might be recording 25,000 Covid-19 cases a day by the end of January. On that day, the state registered 1,360 new cases, making the prediction seem a bit of a stretch.

That was then. With 11,000-plus daily cases reported today, that 25,000-figure might not be far away given the lag in testing and receiving results, and the limits on how many people can get tested because of holiday curbs and staff shortages.

Economists had hoped to be among those enjoying the Christmas to New Year’s lull, not least because the main statistics sources, such as the ABS, won’t resume until 10 January.

Now they are among those watching for signs that consumer and business confidence will be dented by disruptions to holiday plans and the fallout that may have on spending in the economy.

The answer, so far, is that it’s too early to tell. Transactional data will take a while to be collected to tell if cancelled holidays just mean the money gets spent closer to home.

Shoppers at the Boxing Day sales at Pitt Street Mall in Sydney
Shoppers at the Boxing Day sales at Pitt Street Mall in Sydney. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Alan Oster, the NAB Group chief economist, noted the market was already bracing for a negative retail sales figure for December compared with the previous month. That was more because of the growing popularity of Black Friday online sales rather than a demand dent from Omicron.

“I would have thought confidence might have had a bit of a hit,” Oster said. “[As for] actual conditions, their sales, their profits, their employment, I suspect less so.

“It will be soft, and people will say it was Omicron but it won’t be – it’ll be the change when people buy from Black Friday rather than Boxing Day sales,” he said.

NAB’s last economic report for 2021, released on 17 December, predicted Australia’s economy would rebound sharply from the 1.9% contraction in the September quarter. The bank is predicting a 4% expansion for Australia’s economy, less than the Reserve Bank of Australia’s 5.5% forecast.

“I’m not sure [Omicron’s] going to change the outcome that much but I would not want to be defending a 5.5 to 6% growth rate in 2022,” Oster said.

“We always assumed that international travel wouldn’t really start at least until the middle of next year,” he said, adding NAB’s other key assumption remains that governments will not lock down borders.

Updated

Thanks Cait Kelly. I’ll be here with you for the rest of the day.

In sad news out of Tasmania, 12-year-old Peter Dodt, a victim of the Devonport tragedy, has been remembered by family and friends as a “little hero” who tried to save others caught up in the jumping castle.

Peter was enjoying end-of-year celebrations at Hillcrest Primary School on 16 December when a gust of wind picked up the bouncing castle and several inflatable zorb balls.

AAP has the story:

Peter, one of six who died in the incident, was farewelled at a moving funeral service in Devonport on Wednesday afternoon.

Dozens of people gathered for the service, with bright green balloons adorning the walls along with large photos of Peter.

His cousin Jye Dodt said while Peter was “always up to a little no good”, he was a hero who fought until the end in hospital, which allowed his father to say goodbye.

“Peter was our little hero who was always there to lend a helping hand,” Dodt said.

“Peter had his life taken too soon in a tragic accident ... and in typical Peter fashion he was stubborn and fought until the end.

“Turns out he wasn’t only our little hero, but it sounds like he attempted to help the other children on the jumping castle as well.”

Peter Dodt
Peter Dodt has been farewelled at a moving funeral service in Devonport. Photograph: Tasmania police

A poem written by Peter’s mother Miranda McLaughlin was read out to mourners.

“No words can express the loss that I feel, I’m sure it’s not possibly real. You left behind your heart and soul, never will our hearts feel whole,” the poem said.

“Forever young and free you will be, fly high little man and remember me, love Mum.”

Two boys badly injured in the accident were moved out of intensive care last week after their condition improved from critical to stable.

Funerals for Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Addison Stewart will be held in Devonport on Thursday and Friday.

More than $1.4m has been raised for the families via an online fundraising page, while the federal government has committed $800,000 to counselling and support for the region.

The Devonport city council is collecting countless tributes left outside the school to create a permanent memorial.

The coroner is investigating the circumstances around the accident and will receive reports from Tasmania police and WorkSafe Tasmania.

Updated

And that is it for the Western Australia Covid presser. I am going to hand over to Donna Lu to take you through the afternoon.

Updated

The premier says:

We have massive orders in for rapid antigen tests for Western Australia. We expect to have 8m by 5 February and we expect to get more after that.

Updated

McGowan says:

One of the advantages of waiting until 5 February is that we can wait and see what happens in other states.

There is lots of media and other attacks on us for waiting longer, but the upside of waiting longer is we can watch what has occurred in other states and hopefully learn from what they have done and put in place rules that will hold and work, and what we will be able to do is calibrate what we do in the lead up to 5 February.

Updated

McGowan continues:

Obviously if someone goes in to get a PCR test, it is up to them to give the reason they get the test. It is up to people in South Australia as to how they go and get their test, but the numbers coming in from South Australia are small.

We expect it will become less in coming days ... so there will be very few people coming from the other states shortly. At least, until 5 February.

Updated

McGowan is asked if a PCR test will still be needed to get into the state:

That is something up for discussion tomorrow at the national cabinet meeting, so obviously some states do not want to proceed or do not want to continue doing that.

We will see and listen to the conversation tomorrow about all of that and whether the nation moves towards RAT testing as opposed to PCR testing.

So we will listen to the advice nationally. We will listen to the chief health officer nationally and the state chief health officer to work out the best approach. We would like to continue with PCR testing up until 5 February. We have very few people coming from interstate, so it is not really a burden on other states to do that.

Updated

McGowan is asked if he is concerned about the increase in cases:

That is always the concern but we are in a better position than any other state. We are in a much better position and hopefully we can be confident that we have eliminated it by next Tuesday and we can get back to normal, at least for a month, but we will wait and see.

Updated

Premier Mark McGowan is back up:

We want to lift the restrictions as of January 4, so we will see what the further testing results throw up.

Obviously, there is going to be a group of people that we don’t actually find because they have either given us false or misleading information.

Perhaps some of them have left the state as well, so that often happens. We don’t exactly know where a very small proportion of these people are, so hopefully we will be able to lift restrictions on the 4 January, Tuesday, I think that is, but we will wait and see what happens.

Updated

She says contact tracers are struggling with the wrong details:

It is also important to keep up other public health and social measures – washing your hands, keep physically distanced, follow the health directions, and if you are not already vaccinated, get vaccinated or get your third dose like the premier has today.

And please check in using the SafeWA app. On the SafeWA app, our contact tracers are running into some issues with people having out-of-date information registered on the SafeWA app, and people misspelling their names, addresses and phone numbers.

Please make sure on the SafeWA app that you have your most up-to-date address and phone number and you are spelling your details correctly.

Updated

The Western Australian health minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson, is up:

I know it is hot, and our case numbers are low over the last few days, but we can’t be sure we are out of the woods until everyone, particularly from the Mess Hall, has come forward for testing.

You may only experience mild symptoms or may not get sick from Covid but others in the community that you could spread it to can get very unwell.

Your continued efforts to the community ensure that we have been able to keep our case numbers low so far, and I want to say thank you to our health staff who have spent the holiday period working at the testing clinics and contact tracing, and for police for their assistance.

Updated

McGowan says they did 6,514 vaccinations yesterday:

[That] does not include the doctor’s surgeries and pharmacies, so the numbers will be significantly higher, therefore our percentage will be higher than that once we get all those figures in.

In terms of the third dose, there is currently a five-month timeframe for getting your third dose. I just got my third dose. It was fine. I encourage everyone to go and get your third dose as soon as you are eligible.

There is currently 600,000 West Australians eligible for the third dose as of January 4.

Updated

McGowan says there were 4,352 tests in the state yesterday:

I am advised that the wait time is short.

WA’s vaccination rate is 91.7% first dose over 12 and 83.6% double dose over 12. So our numbers continue to grow each and every day and over this period we will get further cases, further doses, as you can see, rolling out.

We urge anyone who is eligible to get the third dose as soon as possible.

Updated

McGowan says there are 704 new close contacts in the state:

Fifty are still to be tested. Of these, 44 were at the Mess Hall event. The number has increased as a result of a reconciliation of the data available. WA police advised that of the 44 contacts from the Mess Hall, 16 people are unlikely to be contacted due to false or misleading information they provided through the contact register or ticket sales.

WA police and WA health continued to do everything possible to track the remaining people down. We have now identified 1,260 casual contacts. Of these, 82% had tested negative – 204 people still have to be tested. We urge everyone who was at the Mess Hall or any other exposure site who has not come forward to do so urgently.

Updated

Western Australia records two new Covid cases

Western Australia has recorded two Covid-19 cases. The premier, Mark McGowan, is speaking now:

One is a close contact of case 1133, the backpacker, who was at the Mess Hall and has been in self-quarantine. This person tested negative initially last week, highlighting that the onset of the virus can occur later when it comes to the Delta variant.

The other case is a young woman who is another member of the backpacker community. We don’t believe she was at the Mess Hall events, but she has been in contact with some of the people and, obviously, developed an exposure from some of the backpackers.

So it just goes to show that being cautious is the right approach.

Updated

Cricket Australia says it is safe for fans to attend the New Year’s Ashes Test at the SCG next week.

From AAP:

Cricket Australia is confident that fans won’t stay away from next week’s Sydney Test amid the record surge of Covid-19 cases in the city.

NSW recorded 11,201 new cases today, with more than 8,000 of those from the Sydney metropolitan area.

Crowds of above 35,000 are expected for the first three days in Sydney.

That drop is in line with figures from around the country throughout the Ashes series, with attendances down across all sports during the pandemic.

In Melbourne, the Boxing Day crowd was down significantly for an Ashes attendance, but figures remained high for the rest of the Test as fans opted to go to days where crowds are usually lower.

But officials are hopeful the numbers will not dip beyond those levels in Sydney from next Wednesday, where there have been more than 47,000 new cases in the past week.

“We’ve got very robust Covid-safe plans that are led by the venues working closely with the health authorities,” the Cricket Australia CEO, Nick Hockley, told ABC.

“Outdoor settings we know are lower risk. Everyone will be double vaccinated, they’re seated venues.

“As long as everyone follows the advice, I think people can come in the knowledge they’re going to be safe.”

The crowd cheers Scott Boland on day three of the Third Ashes Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
The crowd cheers Scott Boland on day three of the Third Ashes Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Photograph: Darrian Traynor - CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images

Updated

Sydney fireworks to go on despite Covid spike

Sydney’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks show will go ahead, despite NSW experiencing a dramatic spike in Covid-19 cases.

From AAP:

London. Edinburgh. Athens. New Delhi. Paris.

Revellers in cities across the globe have been told to stay safe and ring in the new year at home, with public celebrations cancelled.

But in Sydney, throngs of people are expected to flock to the city’s vantage points to watch its famous New Year’s Eve fireworks display, despite NSW experiencing a dramatic spike in coronavirus cases.

Some 11,201 cases were reported on Wednesday, almost double the state’s previous record, as pyrotechnicians worked on last-minute preparations for the show.

Fireworks director Fortunato Foti at a media event previewing preparations for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve
Fireworks director Fortunato Foti at a media event previewing preparations for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

The City of Sydney says it can’t predict how many people will turn out for the display, but five of the six locations it manages are sold out with about 17,000 tickets booked.

Tickets are still being sold for 25 other locations, which have capacity for almost 87,000 people.

Masks are encouraged, unvaccinated people are asked to stay home and tickets for viewing spots are limited, but the spiralling outbreak has largely failed to put a dampener on the event, which last year proceeded with crowds banned from the CBD.

A team of 50 from Foti International Fireworks will launch six tonnes of fireworks across two displays at 9pm and midnight.

A worker puts the final touches to barges of fireworks for the New Year’s Eve display in Sydney
A worker puts the final touches to barges of fireworks for the New Year’s Eve display in Sydney. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

The Northern Territory will not adjust its policy requiring interstate travellers to have a PCR test before arriving in the territory.

“I make no apologies,” the chief health officer, Hugh Heggie, says.

“We have a younger population and we’ve got to get young people vaccinated because they can transmit the virus.”

Updated

Northern Territory records 19 new Covid cases

The Northern Territory has recorded 19 new Covid cases and warned that new health restrictions will be rolled out in the coming days.

From AAP:

The Northern Territory has detected 19 new Covid-19 infections as another mystery case is found in Darwin.

Authorities have warned Territorians health restrictions to slow the virus spreading will be rolled out in the coming days.

A nine-year-old girl was diagnosed overnight, with 18 close contacts currently identified.

“We’re yet to establish how she has tested positive,” the health minister, Natasha Fyles, told reporters on Wednesday. “She has attended a number of locations over the Christmas period.”

Multiple exposure sites are expected.

“I know Territorians are learning to live with Covid in the community, and it can appear to be frightening, but we have a highly vaccinated community,” Fyles said. “We expected Covid to come. It is here”.

Eight of the other cases are linked to interstate travellers, and three new infections were diagnosed among recent arrivals.

Three cases are linked to the Katherine cluster and all were isolating when they tested positive.

Two new cases were detected among international flight crews, and three cases are under investigation.

Two of these are from a household where a recent arrival to the NT lives but that person has not tested positive for the virus, Fyles said.

Twenty people are in hospital due to Covid-19 but only four are in a serious condition and none are in intensive care.

Most of the cases are of the Omicron variant of the virus.

Updated

Updated

Alison Pennington is a senior economist at The Australia Institue. She tweeted this opinion on the NSW govts decision to ask some people not to test:

Updated

This from Samantha Maiden, who is political editor for news.com.au after the PM’s press confernece.

Updated

AMA says it asked government for testing plan when Australia opened up

The Australian Medical Association vice-president, Chris Moy, says the peak body asked the government for a testing plan when it announced the country was opening up.

Updated

Pathologists warn Australian laboratories 'running at capacity'

The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia president, Dr Lawrie Bott, has released a statement about the pressure on laboratories at the moment.

He says:

It is fair to say that laboratories are running at capacity and staff have been working under significant pressure with increased demand for PCR testing for nearly two years.

Pathologists, scientists and laboratories are working to the highest levels to keep up with a volume of testing that would have previously been unimagined.

The efforts from laboratory staff to meet the community’s needs have often been exhausting over the last two years. One factor of note is the pathology workforce and equipment capacity; including pathologists and scientists, who are highly skilled and trained.

These staff and equipment cannot be expanded easily or quickly.

Updated

NSW premier says state is ordering 30m additional rapid antigen tests

At the NSW press conference, the premier, Dominic Perrottet, is explaining his state’s order for an additional 30m rapid antigen tests on Wednesday:

There are some other changes we’re looking at as well from the NSW government and I also think in addition to the approach from the national cabinet tomorrow will also alleviate some of that pressure, and particularly, I had a discussion with the prime minister this morning in relation to procurement of rapid antigen tests.

We here in NSW, we’re putting an order as I’ve said of 20m. Today we’re putting in another order of an additional 30m tests. So this will provide great support to our state as we move through the next phase, but we’ll work very closely with the commonwealth government for a national approach in terms of distribution. And as we move through the next phase, it will become the norm. It will become the norm that we have rapid antigen tests at home or purchase them at the pharmacy.

Updated

Back at the New South Wales press conference, health officials are explaining how the high circulation of Covid in the community is ballooning PCR testing time turnarounds.

In addition to record demands for testing and scores of health workers forced into isolation and on holiday leave contributing to long waits for test results, NSW Health Pathology’s Prof Dominic Dwyer is explaining how “pooling”in laboratories is no longer effective at this stage of the Omicron outbreak.

Dwyer says:

What we mean by pooling is that, for example, if you have 20 tests that come into the lab, you can take, say, four or six of those or two of those and combine them and then do the PCR on that combined sample. So in other words, you can test four people at the same time.

If that test is negative, then obviously all four samples in that pool are negative. If it’s positive, then you’ve got to go back and test each of those individual ones to see which one is a positive case and which one of course is a negative case.

There’s that process of going back and having to retest positive pools, but that takes a lot of time. And it takes a lot of effort and it chews up reagents and so on as well. So the ability to pool is limited by how common the diseases in the community and at the moment with this Omicron surge, the numbers are too hard to do pooling in a cost effective and rapid manner.

Updated

ACT records 138 new Covid cases

Updated

And that’s it from the prime minister.

To recap: A national cabinet meeting will be held tomorrow with a focus on the definition of a close contact of someone who has tested positive to Covid.

The meeting will also cover the testing regime, with a new focus on rapid antigen tests that people can do themselves instead of PCR tests.

Updated

Scott Morrison says:

As I said, the testing regimes are run by the state and territory governments. The commonwealth has responsibilities for the provision of the vaccines and supporting the testing arrangements that sit in residential aged care facilities – we’re meeting our responsibilities.

We met as a national cabinet last week. I mean, the announcements I’m making today haven’t just turned up today. We’ve been working on these over the course of the past week with the chief medical officer.

There’s an enormous amount of work done to make sure we can bring that forward to tomorrow’s meeting. That’s what I’ve been focused on. Getting the right decisions, the right outcomes.

With that cue from the weather, thank you all for your attendance.

The prime minister answers questions during a press conference at Kirribilli House in Sydney
The prime minister answers questions during a press conference at Kirribilli House in Sydney. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

Kelly continues:

There’s two ways to get to this endemic phase and have protection against Covid altogether, but particularly against Omicron. One is being infected and the other one is being vaccinated. It’s quite likely that most of us will have both of those opportunities in the coming years, or months, or weeks.

So my call again is to choose the better path, which is to get vaccinated if you haven’t already and get that booster as quickly as possible once you’re eligible.

Updated

Kelly says:

These RAT tests are a precious commodity. They’re in much greater supply but we need to make sure they’re getting to people who need them.

Updated

Paul Kelly says we are looking at “the Omicron effect”:

I think this is an Omicron effect. A month ago we were looking to live with Covid. We’re still looking to live with Covid. We need to take that new information, that new evidence, into account. We have seen the large number of cases diagnosed.

This is a matter of applying that evidence and making an evidenced-based response.

Scott Morrison watches on as chief medical officer Paul Kelly speaks at Kirribilli House in Sydney
Scott Morrison watches on as chief medical officer Paul Kelly speaks at Kirribilli House in Sydney. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

Morrison is asked if you have been in the car with a positive case, would you still be considered a close contact under the proposed new definition:

I won’t go into the details of the actual definitions at the moment – that’s what is being discussed and finalised at AHPPC today – and we’ll have that in the documentation tomorrow.

I think the important principle here is, we need to focus on where the biggest risk is.

We have seen, leading up to Christmas, large queues to get into testing, particularly on the east coast, in almost every jurisdiction. We’ve seen a long wait for people to get their results. Frankly, if you have to wait for eight hours in a queue and then 72 to 96 hours to get a result, it’s not fulfilling any useful public health function.

And it is delaying proper clinical care.

So, really, what we’re trying to do here is to go for the best bang for the buck. Make sure that people that are queuing really need that test, and are at a high likelihood of being positive, so the proper information can be given so the proper public health and clinical action can be taken.

Updated

The PM is asked if we have enough RATs:

I spoke to the Victorian premier earlier today. And their supplies are imminent.

Just as the 6m we have coming in also are. And New South Wales will come over the course of this month.

And there’s many other supplies that are available in the private market right now, which can also be drawn on.

And so this will be an issue that will run over the full course of this year. And the production of these tests is a bit different to vaccines in there’s many more suppliers. So we’re very active in the market, have been for many, many months.

Scott Morrison speaks at a press conference at Kirribilli House in Sydney
Scott Morrison speaks at a press conference at Kirribilli House in Sydney. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

Morrison says the states are responsible for health care:

We’re different to many other countries. Remember, in the United Kingdom, they don’t have state governments that run hospital systems.

In Australia, we do. And so, state governments who run hospital systems have responsibility for the things that go with managing the health system in a state. So, comparing the United Kingdom with Australia is apples and oranges.

Updated

The prime minister is asked if the federal government will do anything to speed up the purchase of RATs:

We have spent $2.5m on tests. We have already secured a large – millions of tests – for the national stockpile, which have already been, they are already being used. We have 4m secured, and another 6m that will be turning up very, very shortly.

And we have also applied $375m in additional funding and we’re working through those processes now. We expect those to come into the national stockpile. But states need to be doing their thing at the same time to meet each of our responsibilities.

Now, right now, there will be tests that will be available through those channels that I have referred to. In our discussions with our suppliers to the private industry, they notify they have significant supplies coming in, we are talking about the tens of millions into private channels.

There’s an area of significant demand, but that’s why we believe we need to focus where we’re putting the tests that we’re able to procure – state governments and commonwealth – to those who require them in the most important settings.

Updated

Morrison on the cost of RATs:

That’s a matter the treasurer and I and the states are discussing right now, in terms of concessional access in the private market.

We need to keep as much as possible those tests on the shelves whether they be in supermarkets or pharmacies.

And so it’s important that they have the certainty they can go and buy those stocks and know who is going to purchase them.

When you start providing tests through other methods, then you need to be very clear about where and who so they can estimate how many stocks I need in my pharmacy or supermarket.

Updated

Scott Morrison is back up. He is asked about vaccines and people who can’t afford to get RAT:

On the first point, there’s a difference between vaccines and tests. Vaccines are what the commonwealth traditionally provides.

Whether that’s flu or various other forms of vaccines, that’s a system that we currently run. When it comes to other health equipment that is needed at a state level, that’s done by states and territories.

Updated

Kelly says people who have not been vaccinated need to get it ASAP:

Here in New South Wales, two-thirds of people in ICU are unvaccinated. That is still the very highest risk.

Please go ahead and get that vaccination. If you’re due for a booster – if you had your second dose five or more months ago – go and get that booking today. From next week, we move to a four-month phase rather than five months.

Please make that booking now. If you have children who are becoming eligible on 10 January, that’s still going ahead, that will be done in parallel with the booster program. Make sure the five to 11-year-olds are also booked in too.

Updated

Kelly says here and in UK the cases are in younger people:

There’s still that little bit of doubt about what happens in older people in Australia in relation to Omicron. What we have seen is some incursions into aged care facilities, for example. We have not seen, as we have seen prior to vaccination and even in the Delta pandemic in Australia, of large numbers having to go to hospital from aged care. So that’s a positive sign. But it is a new challenge.

Paul Kelly speaks during a press conference in Sydney
Paul Kelly provides an update on Omicron during a press conference in Sydney. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

The chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, is up now.

He says:

We are faced with a new phase of this pandemic in Australia, related to this new variant of concern, been here for just over a month.

What we know about that already, it’s highly transmissible and we’re seeing the rise in cases every day, as has been predicted and seen in many other countries that have Omicron.

Those cases are rising, they’ll continue to rise. In terms of the severity, we know that – we know how it’s very likely this is less severe than other forms of the virus.

How much less severe is still an open question. I have seen estimates from 15% less severe to 80% less severe. And that is still information we’re looking at, particularly overseas, particularly from the UK. Because they’ve such a large number of cases of Omicron and we are able to watch that.

Updated

Morrison says the government is working with the medicines regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, to approve more RAT tests.

I want to be really clear about this – the TGA has to be sure about the testing kits that it approves. We have seen from some applicants their products have been withdrawn in other jurisdictions.

So, you know, we’re going to be careful about the tests, given we’re even more reliant now on RAT tests that have been more a convenient testing tool up until now.

These RAT tests need to have that authenticity, reliability, they need to meet the mark.

Scott Morrison
Scott Morrison says the TGA is working to approve more RAT tests. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

The PM speaks about booster shots:

Just on boosters, I can confirm again, we’ve got 20m boosters, mRNA, in Australia. There are plenty of boosters.

In fact, the booster rate of delivery is running six times faster than the first dose, and its running about twice as fast as the second dose. What we need is what we agreed last week, is for the state-based vaccination hubs to be restored, all of them, so we can get those booster rates back up to the peak of what we were running up at about September, October of this year, and so I know the states are doing that.

Updated

Morrison says the commonwealth has already had 4m RAT tests delivered:

There are another 6m arriving very soon. And we have also approved, the treasurer and I, and the finance minister, $375m in additional funds to procure further RATs to be part of the national stockpile.

It’s to deal with the commonwealth’s responsibilities for directly providing these tests. States have the responsibility of providing the tests in their settings.

Updated

The PM says state governments are responsible for RAT tests:

State governments are responsible for securing those tests, or the supplies that go with those tests, the arrangements that go with the conducting of them, and the commonwealth shares those costs 50-50 ...

Where a RAT test is required, state governments as always are responsible for securing the RAT tests, providing them to people, and we’ll share the cost 50-50 with the state government.

The commonwealth also has responsibility for RAT tests and other tests, that’s in residential aged care facilities and a range of other high-risk settings we’re responsible for. We’ll continue to do that and we have been doing that.

Scott Morrison speaks during a press conference in Sydney
Scott Morrison speaks during a press conference in Sydney. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

Morrison says:

So what would happen in these circumstances if you are a close contact is would be a seven-day quarantine, and you would have RAT tests on day six, and if that’s not positive then you would be able to go back into the community, and on day 12 you would also have a RAT test.

Now, on RAT tests, there is no need for you to be required to have a RAT test simply because you may have been somewhere at some point in time.

Close contacts need to have RAT tests. People who are symptomatic need to have RAT tests, and indeed people who are symptomatic a PCR test, but what’s not necessary is for people to be going out and bulk purchasing RAT tests and having them every other day on a casual basis. If you are symptomatic then you should take one.

Updated

The PM says under the suggested definition, if you got pinged from a QR code you would not have to get a PCR test:

You just have to monitor your symptoms, you have got to be conscious of where you are going, not the best idea to go and visit an aged care facility in that situation for a week or so.

And also to take your normal precautions of wearing masks and things like this. This is how people responsibly manage their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of others in the Omicron pandemic.

Updated

Morrison says:

What’s important with this definition is to try and understand that you are dealing with a high volume of cases and we just can’t have everybody just being taken out of circulation.

Because they just happen to be at a particular place at a particular time. The uncertainty of that, the impacts on the economy, and particularly given the fact we are not seeing this impact on our hospital system, means that it’s an impractical way to live with the virus in this next phase.

And so it is important that we move to a new definition of close contact that enables Australia to keep moving, for people to get on with their lives. If they find themselves in a close contact, genuine close contact setting, then, yes, we need to take some precautions but otherwise, you monitor your symptoms.

Updated

The PM says:

If I went down to a restaurant down the road and I happened to pop in and get some takeaway and there was a case there, I would not be a close contact.

Updated

Morrison says the definition that will be suggested is someone that lives with a case:

A household contact is someone who lives with – in or in this a care setting – and has spent more than four hours with them in a house accommodation or care facility setting.

So we are talking about someone that they are living with. We are talking about someone like me and my family here who are living here together – if one of my kids, Abbey or Lily, got it, or of course if Jenny or any of the household staff here got it, then we would find ourselves in that situation and I would be a close contact.

Scott Morrison speaks to reporters outside Kirribilli House in Sydney
Scott Morrison speaks to reporters outside Kirribilli House. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

PM says national cabinet to discuss definition of close contact

The PM says states are moving at different stages, so applying the same settings for each would not match the requirements:

So to be applying exactly the same settings in all the states and territories would not match the reality of what’s happening on the ground.

So what we are looking to do tomorrow is to ensure we get a definition of close contact and which tests are used in what circumstances and how they are provided to manage a large volume of cases.

And as states move into that phase where they have more high volume cases than they – I would expect to move towards adopting the perhaps what we are seeing in states like – the practices that we are seeing in states like NSW and Victoria.

So that is what tomorrow will help us achieve, so there’s a clear pathway, everybody knows where it’s going, and we can respond accordingly.

So the key implications for that are to redefine what is a close contact. Because a close contact then defines, well, what sort of test do I need? And what do I need to do? Do I need to stay at home? For how long? What does that mean for people I work with? What does it mean for the people I live with?

Updated

Morrison says:

As we have consistently said in the course of Omicron, the issue is not the number of cases, the issue is the incidence of serious disease.

It is the incidence of impacts on our hospital system in particular, in the ICUs. So while we do have a high volume of cases, which is what Omicron presents as a challenge, there are 1314 people in hospital, there are 126 in ICU and 55 on ventilators.

Now what that says is there is ample capacity in our hospital system to deal with the challenges that we are presently confronting.

We, of course, will continue to see cases rise but those cases are not translating into the sort of serious disease and a proportional impact on our hospital system.

Updated

Scott Morrison brings forward national cabinet meeting as Omicron outbreak grows

Scott Morrison says the challenge of Omicron is the volume of cases we will get:

With the pace at which Omicron is moving it’s not surprising that I have called a further meeting of national cabinet bringing forward the meeting we had scheduled for next week to tomorrow and I will be returning to Canberra with the chief medical officer, who joins me today, for that meeting with the other premiers and chief ministers.

Updated

The PM is up now so we are going to him.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly and prime minister Scott Morrison arrive at a press conference at Kirribilli House in Sydney
Chief medical officer Paul Kelly and prime minister Scott Morrison arrive at a press conference at Kirribilli House in Sydney. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated

Chant says if you test positive on a RAT you need to get a PCR test.

She says there are likely more cases in the community that are not being picked up:

As we move forward, our testing resources whilst great through the labs have actually been constrained by the fact that we have the more prevalent disease and so when you have a higher positivity rate it tells us two things.

That we probably are not ascertaining – getting to all of the cases. So there is probably more disease in the community than the numbers reflect. But it also has impacts on our laboratory and that’s a good segue to Prof Dwyer who can talk about how when we have got that higher positivity rate it means some of the techniques the laboratories have used to increase that lab through-put are no longer able to be used. That’s decreased our overall capacity.

Updated

The NSW chief health officer, Kerry Chant, is up and talking about the jump in cases.

She says:

What that number reflects is some testing that’s been obviously occurring and reflects some tests that have been conducted over previous days.

So the numbers will jump around a little bit over coming days as we reflect testing numbers that have been performed over the Christmas and Boxing Day period.

We are continuing to see a rise in cases of Omicron. We are seeing doubling every two to three to four days. But each of us have a role to play in suppressing the spread of the virus. Some of the key things we can do is not be out and about when we have symptoms instead go and get a test and some changes that have been put in place around making sure that we preserve that fast testing capability that our residents have come to appreciate in NSW.

Updated

Hazzard says there is a backlog in PCR tests and some supply issues with RAT.

“There are some challenges in supply but they are trying to get as many as possible on board,” he says.

Hazzard says some people still need to get vaccinated:

We are still hearing that people are declining to get vaccinated – they know better, they are watching social media.

Stop. Forget it. Get off social media. Switch off your social media and switch on reality and go and get a booster. We know vaccinations and boosters will keep you far safer. You can mix it in with the other health requirements that we have all learned – social distancing, mask-wearing, masks really work.

Just stop listening to social media and make sure you are not the one lying in the ICU on a ventilator because you made the – be the one who dies.

Updated

Hazzard says people need to stop getting PCR tests if they don’t need one:

The worried well should not be lining up for these tests, people who are travelling to Queensland should not be lining up PCR testing. We need to take the pressure off the pathology laboratories.

Updated

The health minister, Brad Hazzard, is up now.

He says:

We are moving into another major stage of this pandemic. We are seeing a lot more Omicron, as is being seen across the world.

We know that Omicron, on all the evidence internationally and in NSW and Australia, is certainly far more transmissible – chances are you will get it, we will all get it.

Updated

Perrottet again says don’t get tested if you don’t need to:

The clear message today: the system will improve – some of the changes that have been made from the Queensland premier today will really help ease pressure on that system – but still the number one thing we can do is follow the advice we received from Health, if you are not unwell or you have not been advised by NSW Health to receive a PCR test, you should not be lining up for one.

Updated

Dominic Perrottet says people who are not sick should not get a PCR test

Perrottet says if you are not sick you should not be lining up for a PCR test, and he thanks the Queensland government for changing the PCR requirements from 1 January:

There are many people who are lining up who do not need to be there. We are doing everything that we can to increase capacity and put downward pressure on those queues.

If you are not sick, if you do not have any symptoms and you are not unwell or have not been advised by NSW Health to receive a PCR test, you should not be lining up for one.

We still are hearing that there are many people receiving these tests who are lining up and by doing that, you are taking the place of somebody who needs to receive one of those PCR tests.

Updated

Perrottet says there is strong capacity in the NSW hospital system:

It is clear from the evidence and when you look at hospitalisations and ICU numbers, where we have 95% of the population vaccinated across the state, the overwhelming majority of people in ICU are unvaccinated.

Vaccination protects you and your family. If you have received your first dose but haven’t received your second, please go and get it so we can get that rate to 95% and above.

Updated

We are still waiting on the PM, but the NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, has started speaking in Sydney.

He says:

I’d like to make the point today in relation to booster shots ... our target in the booster shot has moved from five to four months. If you received your second dose vaccination on 28 August, you are now eligible for a booster shot.

And for many people over the last six months, they would have received their vaccination through the GP. If your GP is unavailable over the Christmas break, you can receive that booster shot through one of our 40 vaccination centres across NSW.

Updated

Anthony Albanese accuses Scott Morrison of 'lack of leadership' on Covid

While we wait for Scott Morrison, we should mention that the federal Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, teed off at the prime minister at a press conference in Adelaide this morning.

Albanese said:

Australians once again are doing the right thing but Scott Morrison and his government are once again showing a lack of leadership, consistently passing the buck to state and territory governments.

Why is it that there is no issue too big for Scott Morrison to show how small his vision for this country is? Scott Morrison refuses to step up. We have the NSW government trying to purchase rapid antigen tests that will be available, wait for it, at the end of January, when we have a crisis right now.

We have businesses that are unable to open. We have people that are waiting day after day after day to get the results of their tests and we have some people who simply can’t get tested so they are just staying isolated because there is some doubt over their health concerns. We need to do much better. Scott Morrison, as we end 2021, has been in government now for four years.

Everything that he does is characterised by being too little, too late, it’s characterised by failing to get ahead, saying of course it wasn’t a race, now he says with the rapid antigen tests that not only not a race, they’re not even on the field at all.

They are leaving it completely to the states – it’s not a matter of delay, it’s a matter of no action whatsoever. We need a government prepared to provide leadership.

Updated

Hello everyone, this is Cait. We are waiting on the PM, who should be speaking any moment now.

Updated

OK, and with that I will hand over the blog to the always prepared Cait Kelly, to take you through the PM’s presser and the afternoon’s news. Thanks for reading.

Updated

Three more A-League matches postponed

The ripple effects of growing case numbers continue to be felt, this time by the A-League, which has had another three round seven men’s matches postponed.

That means only two matches will be held over round seven, all due to Covid outbreaks.

The Central Coast Mariners’ match against Macarthur has been postponed, along with the Newcastle Jets’ home match against Melbourne City and the Melbourne Victory against Brisbane Roar.

Updated

NSW Health advises holidaymakers to 'avoid' testing

NSW Health has released a statement urging interstate travellers to “avoid” getting tested, in light of long queues, delays in results and Queensland’s decision to lift PCR requirements for entry.

The statement says that getting a result within 72 hours was unlikely because of the delays.

It add that travellers should essentially just wait until the 1st of January, when they can enter Queensland with a rapid antigen test:

NSW Health is advising people who attend NSW COVID-19 testing locations seeking results to travel interstate that they are unlikely to receive their results within 72 hours.

The delay means NSW travellers who intend to holiday in Queensland will not get their result before its January 1 changes to PCR swab requirements come into effect.

Interstate travellers to Queensland will then only need to get a rapid antigen test.

The decision by Queensland brings the Sunshine State in line with most other jurisdictions including New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT.

Holidaymakers are now urged to avoid testing queues to help ease pressure on laboratory testing.

As at 27 December 2021, pathology services in NSW had processed more than 24 million tests but like other states, “tourism testing” has stretched testing capabilities

Updated

Covid midday summary on Wednesday

So with that a raft of Covid pressers has come to an end, and as we wait for the NSW and PM’s update, I thought it would be a good time to post a quick summary:

  • Queensland has lifted the requirement to get a PCR test before entry, with the change coming into effect from 1 January. Queensland also recorded 1,589 new cases.
  • South Australia has recorded 1,471 new cases, but the number of people in hospital remains at 36.
  • SA premier Steven Marshall announced the state will no longer provide pre-departure PCR tests for people leaving the state.
  • Marshall flagged it would “soon” be mandatory for frontline health workers to get the booster shot.Elective surgeries in SA were also limited to category 1 and urgent category 2.
  • Victoria recorded a daily record of 3,767 new cases and five deaths.
  • The Victorian government has also secured 34m rapid antigen tests that it will distribute for free until the end of January.
  • Victoria’s health minister Martin Foley said a national cabinet meeting will be held tomorrow.
  • New South Wales has flagged it will change isolation period requirements for Covid-positive patients.
  • NSW reported a record high of 11,201 new cases, nearly double the tally from the day before.
  • Tasmania reported 55 new cases.

I think we’re all caught up – now for the next batch of clashing press conferences.

Updated

Sydney festival show Qween Lear cancelled after Covid outbreak

Covid outbreaks are starting to impact the 2022 Sydney festival, with one of the flagship shows, the cabaret musical Qween Lear, cancelling its season.

In a statement on its website, organisers said:

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 and positive confirmed cases within the company, the season of Qween Lear at Sydney Festival has been cancelled. All ticket holders will be refunded in full automatically.

The queer version of the Shakespearean tragedy King Lear was due to be staged at the Hordern Pavilion from 7-16 January.

Updated

Scott Morrison to speak as national cabinet meeting called

We are expecting to hear from the prime minister at 12.30pm AEDT today.

Updated

Marshall has added that people should take seriously the calls to work from home, saying it was his “strong message from today”. He said that message would likely remain until the end of January.

Marshall also said frontline health workers will need to get their booster within two weeks of becoming eligible.

He added that only category one and urgent category two surgeries will be available from today.

Updated

SA drops pre-departure PCR tests, adds booster mandate for frontline staff

Ok, lots happening right now, but SA premier Steven Marshall has announced that the state will no longer carry out pre-departure PCR tests for people leaving the state.

Marshall also announced that booster shots will now be mandated for frontline health workers across the state.

Finally, he also announced a reduction in elective surgery, so as to be able to reallocate health resources to the pandemic.

Updated

South Australia records 1,471 new Covid cases

Case numbers are coming in again, with South Australia reporting a record increase in daily cases, with 1,471 new infections.

Updated

Victoria secures 34m RATs – and they will be given out for free

The Victorian government has confirmed it has secured 34m rapid antigen tests, which will be handed out for free by the end of January.

In his announcement, health minister Martin Foley said the tests would help maintain the “gold standard” of testing in Victoria, and took a swipe at the federal government for not “stepping up” to “fill the gap.”

Rapid antigen tests should be free and we will be making them free.

Rapid antigen tests should be widely available and we will be making them widely available, and that will be part of a process that has fallen to the states.

We would much prefer to have a national approach to what is the national indeed and international supply issue.

But failing that, as per usual, the states have had to step up over the course of this pandemic and fill the gap that’s been left.

Victoria will give out 34m rapid antigen tests for free, Martin Foley says.
Victoria will give out 34m rapid antigen tests for free, Martin Foley says. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Updated

Queensland CHO says ICU numbers should be the focus

Sticking in Queensland for the moment, Gerrard has zeroed in on looking at ICU numbers, saying it is the best indication of the severity of the pandemic in the state.

He said he could think of two people not in intensive care but “are significantly unwell,” and reiterated that case numbers will rise, but said the focus should be on ICU numbers.

I mentioned before there are no cases of Covid-19 in intensive care or or ventilated and I think this is one of the most critical numbers to monitor when we’re getting some gauge of how severe this disease actually is.

Looking at that intensive care number is so particularly useful as a gauge of the severity of the disease. So we do have 93 people in hospital at the moment with Covid-19. But we know that the majority of them are not there because they’ve been treated for symptoms of Covid-19.

Updated

Queensland records 1,539 new Covid cases

Queensland has reported a record 1,539 new cases today, with over 6,000 cases currently active.

Despite the increase, the state’s chief health officer Dr John Gerrard welcomed the fact that there are currently no cases in ICU.

Updated

Victorian health minister says Omicron and Delta circulating 'widely'

Victorian authorities are up first, with health minister Martin Foley addressing the spike in infections, saying both Omicron and Delta variants are circulating “widely”.

Foley recommended people look to seated service at New Year’s Eve parties and gatherings, to hold them outside and for dance floors to be “minimised” or outdoors.

Finally, he encouraged people to get vaccinated and get their booster shots.

Updated

We are also expecting to hear from Queensland authorities shortly. Back to the press conference dump I see.

NSW deputy Liberal leader Stuart Ayres has confirmed on Channel 7’s Sunrise that the state government is indeed looking to reduce isolation times for Covid-positive patients.

Ayres said earlier this morning that it was important the government continues to “adapt” to the Omicron strain, and reiterated calls for people to limit PCR testing unless they have symptoms or are directed to take a test.

The rules are changing, and we have got to keep adapting with Omicron.

We know this variant is not as severe, we know we have got an incredibly well-resourced hospital system that can take care of our most sick patients.

So this is about adapting to make sure we can continue to strike the balance between health and economic challenges.

We want people to just get tested, isolate until they receive that negative test, only going to get tested if you are symptomatic or if you are a household contact of a Covid case.

That will reduce the queues, but it will also allow our health teams a little bit more time to assess what is required for those people that are infected and whether they need to stay in isolation as long as they have for past variants.

Updated

OK, we have some press conference times to bring you.

Victorian authorities are due up at 11am AEDT (in 10 minutes), while NSW authorities are due at 12.30pm AEDT.

We’re also expecting to hear from federal Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, at around 11am AEDT as well. Stay tuned.

Updated

Tasmania records 55 new Covid cases

Tasmania has recorded 55 new Covid-19 cases today, with 300 people currently infected in the state.

One person is in hospital, 63 are in community management clinics and 158 are being managed at home. A further 23 people are being assessed.

It comes after Tasmania opened to fully vaccinated travellers on 15 December, having been Covid-free beforehand.

Updated

Concern is growing at the impact of rising coronavirus cases on New Year’s Eve plans in NSW.

Australian Cruise Group executive director Sudhir Warrier, who is in charge of the cruises in Sydney Harbour during the NYE fireworks, said ticket sales are badly down this year.

He told Sky News earlier this morning that consumer confidence “is totally shattered”:

Business has completely dried up in the last 10 days or so, consumer confidence is totally shattered.

This is the second year in a row. The year before we had the northern beaches outbreak.

This is the second year where basically we’ve built up a huge amount of consumer confidence over the last seven or eight weeks, that is shattered in three days.

The guests who have made the bookings are very happy to cruise and enjoy themselves. For example on Christmas Day we had 400 guests between two boats. It’s just the fear to book – we’re basically dealing with confidence.

The fireworks show over Sydney Harbour Bridge to ring in 2021.
The fireworks show over Sydney Harbour Bridge to ring in 2021. Photograph: Wendell Teodoro/Getty Images

Updated

Hugh Jackman's Broadway show suspended after star tests positive to Covid

Broadway’s revival of The Music Man on Tuesday cancelled performances for five days after star Hugh Jackman tested positive for Covid.

In the latest New York City show to fall victim to the surging coronavirus, Jackman, 53, said on Twitter that he had only mild symptoms, including a scratchy throat and runny nose, and that as soon as he was cleared he would be back on stage.

Producers announced that all performances of the musical would be canceled through 1 January.

Jackman tested positive after his co-star Sutton Foster came down with the coronavirus last week and was replaced by an understudy. Foster will return on 2 January but Jackson is expected to be out until 6 January.

Dozens of Broadway shows, including Hamilton, The Lion King and Aladdin, have been forced to cancel performances over the past two weeks as the virus has raged through the city despite vaccine mandates for cast, crew and audiences.

Some, like the annual Christmas show by the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, shut down entirely, while musicals Jagged Little Pill and Ain’t Too Proud have closed weeks earlier than scheduled because of breakthrough cases and sluggish ticket sales during the normally busy holiday season.

The surge couldn’t have come at a worse time for Broadway, which reopened only in September after an 18-month closure because of the pandemic. January and February are traditionally the leanest months to bring in audiences, and large musicals need full houses to make money.

Music Man is currently running in preview ahead of an official opening scheduled for 10 February. Ticket demand has been strong despite an official top price of US$699 a seat, and are changing hands on secondary websites for more than $2,000 each.

– Reuters

Updated

And, Perrottet has tweeted his reaction (to Queensland changing its border rules, not the number of cases today):

So, sticking to NSW for now, last night premier Dominic Perrottet was on 2GB, and was backing his government’s approach to restrictions, after easing most of them on 15 December.

Perrottet said he had “no regrets” about easing most of the restrictions, and said he believed the state was in a “very strong position”:

We look at the evidence in front of us, we make the assessment, we tailor our settings to where they are.

We’ve always said as we open up case numbers will increase, these are the difficulties we are going through in this next phase.

NSW, despite this, is in a very strong position, very strong position as we move through.

He also urged people to NOT get a test unless they have symptoms or have been advised by health authorities to get tested:

The reality is as case numbers are increasing there are obviously going to be challenges along the way.

One of the key issues for us which we are trying to resolve and I have had many constructive discussions with my counterparts, premiers from other states, is that there is no reason why someone should be getting a tourism test if they don’t have any symptoms and are travelling interstate.

So NSW’s numbers have caused a storm of reactions online, with many expressing panic and despair at the new daily record.

Victoria records 3,767 new Covid cases and five deaths

Victoria has also seen a jump in case numbers, reporting 3,767 new infections, another daily record.

Five people with Covid died in the latest reporting period.

Updated

NSW daily Covid cases skyrocket to 11,201, with three deaths

Covid cases have jumped again in New South Wales, significantly this time, with the state recording 11,201 new infections today. It’s the highest ever tally recorded by a state in a single day, and the first time a state has recorded more than 10,000 cases in a day.

Sadly, three people have lost their lives overnight.

Updated

So what has been a recurring theme for a week now, long queues at testing locations, looks to continue today.

It also comes as reports emerge that NSW Police are having to turn people away from a testing location in Penrith:

Queensland to allow rapid antigen test to cross border

Queensland has once again made a change to the testing requirements to cross the border.

From 1 January (Saturday), travellers will be able to present a negative rapid antigen test to be able to cross the border. That means PCR tests are no longer the only way to cross the border, with hopes this will ease testing congestion.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the change on Twitter, mentioning that more details will be provided at a press conference later this morning:

Updated

Good morning

Good morning all. Mostafa Rachwani with you today, taking you through the morning’s news, and there is much to get stuck into.

We begin in New South Wales, with reports that the state government will seek to wind back isolation times for covid positive patients. The Australian is reporting a proposal favoured by officials for people to isolate for only five days after testing positive.

It comes as reports the nation’s chief health officers also consider a similar proposal, to match reduced isolation times in the US and the UK. The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee is expected to report back with the recommendations early next year.

The discussion around isolation periods also come as waiting times at testing sites in NSW and Victoria are overwhelmed, with reports the system is being strained. Some have reported queuing for hours and being turned away, and many have reported waiting up to six days for results.

NSW recorded 6,062 new cases and Victoria recorded 2,738 cases yesterday, with the rush for rapid antigen tests continuing. There is still no national guideline for using the tests, and the federal government has refused to buy kits and provide them en masse, exacerbating the situation.

South Australia saw a huge surge in cases, recording 995 yesterday, with concerns numbers could continue to rise. Premier Steven Marshall told reporters the numbers were “doubling every three to four days”.

The ACT also recorded its highest daily case numbers yesterday, reporting 252 new cases, as it also faces testing queues. Like in Queensland, the ACT has moved to reduce publishing exposure sites in an attempt to ease the pressure on the testing and tracing systems.

Covid will continue to undoubtedly dominate headlines, but we’ll be sure to keep our eyes on everything else happening around the country. Stay tuned.

Updated

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