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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Cait Kelly (now) and Caitlin Cassidy and Matilda Boseley (earlier)

Chant says roughly 80% of NSW cases are Omicron – as it happened

What we learned today, Thursday 23 December

We are going to put the blog to bed now – thank you so much for spending the second half of Thursday with me.

Here were the big stories:

  • A man died after a triple stabbing in Sydney.
  • 20 Victorian Covid-19 testing centres closed due to huge lines.
  • Victoria recorded 2,005 cases, NSW 5,715 and one death, Tasmania 26, Queensland 369, the ACT 85, the NT 10, SA 484 and WA had one new local Covid case.
  • All Victorian frontline police to be equipped with Tasers.
  • Indoor mask mandates to return in Victoria.
  • Hunt says Omicron is not creating a serious increase of cases in ICU.
  • NSW to mandate masks.
  • Chant says roughly 80% of NSW Covid cases are Omicron variant.
  • There were fires at Melbourne hotel housing refugees.
  • And WA to introduce a mask mandate after a community case.

And I’ll see you all again tomorrow!

Updated

The Morrison government has told a tribunal there is “strong public interest” in preserving the secrecy of “business case” documents that may outline the nucleus of the unlawful robodebt scheme.

IT expert Justin Warren won access to documents connected to the since-scrapped welfare debt recovery program under freedom of information laws in 2019, but he is yet to receive them after the government appealed against the decision.

I suspect many separated families will be asking similar questions.

Updated

Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne has announced Australia will provide $5m in emergency relief to help the people of the Philippines recover from the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Rai.

As many as 2.6 million people have been affected by the typhoon, with thousands sheltering in evacuation centres and many still without access to fresh food and water, power, and basic services.

“Australia will continue to partner with the Philippines Government and humanitarian organisations to respond to this disaster,” Payne said in a statement.

“Our assistance will include:

  • funding for the Philippines Red Cross and UN Population Fund to distribute relief supplies (including sleeping, shelter and water and hygiene kits) and essential child and maternal health services (including sexual and reproductive health kits)
  • funding for the World Food Programme, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Organization for Migration to provide critical transportation and communications support to the Philippines Government for delivery of relief supplies
  • funding for Australian NGOs already operating in the Philippines to deliver immediate lifesaving assistance (including food and non-food items, shelter and water and hygiene kits), protection and livelihood recovery activities
  • funding for local NGOs to respond to the needs of particularly vulnerable groups in remote areas.

“I would like to convey Australia’s condolences and heartfelt thoughts to those families in the Philippines who have lost loved ones or whose lives have been affected by this disaster.”

Updated

Earlier today, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) put out a statement on Omicron, calling for a system-wide approach to preparing for more Covid cases. ACEM president, Dr Clare Skinner, said:

Emergency physicians, nurses and other acute healthcare workers must be included in the conversations and planning for Covid-19 increases.

Covid-19 surges have significant impacts on ED demand and workload, which are not reflected in reported numbers of patients admitted to hospital or ICU.

Skinner said many of Australia’s emergency clinicians are anxious about Omicron.

We experienced this anxiety when Covid-19 first appeared, and then again with Delta. The first waves were challenging, but we worked together, adapted our processes, and worst-case scenarios were avoided.

Updated

So there are quite a few exposure sites:

  • On 22 December: Aldi and Kmart at The Square Mirrabooka shopping centre and Vinnies Mirrabooka.
  • On 19 December: McDonald’s Girrawheen, Perth Mess Hall, Connections Nightclub, and Geisha Nightclub.
  • On 18 December: Dan Murphy’s Joondalup.
  • On 17 December: the Bloody French restaurant in Subiaco and Palace Cinema Raine Square.
  • On 16 December: the Galway Hooker pub, Scarborough Sunset Markets and WA Museum Boola Bardip.

Updated

And that’s it for the WA presser, but sit tight and I will get the full list of current exposure sites.

Sanderson says the backpacker and his girlfriend are being kept in hotel quarantine.

They are in hotel quarantine, and at the moment the department is attempting to find a hotel quarantine for the four campers.

Updated

Sanderson has been asked if WA’s hospitals and ICU departments are ready.

We have made a significant investment in putting online a number of beds, and more than 200 will be online by the end of this year.

We have the ability of 300 ICU beds and ventilators and have them staffed. If we put in place sensible public health measures and higher rates of vaccination, we think that will serve us well.

Updated

The WA health minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson, is asked how long it will take for people to get results.

We have increased testing capacity. [It should take] the same amount of time as it has previously. For some people it is a matter of hours, for others a couple of days, but generally, we are not expecting ... that to blow out at all.

Updated

Dawson reiterates that anyone who has been in the Perth/Peel region from 16 December who has travelled out of the area will have to wear a mask inside unless in a private residence.

Updated

Dawson says it is a $50,000 fine for nightclubs that open.

“We have had actually good cooperation through the licensed premises,” he says.

Updated

Dawson says there are no restrictions on the number of people in a home, but people should use common sense.

In a private home, there is no restriction in terms of the numbers of people but, again, common sense has to prevail here, so we’re just asking people to use common sense in a private setting.

But if you’re going shopping, if you’re going to do last-minute buying drinks etcetera, you will have to wear a mask. While it [comes into effect at] 6pm, it is an arbitrary rule to give businesses and people a chance.

Updated

Dawson says people need to go and get tested if they have been to those venues or are feeling symptomatic.

You do not know who you have been in contact with. The virus does not respect any venue, any road, it will go wherever it goes.

Check on the website where those venues are and if you have been, if you are in contact with others that have been to any of these venues, then use your common sense, go and get tested.

Clearly, get vaccinated if you have not been vaccinated.

Updated

Commissioner of police Chris Dawson is up now.

100,000 people have now had the third dose, I know from our statistics, 165,000 others who have had five months lapsed and have not taken the booster. So have it.

Updated

Testing clinics will be open tonight until 10pm and from 7am to 8pm tomorrow and Christmas Day, and 7am to 10pm Boxing Day.

Updated

McGowan is asked why police had to use his phone pings to find him.

He is 25 years of age and he is a backpacker and goes out a lot. We had to check his phone, knock on the door and tell him the bad news.

Updated

McGowan says the man is symptomatic.

The reason that he went and got tested is that he was unwell, and now the degree of unwellness, I don’t know.

But that was the reason that he went and got tested, which is fortunate, and that’s the reason that we know about it now.

Updated

McGowan says if WA has community spread the February opening day will become redundant.

Obviously, if we have community spread of the virus, obviously the February 5 border opening in many ways becomes redundant.

Updated

McGowan says “this may be the event” that ends WA’s Covid-free streak.

I’ve said to you repeatedly over the course of the last couple of weeks, I hope that we make it to February 5 without community spread of the virus.

We’ll be lucky to make it that far. This may be the event that provides us with community spread of the virus.

... And that’s why I’m saying to everybody, please go and get vaccinated as soon as you can. If you’re eligible for a third dose, go and get vaccinated.

Updated

McGowan is asked if it could stretch on to NYE:

We don’t know yet. We’ll see what we pick up and see what the health advice is.

We’ll see if the testing brings any more cases to light. It’s four campers who are positive and have been all over the place.

We’ll have to investigate that. The contact tracing teams will be working on all of these things now and as the minister said, there are a great many contact tracers now working on this.

... So we just want to track down any cases that might be out there and make sure that they’re dealt with appropriately.

Updated

McGowan on the mask mandates:

It’s from 6pm tonight: the mask-wearing mandate, the closure of nightclubs, the shutting down of the music festivals and the like, until 6am on Tuesday morning.

Updated

McGowan says they believe it is Delta, not Omicron.

We suspect that it is Delta but they have to do the whole genome sequencing to work out if it is the Omicron variant.

At this point in time, we think that it is the Delta variant. If it is Delta, that’s less infectious than the Omicron variant. Whilst none of this is good news, at least it’s better than the more infectious [variant].

Updated

McGowan says if you leave Perth now you still have to wear a mask.

I’m saying if you leave Perth now ... the requirement is, at least for the next 4.5 days, that you’re required to wear a mask.

Now, that may extend. We’ll just see what we pick up through the testing clinics in the course of the next four days.

Updated

McGowan says the backpacker is currently being interviewed.

There are a lot of questions about when the backpacker came to Australia. WA doesn’t know, but as McGowan points out, there are a lot of backpackers who stayed in Australia over the course of the pandemic.

The main priority is to find out where he’s been.

Obviously, when you’ve been in the community for 12 days, particularly infectious from the 16th of December, you want to find out every single place that he went to.

And I don’t know about you, but if you asked me where I’d been in the last 12 days, every single spot I went to, it’s hard to remember.

So the main thing is that we track his movements entirely over the course of that period of time so that we can work out every single place that needs to be declared an exposure site.

In terms of his arrival in Australia and the like, you know, I suppose we can ask those questions but the main priority at this point in time is trying to keep people safe.

Updated

McGowan says they are acting in proportion to the risk.

One truck driver who visited a service station and slept in his cab, we probably wouldn’t be doing this.

But this is a backpacker who has been to multiple nightclubs, restaurants, bars with hundreds of people, and has been in the community for an extended period of time, so therefore, we are taking this action.

Updated

McGowan says there are five close contacts currently.

Five close contacts we know of, the backpacker’s girlfriend who has shown symptoms and a number of his housemates.

The number of close contacts may grow, but at this point in time, in terms of casual contacts, that will [be] in the hundreds.

Updated

McGowan is asked if it is mandatory for contacts to isolate while they wait for their test results.

Close contacts need to isolate and get tested. That’s a two-week period. For casual contacts, it is isolation until you get a negative test.

At the moment the vast majority, overwhelming majority of people are casual contacts, so they will need to isolate and get tested.

Look, if they have to isolate over Christmas Day, that’s an unfortunate reality, a sad reality, but the reality of Covid.

Updated

Someone has asked if it will lead to further cases.

You don’t know with COVID ... That’s why we are encouraging everyone who has been to any of the exposure sites, anyone who is showing symptoms, please go and get tested.

“We are ramping up the staff, expanding hours. They will be open until 10pm tonight, and depending on demand, open until 10pm tomorrow night. And 10pm on Christmas Eve and Christmas.

If you see the sites he went to – nightclubs, shopping centres, bars, museums, restaurants, he has been to lots of places, so lots of people who have potentially been exposed.

Updated

McGowan is asked if he is disappointed in the backpacker because he didn’t get tested earlier.

He is a backpacker. He felt unwell. At the time he left Queensland, there had only been a handful of cases in the whole state reported when he left Queensland and came here.

I don’t think he would have been thinking he could have been Covid-positive, but it turns out he was.

Updated

McGowan is asked if visitor restrictions will be put in place for Christmas Day.

Christmas Day will proceed as normal. The mask-wearing mandate applies in all public indoor settings, workplaces, shopping centres, hospitality venues, public transport.

All indoor settings – hospitals, wherever you might be, except for family homes, those sorts of family lunches and get-togethers.

Obviously we are not going to put in place a mask mandate for those.

Updated

McGowan is asked why WA is not going into lockdown.

We are at around 84% double-dosed over 12s, but the over 16s it is obviously even higher. I expect this event will mean far more vaccination occurs, so here we are at very high levels of vaccination – in fact, almost world-leading vaccination.

This gives us a level of protection. That’s why I have been saying it, banging on about it, every day for months on end – please go and get vaccinated because you never know what’s around the corner.

He came in one hour before the hard border went up with Queensland. He has arrived. We hope there hasn’t been community spread, but there may have been. That’s why we are taking the steps to protect ourselves if there has been spread of the virus.

Updated

McGowan says the type of venues the Covid-positive person visited and the length of time he was infectious means they have to take these steps.

I think [the number of contacts] is in the hundreds. As you can see, he is a backpacker who went out and went to nightclubs, bars, museums, restaurants, and it is in the hundreds.

That’s why we are so concerned. He has been to events where there has been lots of dancing, lots of fun, lots of interaction by lots of people in close proximity.

That’s why we are concerned about it. Some people are saying we are going too far in our reaction to this because it is one case, but the venues he has been to and the length of time he has been infectious means we have to take these steps.

Updated

McGowan says this was not what anyone wanted before Christmas.

I know this is not the news we wanted to hear two days before Christmas, but unfortunately this is the reality of Covid-19.

No matter how hard our border controls ... [Covid] can sneak into Western Australia.

We now need to face the potential of community transmission in Perth and Peel. That is why I am asking everyone to please do the right thing over this period.

Updated

WA to introduce mask mandate after community case

McGowan is introducing some changes to the Perth and Peel region:

From six o’clock tonight until at least six o’clock in the morning on Tuesday, December 28 the following rules will apply across Perth and Peel.

Masks will be mandatory in all public indoor settings including workplaces, shopping centres, hospitality venues and public transport. The mask mandate will not apply to the home and will not apply people doing vigorous indoor exercise.

We are recommending masks be worn outside when you cannot physically distance, so we’re urging people just to use common sense.

High-risk, large public events like music festivals will be cancelled during this period and all nightclubs closed. All dancing is banned except for weddings.

In addition, the mask rules will apply to anyone who has been in Perth or Peel since Thursday, 16 December and are now located in a different part of the state.

Updated

McGowan has listed multiple exposure sites – which I will post at the end – and says if you’ve visited them, you need to get tested.

The backpacker has been checking in which has enabled us to identify a comprehensive picture of the man’s movements since his arrival in Perth.

This has allowed contact tracers to reach out to hundreds of people who have checked in at the same location. It is also an important reminder for us to keep checking in, now more than ever.

Obviously some people have dropped away from checking in, but this proves that we need to make sure that if one does the right things that we can keep track of any potential outbreaks.

Health staff are very busy working to piece together a clearer picture of the level of risk to our community, but as we know when it comes to Covid, the situation can change very dramatically and very quickly.

Updated

McGowan says the backpacker is not vaccinated; his girlfriend is symptomatic and has been moved into hotel quarantine.

Further investigations have confirmed he has been living with four other people at a house in Girrawheen. These four people have been camping, but they have since been contacted and are now undergoing testing. They will also be directed into hotel quarantine. Health has identified several exposure sites across Perth.

Updated

WA has one new local Covid case

Premier Mark McGowan is up. WA has one new local Covid case.

In this case it is a backpacker, case 1133, who travelled into Western Australia from Queensland earlier this month, a 25-year-old man who was originally from France.

He felt sick on Sunday and got tested yesterday. The result came through this morning and it was a strong positive.

The advice at this point is that it is unlikely to be the Omicron strain and therefore more likely to be the Delta variant.

Investigations have confirmed the backpacker came into Western Australia 11 days ago on Sunday night December 12.

Updated

The WA premier, Mark McGowan and health minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson, will hold a press conference soon with updates on the pandemic.

Updated

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) has welcomed the reintroduction and extension of vital Covid-19 public health measures.

Dr Jacqueline Small, president-elect of the RACP, has expressed relief governments have moved in line with the RACP’s recommendations and those of the country’s senior public health advisers.

“What we are seeing with Omicron is that it spreads at lightning speed, and if we don’t take action now, we will have even more challenging times ahead of us,” Small said.

“The unprecedented climb in case numbers in NSW shows why we urgently needed public health measures to be put back in place.

“We strongly welcome the state governments’ decisions to reintroduce or maintain mask mandates, in addition to QR code check-ins and density limits.

Modelling by the Doherty Institute earlier this week had shown the need to remain flexible and prepared to reintroduce certain public health measures, Small said.

“We have to ensure that people can continue living their lives and celebrate this time of the year with their loved ones while minimising risks to their health and safety.

“These proportionate actions help keep all in our community safer and ensure the health system can meet the needs of those who become unwell,” Small said.

Queensland’s deputy premier, Steven Miles, has called in an application mining magnate Clive Palmer made to a regional council to build a large coal-fired power station.

Palmer’s application to the Barcaldine regional council was seen by conservationists as an attempt to sidestep consultation on the plan, which Miles himself had suggested could be a “thought bubble.”

Miles said this afternoon: “Barcaldine regional council has never assessed a project of this size. This call-in allows the state to address a broader range of matters than the council was able to under their planning scheme.

“This will include seeking public comment on the project. I want to make sure the community get their say on a project of this scale.”

Palmer’s Waratah Coal company made the application in February 2020 to build a 1,400-megawatt power station near the tiny town of Alpha, about 390 kilometres west of Rockhampton.

Waratah Coal has an undeveloped but approved coal mine project about 30 kilometres north of Alpha, and Waratah coal says the mine project is dependent on the power plant.

After Miles said last month he intended to call the project in, Waratah Coal wrote that the power plant would have lower emissions than other plants and provide jobs and cheap power to the state, and said the application through the council was appropriate.

Dave Copeman, the director of Queensland Conservation Council, said the project should be stopped.

“Minister Miles has acted responsibly by calling in this project. Proper government assessment will find what Queenslanders already know; we cannot build a new coal-fired power station in the face of the worsening climate crisis.

“New coal in Queensland would lock consumers into higher prices and get in the way of our chance to fully embrace the opportunities of becoming a renewable energy superpower.

“Queenslanders want a vibrant and innovative future that takes advantage of new renewable energy technology, not outdated, toxic coal-fired power.”

Updated

While we’re on SA – I have this from AAP:

South Australia’s Covid-19 cases have more than doubled in 24 hours, setting a record for the seventh consecutive day as the paramedics union warns the hospital system isn’t coping.

SA Health reported 484 new cases on Thursday, taking the number of new infections since the state’s borders opened a month ago to 1307.

Seven people are in hospital with one man in his 30s on a ventilator.

SA now has 1214 active infections, most being managed in home isolation.

The big jump in cases came as the Ambulance Employees Association said suspected and positive coronavirus patients were kept waiting in ramped ambulances outside the Royal Adelaide Hospital overnight in further evidence of the stress on the healthcare system.

Taking to social media on Thursday, the Ambulance Employees Association said one crew was sent to three “severely unwell” Covid-19 patients overnight.

It said two patients were ultimately transported in one ambulance while another crew eventually arrived to take the third patient.

“Treating paramedics almost ran out of oxygen, they ran out of medications,” the association said.

“They were calling for intensive care back-up with none available. Our healthcare system is not coping.”

But the premier, Steven Marshall, said all the patients taken to hospital were treated appropriately.

“They were triaged, they were treated within the clinically appropriate time frame,” he said.

“Our clinicians treat people in accordance to their acuity and the advice I’ve received is that’s exactly what happened.”

Marshall said of the four cases transferred to hospital overnight, three were from the same family, so it was acceptable for them to travel in the same ambulance.

Updated

More on the SA Covid situation here:

Western Australian fire authorities are preparing for maximums of more than 40 degrees across WA in the coming days.

Fire and emergency services commissioner, Darren Klemm, addressed the media a little earlier and warned total fire bans are likely to be introduced soon.

The forecast weather conditions present significant challenges from a fire weather point of view.

[There are] some challenges around the health and wellbeing of those people responding, so it is important from our point of view that everyone plays a role.

Total fire bans are likely to be placed in certain parts of the south-western state.

They get decided around 4pm on each day for the next day, and people need to monitor WA to make sure that they are aware what bans are [in place] in the area they will be in on any day.

Updated

Comments from Chris Minns, NSW Labor leader on rule changes:

NSW Labor welcomes the decision by the NSW Government to back our calls for a mask mandate, and to reintroduce the 2SQM rule.

We’ve already said this is a health crisis and is above politics.

Whatever levers we can pull to get this pandemic under control, short of a lockdown, should be used.

We all want to avoid a lockdown, and today’s announcements are sensible steps that the community, experts, and Labor have been calling for.

We are in a position of strength to get through this, with some of the highest vaccination rates in the world.

Updated

The NSW transport minister, David Elliott, says he has put brakes on the easing of capacity limits on public transport until January next year. In a statement, he said:

This afternoon I instructed Transport for NSW Secretary Rob Sharp to cease the further easing of customer capacity limits on public transport services until late January 2022.

Customer capacity limits and green dots across all modes of public transport were set to be removed on Friday 31 December 2021. In light of the current environment and measures announced by the Premier today, I have directed this work to be delayed to keep commuters and staff safe.

The current capacity limit of 75 per cent of customers on any public transport service will remain in place.

Masks are mandatory for anyone using public transport services across the network.

Updated

SA Health says seven people are now in hospital, including a child.

One man in his 30s is in the Royal Adelaide Hospital on a ventilator.

SA records 484 cases of Covid-19

Two new people are in hospital.

Updated

Fires at Melbourne hotel housing refugees

Two separate fires have broken out in a hotel housing refugees and asylum seekers in Melbourne.

Shortly after 1.30pm on Thursday, fire crews and police were called to the five-storey Park Hotel in Carlton – where 34 asylum seekers are being held – after an automatic fire alarm was triggered.

Wearing breathing apparatus, some of the 30 firefighters on scene “entered the building and worked to contain the fires, bringing the incident under control at 2.11pm”.

Crews are still on scene extinguishing flames and ventilating the building, a Fire Rescue Victoria spokeswoman said. There were fires on the third and fourth levels of the hotel, including one in a room. It is not clear how the fires started.

While the FRV spokeswoman said “all occupants were safely evacuated” and some patients were transferred to ambulances, Ian Rintoul, spokesman for the Refugee Action Coalition, said the asylum seekers, who are staying on levels two and three of the building, were evacuated to level one.

Mehdi Ali, one of the asylum seekers being held at the hotel, tweeted that authorities were “keeping us in the building instead of taking us to a safe place”.

Victoria Police and FRV will investigate the cause of the fires.

Additional reporting: Ben Doherty

Updated

OK, that was a big presser for NSW. Let’s recap on the big changes:

  • From midnight tonight, masks indoors will be mandatory – that’s until January 27.
  • Next year, rapid antigen tests will be provided for free, but how that will be rolled out is yet to be determined.
  • QR codes will be brought back in a limited way in low-risk settings.
  • People have been asked to work from home if they can.
  • The one person per two square metres rule in indoor hospitality will be reintroduced from 27 December to 27 January.
  • And people in the state are being asked that, unless they are feeling unwell or they have been specifically told to get a PCR test, don’t get one.

Updated

Hazzard is asked about visitors to households and if they will be restricted for NYE.

The phrase I have used is ‘never say never’.

We are in a pandemic, one in 100 years; we are keeping it under review, we will make changes as necessary and take public health advice where appropriate.

At this stage my view is, Christmas, you know what? Last year we had the northern beaches locked down for Christmas, then we had parts of the eastern suburbs locked down, and parts of western Sydney – we need a break.

We need people, as the premier said many times, to take some responsibility for themselves, but we don’t want to impose unnecessary restrictions.

Take it easy folks, don’t have too many people over to your house. Open the windows.

Updated

Hazzard says his advice to the federal government is that NSW “will do our bit”, but he is glad the feds are offering GPs and pharmacists more money.

If you’re a pharmacist and already tired from two years of the pandemic, 23 months on Christmas Day, you’re only making $16 a pop for a job, you won’t be too keen because you’ll make a lot more money selling things across the counter, doing prescriptions.

The fact the federal government have now said they will step up and pay additional funds to GPs and pharmacists – we should say thank you to the prime minister and thank you to the federal health minister, and hopefully that’ll make a difference.

Updated

Hazzard says the majority of cases are young people.

10- to 39-year-olds occupy 70% of all of our positive cases.

He says one positive case in Newcastle resulted in 250 positive cases.

Look after yourself and don’t actually start hanging too close together with people you probably don’t know all that well.

As we saw in Newcastle, one person went for a party boat and turned 250 people into positive cases in one nightclub in one night.

We are striking a balance of personal responsibility – get sensible, folks, don’t try and mingle too closely with people you don’t know. In some cases, even with people you know. But also, if you can, get vaccinated.

Updated

Hazzard is back up now:

I’d like to see the federal government get advice from Atagi to bring forward the vaccinations [boosters] from the five-month point to the four-month point.

Updated

Perrottet says the government hopes to offer free rapid antigen tests in 2022.

Updated

Perrottet has just been asked about elective surgeries – he says the state is catching up.

At the moment we have a very strong position and the health team – and I’ll ask a minister to make further comments on this, to give more direction – we are still bringing forward and catching up to those elective surgeries that we had to delay from last year.

Updated

Perrottet says the pandemic is a balance of health and economic choices.

This pandemic is a balancing act and we balance the health needs with the mental health needs, with the economic needs.

The decisions of the NSW government has kept our state strong. People are working, being kept safe, low death rate, ICU presentations are incredibly manageable at the moment, particularly given where our case numbers are.

We are in a strong position in our state, and the slight changes we have made as we move through until 27 January are modest but cautious, to make sure New South Wales gets through the holiday season ... they will play some role but ultimately, personal responsibility plays the key role.

Updated

Someone has asked about NSW businesses having to shut if they have a case, because of staff isolating.

Perrottet:

The alternative is we close everything down. It’s very similar to the challenges we have seen in the school system.

We brought kids back into the classroom as quickly as possible which meant from time to time, schools had to close. That was a challenge and difficult, but in the main, schools remained open.

We believe the changes made to the close contact definition have made a marked improvement on that front and I’ve heard from the hospitality industry that they have seen a change, but they will be offset as cases increase.

This will be a challenging time as we go through 2022 with difficulties, but in the main, we are in a much stronger position.

Updated

I couldn’t hear the question, but I think it was about the backflip on some measures. Perrottet says:

We have always said we tailor the settings ... we have said that through the entire pandemic and that’s what we’re doing today.

The concern we have seen [in the past] 48 hours, it is primarily based on health staff and we want to ensure the system is resourced.

There are many other pleasing factors so when you look at what we are seeing today, there are a lot more good than bad.

The early evidence in relation to Omicron is it is five times less severe than Delta, which is incredibly pleasing.

We have seen an increase in ICU but it is very manageable ... we always have our number one priority here in NSW to keep our people safe as we learn to live alongside the virus.

We just ask everybody across our state to be cautious over Christmas, treat everyone with kindness and respect, we will get through the other side and we will have a strong 2022.

Updated

Perrottet is again stressing that if people get pinged from the QR code check-ins, but they don’t feel unwell – they do not need to get a test.

Especially when we have a situation when many people in NSW are travelling around the country for holidays to see families, we are doing everything we can to get those test results back as quickly as possible.

But if we can reduce the people lining up on those queues who don’t need to do so, that will be very much appreciated from the government and everybody across the state who really does require ... one of those tests.

“The last point in relation to that – I look forward to working with the other state premiers about minimising or reducing the time because it is the taxpayers [who] are ... paying for those tests, for people to travel interstate, and the queues are substantial and slowing down the testing but also affecting the health response.

Only get a test if you feel unwell or are contacted by health authorities, he said.

Updated

Perrottet is asking people to use “personal responsibility and common sense and be cautious over the Christmas break.”

Perrottet:

I think the changes we have made are modest, cautious and precautionary, to make sure, as these case numbers increase over this period of time, that we get through the summer ... and NSW will continue to lead our state out of the pandemic.

With the QR codes, the issue for national cabinet’s decision yesterday – it became very apparent to me different states are in different positions.

We have much greater cases especially of Omicron; other states aren’t in that position yet but will be eventually. In those circumstances, the effectiveness of having QR codes in every single retail store may work in a WA setting but not necessarily in a NSW or Victoria setting.

Updated

Perrottet is back – he says the changes they are making today “are proportionate”.

While we are seeing low numbers in ICU, very manageable numbers in ICU, it is more in relation to making sure that our health system is able to be well-manned during the summer period.

We have already heard from David in relation to NSW Ambulance over the summer months, there are challenges that come our way ... In relation to masks, we are seeing pretty much right across the board, 85% of people wearing masks, that’s incredibly positive.

Updated

NSW Ambulance acting commissioner David Dutton is up and he is asking people to only call an ambulance in an emergency.

Yesterday, we answered an emergency 000 call every 24 seconds. We are asking to save 000 for saving lives.

I want to be clear: if somebody is unconscious, if someone has chest pain, somebody has shortness of breath, if there are injuries as a result of a motor vehicle accident – please call emergency 000.

I want to be equally clear on the following points: if you can’t sleep, if you have a toothache, if you have a splinter, if you want to check the opening hours of testing clinic, or follow-up on a Covid-19 vaccination, please do not call emergency 000.

Those calls that I just referenced potentially delay NSW Ambulance mounting an emergency response, to a member of the community that really needs it.

Updated

Chant says get vaccinated and wear a mask.

Only get tested if you have symptoms or [if] health directs you to, or you know you had contact with someone that is Covid-19 positive.

In the current settings, NSW Health will only be contacting and focusing our efforts on people that have entered or worked in high-risk settings.

So what we are doing currently as we test people who have a positive result, we give them advice about what they need to do to self-isolate. We also ask them to fill in an online questionnaire.

Updated

Chant asks people that they dance and sing outside over the festive season.

We are introducing those density restrictions and hospitality settings and discouraging activities we know are associated with increased transmission: singing, dancing, things often associated with fun.

At this time of year we have to tell it as it is in terms of what are the things associated with risk, especially indoors. Please take those activities outdoors, with lots of social distancing.

Updated

Chant says more than about 70% of cases are in the age group of 10 to 39-year-olds.

It’s really sad to see some very young people in ICU who are not vaccinated. So, again, a big callout to everyone – just because you’re young, this message doesn’t mean you’re necessarily going to be lucky enough to have the mild disease. You can be hit hard.

Please get vaccinated. Get your first vaccine, get your second and get your booster. I want to talk about the transmission settings. So at the moment, Covid is circulating in a very young population relatively.

Updated

Chant says roughly 80% of NSW Covid cases are Omicron variant

We’ve got Kerry Chant now, who says NSW is currently experiencing both the circulation of Delta and the Omicron variant of Covid.

Approximately 80% of our cases are currently Omicron. The increase in Omicron largely explains the steep rise in cases.

The Delta case numbers did start to rise in mid-December, but we’re now seeing the Delta proportion of cases declining and that large uptick being accounted for by Omicron.

Pulling together multiple pieces of evidence from overseas countries such as South Africa and the UK, and using some of our own emerging data, it indicates that infection with Omicron is likely to be milder than infection with Delta, with the risk of hospitalisation being around 60% to 80% less than for Delta.

But the issue is the increased transmissibility, leading to high case numbers, and the impact this is having on vulnerable settings, vulnerable people and critical workforces, such as our health and aged care workforce.

Updated

Hazzard says people who are unvaccinated are still in the ICU. They need to take the opportunity and get the vaccine while they can.

In the last couple of weeks, we get the daily announcements on how many people are in ICU but I want to stress people come in and people go out from the ICU.

Obviously that’s a good thing when they go out of the ICU, but we had about 60 people in ICU over the last two weeks and 65%, more than two-thirds, are unvaccinated people. Unvaccinated people.

My message to those out there who think this is still some sort of pixie-land argument, that it doesn’t exist, is: it does exist.

And you might be one of those two-thirds who have ended up in our ICUs in the next week or two or three, it might be you. This is your chance to take it seriously.

Updated

Hazzard says people need to make sure they get boosters.

Because we do know that particularly for older people, and those who had AstraZeneca, whilst it was fabulous for the time, it does have its challenges now [with] its waning effect on immunity, so we need to get a booster. I was one of those.

Updated

Hazzard says people are also calling out ambulances when they don’t have to and that needs to stop.

It’s frustrating for me to hear that ambulances are being called out at a time when we’re so busy dealing with Omicron.

Our hospitals and frontline staff are so busy ... people are still thinking that ambulances are for something other than emergencies. They’re not. Ambulances are here for emergencies.

Updated

Hazzard:

If you’re going visiting over the next few days, please don’t go out and just get a PCR test for the sake of it, because next time when you do need a PCR test, seriously, you may not be able to get it because too many people go out and use our pathology system to that extent.

Updated

Hazzard says testing is “a bit of an issue”. There are too many tests.

Go back 22 months, we were excited when we were up around 40,000 tests. We’re now four times that amount, 160,000 tests.

But it is sucking the energy out of all the frontline pathology workers, the people who are doing it, doing the tests, people who are then doing the pathology examinations, the administration, people who are sending the details out.

I would ask everybody to listen very carefully to the message that if you don’t need to go – if you haven’t got symptoms or haven’t received a message telling you that you must have a PCR test – probably you don’t need to have a PCR test.

Updated

Move your celebrations into the open air, Hazzard says.

Anything you can do over the next few days, if you’re having people around to your house, try and do it out on the balcony or backyard, or if you can’t do that, open all the windows.

What we do know is Omicron is not terribly successful when it’s out in the fresh air. It tends to get us when we’re inside in closed environments. Be very cautious.

Updated

Brad Hazzard is up now – he says “it’s too early” to tell what will happen with Omicron.

The Omicron virus seems to be challenging, it is very transmissible.

So far it hasn’t been causing the level of anxiety medically that previous variants did. But we’re on high alert. The government is on high alert.

I think the community should be on high alert. We don’t know yet. It’s too early.

Updated

Perrottet:

I do know there has been a fair bit of frustration out there. Many people waiting hours in queues, particularly as we come into Christmas.

We’re doing everything we can to alleviate that pressure. In addition to the PCR testing, if you’re unwell and those people from New South Wales ... if you aren’t feeling unwell, please do not get a PCR test.

Updated

Perrottet is now addressing the testing times – he says if you are not unwell, but get a ping through the QR code system, please don’t get a PCR test.

At the moment what we’re seeing is that many people across the state who are asymptomatic and do not feel unwell are lining up for a PCR test.

This is putting enormous pressure on the system and I thank everybody for their patience as we go through this period of time. But we need to make sure those people who need to get tested get tested in a timely way.

If you aren’t feeling unwell ... [if] you receive a notification through the QR code system, the position that we have here in New South Wales is monitor for symptoms. If you do feel unwell, at that point in time, please go and get a PCR test.

Updated

Perrottet is now talking about the change in QR codes.

Many of you will be aware we’ve had those QR codes in place for some time. We kept them in place for high-risk settings.

What we will do in relation to retail settings and lower-risk settings is we’ll bring them back in a limited way.

The reason we removed those QR codes I think has been slightly misunderstood.

It’s not in terms of opening up the economy, it’s to provide the support to the health system.

Updated

Perrottet says there will also be density limits.

We’ll be moving from hospitality venues indoors to two square metres from December 27 to January 27. And also the indoor face mask requirement will also be in place until January 27 as well.

That’s just to ensure, as we move through this period of time, we do have that support for our health officers over this summer and holiday period.

In addition to that, we’re encouraging people not to mingle ... when you’re out and about at a restaurant or cafe or a pub or a club, please, where possible, don’t mingle.

We know that from a case we’ve seen in Newcastle, that singing and dancing and the like has been part of that increase in spread.

So we just ask everybody use personal responsibilities, please be cautious as we move through this phase.

Updated

NSW to mandate masks

Perrottet says masks will be mandated inside.

As of midnight tonight, we will be requiring that masks are worn in indoor settings.

We are encouraging people, particularly over the holiday period, if you can work from home, please work from home.

Updated

Perrottet says, “it looks like the Omicron [variant] will be five times less severe than Delta.”

Updated

Perrottet says NSW will be getting 300,000 boosters a week in January.

That will be crucial. It’s our best line of defence as we move through this next phase of the pandemic. I want to thank everybody who has gone out and made the effort.

Updated

Perrottet is talking about boosters, and says the numbers are good.

If it’s been five months since your second vaccination, the booster shot is key to keeping you and your family safe, and to see now that health has administered 158,000 booster shots as of December 22 is incredibly pleasing.

I congratulate the prime minister and the federal treasurer for their decision yesterday to provide additional financial support for our GPs and pharmacists who will be taking a heavier load when it comes to the booster shots over this period of time, particularly over the next four months.

Updated

Perrottet begins by thanking frontline health workers.

[They] have done an amazing job over the last two years, and particularly going through this most recent period of time, with significant vaccination and our booster shots required.

I want to thank you on behalf of the government and the people of our great state for the continued effort in keeping our people safe.

Updated

Perrottet is up now.

Updated

We are just waiting for NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, who is expected to address media any moment now ...

Updated

Here’s more on QLD’s numbers – one person in ICU.

Updated

Melbourne airport is now only doing pre-departure Covid-19 testing for international flights on the day of departure:

Updated

From AAP:

Queensland planning minister, Steven Miles, will scrutinise an application for a controversial coal-fired power station proposed by Clive Palmer’s Waratah Coal.

Waratah, a subsidiary of Palmer’s Mineralogy, submitted a development application for the power plant with Barcaldine regional council in central Queensland.

The application was made under a 2006 planning scheme that does not require public consultation.

But Miles has called in the application, saying this will make sure a thorough planning assessment can be made on the project and the community get their say.

“Barcaldine regional council has never assessed a project of this size,” he said.

“This call in allows the state to address a broader range of matters than the council was able to under their planning scheme.”

Calling in the project places approval of the power station in the state government’s hands.

An earlier notice proposing the call in gave people the chance to make representations which had been considered together with the council’s initial assessment.

Updated

A Northern Territory environmental group has won a court battle over a Morrison government grant to develop the Beetaloo basin onshore gas field.

The Environment Centre NT argued in federal court that the $21m grant for exploration wells was legally unreasonable on multiple grounds.

Justice John Griffiths on Friday rejected arguments that the resources minister, Keith Pitt, should have considered the risks of increasing greenhouse gas emissions when he made the grants.

Updated

And we’ve just found out there will be a NSW Covid update at 2.30pm with premier Dominic Perrottet, minister for health Brad Hazzard, CHO Dr Kerry Chant, and NSW Ambulance acting commissioner David Dutton.

A big lineup there!

Updated

In closing Fyles thanks frontline health workers.

In closing want to acknowledge our frontline staff. They’ve worked incredibly hard.

It has been a gruelling 20 months and I think all of us thought, heading into the Christmas period, that would be an opportunity to take stock and prepare for the new year, but Covid is here and it has proved a significant challenge.

So from the centre to the top end, whether it’s people delivering vaccination, people in our hospitals, or in our quarantine facilities, thank you for all your efforts to our Aboriginal medical organisations. Thank you, and now can we wish you a safe and merry Christmas.

Updated

NT health minister, Natasha Fyles, says vaccinations are the best gift you can give for Christmas.

While it is slowly creeping up ... We’re seeing a number each day, but we certainly would like to see more people vaccinated, and I again reiterate my message about how safe and effective the vaccine is.

Updated

The NT records 10 new COVID cases

Of those new cases, five of them are linked to the Tennant Creek outbreak and locally acquired.

Currently, there are 11 people in hospital with Covid and one, a woman in her 60s, is in ICU.

Updated

And that’s it from Hunt. To recap:

Hunt said the public health measures discussed at national cabinet had started in some states and territories.

1.8 million Australians have received their booster shot.

And while Omicron is becoming the dominant strain, we are not seeing an increase in the seriousness of cases in ICU.

Updated

Hunt has pivoted from attacking Labor to thank Australians for getting boosters.

“Having said that, I want to thank Australians for coming forward to be vaccinated.

“Thank Australians for coming forward in record numbers to be boosted, 167,000 boosters yesterday, 54,000 of those in pharmacies. The states have indicated they’ll be stepping up and restoring the capacity, which understandably was wound down when the first and second doses were being completed.

“We can do this. We know how to do this as a country. We have done this before. We’ll do it again, no change in ventilation numbers on the latest advice I have, we’ll keep Australians safe, but Australians are doing their part as well. Thank you very much.”

Updated

Hunt has been asked about remarks Anthony Albanese made this morning about testing sites.

This is what Albanese said: “Overwhelmingly, people are waiting in queues because the governments haven’t prepared. The federal government shut down a whole lot of the testing areas.”

Hunt has said this is false.

“For Mr Albanese to make a false, untrue, incorrect, inaccurate statement, either without thinking or deliberate knowing it was a lie, is the act of someone who is not fit to be prime minister,” Hunt said.

Updated

Hunt was asked if Vic was prudent to implement mask mandate indoors.

“It’s entirely a matter for Victoria.”

Hunt has been asked about Victoria mandating masks:

“We’re encouraging people, as a result of the advice to national cabinet, to use masks in indoor settings.

“It’s a matter for states and territories. But states and territories with their public health orders, whether it’s the QR codes in New South Wales, the masks in Victoria, have responded well.”

“I think that it’s very important to show that national cabinet is delivering safer outcomes, but without constraining people’s lives. Across the board, I welcome the actions of the different states.”

Updated

Hunt is asked about why we are seeing private health providers delay their premiums.

“In terms of private health providers – one of the things that we have done is encourage them to have as low a premium as possible, and where they can give people no change for longer, then that’s even better.

“And I’m pleased that they’ve responded. The lowest change in 21 years and if some of them have deferred that change, that means people are paying lower premiums for longer.

“And so, I think that that is a really good outcome.”

Updated

Hunt has been asked about how many aged care residents have had their boosters.

“We’ve had over 1,500 aged care facilities receive their boosters.

“Every aged care facility that has been able and willing to receive, because they were eligible and they were ready, has had their deliveries done so far.

“Those that are still to be done are on the basis of their own timing. And so, we’re well ahead of schedule. We’re about 300 facilities ahead of where we’d anticipated and expected to have been.”

Updated

Hunt says Omicron is not creating a serious increase of cases in ICU

Hunt is asked if we are equipped to deal with any change to the booster timeline and if hospitals can deal with Omicron.

“I have requested that Atagi plans and focuses on continuous review about the booster program. They’ve already shortened it from six months to five months.

“There’s the eligibility period. And in that time, what we’ve seen is 1.15 million doses in a 10-day period delivered with regard to boosters. And that’s now tracking at over 160,000 a day.”

On Omicron:

“But ventilation a week ago was 54 patients with Covid around Australia. As of yesterday, there were still 54 patients on ventilation with Covid.

“So despite the increase in case numbers, there had been zero increase in ventilated patients numbers. ICU – what we see is that a week ago, there were 109 patients in ICU.

“As of yesterday, the figures provided at midday today by the National Incident Centre, there were 112. So an increase of only three patients in a week. So the two things that we know - the hospital system is well equipped ...

“The second thing is, despite an increase in case numbers, we’re not seeing an increase in the serious cases of ICU or ventilation in any significant way, with no increase in ventilation on the latest numbers that I have.

“Now, these things can change. There can be a lag. So we’re fully prepared and I don’t want to make false promises on that.”

Updated

And Hunt says public health measures discussed at national cabinet yesterday have started in some states and territories.

“The states and territories have begun to implement the measures discussed yesterday at national cabinet.

“There are measures in relation to QR codes in New South Wales and masks in some states and territories.

“In terms of vaccination clinics in Victoria. That’s matched with the additional $10 for vaccinations by GPs and pharmacists under the commonwealth system which is being paid immediately as of today.

“So, I want to thank all of those people for coming forward. They’re helping themselves. They’re helping their friends, their family and they’re helping to protect the country.”

Updated

Hunt says there’s been a 2.7% increase in private health insurance - which is the lowest in 21 years.

“At the same time, I’m really pleased that we’ve just achieved the lowest change in private health insurance fees in 21 years.

“A 2.7% increase. We’ve had progressively the lowest change during my time in 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and now 21 years.

“And so, the lowest change in private health insurance in 21 years. That’s good for families. That’s good for private health insurance and what we’ve seen as a result is five successive quarters of an increase in private health insurance uptake.

“It takes the pressure off the public hospitals. It shares the load across the system and it means that the Australian model of public and private - it’s not as reliant on the public as the UK system.

“It’s not as reliant on the private as the US system. It means that the Australian model is not just being sustained, but it’s strengthening.”

Updated

Greg Hunt is speaking in Melbourne now – he says the rates of bulk billing are up and that’s a good thing.

“We have had bulk billing increase to 89.6% in the July-to-September quarter.

“So the last quarter is up 0.7% in terms of bulk billing. And what does bulk-billing mean?

“It means that now almost nine in ten visits to the doctor are completely free for people. And that’s a really extraordinary national achievement.

“Again, thank you to our GPs and our clinicians right across the country. This is approximately 7.9% higher than for the same period immediately prior to the Coalition coming into government. So a nearly 8% increase in bulk-billing over the life of the Coalition.

“It just means more services, more people, more people able to access the doctor without having to dip into their pocket.”

Updated

With that, I will pass you on to Cait Kelly, who will keep you company for the rest of the afternoon.

We are still waiting to hear from Greg Hunt, who was due to front the media at 12.30pm.

Over in the ACT, testing numbers have eased at Nicholls but Mitchell’s drive through testing centre is still at capacity.

As of 12pm:

  • Mitchell drive through testing clinic (open 8am to 10pm): at capacity
  • Garran testing clinic (open 7.30am to 9pm): 3 hours 30 minutes+
  • Kambah drive through testing clinic (open 8am to 6pm*): 2 hours+
  • Nicholls testing clinic (open 8am to 6pm*): 15 minutes+

Still at the Victorian press conference, Foley says fines for mask wearing will vary between $500 and $1,000.

There has been no confirmation as to whether he accepted all the advice of the chief health officer but this will eventually be tabled in parliament under the pandemic legislation.

Updated

The ABC is reporting two positive cases have been identified in Alice Springs.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is strolling in to throw in his two cents around the same time as Greg Hunt (due to front the media at 12.15pm).

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry says it would have preferred mask-wearing to be a choice, but recognises it will allow venues to stay open without density limits:

A reporter asks if Victoria is looking at going in the same direction as Western Australia, which has become the first jurisdiction to mandate a third vaccination dose.

Sutton:

I have got no advice on that at the moment. I think people are super keen to get the booster. We need to make it available. We need to ensure that appropriate numbers are available and then see how the booster coverage goes.

Updated

A reporter asks the difference between getting a booster at four months verses five.

Sutton:

We can’t say with absolute certainty, and that is why this is not an easy space to provide advice in order to lead a position, but we need to respond to what is in front of us right now as an immediate and urgent concern. That is my view, and I know that people are at risk without the booster dose and I want to see them, especially those that are most at risk ... to have access to the booster ... we can say for certain that people who have not received the booster are at greater risk of dying and ICU.

Reporter:

So the difference between four and five months?

Sutton:

The difference is who is eligible to get it right now as we face large numbers of Omicron and having those individuals eligible and perceiving that booster will protect them. We need as many people in that category already boosted as we possibly can, especially those at risk of dying.

Updated

Sutton is asked: why mandate instead of strongly encourage masks?

The difference between highly recommending something and mandating something is the level of compliance that we see. I have just pointed out to you the masks that we saw come off as soon as we went from mandate to strongly recommended. We usually get about 50% levels of cooperation or compliance with a strong recommendation. It goes to 95-99% with a mandate. Why would you introduce a half measure when you need the full measure to be in place?

This was the PM yesterday on mask mandates:

Updated

Sutton reasserts the importance of ventilation and socialising outdoors coming up to Christmas. He made a video about this. Perhaps our TikTok aficionado Matilda Boseley has met her match!

I have made a video recently about the importance of ventilation. Meeting outdoors, critically important. If you can, please do. If you can open doors and windows wherever possible if you are meeting indoors, please do. I will be doing a little round for Christmas to open doors and windows whenever I am inside.

The video:

Updated

Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton is up. He got his third dose yesterday, and has a satisfyingly sore right arm.

We are reporting over 16,000 doses delivered through state run centres yesterday. That is double what it was a week ago, and a week ago is double what it was the week before that, so it is really ramping up which is fantastic.

We also hit another milestone today - 5 million vaccinations delivered through services. A huge effort. One of the biggest in Australia if not the biggest, and as the acting premier said, we have built one of the most vaccinated societies on earth. That puts us in just a fantastic position - a wall of immunity to meet Omicron and it means that we can go ahead with much more confidence than other places in the world ...

I know Victorians are concerned about what summer might have ahead, but again, our current vaccination rates are very important in measuring our individual and collective protection. We know that two doses provide good protection against severe illness against hospitalisation, against ending up in ICU. The booster dose, and the evidence is increasing day by day, provides even greater protection against severe illness and hospitalisation.

Updated

Some 28 more pop-up vaccination sites will open in the coming weeks throughout Victoria, and the current 50 sites will extend opening hours to 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The site at the Royal Exhibition Building will stay open as the “iconic flagship site” well into late March 2022.

Health minister Martin Foley is up, confirming Victoria is in a “strong position” by any measure worldwide to combat the new variant.

In addition to mask mandates, there are new “recommendations”, not orders, to have in place for the festive season. One is working from home, and the second is a recommendation for hospitality venues to, “when they can”, stick to seated service and save dance floors for outdoor, well-ventilated areas.

We acknowledge that Victorians have done so much to go out and get vaccinated in such strong numbers. And we’ve delivered on our part of the national plan for reopening. But a new variant of concern has arisen globally and we need to take measures to protect our community from that rapidly spreading variant whilst our health experts ... understand what it means for our community going into 2022.

Updated

Indoor mask mandates to return in Victoria

On advice of the chief health officer, the health minister will introduce additional measures to slow the spread of Omicron in Victoria, to remain in place until 12 January. From 11.59 tonight:

  • Face masks will be required in all indoor settings, except private homes, for persons eight and over.
  • Face masks will also be required at major outdoor events for people over 30,000 people. They can be removed when seated.
  • Work from home if you can over the festive period. This is a recommendation.

Updated

Merlino announces investment in a “major boost” to support the third dose rollout, including more than $31 million to support the commonwealth vaccination program while waiting for Atagi to provide advice on the potential shortening of the interval between a third vaccination dose.

I want to be really clear. The interval needs to be shortened and the interval needs to be shortened immediately. That’s the view of Victoria. That’s the view of New South Wales. That’s the view of jurisdictions across the country. It is the clear public health advice we are getting. The interval needs to be shortened and it needs to be shortened immediately. We’re announcing today that we are ready to scale up to meet that demand so this new investment will enable a massive scale-up to support a major expansion of our state-run vaccination centres.

Updated

Victoria’s acting premier James Merlino is up alongside health minister Martin Foley and chief health officer Brett Sutton, announcing changes to come into effect in response to the new variant.

Merlino says Victoria is in one of the “strongest positions” around the world to combat Omicron because of high vaccination rates. Victoria is not considering going into lockdown. As a Victorian even the word “lockdown” is triggering.

Tasmania’s premier Peter Gutwein has been providing a Covid update after 26 cases were recorded in the state.

There has been no community transmission yet, but it is expected cases will pop up in the days ahead.

Gutwein has ordered 100,000 rapid antigen tests to add to the current stockpile, which can be purchased at chemists and supermarkets.

Someone PCR test that snake stat:

Back to Palaszczuk, who says testing delays “are not just [because of] Queensland”.

Let’s be very clear about this, it’s a bit Sydney-sided at the moment ... our response is we have always kept Queenslanders safe, and the measures in place were the measures outlined in the roadmap and the roadmap stands.

Updated

The press conferences are rolling in, and in a quite civilised manner. We’ll be hearing from Victoria’s acting premier soon, followed by health minister Greg Hunt from Mount Martha.

The ACT records 85 new cases

Case numbers in the ACT are in, and they’re up again. There have been 85 new Covid cases. There are three people being treated in hospital, but fortunately none in ICU, and no deaths.

Updated

Some 123 confirmed Omicron cases have been detected in Queensland, but there’s likely to be more as there’s also a lag in testing, Gerrard says:

We’ve tested 123 confirmed Omicron viruses, but there’s a lag in our testing. There’s a lag until we know the total numbers of Omicron. It’s clear that Omicron is becoming dominant and will dominate henceforth. We continue to see infections across the state. So wherever you live, you need to assume that you will be exposed in the coming weeks to this virus.

Updated

Queensland’s chief health officer John Gerrard is up, making an interesting point about the “necessary” spread of the virus through the state. Masks and other social measures won’t stop the virus but slow it “a little bit” until we receive our third vaccination, he says.

I think it is important at times like this as the numbers increase that we reflect on what exactly we are trying to do and where we are going. The spread of this virus, which is now this particular strain Omicron, is extremely contagious. Not only is the spread of this virus inevitable, it is necessary. In order for us to go from the pandemic phase to an endemic phase, the virus has to be widespread.

We all have to have immunity. You will all have to develop immunity. There’s two ways you can do that - by being vaccinated or getting infected. There are only two choices, only two ways to do that. And once we’ve done that, once the virus is spreading, once we all have some degree of immunity, the virus becomes endemic, and that is what is going to happen.

Updated

Queensland is now at 90.1% single dose targets. But the premier is concerned about lagging vaccination rates on the Gold Coast, a major tourist hotspot.

We’re on the beautiful Gold Coast but I am still worried that vaccine coverage is not high enough here on the Gold Coast, which is one of the reasons we’re doing this press conference here today. Across the south-east of our state, essentially every area is above 90% except the Gold Coast region. Logan, Ipswich, where we had a huge vaccine drive, they have hit over 90%. In Brisbane, they’re heading towards 95%. On the Gold Coast, it’s 88.8%.

This is a tourism hotspot. This is where the tourists are coming from just across the border. If you have not been vaccinated, go and see your GP or your pharmacist or one of our vaccination centres today. It is absolutely imperative that we drive up the vaccination rates on the Gold Coast.

Updated

Queensland records 369 new cases.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is providing a Covid update. The state has recorded 369 new Covid cases, which she says will inevitably rise.

Positive cases have been detected across the state - in Brisbane, Central Queensland, Gympie, Noosa, Redland, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville and the Whitsundays.

There is currently one person in intensive care, with “other medical issues”.

Updated

Wait times for Covid tests are out in South Australia:

Heavy rainfall and a possible thunderstorm warning is in place over the Central Coast.

The latest update from ACT Health is out, and all testing clinics are currently at capacity. As of 10.15 am:

  • Mitchell drive-through testing clinic (open 8am to 10pm): at capacity
  • Garran testing clinic (open 7.30am to 9pm): 2 hours 30 minutes+
  • Kambah drive-through testing clinic (open 8am to 6pm*): 2 hours 30 minutes+
  • Nicholls testing clinic (open 8am to 6pm*): 2 hours 30 minutes+

We are experiencing high demand for testing this morning and all our testing clinics are at capacity right now. Please do not queue on the roads, and come back later. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, however the safety of staff and our community is paramount.

Updated

Victoria’s health minister Martin Foley will be up later today. No word yet on whether any changes to restrictions will be made in the state.

Updated

Federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese this morning backed calls for the timing of booster shots to be reduced from five months.

All the medical advice from overseas and the experience that we have is that it should be. And I’m sure that Atagi will come up with that recommendation as I’m sure it’s inevitable as well as it is overseas, in order to be considered fully vaccinated, that third shot as the protection against Omicron is particularly important.

One of the benefits that we’ve had here in Australia due to our location, where we are, this island continent with natural protections, due to our distance from the world, is that we can see as we did with the first and second waves, we can see what is happening in the rest of the world. And anticipate it and get ahead of it. We need to do that. We need to stop playing catch-up, which is what this prime minister consistently does.

Updated

Meanwhile, Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will hold a press conference at Burleigh Heads in roughly half an hour.

Tasmania records 26 new cases

Tasmania’s numbers are in. There have been 26 new Covid cases reported - a record high for the state.

One active case is in hospital for another medical condition.

The Police Association Victoria has welcomed the announcement, which it says has been long advocated for as a “critical non-lethal tactical option”.

The $215 million rollout comes as the state’s war on crime has seen spending on police, courts and prisons grow at double or triple the rate of other states and territories over the past decade.

All Victorian frontline police to be equipped with Tasers

Victoria’s police minister Lisa Neville is up now alongside chief commissioner Shane Patton. She confirms all Victorian frontline police and PSOs will be equipped with Tasers, which will be linked to body warn cameras.

The rollout of 6,000 of the stun guns is expected to take five years. Specialist training will be provided to officers.

Updated

A 62 year old man has died following a single-vehicle crash in the New South Wales Riverina overnight, NSW police report.

Emergency services were called to Shoards Road, north-east of Temora, late last night, following reports a double truck towing two trailers left the roadway and rolled.

A passing motorist called emergency services and attempted CPR on the driver until paramedics arrived.

The man died at the scene. A report will be prepared by the coroner.

Updated

Back to Covid, the good news is high testing numbers.

The bad news is the reference rate. Some 3.56% of tests are coming back positive in NSW, and 2.36% in Victoria. That’s a significant growth rate in the past week.

Looking for a useful distraction from the pandemic this morning? How about a dip into Guardian staff’s funniest things we saw on the internet.

I laughed out loud at this more than once, and not just at my own contribution (the guy with a phone full of QR codes).

Thanks as ever to Matilda Boseley for guiding us through this morning’s news and bringing us Jacqui Lambie’s elf costume.

With that, I shall pass you over to the amazing Caitlin Cassidy who will bring you the rest of the morning’s news!

The Omicron variant of coronavirus appears to be milder, with a 20%-25% reduced chance of a hospital visit and at least a 40% lower risk of being admitted overnight, the first UK data of its kind has showed.

But as daily Covid cases topped 100,000 for the first time on Wednesday, experts warned that high transmissibility means the NHS is still at risk of being overwhelmed.

In what was described by scientists as a “qualified good news story”, two studies on Wednesday pointed to a lower risk of hospitalisation with Omicron.

An Imperial College outbreak modelling team led by Prof Neil Ferguson analysed hospitalisations and vaccine records among all PCR-confirmed Covid cases in England between 1 and 14 December. The dataset included 56,000 cases of Omicron and 269,000 cases of Delta.

You can read the full report from Ian Sample and Heather Stewart below:

No word yet on when we will be getting a health update from Victoria today.

Just to put things into perspective:

Just to break the absolute doom and gloom that was those Covid numbers, here is Jacqui Lambie dressed as an elf.

Looks as though we will be hearing from Anthony Albanese at 11.50am today.

Updated

NSW records 5,715 new Covid-19 case and one death

NSW daily case numbers have jumped by nearly 2,000 cases today, with 5,715 new cases.

Updated

Victoria records 2,005 new Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths

Updated

20 Victorian Covid-19 testing centres closed due to huge lines

According to AAP, 20 testing sites have closed in Melbourne this morning after reaching capacity.

Updated

Scott Morrison insists it’s not necessary for the states to introduce mask mandates in response to a rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, despite health advice recommending they be compulsory in indoor settings.

Speaking after a national cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the prime minister instead said it was “highly recommended” to wear masks indoors, urging Australians to use common sense and to reduce their risk of spreading Covid to their loved ones over Christmas.

Health advice circulated to state and territory leaders late last week made the case for mandating masks in all indoor settings, including retail, entertainment facilities and hospitality when not eating and drinking.

“Implementation of mask wearing measures should occur prior to Omicron case escalation to have maximum benefit,” said the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee advice.

You can read the full report below:

Updated

Man dead after triple stabbing in Sydney

A man is dead after a triple stabbing in a western Sydney park and a teenager is fighting for his life in hospital, reports AAP.

NSW police were called to a reserve at Catlin Close, Whalan, about 7.30pm on Wednesday. Officers found three men – aged 40, 25 and 19 – with stab wounds.

The 40-year-old died at the scene and the two injured men were taken to Westmead hospital for treatment.

The youngest man is in a critical condition with injuries to his torso and arm, while the 25-year-old is in a stable condition with a cut to his arm.

All three men were known to each other.

Updated

As Covid cases surge in Australia, attention is turning to how the health system is coping.

To track the impact of the spread of the Omicron variant on hospitals, we have brought together the data on hospitalisations and new case numbers – both nationally and across states and territories for the last six months. Cases include those infected locally, overseas and where the source is unknown or under investigation.

Due to the difference in reporting times between jurisdictions it can be difficult to get a picture of the numbers, trends and impact on the healthcare system.

But the seven-day average of new cases shows how cases are trending in each jurisdiction. Experts say there can be a lag of 10 to 14 days from when cases are reported and subsequent hospitalisations.

You can read the full data blog below:

Rapid Covid tests may be free in NSW, and likely return of QR codes

The NSW government is considering providing free rapid antigen tests in the mail and it’s likely there will be a return to mandatory QR check-ins at retail and hospitality venues, reports AAP.

But premier Dominic Perrottet is still resisting bringing back mask mandates at indoor venues, despite NSW Health urging everyone to wear them in high-risk settings.

Covid-19 cases are surging in NSW and testing clinics are being overwhelmed.

Some 15,815 people have tested positive since 16 December and yesterday’s record daily caseload of 3,763 infections could be smashed today.

Perrottet emerged from yesterday’s national cabinet meeting to flag a plan to provide residents with the rapid tests, which are in short supply and expensive:

Providing rapid antigen testing kits for those who want to do the right thing will help take the pressure of our testing clinics while giving people confidence to get on with their lives ...

This will also help people monitor their symptoms and go about their daily activities in a responsible manner helping protect themselves, their families and the community.

The need to relieve pressure on Covid-19 testing sites across the state is becoming more urgent with just two days until Christmas, after days of long queues at the facilities.

People wanting to travel interstate or get the all-clear to attend Christmas celebrations are waiting hours to get a PCR test and about 72 hours to get a result.

Restrictions eased in NSW on 15 December for all residents, including the unvaccinated, but the government is now expected to announce it will bring back mandatory QR check-ins at supermarkets, shops and hospitality venues.

Updated

The ABC is reporting this morning that NSW is poised to reintroduce QR code check-ins as well as provide free rapid antigen testing kits as cases surge in the state.

Reportedly there isn’t a strict time frame for when businesses will be required to comply with the reintroduced check in-laws, but we should learn more when Dominic Perrottet speaks today.

The ABC reports that free rapid antigen tests are being explored as a way to potentially reduce pressure on Covid-19 testing sites.

Updated

Covid-19 testing clinics are reducing their openings hours during the Christmas period despite “unprecedented demand” and reports of hours-long wait times in several states.

Guardian Australia analysis shows 77% of the 490 testing sites listed on the NSW Health website on Wednesday will either close or operate on reduced hours through the Christmas and new year period.

This comes amid record Covid cases in NSW and the highest testing numbers in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic. Victoria reported 92,262 Covid test results on Wednesday, the most processed in a 24-hour period.

In Melbourne overwhelming demand for testing forced at least 14 testing sites across the city to shut from 9.45am, after reaching capacity.

You can read the full report below:

Updated

John Frewen has been asked if the hotly anticipated Novavax will be included in the booster program mix. But it seems we will still have a while to wait:

Novavax is still going through the approval process. I know they’re getting closer. We’re looking forward to get Novavax into the mix of available vaccines as well. It won’t be until the new year. I don’t know exactly when.

As soon as Novavax is ready to go, we’ll be delighted to get it out there. I know some people have been holding out for Novavax specifically. It will be part of our arsenal and we look forward to helping people access that vaccine if that’s what they want.

Updated

John Frewen:

We have got 5m doses on shelves around the country in GPs and pharmacists. We have got record number of deliveries going in this week.

We have had orders placed both before Christmas and for the first week of January, we have got an emergency ordering system in place and we also have a cell within the taskforce that’s helping people get connected to stuff that’s sitting on shelves in GPs and pharmacists not being used.

Sometimes it’s a pharmacy or a GP around the corner, sometimes it’s across town. The vaccines are there. I encourage any of these businesses to contact the vaccine operations centre and we’ll have them connected to supply. But I assure you that supply is not a concern.

We are working hard on the distribution. And then it’s about that great workforce to get the vaccines into people’s arms.

Updated

Lieutenant General John Frewen (the army guy who is in charge of all our vaccines) has defended Australia’s booster rollout:

The booster rollout is proceeding at speed. I think the queues you may be seeing at the moment may be around the testing regime.

We have been hitting record days on boosters. We had almost 2 million people have their boosters over the last few weeks. We adapted very quickly to the Atagi decision to shift from six months to five months. We did that in a matter of days. That decision only happened a little over a week ago.

We’re postured ready to respond if Atagi shifts the medical health advice around the booster recommendations again and supply is absolutely not a concern this time around. We have got more vaccines than will be needed over the months ahead.

Updated

Australia’s peak doctors body has criticised an “unethical” proposal to charge unvaccinated people for their medical care that is being considered by the New South Wales government.

The state’s health minister, Brad Hazzard, confirmed the government was looking at forcing people who had not received the jab to pay for their medical bills if they required hospital treatment for Covid.

“This is an option under consideration by the NSW government,” Hazzard said in a statement on Wednesday evening after it was first reported by Sydney radio station 2GB.

The health minister did not provide any further details about how such a plan would work and did not respond to further questions.

You can read the full report from Lane Sainty and Michael McGowan below:

Updated

Good morning everyone, it’s Matilda Boseley here, and Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

As a Christmas treat, I have ... well, more Covid-19 news.

Mask regulations are tightening in Queensland cinemas and hospitality venues as Covid-19 case numbers in the state surge into triple figures for the first time.

Queensland reported 186 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, prompting the state government to ramp up the requirement for mask-wearing.

From 5am on Thursday, workers and patrons at theatres and cinemas will be required to wear masks, while staff in hospitality venues such as pubs and restaurants will also have to mask up.

Masks are mandated in supermarkets and shops as well as public transport and rideshares.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk vowed Queensland would stay open despite the rapid increase in Omicron infections:

We want to keep our restaurants and our cafes and everything operating over Christmas and new year.

The rules come as the state on Wednesday hit the 90% threshold for first-dose vaccinations, according to federal government data.

Moving south, it’s expected that mandatory QR code check-ins will be reintroduced in high-risk settings in NSW after an informal national cabinet meeting yesterday.

These rules were scrapped on 15 December but as case numbers in NSW reached 3,700 yesterday, it appears premier Dominic Perrottet has conceded that Omicron may require some backtracking on the rules. We should learn more when he speaks later in the day.

It’s a similar story in Victoria this morning, only this time it’s masks that might be coming back. The acting premier and chief health officer have voiced their support for increased mask-wearing in high-risk settings, so we shall see what the ruling is when they step up later in the day.

Well, there is clearly plenty to get through today, so why don’t we jump right into the day!

Updated

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