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

Cases rise as Qld tightens mask rules – as it happened

What we learned today, Saturday 1 January

And with that, we’ll wrap up the first blog of the year. Here’s everything that went down today:

  • Australia reported 35,326 new cases of Covid today, setting a new record. Thirteen people also lost their lives overnight.
  • NSW reported 22,577 cases, another record for daily cases. Four people died in the state, and 901 people are currently in hospital with the virus.
  • Victoria recorded 7,442 Covid cases and nine deaths, with 451 people currently hospitalised.
  • Tasmania recorded a big jump, reporting 428 new Covid cases today, almost doubling active cases on the island state to 938.
  • There were 448 Covid-19 cases recorded in the Australian Capital Territory in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday.
  • Queensland recorded 2,266 cases, a new record for daily case numbers. There is currently one person in ICU and 80 people in hospital.
  • The Queensland government has tightened mask rules in light of growing Covid cases, with masks now mandatory indoors from 1am on Sunday.
  • South Australia has recorded 2,100 new cases overnight, a slight increase on yesterday.
  • A South Australian pathology clinic has admitted to an error which led to 11 people receiving the wrong Covid test result on New Year’s Eve.
  • The Northern Territory has recorded 54 new cases, including six cases of community transmission.
  • A boy has died in the Northern Territory after going missing from a remote desert community south-west of Alice Springs.

Thanks for reading. We’ll be back tomorrow morning.

Updated

Leading health bodies are calling on the government to defer changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule telehealth arrangements that they say could cause “mayhem” for patients.

The changes, which came into effect on 1 January, restrict phone consultations for a long list of specialist items in favour of video conferencing or face-to-face appointments.

The Clinical Oncology Society of Australia (COSA) president and medical oncologist Prof Fran Boyle told the Guardian the timing of the changes was “appalling” and urged the government to rethink the changes:

What’s going to be a major problem for patients this coming week is the phone consultations will no longer have the Medicare item number they’d be expecting from the last year.

It was an OK plan if there was no virus and it was business as usual, but business cannot be usual for cancer patients. These people are anxious enough already about their own vulnerability, the timing couldn’t be worse.

You can read more on the story from Caitlin Cassidy at the link below:

Updated

NSW paramedics faced their busiest night in 126 years on New Year’s Eve, despite concerns around Covid resulting in smaller crowds around Sydney.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Kay Armstrong was on the Today show earlier, and said Covid itself added to the “usual business of New Year’s Eve”, with the service receiving a “record-breaking” number of calls.

Last night was extremely busy. We actually reached a record-breaking day in NSW Ambulance. It’s the first time we’ve had this many calls in 126 years.

We had the usual business of New Year’s Eve – alcohol-related cases, accidents, obviously mischief – and then we had Covid on top of that, so it was very, very busy for all of our crew.

Armstrong added that there were a “lot of exhausted paramedics”, and urged people not to call the ambulance service to get Covid test results.

We’ve got lots of exhausted paramedics out there at the moment, especially now it’s summer time. It’s holidays, we’re right in that Christmas-New Year’s season, and they’re under a lot of pressure going to a lot of triple-0 calls that sometimes are unnecessary.

If you just want a result for a Covid test, don’t call us.

Updated

A stretch of land near Bells Beach in Victoria has been closed the day after a man was killed when part of a cliff collapsed, AAP reports:

Parks Victoria on Saturday warned landslips and rockfalls had occurred in a section of beach at Jarosite Headland, near the popular Great Ocean Road surfing destination.

Parks Victoria warned the cliff may continue to move for several days and urged people to stay away from the area.

The rest of the beach remains open.

A 28-year-old man died on Friday after a 30-metre cliff face collapsed at Bells Beach.

Six people were sitting under the cliff and three were struck by falling debris.

The man was winched out by air ambulance and flown to Melbourne with serious upper body injuries but died on the way.

A man and a woman sustained non-life-threatening arm injuries and were taken to hospital in Geelong by road.

The beach is an internationally renowned surf spot, which up until the Covid pandemic held the annual Rip Curl Pro competition.

Updated

Rafael Nadal was spotted practising in Melbourne today, alleviating concerns around his participation in the Australian Open after testing positive in the UAE last month.

It comes as doubts continue to grow around whether the men’s world No 1, Novak Djokovic, will attend the tournament. The Serbian tennis star is set to be denied a medical exemption to enter Australia, and with doubts about his vaccine status, could skip the first grand slam of the year.

The Australian Open is gearing up for a tournament amid huge Covid case numbers, with a contingent of up to 3,000 players and support staff making their way to Melbourne.

The huge workforce will undergo daily rapid antigen tests, with Tennis Australia modifying its health and safety planning in the lead-up to the grand slam, in preparation for any potential outbreak.

Nadal practising in Melbourne today.
Nadal practising in Melbourne today. Photograph: Loren Elliott/Reuters

Updated

Child dies after going missing from NT remote community

A boy has died in the Northern Territory after going missing from a remote desert community south-west of Alice Springs.

NT police confirmed the death but gave no details on the incident, nor which community the child was from.

Police did say the boy was under 10.

The boy was reported missing after his family had searched for him for several hours, police said in a statement.

Acting Commander Kirsten Engels said police had launched a search and rescue effort last night to find the boy.

Tragically, the child was found in the community early this morning and has subsequently passed away.

We request that the family’s privacy is respected at this time and offer our sincere condolences for their loss.

Updated

NT records 54 new cases

The Northern Territory has recorded 54 new cases, inlcuding six cases of community transmission.

Of the six locally acquired cases, five were from Darwin and one from Katherine.

There are currently 21 people hospitalised with Covid in the NT, and none in ICU.

Updated

Moving onto the Cricket now, and Australia is hopeful they’ll only be missing out on Travis Head at the SCG Test, after the rest of the squad tested negative for Covid.

Head is currently in isolation in Melbourne, after testing positive yesterday, although there is still hope he will be able to make the fifth and final Test.

There were concerns other staff and players may have contracted the virus, with every single member of the touring party tested on Friday.

Cricket Australia has confirmed that all the tests returned negative, with the exception being one family member who is still waiting on their result.

Travis Head batting in the Ashes’ third Test at the MCG
Travis Head batting in the third Ashes Test at the MCG. Photograph: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Updated

Vic Health has announced it is shutting down another series of Covid testing sites due to excessive heat.

The sites are:

  • IYU Recreation Reserve, Pakenham
  • EACH - Ferntree Gully
  • Casey Fields, Cranbourne East
  • Wyuna Walk, Mooroolbark
  • St Kilda East
  • DPV Health, Mernda
  • Northern Health, Epping
  • Monash University, Clayton

Temperatures in Melbourne are currently soaring, with the Bureau of Meteorology saying it has already hit 36C.

Updated

Vic Emergency has issued a warning to resdents in Langkoop, Poolaijelo, Powers Creek to leave now if possible, with a grass fire currently out of control in the region.

In their advice, Vic Emergency say the fire is travelling north-east, and that weather conditions could see it intensify:

This grassfire is travelling in a north-easterly direction and has crossed Fergusons Road, near Ryans Road. It is currently burning in the Meereek State Forest.

Weather conditions forecast for today may cause the fire to become dangerous and unpredictable and it may impact properties.

Firefighters have been working throughout the night and will continue to work with aircraft and heavy equipment today.

There are also “stay informed” warnings for regions around Poolaijelo, where the fire is burning.

AAP is reporting that Australia’s trade minister, Dan Tehan, has welcomed the coming into force of a key regional partnership, saying it gives farmers and businesses access to the world’s largest free trade agreement.

The regional comprehensive economic partnership agreement (RCEP) comes into force on Saturday for Australia, New Zealand, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Republic of Korea will follow on 1 February.

Tehan said in a statement:

With Australian-made products and services held in such high regard in these markets, RCEP is a fantastic opportunity for Australian businesses.

By streamlining requirements around rules of origin, RCEP will advantage local sourcing of goods and promote collaboration through regional value chains, which our businesses are primed to partake in.

Tehan said RCEP improved on existing trade agreements in areas of the greatest growth potential, such as services, digital trade and two-way investment.

He said Saturday also marked another set of annual tariff cuts coming into force for Australia’s free trade agreements, including the comprehensive and progressive agreement for trans-Pacific partnership (CPTPP) and the Korea-Australia free trade agreement (KAFTA).

Australian bluefin tuna and Atlantic salmon exporters benefit from Japanese tariffs falling to 1.9% under the CPTPP on Saturday, while tariffs on sheep and goat meat exports fell by half to 2.25% under KAFTA.

Tehan said:

International trade is integral to business recovery from Covid-19. The entry into force of RCEP and further tariff cuts through our other free-trade agreements will help create Australian jobs and foster economic growth for our nation.

Updated

South Australia reports 2,100 new Covid cases

South Australia has recored 2,100 new cases overnight, a slight increase on yesterday.

The number of people in hospital has remained stable at 71, with the number of people in ICU at four.

Updated

Queensland introduces mask mandate for all indoor settings

The Queensland government has tightened mask rules in light of growing Covid cases, with masks now mandatory indoors from 1am on Sunday.

The chief health officer, Dr John Gerrard, announced the new mandate, with the exception being only when at home or in workplaces where it is safe.

It means attendees at hospitality venues, including pubs, clubs and cafes, will need to wear masks, except when seated.

“People have been wanting this and expecting this,” Gerrard said.

Updated

Pathology clinic sends wrong Covid test result to 11 South Australians

A South Australian pathology clinic has admitted to an error which led to 11 people receiving the wrong Covid test result on New Year’s Eve.

SA Pathology released a statement saying an IT issue resulted in the wrong results being sent out, and that a clarification message was sent within three hours.

The error was found during our usual quality control processes and, while this is the first occurrence in South Australia, we’ve implemented further measures to avoid a similar incident happening again.

Updated

The Queensland chief health officer, Dr John Gerrard, has said the new case numbers in the state only represent a 12-hour period, after health authorities decided to shift to a cut-off time of 7pm the previous night.

The current system had a cut-off time of 7am, making it difficult for authorities to sift through the data.

Gerrard said:

Because of the large numbers of cases that we are seeing in Queensland, as expected, it is becoming increasingly difficult for us to ensure that we have accurate data available for this press conference in the morning using that cut-off time of 7am. From today, we are changing our cut-off time to 7pm. That is last night. The 24-hour period to 7pm.

That will give the statisticians and data collectors time to make sure that what you are receiving is accurate given that large numbers of cases that we are seeing to make sure they aren’t duplicates, for example, that sort of thing.

Updated

Queensland records 2,266 new cases

Queensland has recorded 2,266 new cases overnight, setting a new record for daily case numbers.

There are currently 13,959 active cases in the state, with one person in ICU and 80 people in hospital.

Updated

So I wanted to start by taking a look at staff shortages in hospitals in NSW, with the Guardian obtaining an email from St George hospital, where administrators beg staff to return from leave early.

The email, sent to nursing staff, warns the hospital “can’t seem to keep up with the exposures and positive staff”, despite concerted efforts to source nurses:

We have commenced the process for overseas recruitment.

Across the facility, the patients numbers in the departments are unprecedented.

It doesn’t really seem quite right to be wishing a happy new year.

Another email, from St Vincent’s hospital sent on Thursday, pleads for nurses to work shifts on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, offering a $250 bonus on top of usual penalties as an incentive:

Our current staffing vacancies in nursing is unprecedented and at crisis level.

You can read Elias Visontay’s full story at the link below:

Updated

Good morning, and a quick thanks to Donna Lu for her expert work this morning, Mostafa Rachwani with you on this beautiful New Year’s Day, to bring you the rest of the day’s news.

Updated

With that, I’ll hand you over to the excellent Mostafa Rachwani for now.

The Bureau of Meteorology is warning of abnormally high tides along some parts of the Queensland coast. An “astronomical peak in high tides” over the next few days is coinciding with increasing swell generated by tropical cyclone Seth.

The cyclone was first spotted yesterday in the Coral Sea, 495km north-east of Mackay, in the state’s north.

Seth has strengthened to a category-two system with wind gusts exceeding 110kmh, with Bom saying it could weaken in the short term. However, it is expected to strengthen for a period later on Saturday and into early Sunday.

Bom:

The tropical cyclone is not expected to directly affect the coastline in the next 48 hours, however it will be directing large waves towards the coast over the weekend and early next week.

Updated

ACT records 448 Covid cases

There were 448 Covid-19 cases recorded in the Australian Capital Territory in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday.

That figure is slightly down from the 462 cases reported yesterday.

There are 1,479 active cases in the territory and nine patients currently in hospital. None are in intensive care.

Updated

While people were drinking the year away or distracted by fireworks last night, NSW Health released a statement saying health workers who are asymptomatic close contacts will be exempt from having to self-isolate in “exceptional circumstances” so “key services are not disrupted”.

The policy change confirms a report from my colleague Elias Visontay.

In an exclusive, he covered a leaked memo from a major NSW hospital that begged staff to cancel leave and take on extra shifts amid surging Covid cases. Read Elias’s story here:

Updated

Tasmania records 428 new Covid cases

AAP is confirming reports of 428 new Covid cases in Tasmania:

Another 428 Covid-19 cases have emerged in Tasmania, almost doubling active cases on the island state to 938.

The majority of active cases, 224, are being managed at home, while there are 79 people in community management clinics.

One hospital patient is being treated specifically for Covid symptoms, while another person with Covid-19 is being treated for an unrelated medical condition.

Tasmania was free of the virus when it reopened to fully vaccinated travellers from mainland hotspots on 15 December.

On Friday, Tasmania had reported 137 new cases and had 520 active cases.

On Thursday it scrapped the requirement for travellers to take a PCR rest in the 72-hour period before travel to the state, moving to a rapid antigen test one day before arriving.

Updated

We’re still waiting on official stats to be released, but there are reports that Tasmania has recorded 428 new Covid cases – a jump from 148 cases yesterday.

A man has allegedly driven a car through a tent at a campground in Tasmania in the early hours of New Year’s Day, injuring two adults and three children, AAP reports.

They were taken to the Northwest Regional Hospital with injuries ranging from minor lacerations to suspected internal injuries.

The incident occurred about 2am on Saturday at the West Kentish Road Campgrounds in the state’s north-west.

A 27-year-old man is in police custody and investigations are ongoing.

Updated

NSW Health has republished its daily Covid figures, amending the post to four deaths instead of five as earlier reported.

A brief intermission from Covid gloom: this is the best news I’ve seen all year.

(Yes, I know he technically tweeted this last year, but allow me this skerrick of joy, will you?)

Here’s Prof Adrian Esterman, an epidemiologist and biostatistician at the University of South Australia, with some analysis on the New South Wales and Victorian Covid figures. Worth noting that the Reff – the effective reproduction number – has risen in both states.

Updated

There are a few searches under way for people feared drowned in South Australia and NSW.

Per AAP, South Australian emergency services are searching for a teenage girl who fell off a houseboat into the Murray River south of Swan Reach on New Year’s Eve. The alarm was raised at 9.15pm after she did not resurface following her fall.

A search is also under way for two men who went missing after taking a hired pedal boat at about 2am out on Lake Bonney in SA’s Riverland region.

SA police said the empty boat was found together with an Esky believed to belong to the men. A search of the lake and foreshore was undertaken by police and SES through the night.

In NSW, emergency service crews including police divers have resumed a search for a missing teenager feared drowned in the Shoalhaven River. AAP reports:

Two teenage boys went swimming in the river near Burrier on New Year’s Eve at 6.30pm but one boy found himself in difficulty, police said.

The boys, aged 15 and 16, tried to get back to shore but the 15-year-old disappeared under the water.

Locals began searching before emergency services arrived with boats and a Toll rescue helicopter.

Police divers were on scene from 10.50pm until 1.30am and resumed on Saturday morning.

Updated

Unfortunately, the test positivity rate keeps rising. From today’s figures, almost one in five tests in NSW are coming back positive.

The figure in Victoria is 11.81%.

Victoria records 7,442 Covid cases

There have been 7,442 new Covid cases and nine deaths in Victoria. There are 451 people currently hospitalised.

Updated

NSW records 22,577 cases

NSW has recorded new 22,577 cases and five deaths in the last 24 hours. There are now 901 people in hospital in the state, and 79 in ICU.

Happy new year! It’s Donna Lu here, bringing you the first news blog of the year. Hope you are feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning, or enjoying the celebrations elsewhere in the world.

Police said they were “generally pleased” with revellers’ behaviour on New Year’s Eve. New South Wales police arrested 128 people statewide, including 10 in Sydney’s CBD, while 45 move-on directions were issued. Assistant commissioner Peter Thurtell thanked “members of the community who made their plans Covid-safe and celebrated the beginning of 2022 responsibly, in what we hope is a better year for everyone.”

New year, same pandemic, unfortunately: NSW hospitals are resorting to flying nurses in from overseas, with staff being begged to take extra shifts. The state recorded 21,151 new Covid cases and six deaths yesterday, with a leaked memo from a major hospital warning it “can’t seem to keep up with the exposures and positive staff”.

Within a fortnight or so, Australia has gone from having one of the lowest rates of new Covid cases in the world to being in the top 20 of countries with a population over 500,000. If NSW were a country, it would be sitting in the top 10. It is important, however, to note that countries with better testing systems are inherently likely to produce higher figures.

From today, interstate travellers to Queensland will now be allowed to return a negative rapid antigen test instead of a PCR test before travel. Queensland recorded 3,118 new cases yesterday, with criticisms the new requirements are “pointless” in states with large outbreaks.

Speaking of testing, the Victorian and NSW governments are scrambling to organise the distribution of rapid antigen tests to vulnerable people amid a national shortage.

Updated

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