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National
Michael McGowan (now), Elle Hunt and Mike Ticher (earlier)

Shoppers stay away from Sydney CBD sales – as it happened

Shoppers have their temperature checked on entry to a store in Sydney on Boxing Day.
Shoppers have their temperature checked on entry to a store in Sydney on Boxing Day. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

What we learned, Saturday 26 December

That is where I will leave you for the day. Thanks as always for following along. We’ll be back tomorrow.

Here’s what we learned today:

Updated

Coronavirus infections in Tokyo hit a record daily high of 949 cases on Saturday, Reuters reports, as Japan heads into the New Year holiday period, which in normal years sees citizens of the capital stream into the provinces.

Local media reported subdued scenes at Tokyo transport hubs a day after prime minister Yoshihide Suga, under pressure as daily cases continue to climb, urged the nation to stay home and avoid social mixing.

Updated

The Australian Retailers Association has reported “record low” turnout for Boxing Day sales in Sydney after the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, urged people to stay away from the CBD.

Still on Waverley mayor Paula Masselos, this afternoon has also issued a statement about that Christmas Day party in Bronte.

She’s again blamed “visitors” to the area. The NSW health minister Brad Hazzard on Saturday also blamed “backpackers” for the party.

Masselos said the council was “appalled by the behaviour that was displayed yesterday by a group of people visiting Bronte Beach”.

This kind of behaviour threatens to undo the good work of council and the entire community.

Please do not visit our public places if you refuse to observe public health orders and current health advice – you pose too great a health risk. If you are feeling unwell, please, stay at home and get tested and remain at home until you receive a negative result.

Waverley Council will continue to work with NSW police and other agencies to ensure people use our public places safely. If you observe people failing to social distance or exceed limits on public outdoor gatherings, please report it to police.

Please, let’s continue to respond to this pandemic with vigilance and observe public health orders and health advice at all times. Many families are unable to be together this time of year because of restrictions on movement and border closures, so we must continue to be considerate and do the right thing.”

Updated

Waverley mayor Paula Masselos has joined the New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard in condemning a beach party held in Bronte on Christmas Day.

Interestingly, Masselos, whose area covers Sydney’s east, blamed “visitors” for what she called an “appalling, disrespectful and unacceptable” gathering.

Bit of weather around, including in Lithgow in the New South Wales Blue Mountains. The Bureau of Meteorology posted this on social media not too long ago. The storm is expected to make its way further east into parts of Sydney.

Good afternoon.

I was going to start with a joke about wishing I was on the Boxing Day Test liveblog instead of this one, but given how things are unfolding in Melbourne I don’t really want to talk about the cricket.

Instead, let’s take a quick look at how other countries are faring with coronavirus over the holiday period.

In South Korea, Reuters reports the country’s second-highest daily number of cases on Saturday has prompted authorities to plead for end-of-year gatherings to halt. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said there were 1,132 new coronavirus cases on Friday, not too far off the record of 1,241 logged a day earlier.

“The virus is spreading whenever and wherever it wants,” health minister Kwon Deok-cheol said at an intra-agency meeting.

“As we stand at the crossroads of the third wave, how we stop the spread hinges on how we spend this year-end and New Year period.”

The government has already banned gatherings of more than four people in the greater Seoul area and closed down ski resorts and other tourist spots, but is considering further restrictions.

In Germany, meanwhile, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 14,455, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. The reported death toll rose by 240 to 29,422, the tally showed.

And in France, the Associated Press reports that authorities have confirmed the first case on its soil of the British virus variant. The new strain of the virus, which experts fear is more contagious, has prompted more than 50 countries to impose travel restrictions on the UK.

The first French case – found in a citizen living in Britain who arrived from London on December 19 – is asymptomatic and self-isolating at home in Tours in central France, the ministry said late Friday.

Updated

Boxing Day summary

Thanks so much for joining us as we follow the day in Australian news – much of it happening in New South Wales. Here is a summary of the developments so far:

  • Tighter restrictions have been introduced in NSW following nine new locally-transmitted cases, with all but one connected to the northern beaches cluster. (There were also six new overseas-acquired cases.)
  • The premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would review the rules before New Year’s Eve in the coming days, but warned that Sydneysiders should expect to be watching the fireworks at home on their TV.
  • Berejiklian said she was pleased with reduced footfall through Sydney CBD following her request that shoppers stay home, with Boxing Day sales diverted online – and perhaps to suburban malls.
  • A Christmas Day gathering of some 200-300 backpackers on Bronte beach has been widely condemned, with NSW health minister Brad Hazzard warning that it could prove a “super-spreader” event. A 25-year-old man is to face court after refusing to comply with a move-on notice by police.
  • Victoria recorded no new cases; Queensland recorded only one, in hotel quarantine; Western Australia had six, all in quarantine; South Australia recorded none
  • Australian golfing great Greg Norman has tested positive for Covid-19 and is recuperating in the US, where he lives
  • Day one of the second test between Australia and India at the MCG is under way

Thanks so much for spending your Boxing Day with me – I leave you in the capable hands of Michael McGowan in Sydney as I go to celebrate my negative Covid test, just returned to me in hotel quarantine.

Enjoy the rest of your break.

If you are looking for an afternoon read, this is a life-affirming story by Ellie Mae O’Hagan from the Guardian’s What I Learned in 2020 series – about her cross-hemisphere whirlwind romance.

Being with my husband has taught me that love is careful. It is a form of investment in the other person. It is building something meaningful together. It is solidarity.

Good things happened in 2020. People had babies and fell in love. Life will always have new beginnings and surprises. There is room for the good.

Traffic delays are expected on major highways up and down the NSW coast today, with Sydneysiders seeking to escape the city urged to allow extra travel time.

NSW residents are predicted to converge on regional destinations in record numbers this holiday period due to the ban on overseas and interstate travel, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Earlier chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant reiterated that residents of the northern beaches were not permitted to leave the area to go on holiday, and that the rest of Sydney should also consider staying put.

We’re asking people to be particularly Covid-safe for this period of time: limit their interactions, limit large gatherings – particularly indoor gatherings. Enjoy the beautiful weather we are having ... outdoor environments are much safer from the transmission risk of Covid.”

Manly beach in Sydney 26 December 2020.
Manly beach in Sydney 26 December 2020. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Updated

While NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has said she is pleased with reduced foot traffic in Sydney CBD, this video apparently taken at Parramatta Westfield today suggests the Boxing Day sales might be booming at shopping centres.

The premier said she understood that some suburban shopping centres were busier than anticipated.

If you are in the suburbs, please make sure you are wearing a mask when shopping indoors. If it is too crowded, turn around and go home.

Updated

If you’re just joining us, my colleague Michael McGowan has summarised the key points from Gladys Berejiklian’s announement on restrictions in New South Wales from earlier today.

“Our strategy is to nip this in the bud,” she said.

Here’s the latest from the MCG:

Updated

As my colleague Mike Ticher mentioned earlier, I am currently in hotel quarantine in Auckland, and having recently returned to the Antipodes, I’m enjoying Calla Wahlquist’s roundup of some of Australia’s weirdest place names.

My personal favourites are Joel Joel, and the multitude of Knobs – let us know yours in the comments.

Updated

Severe winds are forecast in Victoria towards the end of the Boxing Day weekend, AAP reports.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe wind warning for parts of the state including Melbourne, with strong and gusty winds of up to 100 km/hr in elevated areas.

Meteorologist Callum Stuart said the damaging winds would hit far western parts of Victoria from late Sunday morning before reaching Melbourne around 4pm or 5pm.

“These are the kind of winds that could blow away outdoor furniture or cause weaker tree limbs to come down,” he said. “But it’s looking like a transient event confined to Sunday. By late Sunday it will be off to the east and things will settle down quite nicely.”

Stuart said a sharp drop in temperature would follow with the arrival of a cool southwesterly change bringing the risk of storms, although little rain was expected.

Updated

No new cases in South Australia today. In fact one of the two new overseas-acquired cases recorded yesterday was found to have been previously diagnosed overseas and so was removed from the state’s total, now 569 notified cases. Only four are active presently, all overseas acquired; and nearly 810,000 tests have been carried out.

Updated

WA reports six new cases in quarantine

Western Australia’s Department of Health has just reported six new cases of Covid-19, bringing the state’s total to 854.

The confirmed cases are all in hotel quarantine. Four cases are female, two male; all are related to overseas travel.

WA Health is monitoring 13 active cases, while 832 people have recovered from the virus in WA.

Yesterday 452 people presented to WA clinics. There have been 612,889 Covid-19 tests performed in WA total.

Updated

Council of Small Business Organisations Australia chief executive Peter Strong is calling for employers to be granted the right to stand down workers without pay if they refuse to take the coronavirus vaccine, the Australian reports.

We have got to have black-and-white law here so if someone declines the vaccine we can stand them down. That’s good because that ­protects the rest of the workforce and the business can continue on.

Otherwise it’s going to create too many dilemmas that we can’t ­resolve.

On Christmas Eve the federal government signed contracts with distribution, logistics and tracking companies to distribute Covid-19 vaccines throughout Australia from March.

Updated

South Korea has reported another new 1,132 cases of the coronavirus as its resurgence worsened over Christmas week – putting greater pressure on the government to enforce stricter physical distancing controls.

The figures released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Saturday brought the country’s caseload to 55,902, AAP reports. The country had added 1,241 cases on Christmas Day – its largest daily increase since the emergence of the pandemic.

Updated

Gladys Berejiklian heaped praise on those individuals implicated in the northern beaches cluster for having cooperated so fully with authorities, noting that the first interview with a contact tracer could take as long as two hours.

“I think many of us know how hard it is recalling where you have been in the 14 days you are infectious and I’d really appreciate the cooperation of those individuals,” she said.

Not everyone has been so forthcoming. In Queensland, the 14 passengers and six crew of the Lady E superyacht that returned two positive infections have “not been very cooperative at all”, state health minister Yvette D’Ath said on Thursday.

Queensland Police are investigating.

Updated

As mentioned, Australian golfing great Greg Norman tested positive for Covid-19 on Christmas Day. Here’s our story:

Norman had discussed his symptoms (and an earlier negative test) in a video posted to Instagram on Christmas Eve:

Only last week Norman played in the father-son PNC Championship in Florida with his son Greg Norman Jr.

Search continues for 'patient zero' of northern beaches outbreak

“Patient zero” of the northern beaches cluster remains unclear, though genomic sequencing is under way.

A case announced on 23 December – a man who worked at the Belrose Hotel on the northern beaches – has not yet been linked to the local cluster. He had mild symptoms on 10 December, the earliest date of concern for the cluster.

Authorities says the man is not believed to have transmitted Covid-19 to anyone in his household. Dr Kerry Chant reiterated today that the new focus was “upstream testing: to see if we could find anyone who had potentially been a source for him”.

Anyone who was at the Belrose Hotel around that time has been asked to present for testing, even if they no longer have symptoms.

We may still be able to detect some virus in you, even though you are not infectious, and that is why we we’re also calling out for residents in that community more broadly, in case they were missing [links in the] chains established. Given that we didn’t know where that young man had acquired his infection, as a precaution, we need to do a big ring-fence around the community.

Updated

India allrounder Ravindra Jadeja has taken an unbelievable catch in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, and it might be the best catch I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t involve a huge dive over the boundary or anything, but in terms of performing under pressure ...

Matthew Wade slices it high towards deep wide mid-on at the MCG. Two players are running back for it: Jadeja and Shubman Gill. Both have to keep tracking back and running a curve. It is clearly Jadeja’s catch, but Gill is green and excited and keeps running ...

Jadeja calls. Gill doesn’t hear it. Jadeja at full tilt, tap-dancing to try to get into position under the ball, sees it coming down to him ... and then Gill arrives, diving across Jadeja, falling in front of him, almost tripping him over. And still Jadeja takes the catch! Under all of that interference, that he makes up perhaps 40 metres, gets in the right spot, and isn’t distracted by a whole human being thrown at him like this is a circus act.

Ravindra Jadeja of India takes a catch ahead of teammate Shubman Gill of India to dismiss Matthew Wade of Australia during day one of the second Test Match between Australia and India at The MCG.
Ravindra Jadeja of India takes a catch ahead of teammate Shubman Gill of India to dismiss Matthew Wade at The MCG.
Ravindra Jadeja of India takes a catch ahead of teammate Shubman Gill of India to dismiss Matthew Wade at The MCG.

Updated

Of the nine locally-transmitted cases recorded in NSW today, all but one are directly linked to the northern beaches cluster. (And most were household contacts of an infected person.)

The ninth “mystery” case – a person in Bondi – has no known connection to the northern beaches infection but may yet prove to be a false positive or old infection, as a second test returned a negative result.

Dr Kerry Chant said the case was under investigation: “We are relying on serological testing and repeat testing on that case turning negative, but ... we are taking a very precautionary approach.”

Those NSW figures at a glance. Nearly 40,000 people were tested on Christmas Day.

On the subject of holidays, chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant says the rules “could not be clearer” for residents of the northern beaches: “Going on holidays is not one of the four essential reasons for leaving.”

For the rest of Sydney, Chant says, “where your travel is not essential, where you didn’t have specific plans, please consider” staying put.

“We’re asking people to be particularly Covid-safe for this period of time: limit their interactions, limit large gatherings – particularly indoor gatherings. Enjoy the beautiful weather we are having ... outdoor environments are much safer from the transmission risk of Covid.”

Updated

Gladys Berejiklian says she is “so pleased” with the response to her calls for Sydneysiders to dodge the Boxing Day sales, and thanks businesses for their understanding.

“We understand online sales have gone through the roof today, but I also appreciate and understand some suburban shopping centres are quite busy – busier than what they anticipated.

“If you are in the suburbs, please make sure you are wearing a mask when shopping indoors. If it is too crowded, turn around and go home. Thank you to everybody who ordinarily would have gone to the CBD, the response has been really positive and overwhelming ...

“I want to thank retailers for their understanding. It is a difficult day to have to hear the state’s premier to ask [shoppers] to stay away, but we are all making sacrifices so all of us can be safe. Those people in isolation were not able to have any Christmas at all, so thank you for doing the right thing.”

Fewer people than usual turned out for the Boxing Day sales in the CBD, shopping online instead.
Fewer people than usual turned out for the Boxing Day sales in the CBD, shopping online instead. Photograph: David Gray/Getty Images

Updated

Full details of NSW restrictions from midnight

The following conditions will be in place from midnight tonight until 11.59pm December 30:

For the northern beaches peninsula zone (north of Narrabeen Bridge and east of the Baha’i temple):

  • This area will return to “stay-at-home” restrictions, with no indoor gatherings allowed.
  • Up to five people, including children, will be able to gather outdoors for exercise or recreational activity.
  • People may not enter or leave this zone.

For the remainder (southern zone) of the northern beaches:

  • This area will return to “stay-at-home” restrictions, with no indoor gatherings allowed.
  • Up to 10 people, including children, will be able to gather outdoors for exercise or recreational activity.
  • People may not enter or leave this zone.

Residents of the northern beaches are able to leave home for four permitted reasons:

  • Shopping for food or other goods and services.
  • Travel for work or education purposes if unable to work from home.
  • Exercise.
  • Medical or caring reasons.

A northern beaches resident now located elsewhere in NSW is exempt from these restrictions provided it has been at least 14 days since they have been in this local government area. If it is less than 14 days, they need to follow the relevant restrictions for their area of residence, regardless of their current location, until the 14 days has elapsed. For these people, outdoor gatherings continue to be restricted to two people.

For the greater Sydney region, Central Coast, Wollongong and Nepean Blue Mountains:

  • Restrictions will remain unchanged in these regions.
  • Gatherings in the home are restricted to 10 people in total (including children).
  • People who work in the CBD are urged to work from home where practical.

Restrictions for regional NSW remain unchanged.

Decisions on New Year’s Eve will be made in coming days.

Updated

Provisions for New Year’s Eve are to be confirmed in the coming days – but premier Gladys Berejiklian is managing expectations in response to a reporter’s question.

“Everybody should assume they’re watching the fireworks from home this year. In relation to hospitality venues, everybody should assume the 4 sq metre rule as opposed to the 2 sq metre rule, and in relation to other outdoor events ... that will be obviously reviewed in the next few days, and the health experts will give us the best advice on how to proceed.”

Updated

Hazzard – a northern beaches resident himself – praises the community’s “incredible response” to the government’s requests. He urges residents to stay in their zones, and not leave the area “unless it is absolutely critical”:

“Just because you have an excuse to leave, doesn’t mean you should. Basically, stay there – stay in the southern zone, in the northern zone. If you are out necessarily, it is critical ... to wear a mask and maintain 1.5m social distancing. Stick with hand hygiene, and if you have any symptoms ... get tested. ...

“Obviously with the increased risk at the present time, we need to really focus on those tried-and-true measures.”

Brad Hazzard tells rulebreakers 'cut it out'

Health minister Brad Hazzard has come out against rule breakers in the wake of the Christmas Day backpacker party on Bronte Beach.

“People in the northern beaches have been doing their part, big time, to keep not only themselves but the rest of Sydney safe. It is absolutely appalling to see a large gathering of people who didn’t give a damn about the rest of Sydney. Let me tell you, I am hoping that will not become a super-spreader event – but there is every chance that it could be.

Obviously in the earlier stages of the pandemic, we had some challenges with backpackers who clearly wanted to party in the eastern suburbs. It cannot go on. There is still a major risk for us with Covid, and my message to those people – and people who know any of those people – is tell them to stop it. Cut it out, or you may well end up with the virus itself, or you may end up being part of a super-spreader event. It is absolutely appalling.”

Updated

A person who flew on flight REX ZL 6469 from Sydney to Griffith on Monday 21 December has been confirmed as positive.

The person flew before they knew they had been in contact with a confirmed case “and did nothing wrong,” says chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant. But she reiterates that the 28 passengers and one flight attendant on the flight are considered close contacts and must self-isolate for 14 days.

Anyone who has symptoms is to get tested immediately. Testing is available at Griffith Base Hospital. NSW Health has more info on the flight here:

NSW to revert to pre-Christmas restrictions

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced the state will return to pre-Christmas restrictions until midnight on 30 December, with tougher restrictions for the northern beaches.

  • The northern zone of the northern beaches are to revert to stay-at-home provisions, excepting outside gatherings of up to five people or exercise purposes.
  • The southern northern beaches revert to stay-at-home provisions, allowing for outdoor gatherings of 10 people for recreation or exercise. There are no mixings of households for the next three days.
  • Greater Sydney reverts back to 23 December restrictions, with no more than 10 visitors to your homes. We’ve outlined those here.
  • Restrictions for regional NSW does not change.

Plans for New Year’s Eve and the first days of January will be announced in the coming days.

Our strategy is to make sure we nip this in the bud as soon as we can ... A big thanks to everybody, we are making inroads but we want to make sure we get on top of this in as short a time as possible.

Updated

Nine locally transmitted cases in NSW

Premier Gladys Berejiklian is giving her presser now. Nearly 40,000 people were tested yesterday.

She reports nine locally transmitted cases, among them eight directly linked to the northern beaches cluster. Six of those are from the same household as a confirmed case; the other two are believed to have transmitted the virus from a venue.

The ninth could be a false positive, says Berejiklian: “Obviously that’s under investigation.”

Updated

A concerning reader contribution to the ABC’s live blog:

I’m at Westfield Parramatta and I reckon maybe 25% of people are wearing masks. It’s nowhere near as busy as a regular Boxing Day but still, come on people!

Indeed.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has given an update for the state – no new locally acquired coronavirus cases and one in hotel quarantine.

Hope your Boxing Day is off to a cracking start so far. We are expecting to hear from NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian with a Covid-19 update shortly. She will be joined by health minister Brad Hazzard and chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant.

Today’s numbers will include a case recorded after the 8pm cut-off on Thursday. Chant said yesterday that the child was believed to have become infected while visiting the Paddington Alimentari – the fourth case to be linked to the deli.

Updated

Tasmania's Mona museum reopens on Boxing Day

Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art reopens today, having taken the shutdown mid-March as an opportunity for a refresh.

Over 350 “highlights (and lowlights)” from David Walsh’s personal collection have been added to Mona’s semi-subterranean galleries.

Nicole Durling, director of exhibitions and collections, said the nine-month closure had re-emphasised Walsh’s personal connection to the museum.

Simply, it’s David Walsh’s home. This is what we have focused on for the rehang of the museum. ... It’s like a portrait of David.

Co-CEO Mark Wilsdon told the Mercury that the pandemic had also changed the functionings of its 400-person team.

It makes you focus on an efficiency and a courtesy around how you engage and make the space available for people.

There are also two new outdoor works. A seven metre high giant bronze sculpture titled Girls Rule by American artist Tom Otterness doubles as a children’s playground. House of Mirrors, created by Australian artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney, is the world’s largest travelling mirror maze.

Here it is in Melbourne in 2017:

Updated

The first case of the new variant of the coronavirus has been confirmed in France, Reuters reports, with a man recently arrived back in France from London testing positive.

The French Health Ministry said in a statement on Friday that the case had been found in the city of Tours. The man in question arrived from London on 19 December and is currently self-isolating.

Updated

The Boxing Day Test is about to get underway, with Australia winning the toss to bat. Geoff Lemon is live-blogging from the MCG, where the mood is jubilant:

Streams of people walking in. All still doing the masks and caution thing, but the happiness was palpable. A couple of women ran over to greet each other with those noises that only people who are really happy can make. “It’s such a great day!” said one. “I just have this feeling already that it’s going to be a great day.”

Follow the updates here:

Updated

Man charged over Bronte beach Christmas party

A 25-year-old man is to face court after allegedly refusing to comply with a move-on notice at a Christmas party held at Sydney’s Bronte Beach.

A gathering of as many as 300 people, many believed to be backpackers, were broken up by riot police yesterday afternoon.

Updated

The ABC’s Kathleen Ferguson is reporting from Pitt Street in Sydney, where some shoppers have turned out for the Boxing Day sales despite premier Gladys Berejiklian’s orders to stay home.

Shoppers wearing face masks enter the David Jones store after the doors were officially opened for the Boxing Day sales on 26 December 2020 in Sydney.
Shoppers wearing face masks enter the David Jones store after the doors were officially opened for the Boxing Day sales on 26 December 2020 in Sydney. Photograph: David Gray/Getty Images

It is definitely not quiet. There are a few people wearing masks which is encouraging, but it’s definitely not the majority of shoppers … still quite a few people about.

Shoppers told Ferguson that they had come to the city early to try to beat the crowds, but social distancing was only being followed haphazardly despite a police presence.

We’ve seen a few people, potentially a few friends meeting up to go shopping, a lot of hugs and kisses about, not a lot of masks, so I’m sure the premier will have something to say something about it a little later this morning.

Berejiklian is expected to announce a new slate of restrictions for the post-Christmas period in the state’s coronavirus update in the next hour.

Updated

The Australian National University’s vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt has called on Scott Morrison to take charge of the crisis in Australia’s university sector, crippled by a downturn in overseas enrolments during the pandemic. Schmidt told the Nine papers Australia risked losing foreign students – worth $40bn to the national economy – to other countries while its borders remain closed.

It would be really helpful if we could have a message coming from the Prime Minister welcoming students back, but with a realistic set of parameters – a supportive message that says, ‘Yes, we are going to take our time, but when you are here it is going to be safe and we’re really going to look after you!’ I don’t think we’ve really had that welcoming stance out there.

Australian National University vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt.
Australian National University vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Updated

As mentioned earlier we are missing Elle Hunt on the blog because of technical difficulties in her New Zealand quarantine hotel, but you can at least catch up with her experience until now of the “surrealness of the determined Christmas cheer amidst pandemic dystopia”. As the hotel proudly proclaimed, “there is no other quarantine like ours!”, but we should say no blame attaches to them for the internet failure.

Updated

Boxing Day in Australia is not completely unmoored from its usual schedule – the Sydney to Hobart was cancelled, but the MCG Test goes ahead, which definitely did not seem likely a couple of months ago. Our live blog is up and running with Geoff Lemon, the first ball is at 10.30 AEDT. Of course the Sydney Test is still in doubt, but no decision will be made on that until Cricket Australia sees the progress of the NSW Covid outbreak.

Updated

Body found in Nashville ruins, AP reports

In overseas news, Associated Press is reporting that human remains have been found near the explosion that rocked the US city of Nashville in the early hours of Christmas Day. The identity of the perpetrator remains unclear, but police said earlier the blast was an “intentional act”.

Updated

The northern beaches MPs Jason Falinski and Zali Steggall have been asked on ABC News 24 whether masks should be made mandatory in NSW, as many have been calling for. Falinski is opposed:

What seems to have worked in New South Wales as opposed to other jurisdictions around the world, is if you treat your people like adults and not inmates is you get far better buy-in for the measures you are taking. If this wasn’t working, I’m sure the New South Wales government could be moving from a setting of suggestion to one of mandatory.

Steggall broadly agrees, arguing it would be all but impossible to police:

I do feel we are striking the right balance between enabling people to do the right thing without becoming a complete police state. I think we do need to entrust people to do the right thing.

A shopper wearing a face mask walks past a shop displaying signs during the Boxing Day sales on 26 December 2020 in Sydney, Australia.
A shopper wearing a face mask walks past a shop displaying signs during the Boxing Day sales on 26 December 2020 in Sydney, Australia. Photograph: David Gray/Getty Images

Updated

While we’re taking stock of a generally awful year and looking forward a bit apprehensively, at best, there are some reasons to be more positive about the effect of the coronavirus on Australia. Tim Costello has written for us this morning on what he says has been a “deepening of our ethics” thanks to the crisis.

We discovered through Covid-19 that it is interdependence that really matters. All of us are biologically connected by an invisible virus and all of us are vulnerable if we do not act together. I think this is a lesson that may change us.

And in similar vein, our political editor, Katharine Murphy, says this was the year Australia restored trust in its political system, against all the odds.

When there are shared facts and values, and when governments are seen to be broadly competent and connected to the needs of citizenry, politicians lay the foundations of trust, because citizens are bound together rather than occupying detached alternative realities.

Updated

The UNSW epidemiology professor Mary-Louise McLaws spoke about the potential transmission risk at Boxing Day sales and New Year’s Eve celebrations on ABC News 24 this morning.

People shop at Chadstone the Fashion Capital during Boxing Day sales on 26 December 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.
People shop at Chadstone the Fashion Capital during Boxing Day sales on 26 December 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Photograph: Naomi Rahim/Getty Images

McLaws highlighted the rapidity with which the virus can spread, with 104 cases occurring over just nine days.

If you were going to do outbreak management, you would say everyone stay indoors ... If you were trying to balance between being The Grinch and giving them some joy, it is difficult because they still have to get there.

The risk on public transport was high because mask-wearing was not mandated and often ventilation was inadequate, McLaws said:

If you are on a long bus or train ride, it is quite dangerous. I would be postponing it for a while.

She suggested any festivities should be postponed “until we get back to zero – then we can have a celebration of moving into the next year with great hope”.

In the meantime, McLaws hoped to see masks mandated on public transport.

I would love to see masks being handed out as you are getting on a bus if you don’t have one.

Updated

Paul Zahra from the Australian Retailers’ Association has been on Sky News this morning, reporting that crowds in the Sydney CBD are noticeably down on previous years, even at a “record low”, following Gladys Berejiklian’s plea for shoppers to avoid the city centre.

Shoppers wearing face masks enter the David Jones store after the doors were officially opened during the Boxing Day sales on 26 December 2020 in Sydney.
Shoppers wearing face masks enter the David Jones store after the doors were officially opened during the Boxing Day sales on 26 December 2020 in Sydney. Photograph: David Gray/Getty Images

We’ve learnt that NSW people are very compliant, there’s been very little traffic into the CBD locations. It was at a record low this morning. Normally people would queue up as early as Christmas Day night to get into the stores, but this year’s been a very different year, being a Covid year of course and with Gladys’ commentary.

Zahra recommended that people should shop online where possible, and the National Retailers Association says they have been doing just that, forecasting a $2.75bn spend in stores, surpassing last year’s figure by 5%, AAP reports.

Digital sales were expected to draw $930m.

NRA chief executive Dominique Lamb said Australians unable to travel overseas had been spending more money at home.

It is much needed ... for our retailers have had many difficult months. [Boxing Day] remains a signature event on the Australian shopping calendar.

Updated

Victoria records zero locally acquired cases

Happy to say that Victoria has had another zero day.

Sorry for the long delay – this is Mike Ticher taking over temporarily from Elle while she tries to restore her internet connection in New Zealand quarantine.

Updated

Welcome

Good morning, and welcome to the Australia news live blog for Boxing Day – I hope you’ve had a restful festive break so far. My name is Elle Hunt and I’ll be seeing you through the day’s developments.

  • In New South Wales, the northern beaches cluster has grown to 108 (out of 118 total for the state) after seven new locally acquired cases yesterday. The premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged shoppers not to enter the Sydney central business district for Boxing Day sales today, lest the virus be spread across the city. The Australian Retailers Association labelled the plea “incredibly disappointing”.
  • Riot police were called to break up a gathering of hundreds of people on Bronte beach on Christmas Day afternoon. A witness told News.com.au that some 300 people were partying in close proximity. NSW health minister Brad Hazzard said it was “beyond belief” that people would so wilfully jeopardise public health: “I get the desire for youthful Christmas exuberance, but this is as irresponsible, ignorant and idiotic as it gets,” he told the Daily Telegraph.
  • Australian golfer Greg Norman says he has been hospitalised with Covid-19, posting photos on Instagram: “My Christmas Day. On behalf of millions, fuck Covid. Get this shit behind us never to experience it again.”
  • A second person who was on board a luxury superyacht that sailed from the Maldives to Cairns tested positive for coronavirus yesterday.
  • An Australian government-facilitated repatriation flight, scheduled to bring Australians home from New Delhi, was cancelled due to “unforeseen logistical difficulties”. About 39,000 Australians spent Christmas stranded overseas.
  • And an exclusive just in from the Guardian’s health policy editor Denis Campbell in London – British scientists are trialling a new drug that that could prevent someone who has been exposed to coronavirus from developing the disease Covid-19, which experts say could save many lives.

Updated

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