Too busy to follow the COVID-19 blog? Or is there just too much of it to get into?
You've come to the right place. Here's all the COVID-19 news from Australia that you need to know, in bite-size pieces.
Let's get into it.
The big piece of COVID-19 news you need to know today
Authorities in our two biggest states are reporting good news in their COVID-19 outbreaks.
In Victoria, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says the rapid uptake of vaccinations in Melbourne hotspots is bringing some stability to the state's outbreak.
Over the border, in New South Wales, new COVID-19 cases have continued to drop to their lowest levels since late August.
Across that state, 88.4 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 67.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Read about New South Wales or Victoria by tapping on the link.
Some other things you might want to know
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Queensland recorded one new mystery case of coronavirus a day after the NRL grand final. The woman had been in the community for 10 days and did not have any links to exposure sites. She was double vaccinated and only had a mild case of the virus
Queensland authorities say the vast majority of fans at the Grand Final followed mask rules. (AAP Image: Dave Hunt) - Still in the Sunshine State, and the Australian Medical Association of Queensland says the state's hospital system needs a fix before state borders open up, fearing they won't cope once cases start rising
- Supplies of a life-saving COVID-19 treatment have arrived in Australia. Sotrovimab has been shown to keep people with mild COVID symptoms from developing more severe cases that might lead to admission to hospital or death
- New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has extended the COVID lockdown in Auckland, but loved ones will be able to meet in small groups outdoors from Wednesday
Your quick rundown of today's case numbers
- Victoria: 1,377 new, locally acquired cases of COVID-9 and four new deaths. There were 67,789 tests yesterday, when there were 1,220 local COVID-19 cases and three deaths
- New South Wales: 623 new, locally acquired cases and six new deaths. There were 76,892 tests yesterday, when there were 667 cases and 10 deaths
- Queensland: One new locally acquired case and two acquired in hotel quarantine. There were no new locally acquired cases in Queensland yesterday
- ACT: 28 new, locally acquired cases and two new deaths. Yesterday there were 38 new locally acquired cases
- Tasmania: No new locally acquired cases. But the state identified new exposure sites linked to a 15-year-old who tested positive and was supposed to be in quarantine
- South Australia: One new local case — a truck driver who has since left the state. The Mount Gambier, Wattle Range and Grant LGAs are under new restrictions after a positive COVID case spent time there.
If a state isn't on this list, it means there aren't any cases today that have been announced today. If you're after more COVID stats, you can find them all in our regularly updated story right here.
COVID-19 questions ABC readers are asking today, with some quick answers
Can you get a different brand of COVID-19 booster shot?
Can you travel anywhere in Greater Sydney after October 11?
- Not yet. That'll happen once NSW reaches 80 per cent double vaccinated. You can see the eased restrictions on the 70 per cent mark here.
Can you still catch long COVID if you have been vaccinated?
- Technically, yes. But, if you're double-vaccinated, your chances of getting infected is much, much lower. And, even if you are diagnosed with COVID-19, it's more than likely you'll only experience mild symptoms (or none at all).
A piece of good news to keep in mind
Australia is about to hit a big milestone this week: 80 per cent of the eligible population will have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the nation started the week at 79.6 per cent first dose, so we should get there if just 85,000 more Australians come forward and get vaccinated this week.
And some bonus good news: From today, the UK, US and Canada, Italy, Germany, France and Singapore will recognise Australian-made AstraZeneca vaccine as those being fully vaccinated. That'll be important when borders start to open and countries start requiring vaccine passports.
And, if you'd like to still read today's blog …
… you can do that right here. Enjoy!
