All the COVID-19 news from across Australia as it happened on Monday, January 24.
Key events
- NT has 78 people in hospital with COVID-19
- South Australia records two deaths, 2,009 new cases
- ACT: Two deaths records in the territory
- QLD: Premier says government will release its plan for back to school this week
- Queensland records 10,212 new cases and 13 deaths
- Tasmania records 41 people with COVID in hospital, 619 new cases
- Novavax vaccine given second green light
- Victoria reports 17 COVID-19 deaths as hospitalisations dip below 1,000
- NSW records 24 COVID deaths, increase in hospitalisations
Live updates
By Simon Smale
Cases, hospitalisations and deaths
If you don't see your state or territory yet, don't worry - these numbers are updated throughout the day.
For a detailed breakdown of cases across the country, check out Charting the Spread.
NSW: 24 deaths and 15,091 cases; 2,816 people in hospital, including 196 in ICUs. Read more here. Re-watch the press conference here.
ACT: 2 deaths and 756 new cases; 68 people in hospital, including 3 in ICUs.
Victoria: 17 deaths and 11,695 cases; 998 people in hospital, including 119 in ICUs. Read more here. Re-watch the press conference here.
Tasmania: 619 cases; 41 people in hospital, including 3 in ICUs. Read more here.
Queensland: 13 deaths and 10,212 cases; 878 people in hospital, including 50 in ICUs. Read more here. Re-watch the press conference here.
South Australia: 2 deaths and 2,009 cases; 294 people are in hospital, 29 in the ICU. Read more here. Watch the press conference at 12:15pm local time (12:45pm AEST).
Northern Territory: 286 new cases; 78 people are in hospital, four in ICU. Read more here. Watch the press conference at 11:30am local time (1:00pm AEST).
Western Australia: TBD
By Simon Smale
We're outta here
So, unfortunately, we're going to have to shut the blog down a little early today.
That means not having the numbers update from Western Australia later on today in this blog.
But never fear! Any and all news from the West will be up on our dedicated Coronavirus page or indeed our Just In page.
I hope you all have a lovely rest of the day.
By Simon Smale
What are Queensland's border rules?
I know this is a couple of days late but I am still a bit unsure of what the rules are around the QLD borders. QLD websites say it is open for international travelers but the Department of Home Affairs website says you must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or in an exempt category. The list of exempt categories currently do not include tourists. Could you please provide some clarification around this?
-Still Confused
Hi, Still Confused.
You're right, international borders are open to international travellers, but they still need to fulfill certain criteria to be eligible for a visa or exemption.
You're also right in that tourists are not eligible yet.
This is what it says on the Department for Home Affairs website:
Fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and eligible visa holders can travel to and from Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption.
Immediate family members of Australian citizens, permanent residents or New Zealand citizens usually resident in Australia who do not hold an eligible visa must provide proof of relationship before travel by submitting an exemption request through the Travel Exemption Portal.
All other temporary visa holders seeking to travel to Australia must apply for a travel exemption.
At the moment, tourists are not eligible.
By Simon Smale
Is Novavax a booster?
Could novavax use for a booster
-Clinton
Do you think Novavax will be approved as a booster vaccine?
-Kel
Hi to everyone asking this.
Australia has ordered 51 million doses of the vaccine, but it has only been approved as a primary dose, so not a booster yet.
The head of the TGA, John Skerritt, said last week that some of those doses may end up being given away as part of Australia's vaccine donation program.
Why so many?
Australia actually ordered these in the middle of 2020 as one of the first vaccines that were ordered.
However, with it only being given the first green light by the TGA last week, and then the second by ATAGI today, it has been overtaken by the other vaccines that were approved earlier.
It will be available for unvaccinated adults from February 21.
By Simon Smale
'We're here to help': Meet the country nurses going the extra mile to help residents during COVID
Nurses in the small town of Boort in Central Victoria go above and beyond the call of duty to deliver food and medication to isolated residents.
By Simon Smale
Man charged after attempt to steal RATs
Police have charged a 19-year-old man after an alleged attempt to steal 1,400 rapid antigen tests from a COVID-19 testing site in Melbourne’s north-west.
The man was one of two people arrested after police were called to the testing site at Dean Street, Moonee Ponds, about 4pm on Sunday afternoon.
The Heidelberg Heights man was arrested and later charged with theft, while another man aged 23 was arrested and released pending further investigation.
Police were able to recover all the tests.
The 19-year-old was released on bail and is due to appear in court in July.
By Simon Smale
Booster doses for under 18s
Hi Simon,
Is there any information on boosters for 16-18 year olds? My 16 year olds are one week off being 4-months since their last vaccination - do we have an ETA on ATAGI responding to this?
-Teenagers
Hi, Teenagers
The only advice that I have is that it is still not available.
"ATAGI is not currently recommending booster doses for people aged under 18," the Government's Department of Health website says.
I'm afraid I don't have any further details.
Teenagers in the USA and Israel are being boosted though, and with evidence suggesting that immunity in teenagers waned after five to six months, experts have said that the discussion needs to be had.
By Simon Smale
Victorian CHO touts benefits of booster dose
The Victorian CHO, Brett Sutton, has called getting a booster dose of vaccine "a no brainer", citing the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"Why get a booster dose?" Dr Sutton wrote.
"Well, a 68-fold reduction in risk of dying compared to unvaxxed is a start. But a 7-fold risk reduction compared to being two-dose vaccinated is the most relevant for the great majority of us.
"A no-brainer."
By Simon Smale
Indigenous Territorians are battling 'confusing' COVID-19 messaging, say peak bodies
As remote NT communities plunge in and out of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, advocates for Indigenous Territorians say it is becoming harder to keep up with changes to health advice.
By Simon Smale
Calls for more testing in Yuendumu
NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles said there were 10 new cases recorded in Yuendumu.
She said low testing levels there were hampering the efforts of health authorities to fully understand the community's ongoing outbreak.
"We really need people to come forward in Yuendumu and be tested. Please don't be scared; our teams will look after you if you test positive," she said.
She also said there were two cases recorded in the nearby community of Yuelamu.
Yuendumu and Yuelamu are both subject to lockouts that have been extended by seven days to Sunday.
By Simon Smale
NT has 78 people in hospital with COVID-19
There are now 78 people in hospital with COVID-19 in the Northern Territory, eight are receiving oxygen.
Four are in intensive care.
There were 286 new cases recorded across the Territory in the latest reporting period, the total number of active cases is now about 3,900.
By Simon Smale
South Australia records two deaths, 2,009 new cases
One woman in her 40s died, which will be referred to the coroner and a man in his 70s in a residential aged care facility.
There were 2,009 new cases.
Mr Marshall said there were 27,991 active cases after 3,508 people recovered.
There are 294 people in hospital. 29 in ICU with six people on ventilators.
By Simon Smale
NT's press conference is underway too
By Simon Smale
SA listened to 'strong health advice' in not mandating RATs
Education Minister John Gardner says he and the teachers union was able to resolve most of their issues, except one.
"One of the most significant issues raised by the Teachers Union was the use of rapid antigen tests," Mr Gardner says.
"We listened to Professor Spurrier and her team in the way that we are using rapid antigen tests in our schools and it would be a mistake to go against the strong health advice."
He says the Union will have the opportunity to talk to Professor Spurrier during the week about why she made the decision.
He says if a child is sick, or showing symptoms, they should not be in school.
He says the thought process behind the staggered start of term would help limit the amount of community transmission.
The Teachers Union will be holding a ballot today about possible industrial action ahead of the return to school.
Mr Gardner says the executive will be meeting today.
By Simon Smale
South Australia's press conference has just started
They are talking about the four new schools that have been opened in the state at the moment. If there are COVID updates, we'll let you know.
By Simon Smale
Victorian education minister 'will never take health advice from Josh Frydenberg'
Victorian Education Minister James Merlino has rejected comments from Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who earlier today said rapid antigen tests should be used for vulnerable cohorts, rather than for everyday screening.
“I'll never take public health advice from Josh Frydenberg or anyone else from the federal government,” Mr Merlino said.
“The clear advice from our public health experts and in the modelling from [the Doherty Institute] is that this kind of surveillance testing twice a week in primary schools, secondary schools, five times a week in a specialist school settings — this kind of universal surveillance testing was able identify more people, more kids with COVID, it will actually drive down the numbers you get into it early, you're stopping the chain of transmission.”
By Simon Smale
NT Press conference at 11:30am CST
NT Health Minister, Natasha Fyles and acting Deputy CHO, Dr Marco Briceno will give a press conference at 11:30pm CST (1:00pm AEDT).
You'll be able to watch it here.
By Simon Smale
'It's not really being explained': Language barrier and overcrowding hampers Yuendumu COVID response
A Yuendumu community leader calls for positive cases to be removed from the community as quickly as possible amid reports people in isolation are struggling to understand health advice.
Read the story from ABC Alice Springs reporter, Samantha Jonscher.
By Simon Smale
Three-speed COVID response advised
Tegan Taylor, co-host of the Coronacast podcast, has been speaking on News Channel.
She has been talking with Professor Brendan Crabb, who leads the Burnett Institute.
He said that "high vaccination is good, but not enough" and is advocating a "vaccines plus public health measures and ventilation as a COVID normal state".
He said that the COVID response has to be thought about as having three speeds.
"At the moment we're still in a crisis response and we need to treat it like that.
"We have a COVID normal, once things settle down with this wave, and then we need to be 'air raid ready', is his words, having the ability to keep ahead of the curve and ramp up if something like a new variant emerges."
By Simon Smale
We have an Australia Day meat shortage thanks to COVID-19, but it was entirely preventable
Australia Day barbecues are under threat as Omicron infections continue to cripple meat-processing operations, but this was an entirely predictable crisis that employers and government should have seen it coming.
