Get up to speed on all the coronavirus news from across Australia.
Look back on all of Friday's news and updates on our live blog.
Key events
- Northern Territory records two deaths, 1,096 new cases
- WA records one death, 51 new local COVID cases
- ACT records 489 new COVID cases
- Novavax rollout to begin a week earlier than expected
- VIC: State health systems preparing to end Code Brown
- Tanya Plibersek tests positive to COVID
- Restrictions ease in South Australia
- Australia's definition of fully vaccinated to change, with booster shots required to be considered 'up to date'
Live updates
By Jacqueline Howard
Cases, hospitalisations and deaths
For a detailed breakdown of cases across the country, check out Charting the Spread.
NSW: 19 deaths and 8,950 new cases. 1,716 cases are in hospital with 108 of those in ICU
VIC: 13 deaths and 8,521 new cases. 553 cases are in hospital, 82 of those in ICU
QLD: 14 deaths and 5,977 new cases. 535 cases are in hospital
TAS: 552 new cases, 16 cases are in hospital, one in ICU
SA: 2 deaths, 1,445 new cases. 210 cases are in hospital, 16 of those in ICU
ACT: 489 new cases, 50 people in hospital, 3 in ICU, 1 requiring ventilation
WA: One death, 51 new local cases
NT: Two deaths, 1,096 new cases, 165 people in hospital
By Jessica Riga
We're going to close the blog here
A short and sweet end to the blogging week! You can continue to stay up to date here on the ABC News website.
We'll see you tomorrow, but until then, have a lovely evening.
By Jessica Riga
Northern Territory records two deaths, 1,096 new cases
Two more people in the Northern Territory have died from COVID-19 in the latest reporting period.
The NT government says the first is a women in her 40's who had underlying health conditions and died at her home in Alice Springs on February 4.
The second person is a man in his 50's, also with underlying health conditions, who died at the Alice Springs Hospital on February 7.
So far there have been nine COVID-19 related deaths in the Territory.
There are 165 patients are in hospital requiring treatment with 1,096 new cases of COVID-19 recorded to 8pm last night.
By Jessica Riga
Requiring international tourists to have a third dose is 'a good thing to do', says McGowan
"This is going to be a continuing subject of discussion at National Cabinet," Mr McGowan says.
"There was a lot of talk about it yesterday, because there's arguments on both sides.
"But I think that trying to get as many people third dosed, even with the international tourist and if that requires some technical work, is a good thing to do.
"But we'll continue to have those discussions. It's obviously not particularly relevant for us at this point in time. But it will become relevant at some point in time in the future.
By Jessica Riga
McGowan: Today's cases 'not a cause for panic, but a reminder to take Omicron seriously'
"The news of 51 local cases may shock some, and we can expect higher numbers in the weeks to come," Mr McGowan says.
"But I can assure all Western Australians, it is not a cause for panic but a reminder take Omicron seriously.
"To stay home when sick, get tested and follow the public health orders and get vaccinated.
"The third dose makes all the difference in not only slowing the spread, but the severity of the illness and the outcomes if you find yourself in hospital."
By Jessica Riga
WA's vaccination progress
"Our first dose vaccination rate for 12+ people has today reached 98.3 per cent," Mr McGowan says.
"For second dose, it is 94.2 per cent.
"Our third dose vaccination rate now sits at for 16+ at 49.1 per cent.
But, importantly, one million Western Australians have now had their third dose. One million people! This is an amazing achievement."
By Jessica Riga
'If you're not fully vaccinated, the virus can find you', says McGowan
"Today's development confirmed what we, as a community, have been planning for," Mr McGowan says.
"Omicron is here and if you are not fully vaccinated, the virus can find you and it can have tragic consequences.
"As I've said before, Western Australia is now in a new phase of the pandemic. But there is no reason for alarm. It's something we knew was coming."
By Jessica Riga
WA records one death, 51 new local COVID cases
"A man in his 70s with COVID-19 has passed away at Joondalup Hospital," Premier Mark McGowan has announced.
It is the second COVID-19 related death from community transmission in WA since the pandemic started two years ago.
"I'm advised that WA Health has no record of the man receiving a COVID-19 vaccination."
"The man had been admitted to hospital after acquiring the virus in the community. He also had some underlying medical continues. Whichever you look at it, this is a tragic development."
The total number of new cases in WA is 99: including 48 arrivals, 35 from interstate and 13 from overseas, plus the 51 new local cases.
"This growth in local cases is what we expected with Omicron."
"We're starting to see a clearer picture of what we're dealing with."
By Jessica Riga
Here's where you can watch the WA press conference
By Jessica Riga
ACT records 489 new COVID cases
The ACT has recorded 489 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday – 303 from PCR tests and 186 from rapid antigen tests.
There are 50 people in hospital with the virus in Canberra. Three of those patients are in intensive care and one requires ventilation.
58.9 per cent of Canberrans aged 16 and older have received their booster and 75.1 per cent of children aged five to 11 have received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
From 11:59pm tonight, Canberrans will only have to use the Check In CBR app in high risk settings including bars, pubs, schools and early childhood education facilities. Use of the app in all other settings is optional, though still encouraged.
By Jessica Riga
Hello from me
Hi everyone! I'll be taking over for the rest of the afternoon.
By Jacqueline Howard
That's it from me
The ever-glowing Jessica Riga will take you through the afternoon.
Have a safe and happy weekend and I'll see you next time.
By Jacqueline Howard
Western Australia press conference scheduled for 11:30am AWST
By Jacqueline Howard
Canberrans brace for disruptions as protesters target COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Australian Institute of Sport
Protesters say they will target a mass vaccination clinic in Canberra tomorrow when their demonstrations against COVID-19 mandates culminate.
People have been gathering in the ACT for a fortnight to protest various grievances, in particular their opposition to mandatory vaccination policies.
The protesters plan to march on Parliament House and a separate demonstration will be held at the "Superhero Saturday" event at the vaccination clinic at the Australian Institute of Sport.
Tomorrow's planned protest follows disruptions throughout the week, when some demonstrators blocked traffic and allegedly harassed local businesses and residents who were complying with public health orders.
A small number have threatened violence against politicians, while domestic spy agency ASIO warned this week that the anti-vaccination mandate movement had radicalised some people and exposed them to "extremist messaging, misinformation and conspiracy theories".
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr expressed his frustration at the protesters' behaviour, saying police would respond to anyone who tried to interfere with the clinic.
"It's very disappointing, and that's the sort of extremist behaviour that we've been calling out every single day," he said.
"We're aware of the threat around there being some protest activity and, obviously, the access points into the vaccination centre are well protected.
"So parents should feel confident that if they're coming to Superhero Saturday with their kids to get vaccinated, that that will be managed safely."
By Jacqueline Howard
For "confused"
* mRNA (Pfizer, Moderna) is like getting given a recipe book to eat a cake (get immune). You're given the instructions, then your body makes the cake (spikes) from those instructions, and you eat the 'cake' to get immunised.
* Viral vector (Astra) is like having someone come over and help you make the cake - they know how without a book, just like Grandma
* Protein (Novavax) is like getting the cake delivered and eating it straight up
-Ben
Ben, this is so much better than the explanation I attempted to come up with and was forced to abandon about COVID being a barnyard animal. Thank you.
By Jacqueline Howard
By Jacqueline Howard
How vaccines differ
Just a bit of clarity please re: Novavax , a Mrna vax and AZ........what makes them different? Thanks
-confused
Like you've said, we have three different vaccine technologies available in Australia - the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna), viral vector (AstraZeneca), and protein subunit (Novavax).
It's all about getting the body to recognise what the virus looks like in order to trigger an immune response to kill the virus when it gets into our bodies before it can do any damage.
The Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines use the body's own cells to produce the spike protein, which is the shape of the virus.
Novavax, however, injects parts of the virus, including the spike protein itself into the body.
Pfizer and Moderna sends messenger RNA (a strand of genetic material) carrying the blueprint of the spike protein into our bodies.
AstraZeneca is similar to the mRNA vaccines, but instead of sending mRNA into the body, it sends the DNA instructions of the parent virus of COVID, of which the bit that makes us sick has been removed.
By Jacqueline Howard
Novavax rollout to begin a week earlier than expected
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says due to a speedy review from the TGA, Novavax is available to the general public one week earlier than planned.
Novavax was due to roll out from Monday 21 February, but is available today.
Mr Hunt says those who have been waiting for Novavax should contact their GP clinic so that the clinic can sign on to the Novavax rollout program.
It will involve two doses, three weeks apart.
More than 95 per cent of the Australian population has had a dose of a COVID vaccine, Mr Hunt said.
He said the new availability of Novavax should see that figure increase.
"There is no longer any excuse."
By Jacqueline Howard
Novavax to be considered for booster doses
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has just made a small comment regarding the progress of Novavax being approved as a booster vaccine for Australians
"The application for Novavax as boosters will come before the TGA soon," Mr Hunt said.
