National cabinet will be convened on Wednesday for an emergency meeting on the Omicron variant. It was previously scheduled to next convene in February.
Here's Monday's events from around the country as it happened.
Key events
- No new COVID cases in WA
- 105 new cases in South Australia
- NT records three new COVID cases, Tennant Creek lockdown extended by 48 hours
- Queensland records 59 new COVID cases
- The ACT records 13 new COVID cases
- Tasmania records three new COVID cases
- NSW records 2,501 new COVID cases
- Victoria records 1,302 new COVID cases
Live updates
By Alexis Moran
Case numbers by state
Victoria: 1,302 new cases, 0 deaths
NSW: 2,501 new cases, 0 deaths
Tasmania: Three new cases
ACT: 13 new cases
Queensland: 59 new cases
SA: 105 new cases
NT: Three new cases
WA: No new cases
By Caitlyn Davey
And that's a wrap
We'll be back tomorrow to speculate on what Nashy Cab is going to discuss, as well as all your Omicron news updates.
Have a good night everyone!
By Caitlyn Davey
Something bittersweet to celebrate
I just noticed that today was the first in a very long time that there were no deaths recorded due to Covid. That is something to celebrate.
-Christmas present
By Caitlyn Davey
Back to the audience for comments and questions
What are the rules if you work at a venue which is an exposure site? My partner works in hospo in Brissy and some of the bars around his workplace are already on the exposure list. Meant to be going away in a week so feeling very worried.
-Scared!
Depends on whether it's a low risk, casual or close contact on this one. All the health advice is itemised here for Queensland, hoping you can still travel.
Hi to all your readers,
I've noticed people seem to not be able to find appts for boosters. Just a heads up priceline have a number of locations with modernas tomorrow if you'd rather make an appt and not walk in to the many pop ups of the week and usual clinics. Bourke Street mall, Bourke Street West, box Hill, carnegie, Craigieburn Central, fountain gate, Westfield, and watergardens.
-Svetlana
For those of you in Melbourne, some useful info.
Thanks for the blog . As always, it's a brilliant overview of things. I've glimpsed it today, feeling overwhelmed about case numbers, lack of booster shots available, increasing hospitalisation, lack of interest from our "leaders" to lead and mandate masks (such a simple and effective thing), and how the vulnerable in our community will fare.
-Anxious
Unfortunately, I had to go to a major shopping venue today. I planned what I was getting, and where to minimise my time out, needing four stores. Not one single person that entered before me (possibly around 20 people) checked in. There were so many people not wearing masks. I totally understand the burn out. We are all exhausted by this. I can't deal with the lack of personal responsibility and clearly the political speak of "people know what they need to do and will do it" does not work.
We all need a break, but it won't come from pretending it doesn't exist (unfortunately). I feel like 2020 brought out the best in our communities. Definitely not this year though.
Make sure, at the very least, you check in, everywhere you go, every time - and be nice to staff!
By Caitlyn Davey
Man fined $35,000 for travelling to Byron Bay with COVID-infected father, sparking lockdown
Kristian Radovanovic was 19 when he left his Rose Bay home in Sydney and travelled to the NSW northern rivers region with his father Zoran to buy a property in late July.
Now aged 20, he did not appear for his sentence on Monday because he was looking after his grandmother in Serbia, the Waverley Local Court was told.
He has pleaded guilty to four charges over failing to abide by public health orders.
On Monday, his lawyer David Newham said Radovanovic was "very regretful of the lockdown that occurred".
For not using a QR code and failing to wear a mask in a shop, Radovanovic was fined $5,000 and $7,500 respectively, and for not wearing a mask or using a QR code in a taxi he was fined $12,500 and $10,000 respectively.
By Caitlyn Davey
New exposure sites added in Queensland
Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Darling Downs, Townsville and Cairns all have new locations on the list.
By Caitlyn Davey
Israel to add US, Canada to travel ban over Omicron variant
Israeli ministers on Monday approved adding the United States and Canada to its list of countries to which travel is banned amid the rapid, global spread of the Omicron variant.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s office announced the decision following a Cabinet vote.
The rare move to red-list the US comes amid rising coronavirus infections in Israel and marks a change to pandemic practices between the two nations with close diplomatic relations. The US will join a growing list of European countries and other destinations to which Israelis are barred from traveling, and from which returning travellers must remain in quarantine.
Other countries that were approved to be added to the travel ban starting Wednesday are Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Portugal, Switzerland and Turkey.
A parliamentary committee is expected to give the measure final approval. Once authorised, the travel ban will take effect at midnight on Wednesday.
Israel has recorded at least 8,232 deaths from coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.
By Caitlyn Davey
Booking children aged 5-11 for a COVID vaccine in SA
Hot tip from one of our ABC Adelaide reporters.
By Caitlyn Davey
Testing locations and wait times - from the audience
Thanks for sharing team!
Booked my son into Bellarine respiratory clinic in Ocean Grove, no wait time, was tested straight away at appointment time.
-Kylie
Friend is in castle Hill line. Has been for 3.5 hours. No end in sight
-Test
Brighton golf course 3hours 40minutes… not good enough! And that doesn’t include driving there, navigating the line from Nepean hwy and getting home…well over 5 hours in total.
-Vic
By Caitlyn Davey
Tears and joyous reunions at Darwin Airport as the Northern Territory opens its borders to vaccinated arrivals
Tears of joy, a warm embrace after many months apart and grandchildren held for the first time: These were the scenes at the airport hours after the biggest change to the Northern Territory's borders came into effect since the pandemic began.
From today, fully vaccinated arrivals are free to enter the Northern Territory without the need to quarantine.
For the expected 2,000 interstate arrivals into the territory's major airports in Alice Springs and Darwin today, the eased restrictions meant long-awaited reunions were finally a reality.
However, the decision to push forward with reducing restrictions has drawn the ire of Aboriginal health groups, as the territory's COVID-9 outbreak continues to surge.
And, as borders come down around Australia, a spike in travel and national case numbers has delayed PCR test results, which are required to get into the Territory.
At a press conference on Monday, Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said this would mean that people entering the territory over the coming days may not get their PCR test results back before they land, and would need to isolate until they received their result.
By Caitlyn Davey
Testing times
Getting a lot of feedback about testing wait times. If you've got a test recently, use the blue box and let us know where you are and how long it took.
Hot tip. Don’t drive to Sydney airport for testing, says they close at 8pm but they’re turning people away - at capacity aghhh
-Will I get into QLD
Need to get tested as a casual contact in Adelaide CBD. Rang every testing centre within 5km of city centre, none will take any more people tonight. Over half won't take anyone without a car (which I don't have) and best I got quoted was a MINIMUM 5 HR wait tomorrow. So much for covid-ready in SA.
-Colin
By Caitlyn Davey
Pharmacist reports overwhelming demand for boosters and rapid antigen tests
- There were 660 cases of COVID recorded in the Hunter New England region
- A local MP says supply issues could have been avoided
By Caitlyn Davey
Let's go to the comments section
If anyone is travelling to Tassie, bear in mind that they are updating their exposure list quite frequently. Several added today (Monday).
-Tassie Traveller
If anyone is travelling to Tassie, I'm jealous, just got back from a trip around your glorious state. Keep up to date with exposure sites here. Also, bring me back some ice cream please.
Good afternoon, was happy to line up and have my booster today! Was a bit disappointed to see an elderly man abusing staff that are just trying to do the best they can with the surge of people wanting to do the right thing!! Thanks Tassie nurses/ covid staff!
-Spreading cheer in crazy times...
More love for the southern-most state.
I’m travelling to QLD from Victoria - after getting a test (as a requirement for travel, not because I have symptoms) am I required to isolate until I get my results? The DHHS website doesn’t make specific reference to testing for domestic travel.
-Concerned about Isolating on Christmas Day
You don't need to isolate-
Travellers around Australia, including people from hotspots, will be allowed to catch some sunshine in Queensland this Christmas.
But people entering from a hotspot must:
- be fully vaccinated
- have a negative PCR test within 72 hours before arriving in the state
- and have another PCR test on day five after their arrival
We've got a handy explaination of all the interstate requirements here.
Any ideas on what exactly will be discussed at Nashy?
Potential restrictions on the border to slow Omicron’s spread??
-Nashy Follower
Probably exactly that.
By Caitlyn Davey
National Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, not tomorrow
The Prime Minister’s Office has clarified a meeting of state and territory leaders will happen on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said earlier today he would convene National Cabinet to discuss fresh concerns of the spreading Omicron variant ahead of the Christmas break.
Mr Morrison said it would be an “informal” meeting, but National Cabinet had not been scheduled to meet again until February.
He has urged Australians to “keep calm” as they go about their business leading up to Christmas and the New Year.
By Caitlyn Davey
Update on Nashy Cab
Okay so we've just got word, apparently National Cabinet is going to be on Wednesday, December 22 instead of tomorrow.
We'll have more information on this shortly.
By Caitlyn Davey
How the milk industry changed its business model to flourish during the pandemic
By Caitlyn Davey
Jumping in for the evening
We're not done yet!
By Jessica Riga
I'm heading off, but the blog is still going
You're now in the hands of the wonderful Caitlyn! See you next time.
By Jessica Riga
Thailand considering reinstating mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors
Thailand is considering reinstating mandatory quarantine for foreign visitors due to concerns over the spread of the Omicron COVID variant.
The minister for public health says the department will propose scrapping a quarantine waiver for vaccinated visitors.
It will also consider reverting to a program which only allows free movement in specific locations.
Thailand reopened to tourists in November and has so far detected 63 Omicron cases.
