Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says Greater Melbourne's hotspot status has met the criteria to be withdrawn, which also brings to an end the federal government's temporary COVID-19 hardship payments.
Catch up on the coronavirus news and updates on the blog.
Key events
- South Australia records two cases from returned travellers
- Federal government will remove hotspot declaration for Greater Melbourne at midnight
- Death of 52-year-old woman in NSW 'likely' linked to AstraZeneca vaccine, TGA says
- Regional Victoria will be downgraded to 'low risk' by the Tasmanian Government at midnight
- No cases recorded in the Northern Territory
- WA records no new cases of COVID-19
- Three overseas cases recorded in NSW
- Masks will continue to be required outdoors in Melbourne
- NSW Health Minister says Victorian couple placed state in 'real danger' of COVID outbreak
- Partner of the COVID-positive woman who left Melbourne lockdown tests positive
- Eight new cases of COVID-19 reported in Queensland, six are overseas-acquired
- Queensland authorities are expected to provide an update from 9:00am
- Four new locally acquired COVID-19 cases reported in Victoria
- List of Melbourne exposure sites now includes a venue from two weeks ago
- New Victorian exposure sites added late last night
Live updates
By Michael Doyle
That's all for the blog
We have been given our cue to close the blog.
Another big day of news.
Thank-you to everyone who followed the blog throughout the day.
Until next time blog friends, stay safe and be well.
By Michael Doyle
NSW to welcome back international students under pilot quarantine plan
Hi, what is the announcement about NSW bringing back international students? Is it confirmed? Or is it just proposed?
-Uni Student
International students will be welcomed back to New South Wales from as early as July under a pilot plan announced by the NSW government.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet today announced the plan, which will initially see 250 students per fortnight quarantined in specifically approved student accommodation.
Mr Perrottet said that figure would increase to 500 students per fortnight by the end of the year and would not interfere with current hotel quarantine arrangements.
"Importantly not one returning Australian will not get a seat on a plane as a result of this plan," he said.
"We will be running this alongside the 3,000 returning Australians that come into our hotel quarantine system every week."
Before the pandemic, about 250,000 international students were studying in NSW — the state's second-largest export.
Mr Perrottet said there were about 50,000 overseas students who were currently trying to get into NSW.
Reporting by Bellinda Kontominas.
By Michael Doyle
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress offering leftover Pfizer vaccine to friends, family in Alice Springs
A central Australian Indigenous health centre says it is avoiding Pfizer vaccine waste by offering leftover vaccines to non-Aboriginal people over the age of 50.
Dr John Boffa, the chief medical officer of the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, conceded there had been vaccine hesitancy among the Aboriginal population.
The service has given out about 1200 doses so far – to only about 10 per cent of its targeted population.
So in order not to waste a single dose, it’s put friends and family of staff on a waiting list to use up any leftovers.
By Michael Doyle
By Michael Doyle
Western NSW towns fight to remain COVID-free after visitors test positive
It has been 400 days since the last COVID-19 case in Dubbo and locals desperately hope that run continues after a couple who later tested positive visited the western New South Wales town.
Hundreds of cars were queued down the street from the moment a pop-up COVID test clinic opened at Dubbo Showground.
The man and woman visited the state's west last week while travelling from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast.
Several "venues of concern" have been identified by NSW Health in towns including Dubbo, Forbes, Moree and Gillenbah.
Anyone who attended certain venues at the same time as the potentially infectious couple is being told to get tested and isolate.
Reporting by Lucy Thackray and Nic Healey
By Michael Doyle
COVID wastewater monitoring introduced in the NT as viral traces are detected at Howard Springs
COVID wastewater testing has begun in the Northern Territory, making it the last Australian state or territory to bring in the measure since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Northern Territory health authorities today announced a three-month wastewater testing trial was underway at 10 locations across Darwin and Palmerston.
The testing trial includes the Howard Springs quarantine facility, where coronavirus has already been detected in wastewater samples, according to NT health authorities.
"Wastewater test results so far have been as expected, with detection of COVID-19 only found in the sample taken from the Stow Road pump station which serves as a catchment to the Howard Springs facility," a statement from NT health said.
"There have been no other detections of COVID-19 in wastewater sampling from the other sites."
Other sampling catchments in the Darwin and Palmerston regions include Ludmilla, Darwin CBD, Mindil Beach, Leanyer, Bridle Road and the Palmerston treatment plant.
Reporting by Steve Vivian
By Michael Doyle
New Zealand government announces travel pause with Victoria will extend for another week
The New Zealand government has extended the pause of quarantine-free travel from Victoria.
It will be reviewed on Wednesday, June 16.
By Michael Doyle
South Australia records two cases from returned travellers
By Michael Doyle
NSW Health to lift stay-at-home order for people entering from Victoria
By Michael Doyle
Those concerned with AstraZeneca vaccine should consult GP, says Paul Kelly
Professor Kelly said the recent news of a death from blood clots is concerning, but said AstraZeneca was still important to Australia's vaccine rollout.
"Individuals who have concerns about any medical procedure, including and in particular the private vaccine, at this time should talk to their GP about those concerns," he said.
By Michael Doyle
Federal government will remove hotspot declaration for Greater Melbourne at midnight
This means the federal governments COVID disaster payments will ceases.
Professor Paul Kelly said, "support for the single worker site element of aged care, as well as the Victorian aged care response centre, they will continue".
By Michael Doyle
Pregnant women in vaccine eligible categories encouraged to get the vaccine
New advice says pregnant women in eligible categories can get the COVID-19 vaccine — which would be the Pfizer vaccine.
Professor Kelly said:
If you are pregnant and you are in one of those eligible categories, so for that younger group it will be people between the age of 40 and 49, or for those who are healthcare workers or aged care workers, disability care workers, or people with a disability, they should feel free, and in fact I would encourage to receive the vaccine which would be of those cases the Pfizer vaccine.
By Michael Doyle
Blood clot events are now being categorised into two tiers of seriousness
There have been 15 classifed as tier one, the most serious.
33 are classified as tier two.
By Michael Doyle
Paul Kelly says this is the second death from AstraZeneca, from more than 3.6 million doses
By Michael Doyle
Australia has reported 48 cases of Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), following the AstraZeneca vaccine
35 of the cases have been confirmed.
There are 13 cases which have been classified as "probable"
- 31 have been discharged from hospital and are recovering, with some receiving ongoing outpatient medical care
- 15 patients remain in hospital, including one who remains critically ill in intensive care
- 2 people have died in hospital
By Michael Doyle
CMO Professor Paul Kelly expected to speak soon
By Michael Doyle
TGA says the 52-year-old woman had a blood clot in the brain
The TGA said:
Since last week’s report, a further four reports of blood clots and low blood platelets have been assessed as confirmed TTS likely to be linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine. One of these cases was in a 52-year-old woman from NSW who sadly died. This case presented as a severe form of this syndrome, with a blood clot in the brain, known as a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis.
By Michael Doyle
Death of 52-year-old woman in NSW 'likely' linked to AstraZeneca vaccine, TGA says
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) says the death of a 52-year-old woman is "likely" linked to blood clotting after she received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
