Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australians must continue to take precautions and exercise common sense, saying the idea people can "get the virus and get it over with" is ridiculous.
Follow all of today's news and updates as they unfold in the COVID live blog below.
Key events
- WA expands proof of vaccination requirements to a wider range of venues
- WA records 2 new local COVID cases
- Most SA students to resume school from home, as the state records four COVID deaths
- Relaxed isolation rules extended to raft of industries
- National cabinet agrees to concessional access to RAT kits
- PM slams 'ridiculous' COVID parties
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison is due to hold a press conference at 3:45pm AEDT
- The ACT records 1,020 new cases through PCR tests
- Queensland records 14,914 new cases of COVID-19, Premier says
- The Northern Territory records 550 new COVID-19 cases
- Queensland records six COVID deaths
- Tasmania reports 10 people are being treated for COVID in hospital
- Victorian COVID-19 hospitalisations rise to 953, as 25 more deaths recorded
- NSW records 92,264 new COVID-19 cases and 22 deaths
- National cabinet due to meet at 12:00pm AEDT
- Here's is the link to yesterday's COVID blog
- Schools, essential workers on national cabinet agenda
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Live updates
By Nicholas McElroy
Cases, hospitalisations and deaths
If you don't see your state or territory yet, don't worry — these figures will be updated throughout the day as they become available.
Can't get enough of the data? Check out the ABC's Charting the Spread
Victoria: 37,169 new cases (16,843 from rapid antigen tests and 20,326 from PCR tests) 25 deaths; 952 in hospital, 111 in ICU including 29 ventilated
New South Wales: 92,264 new cases (61,387 from rapid antigen tests and 30,877 from PCR tests), 22 deaths, 2,383 in hospital, 182 in ICU
Tasmania: 1,100 new cases (847 from rapid antigen tests and 253from PCR tests), no deaths, 23 in hospital, no patients in ICU
Queensland: 14,914 new cases, six deaths, 556 people in hospital with COVID, 26 in ICU, 10 ventilated
Northern Territory: 550 new cases, 24 people in hospital, 18 patients considered acute
ACT: 1,020 new cases, 24 in hospital three people in ICU and two ventilated
South Australia: 3,669 new cases, and four deaths. 225 in hospital, 26 in ICU, seven ventilated.
Western Australia: 2 new local cases.
By Caitlyn Davey
COVID-19 causing a crisis in the supply chain
One of the most visible effects of the COVID-19 pandemic this year is the growing number of empty supermarket shelves. And unlike the shortages back in 2020 - which involved items like toilet paper - it's not simply the result of panic buying.
This time it's a symptom of a growing crisis in the country's supply chains. Governments are responding by easing COVID isolation rules - but working out the details is complicated, as Peter McCutcheon reports.
By Caitlyn Davey
Boris Johnson's future uncertain after lockdown party apology
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's premiership was in the balance on Thursday as he faced calls from within his Conservative Party to resign after he admitted attending a party at his official residence during a coronavirus lockdown.
Mr Johnson on Wednesday issued "heartfelt apologies" for attending the gathering at Downing Street in May 2020, telling parliament he understood the public's rage at the revelations.
The Conservatives' leader in Scotland, along with a handful of other prominent lawmakers, called for Johnson to resign, saying his position was untenable.
"The mood isn't great," Conservative member of parliament Jake Berry told BBC radio.
"There is a lot of concern amongst my colleagues about the damage that these revelations are doing to the Conservative Party. But I think yesterday there was a bit of a turning point of opinion."
By Caitlyn Davey
Stuck on booster doses
What do I do
I’m a 17 year old healthcare worker who works in 2 gp clinics who got their second dose in July. It has now been over 6 months yet due to my age I can’t get a booster. And now boosters are mandated for healthcare workers. What am i supposed to do, put my family at risk by working and then lose my job on 12th feb because the government won’t let me get boosted
-Katelyn
Hi Katelyn, (great name!)
You should be able to get the booster based on the guidance from ATAGI as you're a healthcare worker, though this sounds like a bit of a confusing area.
Here's the information on the government website:
Booster doses for healthcare workers
Healthcare workers on the frontline of the COVID-19 response are at higher risk of infection. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends people working in a healthcare settings consider receiving a booster dose. Healthcare workers were prioritised early in the vaccination rollout, so many are due for their booster dose.
It might be worth speaking to your GP about this given the importance of you getting vaccinated, you might just need additional documentation?
By Caitlyn Davey
National cabinet's definition of essential services
As per the new guidance on exposure, here are the industries included in the new rules.
By Caitlyn Davey
RATs available tomorrow in ACT
ACT Health says to ease demand for PCR tests, RATs will be provided tomorrow at Kambah COVID-19 drive through testing clinic from 10am until 4pm. . ACT Health says: "At this stage, the RATs at Kambah will only be available for one day whilst we wait for more supply."
By Caitlyn Davey
South Korea to deploy Pfizer COVID-19 pills
South Korea will begin treating coronavirus patients with Pfizer's antiviral pills on Friday, health officials said, as concern mounts over the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant. At least 21,000 of the pills, called Paxlovid, will arrive on Thursday and be sent out to some 280 pharmacies and 90 residential treatment centres, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.
Paxlovid was nearly 90 per cent effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in patients at high risk of severe illness, and according to Pfizer, data suggested it retains its effectiveness against Omicron.
By Caitlyn Davey
Alice Springs domestic violence shelter's fears amid rapid antigen test shortage
The only women's shelter in Alice Springs will try to keep a requirement for all employees to return a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) before every shift despite the shortage of available tests and financial strain on the organisation.
The internal policy was introduced after two staff members tested positive to COVID-19 at the beginning of January.
Women's Safety Services of Central Australia chief executive Larissa Ellis said those employees were recovering and had not spread the virus to any other staff or clients.
"We are concerned about how we continue that [testing policy] given that we can't readily access the RATs," Ms Ellis said.
By Caitlyn Davey
Childcare crippled by ongoing COVID outbreaks, confusing isolating rules and lack of RATs
Families across the country risk repeated rounds of isolation, with childcare centres struggling to navigate outbreaks.
The rules of how to handle cases are different in each state — confusing for centres trying to interpret them — and funding for shutdowns and rapid tests is hard to access.
By Caitlyn Davey
Woman forced to stay at blind date's apartment for days after snap lockdown in China's city of Zhengzhou
It could possibly be the most "awkward" blind date of all time.
On Sunday, when an immediate lockdown was announced in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou, a woman known just as Ms Wang became stuck at the apartment of a man she had just met.
As she was "getting quite old," Ms Wang's parents had arranged 10 blind dates for her, she said in a vlog on the Chinese social media platform WeChat.
She had flown from Guangzhou to Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan province, ahead of the Lunar New Year for the intensive week of blind dating.
This particular date, number five, "wanted to show off his cooking skills and we decided to have dinner at his place," Ms Wang said.
"It was fine when I came. Then after the dinner when I was just about to leave, the Zhengzhou COVID situation deteriorated all of a sudden.
"The residential compound was temporarily under lockdown."
Ms Wang became stuck at the man's house for several days and it was "not ideal," local media reported her as saying.
"Living in the apartment with somebody you hardly knew made me feel so awkward and embarrassed," she said.
"He talks very little, like a wooden man, but I think it's also good, I'm quite capable of living well."
Ms Wang, whose exact age is unknown but was reportedly born in the 1990s, added that her date was working every day and looking out for her by cooking and cleaning.
And she said although his cooking skills were just so-so, she gave him a thumbs up for his efforts.
It is unclear whether Ms Wang remains at her blind date's apartment, but some parts of Henan province are still under lockdown.
By Jessica Riga
Q+A
WA proof of vaccination requirements - does that mean fully vaccinated people (2 doses) or at least 1 dose?
-Fully Vaxed & confused
Two doses means you're considered fully vaccinated, so if you're got two doses you'll be allowed entry into these places.
From what age does the proof of vaccine apply for in WA, 12 and up or 18?
-Wade
The proof of vaccination requirement applies to those aged 16 and over.
By Jessica Riga
International students allowed to work more hours to help ease COVID worker shortage
Foreign students will be allowed to pick up more hours to help alleviate worker shortages as more people are forced into isolation due to Australia's Omicron COVID-19 outbreak.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the federal government will remove the 40-hour-a-fortnight cap on student visa-holder workers, meaning they will no longer have restrictions on the amount of hours they can work.
Forty-hour work limits on international student visa-holders were lifted for people in the tourism and hospitality industry in May last year.
Mr Morrison encouraged international students to return to Australia, and backpackers are also allowed into the country under working holidays visas, on the condition they are fully vaccinated.
By Jessica Riga
By Jessica Riga
WA's proof of vaccination requirements 'broadest in the nation'
Mr McGowan said the proof of vaccination requirement would apply state-wide and he expected the requirement would be in place "for years to come".
"If you choose to remain unvaccinated, you are choosing to put yourself at risk, you are choosing to put the people around you at risk, and you are choosing to increase the burden on our health staff," Mr McGowan said.
"These will be the broadest proof of vaccination requirements in the nation and they will not be removed anytime soon."
By Jessica Riga
WA expands proof of vaccination requirements to a wider range of venues
From January 31, the requirements will expand to:
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Visitors to public and private hospitals and aged care facilities
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All hospitality venues (road houses, service stations and takeaway are exempt)
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Indoor entertainment venues
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Bottle shops
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Crown Perth complex
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Major stadiums
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Gyms, fitness centres and health studios
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Amusements parks and zoos
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Music festivals and large events with more than 500 people (unless exempt)
You can prove your vaccination status through the Service WA app or through one of the previous digitial or paper based methods with a form of ID.
Community sport and school-based events, unless at one of the specific venues listed, would be exempt from the proof of vaccination requirement.
By Jessica Riga
McGowan reiterates the latest COVID updates out of WA
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WA has recorded two new local COVID-19 cases and 14 travel-related cases overnight
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One of the new cases is linked to the Hyatt Regency hotel cluster and the other is a household contact of a previous case related to interstate travel
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Both are in quarantine
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Investigations continue into how one of two cases announced yesterday, a woman who acquired the virus from an unknown source, was exposed
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No link has been found between her and any of the other cases previously announced in WA
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Authorities are looking for a ride-share driver who transported a COVID-19 positive person, who had been self-quarantining in a city hotel, to the Royal Perth Hospital testing clinic
By Jessica Riga
WA is on the cusp on reaching 95 per cent first dose vaccination rate
Here's WA's vaccination figures:
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94.4 per cent first dose for 12+
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87 per cent for double dose 12+
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18.1 per cent third doses for over 16s
Premier Mark McGowan says the state is on the cusp of reaching 95 per cent vaccination rate for those 12 and over, "a target that many thought we'd never reach, even a few weeks ago."
By Jessica Riga
Mark McGowan is speaking now
He's starting with an update on the fires in the state.
By Jessica Riga
WA to provide a COVID update any moment now
The state has already released today's figures though — WA has recorded two new local COVID cases.
By Jessica Riga
Bernard Tomic reportedly tests positive for COVID-19
I've pinched this post from my colleague Liam Butterworth who is running our Djokovic live blog.
The Nine Newspapers are reporting that Bernard Tomic has tested positive for COVID-19, days after his courtside interaction with a chair umpire about the testing of players.
Tomic predicted he would test positive and complained about a lack of PCR testing for players.
"For sure in the next two days I will test positive, I'm telling you. I'm telling you," Tomic said courtside. "I will buy you dinner if I don't test positive in three days. Otherwise you buy me dinner," Tomic said.
"I cannot believe nobody is getting tested. They are allowing players to come onto the court with rapid tests in their room — c'mon. No official PCR testing."
His prediction came true.
"I still feel pretty sick," Tomic told the Herald and The Age after receiving the positive result. "I feel worse mentally than physically because I really was motivated to make a comeback and show the Australian public that I can be the tennis player they expect me to be. I'm disappointed this virus stopped me from doing that.
"I know it might not seem like it but this is the start of my return. Due to the illness, I just couldn't fire on all cylinders. As much as I tried, I didn't have the energy to fight. I'm going to do everything it takes to get back to the top. I really appreciate everyone's support."
