Good morning. There is plenty of local Covid news today, including fears about the NSW health system’s capacity to deal with a surge in cases, warnings over the deworming medicine ivermectin, and what the future of dating may look like in a vaccinated world.
The latest Guardian Essentials poll reveals Australians are concerned about any “living with Covid” strategy that would lead to a significant increase in hospitalisations and deaths. A majority think governments should not end current lockdowns until a substantial proportion of children are fully vaccinated. Some 44% of respondents (including 37% of Coalition voters in the sample) believe the current strategy should be getting Covid-19 cases down as close to zero as possible.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has warned against the use of ivermectin – a medicine used to deworm livestock – as a treatment for Covid-19 after imports of the drug increased tenfold. Amid recent reports in the United States of people calling poison information hotlines over self-medicating with ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19, a spokesperson for the TGA said there had been a massive increase in people bringing the drug into Australia.
Non-Covid patients in Sydney hospitals will need to be sent home and cared for by GPs to avoid a “catastrophe” in the city’s hospitals if cases surge, the Australian Medical Association has warned. AMA vice president Chris Moy accused the Berejiklian government and health authorities of being “flippant” in insisting the NSW health system can expand its intensive care capacity to 2,000 beds. He warns the hospital system wouldn’t have capacity “to treat anything else besides Covid in hospitals”. The comments come as Berejiklian warns that October will be the “worst time” for the state’s health system and intensive care units after yet another day of record high case numbers with 1,290 local infections and four deaths.
US anti-missile defences have intercepted as many as five rockets targeting Kabul airport as key diplomats evacuated ahead of the 31 August deadline. No casualties were reported from the rockets fired on Monday morning. Islamic State, which opposes both the west and the hardline Islamist Taliban, claimed responsibility. The Pentagon says it can’t dispute accounts that a drone strike on Sunday in Kabul killed at least 10 civilians, including seven children from one family.
Australia
Scott Morrison has declared the government has “overcome” the challenges of the national vaccine program, despite the states crying out for more mRNA vaccine supplies to curb the Delta outbreak. The prime minister’s assertion came as the country marked the grim milestone of the first Indigenous death from a Covid case and as the national death toll surpassed 1,000. Meanwhile, Australia’s vaccine certificate system is unable to recognise anyone with mixed doses of Covid jabs as fully vaccinated. The flaw in the Australian Immunisation Register means only someone who has received the same type of vaccine for both doses is issued a digital certificate.
More than 1,700 cases of Covid in Australia have been recorded in children under the age of five, according to Department of Health data. The childcare sector is preparing for a vaccine mandate for workers in NSW, amid calls for a nationally consistent approach to vaccinating early childhood educators.
Renewables will meet 100% of consumer demand for electricity at certain times of the day by 2025 if large-scale wind and solar development continues at current rates, the Australian Energy Market Operator has said.
The world
Up to 2 million people remain without power in New Orleans as residents and authorities begin to assess “catastrophic” damage from Hurricane Ida, which has killed at least one person with the death toll expected to rise.
Three people are dead after bank robbers armed with explosives and high-powered rifles ransacked two banks in Brazil. Two of the fatalities were local residents, while one of the alleged assailants was also killed.
The era of leaded petrol is officially over, the UN has announced. Officials claim the end of the use of leaded petrol will prevent more than 1.2 million premature deaths a year.
China has cut the number of hours minors can spend playing online video games. Under the new rule, young gamers are only allowed to spend an hour playing online games on Fridays, weekends and holidays.
Recommended reads
If you’ve been locked down and staring at the walls for months, it’s probably time for a change of scene. So how do you get some real art on your walls in lockdown without breaking the bank? We’ve got you and your empty feature wall covered. “If you are on a tight budget, start with a collection of smaller art works, such as a photographic print, a painted plate, colourful ceramics, or a small set of prints, and make a mini-gallery hang of them,” says Sarah Johnson, a Sydney-based interior designer. “Lots of small pieces bring personality to a space.”
“Wednesday’s GDP figures are likely going to show either record annual growth or at least the best for over 50 years. And to a large extent it will be meaningless,” writes Greg Jericho. “The figures will do little than provide a look in the rear-vision mirror at an economy before NSW and Victoria went into lockdown and which only looks good when we compare things with the worst of 2020.”
As the weather turns, it’s a good moment to show your knitwear a little love before putting it away until next year. After all, we tend to keep woollen garments for a long time and through this winter they served in place of the warm hugs we weren’t allowed to get from family and friends. Deborah Sams, the co-founder of elevated-essentials brand Bassike, says knitwear “is an investment and, if cared for well, can last for years”. So what are the tips and tricks for keeping knitwear in top condition for many winters to come? Here’s some expert advice, including how to wash gently, prevent pilling and keep the moths away.
Listen
Australia has been in and out of lockdowns for more than 18 months. For single people, that is a long time to go without the hope of companionship. But with more and more jabs in arms and talks of opening up, could we see a whole new era for those looking for love? Katie Cunningham talks to Laura Murphy-Oates about the future of dating in a vaccinated Australia.
Full Story is Guardian Australia’s daily news podcast. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcasting app.
Sport
Andy Murray and Stefanos Tsitsipas are battling on court at the US Open. Follow the live blog here.
Sydney Roosters skipper James Tedesco loves the fiery side of Latrell Mitchell but says the banned South Sydney star needs to find some balance in his game to avoid “breaking people’s faces”.
Media roundup
A poll conducted for New Corp Australia has revealed Australians are more worried about job losses and mental health due to the pandemic rather than large outbreaks of Covid. Shepparton community leaders are demanding sufficient resources for day-13 testing for thousands of residents forced into quarantine as the city struggles with a shortage of essential workers, reports the Age.
Coming up
The ACT government is set to confirm whether it will extend Canberra’s lockdown as the territory’s active coronavirus case count rises to 236.
Australia Post’s full-year results are expected to be influenced by Covid-19 restrictions.
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