Hello. It's Wednesday, January 12 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap of today's news.
One thing you should know
Thought this would all be over by now? Yeah, us too.
Novak Djokovic has released a statement admitting there was a mistake on his immigration form to enter Australia relating to previous travel — but also confessed he did an interview and a photoshoot with a French magazine while COVID-positive.
- The tennis men's world number one said an "administrative mistake" on his border documents was "human error" and "not deliberate"
- He also admitted he was aware he had tested positive for COVID before a media interview on December 18, but "felt obliged" to meet with the journalist anyway
- "On reflection, this was an error of judgement," he said
This all comes as Immigration Minister Alex Hawke's office flagged that a decision on whether or not Djokovic's visa will or won't be cancelled is unlikely to be made today.
The Australian Open starts on January 17.
What else is going on
- The Queensland branch of the Australian Paramedic Association has criticised the state's ambulance service leadership team, demanding Commissioner Craig Emery return from a month's leave early, but Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has dismissed claims that Mr Emery is "missing in action"
- WA will classify the Northern Territory as an 'extreme' COVID risk jurisdiction from tomorrow, in line with every other state and territory. It means travel from anywhere in Australia will only be allowed in the most exceptional circumstances
What Australia has been searching for online
- Landsdale. A man in his 40s has died after a suspected shooting in the Perth suburb early this morning. Homicide Squad detectives are investigating
- N95 masks. The author of a major study on the effectiveness of face masks is urging Australians to ditch cloth and surgical masks in favour of N95s — some buildings in the US now won't even let people inside if they're wearing a bandana or cloth mask
One more thing
The nation's top health panel has recommended a long list of services and workers be included in new COVID-19 isolation exemptions.
It's all part of a bid to ease staff shortages and supply chain issues (as you may have experienced in the form of empty supermarket shelves), and would mean potentially thousands more people could leave isolation to return to work.
The "interim guidance" was sent to all state and territory leaders for consideration before tomorrow's national cabinet meeting, where they'll all meet to discuss the ins and outs of it.
Here's the list of services and jobs put forward by the AHPPC — we'll find out in the coming days what national cabinet decides.
You're up to date
ABC/wires
