Hi there. It's Friday, December 24 and a very Merry Christmas Eve to you. You're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of the news you need to know about.
One thing you should know … Jumping castle survivors recovering, but still have a long way to go
After what has been a horrific week for the Tasmanian community, a family member of one of the children injured in a fatal jumping castle accident has shared a picture of his nephew recovering in hospital.
Declean Brown's uncle, David Best, took to social media to tell his family and friends that "it has been one tough week".
"He has put up one hell of a fight and is now awake and has a long road ahead," Mr Best wrote.
"So proud of you, stay strong and see you soon … heart still breaks for the families that lost their loved ones."
Hundreds of mourners turned out yesterday to farewell 12-year-old Zane Mellor who died in the accident, and funerals are expected to be held for Addison Stewart, 11, Jye Sheehan, 12, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Peter Dodt, 12, and Chace Harrison, 11, in coming days.
One thing you’ll be hearing about today … is COVID
Sorry, but it's true.
There's been quite a significant shift around the country in the week leading up to Christmas as pretty much all states and territories record record-breaking daily increases in cases, but authorities are looking almost just as closely at hospitalisations, ICU admissions and vaccination rates in an attempt to get a grasp on the bigger picture.
Masks are back in most states, whether mandatory or strongly encouraged, some restrictions have been reimposed and everyone who isn't already in quarantine is pretty much glued to their phones trying to make sure they're not a close or casual contact before Christmas lunch. It's a lot to process, but we've got news, rule changes and updates from around the country at our dedicated COVID-19 page right here.
News while you snoozed
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A former US police officer has been found guilty of manslaughter after fatally shooting 20-year-old Daunte Wright during a traffic stop in April. Kimberly Potter said she mistook her gun for her taser
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Thai authorities have seized crystal methamphetamine with a street value of almost $41.5 million stuffed inside punching bags bound for Australia
What Australia has been searching for online
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Prince Harry and Meghan. The Sussexes have released their annual Christmas card and it's given us one of the first glimpses of their youngest child, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor (affectionately known as Lili), who was born in June
- Masks in Victoria. Yep, they're back as of 11:59pm last night — everyone aged over eight years old needs to be wearing one in pretty much all indoor public settings
One more thing
Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, this is pretty impressive.
Every Christmas in Norway, the children of Bergen help build the world's largest gingerbread town — and it's large alright, with about 2,000 decorated buildings and vehicles.
It was started in 1991 as a way of bringing people together to celebrate the holidays, and is on display for just over a month in the lead-up to Christmas.
This year about 20,000 people have flocked to see this delicious, intricate little city (but that's down from pre-COVID crowds, which hovered around 100,000).
You're up to date
Merry Christmas!
We'll be back later with more news updates.
ABC/wires
