The Latest Breaking News from Nigel McMillan

A highly infectious virus that particularly affects children under four is ripping through Queensland communities, with the state's cases up five-fold compared to last year.

Queensland hospitals are so overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients, burnt-out health workers are taking leave to cope with pandemic stress, while ongoing elective surgery delays are starting to result in late cancer diagnoses, doctors warn.

As Australia passes 10,000 deaths from COVID-19, there are renewed calls for a fourth vaccination to be available to more people.

Another Queenslander tests positive to the mosquito-borne Japanese encephalitis virus and two others have been identified as suspected cases.

An infectious diseases expert says Queensland schools will see a rapid rise in children testing positive to COVID-19 by the end of the week now that students have returned to classrooms.

The Northern Territory now has Australia's highest rate of COVID-related hospitalisations per capita, with a rate nearly double the figure seen during New South Wales's coronavirus peak.