COVID-19 Update – June 29, 2021
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Victoria has recorded no local COVID-19 cases for the third day running as Premier Daniel Andrews called for a debate about reducing the number of people who are allowed to leave the country and return home.
NSW recorded 19 locally acquired COVID-19 cases on Tuesday as exposure site locations ballooned to more than 250 across greater Sydney as the lockdown there continued.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said 17 of the 19 cases had already been linked, while 2 were under investigation, bringing the total number of cases since June 16 to 149.
More than 1300 students and staff from a high school in Sydney’s eastern suburbs have been sent into self-isolation.
Perth and the Peel region have been plunged into a four day lockdown after a third case was discover late last night.
Parts of Queensland have gone into lockdown for three days after four new community cases were reported. Townsville and Magnetic Island have become potential spread sites.
From today anyone under the age of 40 is now able to request the AstraZeneca vaccine.
COVID-19 Update – June 28, 2021
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There have been no new local COVID-19 cases in Victoria and two in quarantine overnight after 17,617 test results were processed and almost 14,300 people received their vaccine doses.
But multiple states and territories are on high alert as COVID-19 cases emerge across the country, with cases popping up in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Darwin yesterday. This has prompted multiple states to introduce restriction
The list of exposure sites in NSW continues to grow, with airport locations, a ramen bar and a 7-Eleven on the list as the state’s cluster grew to 120 cases with 18 new cases of community transmission overnight.
There are two new cases of community transmission in Queensland with masks becoming mandatory across much of the state’s south-east for two weeks from 1am tomorrow.
WA has recorded no new COVID-19 cases overnight after a Perth resident who recently visited Sydney tested positive on Sunday. The state went into partial lockdown yesterday afternoon.
Parts of the Northern Territory are in lockdown after a fly-in fly-out miner contracted the virus while in hotel quarantine in Brisbane.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews held his first press conference in more than 15 weeks to announce an update on the Metro tunnel. The Premier seriously injured his back earlier this year and has had a few months off work.
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Victoria officially recorded two new local cases of coronavirus but both cases – a Melbourne man who returned by plane from Sydney on Sunday and his boss – were revealed yesterday. There were no further cases. There are now 49 active cases in the state.
NSW recorded 22 new cases linked to the recent delta strain outbreak.
Eighteen new exposures sites were added to the Victorian government’s official list of high-risk venues on Thursday afternoon and throughout the evening – the first new sites in eight days.
There were 21,991 tests processed yesterday, and 18,019 vaccine doses were administered.
Victoria’s link to the Sydney outbreak grew to two on Thursday after a Melbourne man who tested positive for COVID-19 after returning by plane from Sydney on Sunday worked for three days in a Sandringham dry cleaners and appears to have passed on the virus to his boss.
Four Sydney local council areas have been locked down NSW recorded 22 new COVID-19 cases overnight.
People the Woollahra, Waverley, Randwick and the City of Sydney will not be able to leave their home except for the four key reasons.
Restrictions in Victoria eased further last night with 15 people now allowed in homes, 50 a public gatherings and 75 per cent of staff in offices allowed to return.
COVID-19 Update – June 24, 2021
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Victoria has recorded one new local coronavirus case, a close contact of a positive case who has been quarantining throughout their infectious period, as restrictions are set to be further eased across the state.
22,812 tests were received overnight.
Under the revised rules, which will remain in place for the next fortnight, public gatherings of up to 50 people outdoors will be permitted and offices can be staffed at 75 per cent capacity. But masks must still be worn indoors.
NSW reported 11 new locally acquired cases, including the NSW agricultural minister Adam Marshall. One of the cases is not yet linked to known clusters.
Most states have now closed their borders to people from greater Sydney.
Three new community cases were reported in Queensland, all related to a visitor from Portugal.
COVID-19 Update – June 23, 2021
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Victoria has recorded no new local case of COVID-19 overnight and one case in hotel quarantine after 28,267 tests were received yesterday. But NSW has recorded 13 more cases as the Bondi outbreak grows.
From midnight tomorrow night, public gatherings of up to 50 people outdoors will be allowed in Victoria.
Gatherings in the home will be permitted, with up to 15 visitors to a home per day, including dependents. Funerals and weddings can move to a cap of 300 people, subject to the density limits of the venue.
Crowds at the MCG and Marvel Stadium will return to 85 per cent capacity next week after the crowd was capped at 25,000 spectators at the MCG for this weekend’s AFL games, while the A-League grand final was capped at 15,000 spectators at AAMI Park.
The NSW Government announced that 13 new cases of COVID-19 have emerged in the community since 8pm last night.
Eight of the 13 cases from last night attended the same birthday party
NSW announced a raft of new restrictions following today’s COVID-19 numbers, including banning people who live or work in seven COVID-affected local government areas from travelling outside metropolitan Sydney.
Restrictions for all of Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour will also return with no more than five visitors to households, seating-only in hospitality venues, no dancing or singing except for wedding dance floors.
The local government areas affected by the travel ban include the City of Sydney, Woollahra, Bayside, Canada Bay, Inner West, Randwick and Waverley Council.
COVID-19 Update – June 22, 2021
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Victoria has recorded no new local case of COVID-19 overnight and two cases in hotel quarantine.
13,176 tests were received yesterday and 15,339 doses of vaccine administered.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said travel restrictions on people travelling from Victoria will lift at 1:00am on Friday.
South Australia will reopen its borders to travellers from Greater Melbourne on Friday.
COVID-19 Update – June 21, 2021
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Victoria has recorded just one new local case of COVID-19 overnight and eight cases in hotel quarantine. No cases were reported yesterday.
16,290 tests were received yesterday and 10,921 doses of vaccine administered.
NSW recorded two new cases, bringing the total in the Bondi outbreak to 11, with masks now mandatory indoors in some parts of Sydney as well as on public transport. Authorities calling for an increase in numbers of people coming forward for testing.
The numbers come as state and federal leaders prepare for an emergency meeting of national cabinet to discuss the vaccine roll out
COVID-19 Update – June 18, 2021
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Victoria has recorded one new local case of coronavirus, which has been confirmed as the primary close contact of an existing case. There was also one case in hotel quarantine.
35,252 tests were received yesterday and 16,710 doses of vaccine administered.
Eased restrictions came into effect in Victoria today with masks no longer required outdoors and an end to the 25 kilometre travel limit.
NSW has recorded one new case of COVID-19, a man in his 50s who attended Myer Bondi Junction at the same time as an air crew driver who later tested positive.
It comes as a mask mandate is introduced on public transport in Greater Sydney for the next five days. Masks are also being strongly recommended in indoor venues including cinemas, and for hospitality workers.
COVID-19 Update – June 17, 2021
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Victoria has recorded no new local cases of COVID-19, and only one in hotel quarantine.
There were 25,635 tests received and 15,610 vaccinations administered. There are 54 active cases in the state.
Staff and patients at the Northern Hospital have been isolated after it was revealed the nurse from the Epping Private Hospital who tested positive earlier in the week worked there.
NSW has reported two new COVID-19 cases overnight after an airport bus driver tested positive yesterday.
It is reported that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) will raise the recommended age for the AstaZeneca vaccine to as high as 60.
COVID-19 Update – June 16, 2021
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There have been five new locally acquired COVID-19 cases announced for Victoria, but two of them were revealed by Health Minister Martin Foley yesterday afternoon, linked to the Southbank apartment complex.
The cases have all been linked to the current outbreaks.
There were 17,538 test results received, and 14,870 vaccine doses administered.
From midnight tomorrow, there will be a further lifting of restrictions.
Masks will no longer be mandatory in outside areas but will still need to be carried at all times. Masks still must be worn indoors except at home or unless an exemption applies
People who can work from home should continue working from home in Melbourne, and office spaces will be capped at 50 per cent capacity.
The 25 km limit on travel outside the home will be scrapped. Movement to regional Victoria is unrestricted.
Public gatherings for up to 20 people, home gatherings up to two visitors per day plus dependants.
Gyms, indoor entertainment venues, electronic gaming venues can all open and community sport can return
Venues will be able to open up to 50 per cent capacity, capped at 75 people indoors, including restaurants, cafes, religious settings and entertainment venues. Hospitality venues can have up to 25 people before applying density quotas.
COVID-19 Update – June 15, 2021
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Victoria has recorded no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, but three were found in hotel quarantine.
There were 15,067 tests received, and 9997 vaccines given. There are 54 active cases in the state.
But authorities have expressed concern that numbers of people coming forward for testing is falling.
A ubiquitous feature of the COVID-19 pandemic has become the ‘Vaxxie’ with celebrities and ordinary people sharing picture of themselves getting vaccinate.
Celebrities who have shared ‘Vaxxies’ include Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, the Duchess of Cambridge, Dolly Parton, Adam Liaw, Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein and Mariah Carey.
COVID-19 Update – June 11, 2021
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Victoria has recorded no new coronavirus cases in the community overnight, and only one in hotel quarantine.
There were 20,752 vaccine doses administered and 17,604 test results were received.
COVID-19 restrictions eased overnight with retail shops and hospitality reopening.
New research suggests that thousands of people could die of COVID-19 in Victoria in the event of a highly infectious outbreak if there were no restrictions on movement and gatherings even if 70 per cent of the population were vaccinated.
These are the findings of new mathematical modelling developed by Melbourne’s Burnet Institute, which suggests Australia is unlikely to ever reach herd immunity against COVID-19 at the current level of vaccine uptake because more highly contagious variants could undermine immunity.
COVID-19 Update – June 10, 2021
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Four new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 were recorded overnight, all from the same household.
The source of the infection is under investigation.
COVID restrictions in Melbourne will be eased tonight but people will not be allowed to travel more than 25 kilometres from their homes.
Masks will still need to be worn outdoors and indoors.
Schools will return to on-site learning for all students, all retail will reopen, food and drink will see seated service, with a maximum 100 people and 50 indoors.
Higher education and training will resume as will religious services with a maximum 50 people and weddings with a maximum of 10 guests.
Outdoor physical recreation or sport will be allowed a maximum of 100 people and community sport training will be allowed but 25km limit applies.
Hairdressing, beauty and personal care will resume but masks must be worn.
There were 23,679 test results received yesterday and 20,784 doses of vaccines administered.
COVID-19 Update – June 9, 2021
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Just one new case of community transmitted COVID-19 were formally recorded overnight meaning Melbourne will come out of lockdown tomorrow night.
The case is a close contact of an existing case and is already in quarantine. The total number of cases is now 83.
COVID restrictions in Melbourne will be eased tomorrow as planned, but it is understood people will not be allowed to travel more than 25 kilometres from their homes.
Schools will return to on-site learning for all students, all retail will reopen, food and drink will see seated service, with a maximum 100 people and 50 indoors.
Higher education and training will resume as will religious services with a maximum 50 people and weddings with a maximum of 10 guests.
Outdoor physical recreation or sport will be allowed a maximum of 100 people and community sport training will be allowed but 25km limit applies.
Hairdressing, beauty and personal care will resume but masks must be worn.
There were 28,485 test results received and 19,533 doses of vaccines administered.
Meanwhile, mystery still surrounds how a Melbourne family contracted the delta strain of the virus.
No one who knowingly came into contact with a man who arrived in hotel quarantine with the virus has tested positive.
Authorities believe there is a missing link between the man, who was infectious in early to mid-May, and the family that initiated the Delta cluster, who tested positive in late May.
COVID-19 Update – June 8, 2021
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Just two new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 were formally recorded overnight meaning the total number of cases is 92.
Both cases are the close contacts of existing cases and most are already in quarantine.
The Delta strain contracted by a Melbourne family has been linked to a returned traveller in Victorian hotel quarantine and an investigation is underway.
The number of active COVID-19 cases in Victoria has dropped for the first time in more than two weeks with 92 cases, down from 94 yesterday.
More than 21,000 vaccine doses were administered on Monday and more than 22,000 COVID-19 tests were administered.
One new case has also been recorded in hotel quarantine.
New data from the UK throws new light on the benefits of vaccines.
The data shows fully vaccinated people are making up just a tiny fraction of those being hospitalised in Britain with the new Delta coronavirus variant.
Of 12,383 people infected with the variant, which was first detected in India and has also been identified during the most recent outbreak in Australia, 464 sought hospital care and 126 were admitted.
Of those 126, some 83 had not been vaccinated at all, 28 had received only one shot and just three had been fully vaccinated with two doses.
COVID-19 Update – June 7, 2021
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Eleven new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 were formally recorded overnight bringing the total number of cases to 94.
All of the cases are the close contacts of existing cases and most are already in quarantine.
24,265 test results were received yesterday and 17,719 doses of vaccine were administered bringing the total to 650,878.
NSW has reported no new local coronavirus cases on Monday, as more than 200 people remain in isolation after coming in contact with an infectious family from Victoria last month.
Communities on the South Coast and along the Hume remain on alert after a Melbourne family holidayed in the area from May 19 to 24, before testing positive to COVID-19.
NSW Health said 226 close contacts have been identified following the family’s trip. None have tested positive to date.
Fragments of the virus which causes COVID-19 were recently detected through routine wastewater testing in Sydney’s north-west, NSW Health said on Monday.
COVID-19 Update – June 4, 2021
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A new strain of the COVID-19 vaccine not seen in Australia before outside hotel quarantine has been detected in Victoria.
A member of a West Melbourne family that visited Jervis Bay in NSW has the ‘delta’ or ‘Indian’ strain not related to other cases.
Victoria has recorded four new locally acquired COVID-19 cases overnight and two more in hotel quarantine.
There were 49,439 tested returned and 24,169 vaccines administered yesterday; and there are now 72 active cases in the state.
The confirmation of two false positive cases in so called ‘fleeting’ contacts will not alter the timetable for the state’s lockdown, health authorities say.
Acting Premier James Merlino says Victoria has asked for a significant increase in vaccine supply, with demand outstripping the state’s stocks.
The state and federal governments have signed a deal for a quarantine facility to be built at either Avalon or Mickleham with construction to start by September.
COVID-19 Update – June 3, 2021
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Workers stood down by the COVID-19 lock down will get up to $500 a week under new support measures announced by the Federal Government today.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a new national framework for support during lock downs that last for more than seven days.
The ‘Temporary COVID Disaster Payment’ will see $500 a week paid to people who normally work more than 20 hours a week and $325 a week for those normally working less than 20 hours a week.
The payments will not be available to those already receiving benefits payments or people with more than $10,000 in liquid assets.
Applications can be made to Services Australia either by phone or online, from next Tuesday and payments will be made through the commonwealth’s disaster relief arrangements.
Three new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 were recorded in Victoria overnight bringing the total in the latest cluster to 63.
One of the cases were identified yesterday and linked to the aged care outbreak. Two were linked to the North Melbourne Primary School.
The result came after 57,519 test results were received.
50,000 Victorians were vaccinated yesterday, 23,921 by state government centres.
There are now more than 370 exposure sites across the state.
Restrictions in regional Victoria will ease from midnight tonight with regional Victorians able to gather outdoors in groups of up to 10 and food and hospitality will reopen.
Retail and personal services will reopen with masks, religious services will be allowed 50 people, weddings ten people and funerals 50. Junior community sport and adult sports training can resume.
QR codes will be mandatory across Victoria including in all supermarkets and shops.
The federal government is set to announce today more relief measures for workers laid off by the lock down.
Avalon is firming as the favourite site of Victoria’s dedicated quarantine facility for returning travellers after Treasurer Josh Frydenberg signalled it was the federal government’s preferred site.
COVID-19 Update – June 2, 2021
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Melbourne will go in to lock down for another week after six new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 were recorded in Victoria overnight bringing the total in the latest cluster to 60.
Two of the cases have been linked to North Melbourne Primary School, which has been closed.
Worryingly, one in ten of the cases have been contracted in brief casual contact settings.
But years 11 and 12 students can return to face-to-face learning from Friday.
Restrictions in regional Victoria will be eased with the five reasons to leave home lifted but restrictions on travel to Melbourne remaining.
Regional Victorians can gather outdoors in groups of up to 10 and food and hospitality will reopen.
Retail and personal services will reopen with masks, religious services will be allowed 50 people, weddings ten people and funerals 50. Junior community sport and adult sports training can resume.
QR codes will be mandatory across Victoria including in supermarkets and shops.
Acting Premier James Merlino announced another $209 million in support for business and called on the Commonwealth Government to provide more support for workers.
The announcement came after a record 51,033 tests with two more cases among returned international travellers. There were also 20,585 vaccine doses administered.
The number of exposure sites has reached 351, including three BP truck stops along the Hume Freeway at Glenrowan, Euroa and Wallan on May 24.
COVID-19 Update – June 1, 2021 PM
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Six new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 were recorded in Victoria overnight bringing the total in the latest cluster to 67.
This means an announcement extending the lockdown is likely later today.
Two of the cases have been linked to North Melbourne Primary School, which has been closed.
This came after a record 51,033 tests with two more cases among returned international travellers. There were also 20,585 vaccine doses administered.
The number of exposure sites has reached 351, including three BP truck stops along the Hume Freeway at Glenrowan, Euroa and Wallan on May 24.
Meanwhile, NSW Health has issued a public health alert last night, saying it that a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 was in Jervis Bay, Goulburn, Hyams Beach and Vincentia while potentially infectious on May 23 and May 24.
COVID-19 Update – June 1, 2021 AM
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Three new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 were formally recorded overnight bringing the total in the latest cluster to 54.
The three new cases are said to not be linked to aged care.
This came after 42,699 tests with two more cases among returned international travellers.
The number of exposure sites has reached 320, including the Brimbank Shopping Centre.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said Victoria had done an extraordinary job in its tracing and testing regimes.
“Victoria has been very rapid in its ... understanding of the outbreak,” he told a senate estimates committee.
“Almost all of the cases have been very closely epidemiologically linked, and there has been a small number of cases that would be described as casual contact, but most of them have been very close household contacts, workplace contacts.”
Around the world there has been a seven day average number of cases 492, 245 and more than 170 million cumulative cases with more than 3.5 million deaths.
COVID-19 Update – May 31, 2021
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Eleven new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 have been identified in Melbourne.
Five were formally recorded overnight bringing the total to 54.
But there were six more cases reported after the midnight cut off – two linked to the Whittlesea outbreak, one a close contact of an existing case and another under investigation.
Two aged care homes have seen cases, including one in Maidstone which has had two staff and one resident test positive.
43,875 tests were carried out in the past 24 hours bringing the total number of tests carried out since the latest outbreak began a week ago to more than 275,000.
16,752 vaccinations were administered yesterday.
Acting Premier James Merlino said the situation was “incredible serious” and that the next few days would be “critical”.
“Things may get worse before they get better,” he said.
COVID-19 Update – May 28, 2021
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Just four new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 were recorded overnight from 47,462 tests carried out yesterday at 26 test sites.
The cases bring the total number of cases in the recent outbreak to 30, with two more among returned travellers in hotel quarantine. 120 exposure sites have now been identified.
There is now a total of 39 active cases in Victoria. Yesterday, 13,223 doses of vaccine were administered.
Today Victoria entered a seven day “circuit breaker” lock down to counter the latest cluster of cases.
There are now just five reasons to leave home: shopping, authorised work, exercise for up to two hours, care giving and getting vaccinated.
The restrictions announced by the state government include: that masks must be worn everywhere, no visitors to homes except in the case of single bubbles, no public gatherings, restaurants, pubs and cafes are takeaway only.
Essential retail outlets such as supermarkets and petrol station will remain open. Other retail outlets can operate click and collect.
Childcare and kinders will remain open but schools and higher education will move to remote learning.
Community sport, accommodation, pools, gyms as well indoor and outdoor entertainment will close. Libraries will be click and collect.
In aged care facilities and hospitals, visitors will only be allowed for exceptional circumstances such as end-of-life visits or supporting a partner during childbirth. Funerals will be capped at ten attendees and weddings won’t be allowed to proceed unless for exceptional circumstances.
Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino says everyone over the age of 40 in the state is now eligible for vaccination after a change in policy.
COVID-19 Update – May 27, 2021
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Victoria will enter a seven day “circuit breaker” lock down from midnight tonight after 11 new cases of COVID-19 community transmission were recorded along with the identification of 79 exposure sites.
There will be just five reasons to leave home: shopping, authorised work, exercise for up to two hours, care giving and getting vaccinated.
The restrictions announced by the state government include: that masks must be worn everywhere, there can be no visitors to homes except in the case of single bubbles, no public gatherings, restaurants, pubs and cafes are takeaway only.
Essential retail outlets such as supermarkets and petrol station will remain open. Other retail outlets can operate click and collect.
Childcare and kinders will remain open but schools and higher education will move to remote learning.
Community sport, accommodation, pools, gyms as well indoor and outdoor entertainment will close. Libraries will be click and collect.
In aged care facilities and hospitals, vistors will only be allowed for exceptional circumstances such as end-of-life visits or supporting a partner during childbirth. Funerals will be capped at 10 attendees and weddings won’t be allowed to proceed unless for exceptional circumstances.
Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino says everyone over the age of 40 in the state is now eligible for vaccination after a change in policy in the last 24 hours.