This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/jul/25/australia-covid-news-live-lockdown-protest-covid-sydney-nsw-victoria-morrison-cases

The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Australia Covid news live: Victoria records 11 new cases, NSW treasurer calls for return of jobkeeper Australia Covid news live: NSW records 141 new cases and two deaths as Victoria records 11 new cases
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the latest updates, liveFollow all the latest updates, live
Berejiklian says the government is “doing all we can” to increase vaccination rates in the five Local Government areas most impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Berejiklian says measures include:
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she wants to make two points this morning:
First, she is urging everyone who can. to come forward and get vaccinated.
NSW has recorded 141 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. Of those, 38 cases were infectious while in the community.
The state has also recorded two deaths over night: a woman in her 70s, but also a woman in her 30s with no pre-existing conditions.
South Australian authorities are also due to give a Covid-19 update at 11.30am AEST (11am SA time).
But first, NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is stepping up to the mic.
Queensland has recorded no new locally acquired cases overnight.
It has recorded five new cases in hotel quarantine, which were acquired overseas. This brings the total number of active cases in Qld to 26.
For those who don’t watch the daily news press conferences, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant is doing a live Q&A on TikTok TONIGHT at 7pm AEST.
The goal of the Q&A is to “inform and educate” listeners about Covid-19, lockdown rules across NSW, and the importance of getting vaccinated.
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is due to give a Covid update at 11am AEST.
My first press conference of the day. I’m wolfing down a piece of toast for sustenance. Stay tuned.
While most state and federal government leaders have condemned yesterday’s anti-lockdown protests, Liberal National party backbencher George Christensen has gone far, FAR in the other direction.
He took to his Facebook page yesterday to not only voice his support for the protests, but encourage his followers to attend.
In one post reflecting on the Melbourne protests, he wrote:
In another post, Christensen shared photos of himself attending a local “freedom” protest in Bluewater Quay, and complained that “hardly any media were in sight”.
I put “freedom” in quote marks because having thousands of unmasked people in close proximity during a Covid outbreak is a pretty effective way of helping to spread the virus and keeping people in lockdown.
So here you go, George. I’m covering it.
Nobel laureate Prof Peter Doherty has weighed in on whether other states should divert their Pfizer vaccines to NSW to help curb the growing outbreak as discussed on the ABC’s Insiders this morning.Nobel laureate Prof Peter Doherty has weighed in on whether other states should divert their Pfizer vaccines to NSW to help curb the growing outbreak as discussed on the ABC’s Insiders this morning.
Doherty cautioned that any vaccine won’t have an effect for at least two to four weeks, suggesting that vaccines shouldn’t be used in place of stricter, more effective lockdowns.Doherty cautioned that any vaccine won’t have an effect for at least two to four weeks, suggesting that vaccines shouldn’t be used in place of stricter, more effective lockdowns.
To put this into context: NSW’s lockdown has, so far, Not. Been. Going. Well.To put this into context: NSW’s lockdown has, so far, Not. Been. Going. Well.
Not only are case numbers growing (163 yesterday), but many of these cases are still in the community during their infectious period (45 yesterday).Not only are case numbers growing (163 yesterday), but many of these cases are still in the community during their infectious period (45 yesterday).
The Australian Medical Association president Omar Korshid also warned on Friday that current lockdown measures are “simply not strong enough” to contain the Delta variant in NSW.The Australian Medical Association president Omar Korshid also warned on Friday that current lockdown measures are “simply not strong enough” to contain the Delta variant in NSW.
The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse cancer treatment centre at the RPA hospital in Camperdown, Sydney, has been declared a Covid exposure site.The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse cancer treatment centre at the RPA hospital in Camperdown, Sydney, has been declared a Covid exposure site.
Anyone who visited it on 20 July is considered a close contact and needs to get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.Anyone who visited it on 20 July is considered a close contact and needs to get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
More than 100 exposure sites have been added in NSW overnight.More than 100 exposure sites have been added in NSW overnight.
In other news, UK journalist and former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan has revealed he has Covid-19. He believes he caught the virus at Wembley during the Euro 2020 final, which took place on Sunday 11 July.In other news, UK journalist and former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan has revealed he has Covid-19. He believes he caught the virus at Wembley during the Euro 2020 final, which took place on Sunday 11 July.
Morgan is fully vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.Morgan is fully vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine.
He told the Mail On Sunday that he thought the event would be Covid-safe, but that that hope “disintegrated”.He told the Mail On Sunday that he thought the event would be Covid-safe, but that that hope “disintegrated”.
“It was turning into an unregulated free-for-all,” he said.“It was turning into an unregulated free-for-all,” he said.
The government has announced it has secured an additional 85m doses of the Pfizer vaccine to be delivered in 2022 and 2023.The government has announced it has secured an additional 85m doses of the Pfizer vaccine to be delivered in 2022 and 2023.
Prime minister Scott Morrison says the deal will provide every Australian with access to a booster vaccine, if required.Prime minister Scott Morrison says the deal will provide every Australian with access to a booster vaccine, if required.
Morrison says:Morrison says:
Ohhhhh, things just got JUICY.
David Speers has asked Bill Shorten whether he is hoping to take out the top spot once again and become leader of the Labor party (and, someday, prime minister?).
Shorten flat-out denied the story which was printed in the Australian yesterday.
Speers pressed on, asking whether Labor was being bold enough on the policy front.
Shorten, surpise surprise, said: “Yes.”
David Speers has asked how many people in Australia need to be vaccinated “before we hit the finish line”.
Shorten says about 80%:
Asked why some Australians aren’t getting vaccinated, Shorten says:
Shorten lays blame for what’s happening in NSW squarely on the federal government’s vaccine rollout.
But he concedes that if there are unallocated vaccine doses in other states, they should be diverted to NSW.
Shorten also welcomed Atagi’s decision to recommend anyone over the age of 18 in greater Sydney get any available vaccine, including AstraZeneca.
Bill Shorten is speaking to David Speers on ABC’s Insiders this morning.
Asked whether other states should provide NSW with doses of the Pfizer vaccine, Shorten said:
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has called on the federal government to reinstate the JobKeeper payment, as the state struggles with rising Covid-19 case numbers, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
The federal government has already extended a Covid-19 Disaster Payment to eligible workers in NSW.
But Perrottet said:
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce have confirmed to the paper that discussions are being had about greater financial assistance for Greater Sydney, depending on how the current outbreak continues.
But they warned that there were no immediate plans to boost assistance.
NSW health authorities added more than 100 locations to the list of public exposure sites in Sydney and regional NSW overnight.
They include Virgin Flight VA1139 on 14 July from Sydney to Ballina, arriving at 11.45am.
Anybody who was on this flight is considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days from the data of exposure, regardless of the test result. They must also call NSW Health on 1800 943 553.
There are also a number of other exposure sites associated with the case:
Campsie Centre, 14-28 Amy Street, Campsie.
Haldon Street, Lakemba.
Health authorities have warned that anyone who has visited either of those locations in the past 14 days must be vigilant for symptoms, given the high number of exposure sites associated with them.
We’ve heard a lot about the anti-lockdown protests in Sydney and Melbourne yesterday, but thousands of protesters also took to the streets in Brisbane.
Police estimate a whopping 7,500 people gathered in the Botanic Gardens and marched through the city as part of the “freedom rally”.
Many weren’t wearing masks but under current restrictions in Brisbane, you aren’t required to wear one outside as long as physical distancing is maintained.
Queensland police told the ABC that police “will be reviewing all available footage of today’s events to determine if any clear breaches have occurred”.
Two men have been charged after allegedly striking police horses during yesterday’s anti-lockdown protests in Sydney.
A 33-year-old man has been charged with affray, join or continue in unlawful assembly, commit an act of cruelty upon an animal, and not comply with noticed direction re 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested and charged with assault officer in execution of duty, commit an act of cruelty upon an animal, not comply with noticed direction re 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
Both men have been refused bail and will appear today at Parramatta local court.
Victoria has recorded 11 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases, all of whom where in quarantine during their infectious period, according to the state’s health department.
All cases are linked to the current outbreak.
Good morning! It’s Justine Landis-Hanley here, bringing you the news today.
To kick off, let’s recap the biggest stories from yesterday and a few overnight developments.
NSW recorded 163 new cases yesterday, its highest daily case number of this outbreak.
More than 3,500 anti-lockdown protesters flooded the streets of Sydney’s CBD and clashed with authorities yesterday. And more than 1,000 protesters also took to the streets of Melbourne’s CBD to protest the latest lockdowns.
A NSW police strike force consisting of 22 detectives is working to identify the state’s anti-lockdown protesters. Police minister David Elliott says the strike force will examine CCTV footage from surrounding buildings, as well as social media footage that has been gathered overnight.
So far, 57 people associated with the protest have been arrested, 34 of whom have been charged.
More than 100 sites have been added to the list of exposure venues on the NSWhealth website overnight.
In light of growing case numbers, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) now recommends that anyone over the age of 18 in greater Sydney should consider getting any available vaccine, including AstraZeneca.