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 5 Version 6
Australia Covid news live: 141 new cases and two deaths in NSW, including woman in her 30s; Victoria records 11 new cases Australia Covid news live: 141 new cases and two deaths in NSW, including woman in her 30s; Victoria records 11 new cases
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the latest updates, liveFollow all the latest updates, live
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has also used the daily press conference to condemn the action of lockdown protesters.
The premier suggested any significant spread of Covid-19 from an event like this could lead to lockdowns being extended.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews says it’s still too early to announce if the state’s lockdown will lift on Tuesday.
The state recorded 11 cases overnight, but all were in quarantine throughout their entire infectious period. All have also been linked to existing outbreaks.
Andrews:
NOW turning to the press conference that took place (simultaneously, grr) in Victoria...
One journalist has raised concerns that South Australia will only lift restrictions for the hospitality industry to ‘Level 4 outsider dining’ in the middle of winter, and whether that will be a viable option for cafes, hotels and restaurants. They have asked whether financial assistance will be provided to these businesses.
Premier Steven Marshall says:
But he warned against journalists speculating about what restrictions will look like in the state after Tuesday.
Marshall says the transition committee will meet later today and again tomorrow to discuss lifting lockdown.
But it isn’t clear that all restrictions will completely disappear in SA on Tuesday night.
South Australia has a new record of testing numbers in the past 24 hours: 23,719.
Marshall says: “it is very clear to me that South Australians are taking this lockdown order very, very seriously.”
South Australian premier Steven Marshall is giving an update on his state’s Covid-19 situation.
South Australia has recorded three new cases, all of whom were in strict home quarantine.
Marshall says the state is on track to lift the lockdown as planned on Tuesday night.
OK, phew. That was big.
And just to make this morning extra busy, South Australia and Victoria both started press conferences while the NSW press conference was happening.
So let’s pivot to what is being said in both those states.
And to help me do that, I have pulled my colleague and blog queen Matilda Boseley on.
Gladys Berejiklian is asked whether she was surprised that the other states knocked back her request for Pfizer doses to be diverted to NSW, given that last month NSW didn’t give its Pfizer doses to Victoria when the state was going through lockdown.
Oh great. Time for more interstate fighting.
Berejikian said:
Important update: NSW health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty has clarified that of the 43 people in ICU with Covid-19, only one has had any dose of the vaccine. The remaining 42 have not been vaccinated.
I’ve updated the previous post to reflect this.
Someone has asked the question on all of our minds: given the high case numbers, what is going to happen after July 31, the day when this lockdown is - technically - supposed to finish.
Berejiklian isn’t announcing a lockdown extension just let, but it doesn’t sound like all restrictions are going to be lifted on Friday.
Although yesterday’s protesters were doing the wrong thing, one reporter said a handful of people “do feel let down... feel like they have no other choice”. Berejiklian is asked whether she feels the federal government should restart jobkeeper.
Berejiklian:
“I appreciate that some people are feeling frustrated, but that is no reason, absolutely no reason, for those actions yesterday. No excuse, I’m sorry.”
But she also made it sound as though NSW shouldn’t hold its breath for any more financial support from the federal government, adding: “We fought really hard to get the financial support that we have available, and not only for individuals who are doing it tough, but also for businesses who are doing it tough, and also in those five local government areas in particular who were providing local support through their community leaders, in addition to the financial support that is already available.”
Berejiklian did add though, that:
Berejiklian is asked whether it is time to exempt vaccinated people from lockdowns in the hope that that will persuade more people to get vaccinated quickly “because they want that freedom as well”?Berejiklian is asked whether it is time to exempt vaccinated people from lockdowns in the hope that that will persuade more people to get vaccinated quickly “because they want that freedom as well”?
The answer: no, or at least, not yet.The answer: no, or at least, not yet.
She says the government won’t be able to consider easing restrictions for vaccinated people until “a larger proportion of the population is vaccinated”.She says the government won’t be able to consider easing restrictions for vaccinated people until “a larger proportion of the population is vaccinated”.
Gladys Berejiklian warns that yesterday’s protests could result in a spike in Covid cases.
Worboys says yesterday’s protests did not take police by surprise: “I’m well aware that the police executive and indeed all the intelligence around that – we have been working on that for weeks, weeks now, well over two weeks that I can recall.”
NSW police deputy commissioner Gary Worboys says police have issued 510 infringement notices in the past 24 hours, “the vast majority of those to people whose behaviour yesterday in and around Sydney could only be described as violent, filthy behaviour, risky behaviour, that police will continue to investigate”.
Worboys says a strike force has been set up to identify all the protesters: “So I expect over the next few days and perhaps weeks that that number of penalty infringement notices will continue to be high.”
He says that at 1pm the police minister and deputy will provide further information.
McAnulty says NSW health is particularly concerned about a gathering of people in Pendle Hill.
There are 141 Covid cases in hospital. Of these, 43 people are in intensive care, and 18 needing ventilation.
McAnulty says that of the people in intensive care, “one is in their teens, seven are in their 20s, three in their 30s, 14 are in their 50s, and 12 are in their 60s, and six are in their 70s”.
“So this is affecting people of all ages with very serious disease... One person has just received one dose of vaccine,” he says.
McAnulty has since clarified that of the 43 people in intensive care, 42 of them have not had any dose of the vaccine.
As I mentioned earlier, NSW has recorded two deaths overnight. These include a woman in her late 30s from the Sydney CBD area, and a woman in her 70s from south-west Sydney.
“These are very tragic events and our sympathy goes out to their family, friends and loved ones,” McAnulty said.
NSW Health’s Dr Jeremy McAnulty is providing the Covid-19 health update.
NSW has recorded 141 locally acquired cases, up until 8pm yesterday.
Of the 141 locally acquired cases, 87 are linked to other cases in the cluster and 54 remain under investigation.
There are no new overseas acquired cases.
There are now 2,081 cases associated with this outbreak since 16 June.
NSW has seen a record number of more than 102,000 tests across the state up until 8pm yesterday.
Berejiklian says she is “absolutely disgusted” by yesterday’s anti-lockdown protests.
Berejiklian reassures that the government is acting on the advice of experts.
Berejiklian says the government is “doing all we can” to increase vaccination rates in the five local government areas most affected by the 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.