Australia Covid news live: 141 new cases and two deaths in NSW, including woman in her 30s; Victoria records 11 new cases
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Version 6 of 19. Follow 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”? 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”. |