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Australia Covid live update: Gladys Berejiklian confirms 145 new local cases in NSW; Queensland records one new local case; Victoria records 11 Australia Covid live update: Gladys Berejiklian confirms 145 new local cases in NSW; Queensland and SA record one new local case each; Victoria records 11
(32 minutes later)
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Okay, the Victorian and South Australian press conferences are about it start. I might swap my main attention over to them. VIC press conference:
But don’t worry I’ll still bring you NSW updates and every post will be labelled to avoid confusion! As previously stated, all 11 cases were quarantining throughout their infectious period so there are no new exposure sites.
There have been 180 confirmed cases in the community in Victoria, and more than 21,000 people are still in quarantine. One of those cases has recovered — so it’s 179 active.
There are five people in hospital, two in ICU, and one on a ventilator.
Weimar said:
In terms of other areas of concern: There are 506 primary close contacts at the LaCrosse high rise apartment building in Docklands, after one resident tested positive. That resident has since moved into hotel quarantine. So far 483 have been tested and 150 have returned negative results, including all those who lived on the same floor as the positive case.
Residents of the Isola apartments in Richmond are expected to be out in a few days.
And in some very welcome news, some of the residents of Ariele apartments in Maribyrnong have already been released from quarantine and the rest will be out in the next few days.
Kate Matson, the deputy health secretary in charge of Victoria’s covid response, said that everyone who is in isolation should get a text message reminding them to get a test on day 13, then a follow up call once a negative result is in, followed by written confirmation, usually via email, that your quarantine will end at a certain time.
If there are no day 13 test results quarantine will be extended by another 14 days. So get tested and follow up with Vic Health if you didn’t get a reminder text or phone call.
VIC press conference:
Victoria’s Covid commander Jeroen Weimar has run through the new cases in Melbourne.
Two of the new cases are linked to the Ms Frankie restaurant in Cremorne. One unknowingly positive case dined in the venue on 15 July. Today’s two new cases bring the total outbreak connected to that one diner to 46.
Weimar praised the restaurant and staff for their efforts. He said:
The other nine cases are all household contacts of other positive cases. They are two cases linked to the Trinity Grammar outbreak, two linked to Bacchus Marsh Grammar outbreak, two linked to Aami Park, two linked to the City of Hume, and one for Young and Jackson’s.
NSW press conference:
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she will be announcing all changes to the state’s Covid-19 restriction at once, (likely on Friday by the sounds of things).
NSW press conference:
There was an interesting exchange right at the end of the NSW press conference, with chief health officer Kerry Chant giving us a forward sizzle for the announcement tomorrow that AstraZeneca walk-in vaccination hubs will be established for people of all ages.
Reporter:Reporter:
Berejiklian:
A reporter asks Gladys Berejiklian again if the prime minister lobbied her in any way, and again she avoids answering directly.
A reporter has asked if, before the first lockdown, Scott Morrison encouraged Gladys Berejiklian “in any way, to avoid a lockdown?”, and if “in recent days, the prime minister attempted to encourage [her], in any way, to tighten the lock down?”.
The New South Wales premier didn’t really answer.
NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller says officers are continuing to follow up and fine those involved in the weekend’s illegal anti-lockdown rallies.
He warned against people attending a similar rally next weekend, despite his Victorian counterpart making a point this morning not to speak about such plans publicly for fear of inadvertently advertising the event.
Fuller:
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant says it’s distressing to see how few people who are eligible for AstraZeneca are taking up the opportunity.
Chief health officer Kerry Chant has been very firm this morning that the main limiting factor of getting Pfizer doses in arms in Sydney is supply, not state vaccination capacity.
Kerry Chant has been asked if the plan is to remain in lockdown until the number of cases infectious in the community is zero or close to zero, or until 80% of the population of Greater Sydney is vaccinated. (Both prospects could be months away.)
Chant:Chant:
By the way, we are expecting to hear from Victoria and South Australia in about 15 minutes. I will do my best to bring you updates from all three events. Reporter:
Kerry Chant noted that a number of pharmacies will be able to administer AstraZeneca vaccines from today. Chant:
NSW press conference:
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she won’t rule out some settings changing from Friday, but from the sounds of things this won’t involve any massive easing of physical distancing laws.
Berejiklian:
Okay, here is everyone’s favourite part of the 11am press conference crush!
Nick Evershed is delivering the goods with some helpful charts explaining the NSW and Victoria daily case stats.
There is a breakdown of NSW case numbers by isolation status:
And here is the trend in local cases, using the seven-day average for NSW:
And Victoria:
SA press conference:
Premier Steven Marshall says there is “every indication” the state will come out of lockdown at midnight on Tuesday as planned.
But he says there needs to be a “sensible pathway out”, with a week of restrictions to come into play from 12.01am on Wednesday, including density requirements on indoor and outdoor retail.
He says mask wearing will have to continue for some time.
There will be limits of 10 people for household gatherings (members of households included), 50 people for funerals and weddings, and gyms will reopen with density requirements.
Some activities will remain banned for the week, and Marshall says he will provide an update regarding sport on Tuesday.
He says there was a discussion regarding regional areas, but “ultimately it was resolved [that] we went into this as a state, we’ll come out of it in a state”.
Victorian press conference:
The Victorian health minister Martin Foley is speaking in Melbourne now. Victoria recorded 11 cases overnight, all of which are linked to the current outbreak, or “the delta strain from the two incursions from NSW” as he put it, and all were quarantining for the whole infectious period.
There is no firm announcement on lockdown lifting as yet, but Foley suggests things are looking good. (The current Victorian lockdown expires at 11.59pm tomorrow.)
He said:
SA press conference:
Premier Steven Marshall confirms that a number of restrictions will remain in the state for at least another seven days after the lockdown lifts from Wednesday.
Marshall:
A density requirement of one person per four square metres, food and beverage consumption seated only, but the outdoor and indoor restrictions on ... dancing and singing to continue for the next seven days.
Masks will be required in all high-risk settings, personal care services, passenger transport services and healthcare services in South Australia. We will provide a further update tomorrow but we are really wanting there to be a very high level, continued use of masks in our community ...
Household gatherings and private activities are limited to 10 people maximum per household – that includes the members of the household.
Weddings and funerals can have up to 50 people, and [are] otherwise bound by the overall density arrangements with a particular venue.
Gyms may reopen but it’s a density of one person per eight square metres in the first instance.
Sporting communities, we will update ... tomorrow. We’re working with the sporting associations and the Department of Sport and Recreation. We would like to see training resume, and we would also like to see competitions resume, and we’ll provide further information with regards to that tomorrow.
Despite the Victorian lockdown being slated to end at midnight tomorrow, state leaders say they still require the rest of today’s data in order to make an informed decision on the next steps for the state.
Health minister Martin Foley:
At the South Australian press conference, premier Steven Marshall has confirmed the state recorded only one new local case overnight, an elderly man who was in isolation for his entire infectious period. He is connected to the winery cluster.
This means SA’s seven-day hard lockdown will lift.
Marshall: