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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
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)
Follow latest updates live
Follow latest updates live
Hi all, it is Naaman Zhou here with you. Thanks to Matilda Boseley as always for captaining the blog this morning.
Handing you over to the iridescent Naaman Zhou to take you through the afternoon’s news.
The New South Wales government has quietly announced it will give hundreds of thousands of public sector employees two hours of paid vaccine leave as it tries to contain the spread of Covid-19 among essential workers, but unions want the provision to be strengthened.
The state government, which is the largest employer in NSW, issued an updated communication to its agencies on 16 July outlining arrangements to manage employees and support vaccination uptake.
It has told all NSW government departments that, to support employees receiving a Covid vaccine, “agencies may … provide access to special leave of up to two hours or an equivalent payment at base rate of pay”.
The two hours of vaccine leave will be offered in addition to existing leave entitlements, but if an employee experiences side-effects from the vaccine they will have to access paid sick leave.
You can read the full report below:
Victorian press conference:
Victorian health minister Martin Foley says Victoria Police will be taking over the case of three Sydney removalists who spread Covid-19 into Victoria by allegedly not following all the requirements of their border permit, in the “imminent future”.
SA press conference:
Premier Steven Marshall says it’s a “good idea” for people in South Australia to keep working from home for the next week.
The premier also flagged that high levels of mask-wearing compliance may allow restrictions to ease faster.
VIC press conference:
VIC press conference:
As previously stated, all 11 cases were quarantining throughout their infectious period so there are no new exposure sites.
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 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 now 179 active cases.
There are five people in hospital, two in ICU, and one on a ventilator.
There are five people in hospital, two in ICU and one on a ventilator.
Weimar said:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Chant:
Reporter:
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.
