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Australia Covid live update: Queensland braces for more cases on first full day of lockdown; Victoria records four new cases Australia Covid live update: Queensland records nine new cases on first full day of lockdown; Victoria records four new cases
(32 minutes later)
Queensland authorities expect case numbers and exposure sites to grow today as three million across the state begin their first full day in lockdown. Follow all the day’s newsQueensland authorities expect case numbers and exposure sites to grow today as three million across the state begin their first full day in lockdown. Follow all the day’s news
That brings the number of cases in the Indooroopilly cluster to 18. This cluster is the delta strain.
Miles says four of the new cases are linked to a karate school attended by one of the cases reported yesterday. The karate school is at Ironside State School, but attended by kids from other schools.
One of the new cases from the karate school is a student from Brisbane Boys Grammar. Their father has also tested positive.
There are two cases linked to Indooroopilly State high School and two cases linked to Ironside state school.
Miles said just 11,468 tests were done in the past 24 hours.
Queensland has reported nine new cases of Covid-19.
All were in the community and are linked to yesterday’s cases.
Deputy premier Steven Miles says:
Speers asks Hazzard if there is any modelling to suggest that NSW will get the number of people infectious in the community to zero, or close to zero, at the end of this current four-week extension of the lockdown.
Hazzard says the modelling is dependent on the inputs, which is kind of like saying graphs are dependent on numbers.
He puts it back on the vaccine rollout.
But back on the modelling. Is there modelling showing NSW will get back to zero infectious in the community in four weeks?
Speers: But what does it show at the moment? Have you got any modelling that says, ‘This will be over in four weeks’?
Hazzard:
Speers: It doesn’t sound like it’s very concrete.
Hazzard:
Back to Brad Hazzard on insiders. David Speers points out that even the prime minister has now acknowledged that the key lesson of the lsat six weeks is it’s better to go hard and early with a lockdown.
Does Hazzard acknowledge that NSW should have gone earlier?
He does not, and again points to the “challenge” posed by the south-western suburbs of Sydney, which he relates to the northern and north-western suburbs of Melbourne in that both are culturally diverse communities.
Shouldn’t you have learned from the Victorian experience, asks Speers? And do you offer an apology for locking down earlier?
Hazzard:
Leaving that interview briefly to go to Queensland: the deputy premier, Steven Miles, will hold a press conference at 10am.
Hazzard has rejected a suggestion the NSW government delayed the start of the lockdown.
Speers points out that the lockdown was announced on 25 June, when the Bondi cluster was already at 65 cases, and asks when Dr Chant made her recommendation.
Hazzard:
Did Chant recommend the lockdown before the government actually announced a lockdown?
Hazzard:
Speers: You didn’t delay?
Hazzard:
Will NSW consider putting limits on how many people can work in freight or distribution businesses at any one time, as Victoria did during its second wave outbreak last year?
Hazzard says they would “consider anything on the basis of the advice that we get from our health team, our public health team and the broader health team”.
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard is on Insiders this morning. Host David Speers starts by asking why the NSW government has not applied a consistent set of rules across greater Sydney.
Hazzard says:
(The northern beaches is a pretty isolated and insular part of Sydney, which may account for the difference. Moving on).
Speers: has NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant suggested the rules be universal across Sydney?
Hazzard:
What about the requirement to wear masks outdoors, and stay within 5km of your home? That doesn’t apply in the rest of Sydney.
Hazzard says it’s both a nuanced and hard response, “by other standards around the country, both in regard to the broader Sydney area but obviously much more requirements in those areas where we’ve seen the challenges. And we’ll continue to respond that way”.
Frewen described the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as “a very effective vaccine” and “a national asset”, given it was being produced domestically in Australia. He told Sky News that Australia had access to ample supplies of AstraZeneca.Frewen described the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as “a very effective vaccine” and “a national asset”, given it was being produced domestically in Australia. He told Sky News that Australia had access to ample supplies of AstraZeneca.
Asked how many AstraZeneca doses were sitting unused in Australia at the moment, Frewen said:Asked how many AstraZeneca doses were sitting unused in Australia at the moment, Frewen said:
Frewen said the AstraZeneca doses would “get used one way or another, but I’m committed to shipping as much as I can out to the Pacific as well it’s really important that we’re all in this together. Just as we’re managing outbreaks inside the country here, it’s really important that we help our friends and partners around the Pacific get vaccinated as well.” Frewen said the AstraZeneca doses would “get used one way or another, but I’m committed to shipping as much as I can out to the Pacific as well”. “It’s really important that we’re all in this together. Just as we’re managing outbreaks inside the country here, it’s really important that we help our friends and partners around the Pacific get vaccinated as well.”
On the broader timetable for the vaccination rollout, Frewen said:On the broader timetable for the vaccination rollout, Frewen said:
Lt Gen John Frewen, who leads the national Covid vaccine taskforce, has been interviewed on Sky News.Lt Gen John Frewen, who leads the national Covid vaccine taskforce, has been interviewed on Sky News.
Sky News’ Andrew Clennell asked Frewen about the suggestion he had been firm with Gladys Berejiklian in national cabinet when she had floated cancelling GP appointments in New South Wales and divert the Pfizer to southwestern Sydney.Sky News’ Andrew Clennell asked Frewen about the suggestion he had been firm with Gladys Berejiklian in national cabinet when she had floated cancelling GP appointments in New South Wales and divert the Pfizer to southwestern Sydney.
Frewen did not deny resisting the idea, but stressed his position that the national rollout should not be disrupted:Frewen did not deny resisting the idea, but stressed his position that the national rollout should not be disrupted:
Turning briefly to other disasters: from next year Australians living in bushfire zones determine the risk posed by their homes.Turning briefly to other disasters: from next year Australians living in bushfire zones determine the risk posed by their homes.
The Bushfire Building Council of Australia CEO Kate Cotter told AAP:The Bushfire Building Council of Australia CEO Kate Cotter told AAP:
The project received $3m in funding from the federal government, as well as from Bluescope, insurer IAG, and the National Australia Bank.The project received $3m in funding from the federal government, as well as from Bluescope, insurer IAG, and the National Australia Bank.
National Recovery and Resilience Agency director Michael Crawford said it’s hoped the initiative will help Australians better understand disaster risk and what can be done to reduce vulnerability.National Recovery and Resilience Agency director Michael Crawford said it’s hoped the initiative will help Australians better understand disaster risk and what can be done to reduce vulnerability.
The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, says it is unfair for critics to give the Morrison government a “history lesson” over the vaccine rollout.The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, says it is unfair for critics to give the Morrison government a “history lesson” over the vaccine rollout.
Joyce has also defended Scott Morrison for publicly applauding the NSW government for resisting a full lockdown when case Covid-19 numbers were rising in June. Joyce said leaders were dealing with “a dynamic environment where of course you learn things all the time”.Joyce has also defended Scott Morrison for publicly applauding the NSW government for resisting a full lockdown when case Covid-19 numbers were rising in June. Joyce said leaders were dealing with “a dynamic environment where of course you learn things all the time”.
After a national cabinet meeting on Friday, Morrison conceded invoking short, sharp lockdowns at the very early stages of an outbreak was currently the best health and economic response to the highly infectious Delta variant. But Morrison did not express regret for his previous endorsement of Gladys Berejiklian’s approach by saying: “We all humbly learn from these things and we make the adjustments and get on with it.”After a national cabinet meeting on Friday, Morrison conceded invoking short, sharp lockdowns at the very early stages of an outbreak was currently the best health and economic response to the highly infectious Delta variant. But Morrison did not express regret for his previous endorsement of Gladys Berejiklian’s approach by saying: “We all humbly learn from these things and we make the adjustments and get on with it.”
Joyce, when asked about the matter during an interview with Sky News this morning, said he did not think that “anybody had a perfect run sheet on exactly what was supposed to, how this was going to roll out, and how other outbreaks were going to happen”.Joyce, when asked about the matter during an interview with Sky News this morning, said he did not think that “anybody had a perfect run sheet on exactly what was supposed to, how this was going to roll out, and how other outbreaks were going to happen”.
Pressed on whether the government had been caught flat-footed on the vaccine rollout, and did not spread its best widely enough when it was negotiating supply contracts last year, Joyce said the process was now “rolling out a lot better”.Pressed on whether the government had been caught flat-footed on the vaccine rollout, and did not spread its best widely enough when it was negotiating supply contracts last year, Joyce said the process was now “rolling out a lot better”.
A Sydney man has raised concerns about the Australian Immunisation Register after he was falsely recorded as having been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 — before he had received his first jab.A Sydney man has raised concerns about the Australian Immunisation Register after he was falsely recorded as having been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 — before he had received his first jab.
Christopher Knaus reports:Christopher Knaus reports:
You can read the full story here:You can read the full story here:
Victoria has recorded four new locally-acquired cases of Covid-19.Victoria has recorded four new locally-acquired cases of Covid-19.
All four are linked to current outbreaks and have been in quarantine throughout their entire infectious period, the Victorian health department said.All four are linked to current outbreaks and have been in quarantine throughout their entire infectious period, the Victorian health department said.
Just one new exposure site was added yesterday — a gym in Altona North.Just one new exposure site was added yesterday — a gym in Altona North.
Body Fit Training on Bennett Drive, Altona North, on 28 July from 5.20am to 7am, is a tier two site.Body Fit Training on Bennett Drive, Altona North, on 28 July from 5.20am to 7am, is a tier two site.
It’s worth checking back to this list periodically if you are in Victoria, or have been in Victoria in the past two weeks.It’s worth checking back to this list periodically if you are in Victoria, or have been in Victoria in the past two weeks.
Good morning,Good morning,
Queensland is one-sixth of the way through its snap 72-hour lockdown after recording six cases yesterday. The sunshine state is bracing for more cases with 15 new exposure sites added overnight, bringing the total list to almost 100. The list includes two backpacker hostels and busy department stores in Indooroopilly. You can read the full list of exposure sites here.Queensland is one-sixth of the way through its snap 72-hour lockdown after recording six cases yesterday. The sunshine state is bracing for more cases with 15 new exposure sites added overnight, bringing the total list to almost 100. The list includes two backpacker hostels and busy department stores in Indooroopilly. You can read the full list of exposure sites here.
In Sydney, police will be out in force again in a crackdown on people breaking the lockdown rules. Police were on the streets yesterday in an effort to foil an anti-lockdown protest, which didn’t eventuate. The organisers of that protest have suggested they’ll regroup later this month.In Sydney, police will be out in force again in a crackdown on people breaking the lockdown rules. Police were on the streets yesterday in an effort to foil an anti-lockdown protest, which didn’t eventuate. The organisers of that protest have suggested they’ll regroup later this month.
Even without the protest, police arrested 8 people and more than 250 penalty notices were issued.Even without the protest, police arrested 8 people and more than 250 penalty notices were issued.
The focus today will be on supermarkets and retail stores, and whether people check in using QR codes and wear facemasks. The NSW police commissioner, Mick Fuller, has warned there are fines of $5,000 for businesses failing to use QR codes and up to $1,000 for people not wearing face masks.The focus today will be on supermarkets and retail stores, and whether people check in using QR codes and wear facemasks. The NSW police commissioner, Mick Fuller, has warned there are fines of $5,000 for businesses failing to use QR codes and up to $1,000 for people not wearing face masks.
In a statement released late yesterday, Fuller said:In a statement released late yesterday, Fuller said:
Meanwhile, Victoria has recorded four new cases of Covid-19 overnight, all of which are linked and were in quarantine.Meanwhile, Victoria has recorded four new cases of Covid-19 overnight, all of which are linked and were in quarantine.
Let’s crack on. If we miss something, you can let me know on twitter @callapilla or via email at calla.wahlquist@gmail.comLet’s crack on. If we miss something, you can let me know on twitter @callapilla or via email at calla.wahlquist@gmail.com