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Australia Covid live update: NSW records 239 new cases as Queensland reports nine on first full day of lockdown Australia Covid live update: NSW records 239 new cases as Queensland reports nine on first full day of lockdown
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s newsFollow all the day’s news
Three members of Australia’s Bali Nine, who have served 16 years behind bars, should be forgiven and allowed to walk free one day, prison and justice ministry officials say.
The three, who are jailed in Bali, are serving life sentences for their role in an ill-fated heroin-smuggling plot and unless they can win a reprieve from Indonesia’s president, will never be freed.
As Indonesia’s 17 August Independence Day approaches, when remissions are traditionally announced, the trio’s jail governors and justice officials have sent glowing reports to Jakarta, recommending they be given a chance at life outside prison.
The final decision rests with president Joko Widodo, who, in 2015, ordered that 34-year-old Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan, 31, be executed by firing squad.
Matthew James Norman, 34, and Si Yi Chen, 36, are held in Bali’s Kerobokan prison while Scott Rush, 35, is in the Bangli Narcotics jail in Bali’s north.
Read more:
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and her mask: a photo essay.
Victoria has tweaked its vaccine rollout to ensure more people are able to get their first shot of the Pfizer vaccine.
From AAP:
The message is to go out and get vaccinated as soon as you are able to do so in Australia. But what do you do if you are talking to a friend or family member who is hesitant to get a vaccine. How can you reassure them?The message is to go out and get vaccinated as soon as you are able to do so in Australia. But what do you do if you are talking to a friend or family member who is hesitant to get a vaccine. How can you reassure them?
We asked Guardian Readers how they have been speaking to their loved ones about vaccine hesitancy. The most common response was: you just need to show them the data, absent any spin. The science will sway them.We asked Guardian Readers how they have been speaking to their loved ones about vaccine hesitancy. The most common response was: you just need to show them the data, absent any spin. The science will sway them.
You can read all their responses here.You can read all their responses here.
Western Australian health authorities are still monitoring nine active cases of Covid-19 on the cargo ship MV Darya Krishna, which docked in Fremantle this week.Western Australian health authorities are still monitoring nine active cases of Covid-19 on the cargo ship MV Darya Krishna, which docked in Fremantle this week.
Two are in hospital, including one in ICU; one is in hotel quarantine and six are still on board the vessel. There’s also another positive case on another ship, the MV BBC California, who is also isolating on board their ship.Two are in hospital, including one in ICU; one is in hotel quarantine and six are still on board the vessel. There’s also another positive case on another ship, the MV BBC California, who is also isolating on board their ship.
WA authorities are also still monitoring a situation in which a Queensland man travelled to Perth from Brisbane via plane on 18 July without a permit. The man was turned around and flew back on 20 July and tested positive to Covid on 27 July.WA authorities are also still monitoring a situation in which a Queensland man travelled to Perth from Brisbane via plane on 18 July without a permit. The man was turned around and flew back on 20 July and tested positive to Covid on 27 July.
In a statement, WA health said:In a statement, WA health said:
Just 867 people were tested for Covid in WA yesterday, and 6,301 people received a vaccine dose.Just 867 people were tested for Covid in WA yesterday, and 6,301 people received a vaccine dose.
Let’s go back to Sydney now, to an incident that was referenced by deputy NSW police commissioner Mick Willing at this morning’s press conference.Let’s go back to Sydney now, to an incident that was referenced by deputy NSW police commissioner Mick Willing at this morning’s press conference.
Here are the details from AAP:Here are the details from AAP:
Time for another quick Olympics interlude.Time for another quick Olympics interlude.
While all that was happening, six-time Australian Olympian Andrew Hoy and his beautiful horse Vassily de Lassos have completed the cross country. Clear and incredibly fast – 7:35, 10 seconds inside the time and the fastest on course so far.While all that was happening, six-time Australian Olympian Andrew Hoy and his beautiful horse Vassily de Lassos have completed the cross country. Clear and incredibly fast – 7:35, 10 seconds inside the time and the fastest on course so far.
That puts Australia in the running for a team medal if they jump clear in showjumping.That puts Australia in the running for a team medal if they jump clear in showjumping.
Victoria’s chief health officer, Brett Sutton, says that only 10 of the 204 people who tested positive to Covid-19 in Victoria between 12 and 28 July were fully vaccinated, and a further 15 had received at least one dose.Victoria’s chief health officer, Brett Sutton, says that only 10 of the 204 people who tested positive to Covid-19 in Victoria between 12 and 28 July were fully vaccinated, and a further 15 had received at least one dose.
It’s a small sample size not a full analysis, Sutton says, but it provides a moment in time snapshot “and does tell us something”.It’s a small sample size not a full analysis, Sutton says, but it provides a moment in time snapshot “and does tell us something”.
To Victoria now, where the acting Covid-19 commander, Naomi Bromley, has been speaking.To Victoria now, where the acting Covid-19 commander, Naomi Bromley, has been speaking.
Victoria recorded four locally-acquired cases yesterday. All of them are linked to known outbreaks and have been quarantining.Victoria recorded four locally-acquired cases yesterday. All of them are linked to known outbreaks and have been quarantining.
Two of the new cases are household contacts of patrons of Ms Frankies restaurant, one is a social contact of a case linked back to the Young and Jackson’s cluster, and one is a hosuehold contact of someone who attended the Wallabies game at AAMI park.Two of the new cases are household contacts of patrons of Ms Frankies restaurant, one is a social contact of a case linked back to the Young and Jackson’s cluster, and one is a hosuehold contact of someone who attended the Wallabies game at AAMI park.
There are eight people in hospital in Victoria, including three in ICU and one on a ventilator.There are eight people in hospital in Victoria, including three in ICU and one on a ventilator.
Bromley says public health teams are still investigating the “upstream and downstream risks” associated with the case of the person who worked at Covid testing centre at Moonee Valley Racecourse, to determine where they may have acquired the virus. All of their contacts from potential acquisition sites have been tested, all negative to date.Bromley says public health teams are still investigating the “upstream and downstream risks” associated with the case of the person who worked at Covid testing centre at Moonee Valley Racecourse, to determine where they may have acquired the virus. All of their contacts from potential acquisition sites have been tested, all negative to date.
For the outbreak as a whole, about 1,200 people were cleared as primary close contacts and left isolation yesterday, about 5,000 remain in isolation.For the outbreak as a whole, about 1,200 people were cleared as primary close contacts and left isolation yesterday, about 5,000 remain in isolation.
If Queensland’s 72-hour snap lockdown works to control the Delta outbreak there, just as the two-week lockdown in Victoria appears to have controlled the Delta outbreak in Melbourne, will Berejiklian concede that she should have called a lockdown earlier?If Queensland’s 72-hour snap lockdown works to control the Delta outbreak there, just as the two-week lockdown in Victoria appears to have controlled the Delta outbreak in Melbourne, will Berejiklian concede that she should have called a lockdown earlier?
Berejiklian:Berejiklian:
A reporter asks if Berejiklian underestimated the Delta variant.A reporter asks if Berejiklian underestimated the Delta variant.
Berejiklian says Service NSW is working with the commonwealth to ensure vaccine data is correct.
There have been reports of vaccine reports not uploading to Medicare, or accidentally marking someone as vaccinated who is not.
Berejiklian:
Berejiklian is asked about reports that some year 12 students are nervous about returning to the classroom, given the outbreak.
She says that she doesn’t want anyone to “get complacent or drop their guard,” but that:
She also urged all teachers to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Berejiklian was asked if she would consider introducing a payment to test and isolate, like Victoria introduced last year.
In Victoria, if you get a test and do not have sick leave, you’re entitled to a $450 payment to allow you to stay home and isolate until you get your test result.
Berejiklian says the issue of people not testing is “broader” than people not testing because they are worried about losing work.
What about reports that people in their 20s and 30s who have tried to get the AstraZeneca but been told by their GP to wait for Pfizer?
Berejiklian says that the federal health advice states that if you’re over 18, it is safe to get either vaccine.
Berejiklian is asked to comment on reports that nurses working in emergency departments have been asked to come to work when they should be isolating.
She says:
Asked if she supported the 70 to 80% threshold for vaccination rates set by national cabinet, Gladys Berejiklian says she has been talking about an 80% vaccination threshold for NSW “for some time”.
That suggests the decision about whether or not to extend Sydney’s lockdown will be influenced by the vaccine rates.
Berejiklian says:
The NSW health minister Brad Hazzard said it would take about four months for NSW to reach a point of having 70% of the population fully vaccinated.
Berejiklian says that depends on how many people get vaccinated this month. Well, of course.
McAnulty said four people in NSW with Covid have died at their homes.
McAnulty confirmed that there are nine residents of an aged care facility in Summer Hill who have tested positive to Covid-19.
Asked why he didn’t lead the update with that information, McAnulty says a number of aged care facilities, hospitals, and disability cases have seen infections.
On the police crackdown, NSW police says that 1,300 officers were deployed around Sydney on Saturday and checked more than 70,000 vehicles.
Police gave 250 people infringement notices for being in the city without a “reasonable excuse” and eight were arrested as officers sought to prevent an anti-lockdown protest.
The force says the compliance operation will continue across greater Sydney on Sunday and in the coming days police will be enforcing compliance around QR codes and face masks at shopping centres and large retail stores.
Some 516 infringement notices have been issued as part of that retail crackdown, and 38 people were arrested.
Police were called to 1,800 Covid-related jobs, 1,100 of which were from reports to Crime Stoppers.
There are currently 222 people with Covid in hospital, 54 of whom are in intensive care and 25 who are on ventilators.
Of those in ICU, seven are in their 20s, five are in their 30s, two are in their 40s, six are in their 50s, 14 are in their 60s and 10 are in their 70s.
McAnulty says:
Of the 54 in ICU, 49 were not vaccinated. One person had the first dose of Pfizer and four people had the first dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.
By local health district, 110 of the 239 cases were in Southwestern Sydney, 51 in western Sydney, 69 in Sydney, three in southeast Sydney, four in northern Sydney and two in the Blue Mountains.
There was also Covid-19 detected in the sewage in Molong and in the Hunter/New England/Armadale area.