This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/sep/22/australia-covid-updates-live-coronavirus-melbourne-lockdown-protests-nsw-daniel-andrews-gladys-berejiklian-scott-morrison

The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Australia Covid updates live: NSW records 1,035 cases, Melbourne protesters arrested; Victoria records 628 cases and three deaths Australia Covid updates live: mandatory vaccination for Victorian teachers as state records three deaths; five deaths in NSW; Melbourne protests continue
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s newsFollow all the day’s news
Professionals Australia, the union that represents white-collar workers including engineers and scientists, has condemned violent protests in Victoria that have taken over the past two days and included an attack on the offices of the CFMEU.
In a statement, PA said the protests were “orchestrated by violent right-wing extremists and anti-vaccination activists”.
It comes after other unions and peak body the ACTU condemned the protests.PA said attacks on emergency services workers were “completely unacceptable” and “particularly offensive to front line healthcare workers including our pharmacists, who for over 18 months now, have undertaken great risks to their own health and well-being to provide our community with the important medical services and supplies they require”.
PA said it supported vaccination in order to reopen “in a manner that does not put thousands of lives, particularly those of our most vulnerable, at risk”.
More arrests at the protests:
Merlino:
Merlino says 75% of school staff are already fully vaccinated.
Merlino:
Victoria’s deputy premier, James Merlino, has confirmed that a vaccine mandate will be brought in for all teachers in the state’s primary and high school system and staff at early childhood learning settings, with the deadline for the first does set for just over three weeks times on 18 October.
Rapid antigen testing will also likely become a feature of schooling in term 4.
Merlino:
Merlino says another $60m will go towards shade clothe grants to help schools create more outdoor learning spaces.
Merlino:
Victoria’s deputy premier, James Merlino, is now discussing the second stage of the state’s back to school plan for term four.
This time it’s all about airflow!
Melbourne protesters are now on Flinder St in the Melbourne CBD.
Point Lonsdale will also relax restrictions.
Merlino:
The regional Victorian city of Ballarat will come out of lockdown tonight say the deputy premier.
Merlino:
Victorian deputy premier James Merlino is speaking now and has given details on the three Covid-19 deaths in Victoria today.
The Australia Capital Territory has recorded 17 new local Covid-19 cases, only one was in quarantine for their entire infectious period.The Australia Capital Territory has recorded 17 new local Covid-19 cases, only one was in quarantine for their entire infectious period.
Swarms of heavily armoured riot police are still following protesters through the Melbourne CBD, and seem to be picking up pace.
Melbourne has been going for a real “end of days” feel this morning.
Should be hearing from Victorian health officials any minute now.
Here is an overhead view of police following protesters through Carlton Gardens in the Melbourne CBD.
New Zealand has reported 23 new cases of coronavirus in the community, with all but one linked to existing cases in the current outbreak. It is a slight jump in cases, after the country reported 14 on Tuesday.
There are now 1,108 cases in the outbreak. Health officials are working on establishing a link to the remaining case today. Of those who have been linked, 11 of them are household contacts, including six within one household, five are known contacts and one is a likely known contact. Thirteen people are in hospital and two of those are in intensive care. From today, Auckland is in a level 3 lockdown, which allows people to slightly extend their bubble to isolated people and to order takeaways. Local media reported that people had queued outside fast-food restaurants including McDonald’s and KFC, since midnight, when the lockdown settings changed.
The city has reached a new milestone for vaccination, with 80% of the eligible population – 12 years and older – now vaccinated with at least one dose. For the nation, that figure is 72%, with just more than 38% of the eligible population fully vaccinated. On Wednesday, the Covid-19 response minister, Chris Hipkins, again invited every New Zealander to get vaccinated, adding that a 90% vaccination rate would give the country one of the highest rates in the world.
Hipkins also announced the next release of around 3000 managed isolation and quarantine rooms will be on September 28th. New Zealanders have struggled to navigate the MIQ system, which has left tens of thousands of people stranded overseas.
Vibe.
Jumping back to the Melbourne protests now, and there have been more arrests.