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Australia Covid live news update: PM says masks ‘highly recommended’ but national cabinet stops short of mandate; NSW records 3,763 new cases, Victoria 1,503 | |
(31 minutes later) | |
Follow all the day’s news | Follow all the day’s news |
The PM says his main message today is to “stay calm and get boosted”. | |
The PM talked about testing rates and how people tarveling is putting pressure on the system. | |
“So there was a very good discussion about the impact of public health orders in other states. | |
“And there was a positive discussion and panel will give further advice on whether testing is required at all for travel.” | |
The governments might look at RAT for travelling, he said. | |
“Or we can move to the more simple method of RAT testing with those cues and make the system a lot more workable.” | |
He adds: | |
He says QR codes will play a ”different role in the future”. | |
He says if an individual is not a close contact they will be able to “self manage their response”. | |
Morrison says there will be a national definition of “casual contact”. | |
He says a medical expert panel will decide within a fortnight what the national definition will be. | |
Nat-Cab will meet again to review and agree on it. | |
Morrison says there are heaps of vaccines in the country. | |
He adds: | |
Morrison is now talking about the timeframe between shots. | |
Morrison said the feds are going to increase payments to GPs and pharmacies for vaccine appointments by $10. | |
Morrison said state vaccination hubs that have been rolled back will be put back in place. | |
Morrison says Nat-Cab agreed on “three areas where we agreed to move forward”. First up is masks: | |
Mask wearing is “strongly recommended,” he says. | |
Morrison said hospitals are coping with the increase of cases. | |
Morrison said they “had a positive meeting” and that they are taking Omicron very seriously. | |
The PM is speaking now from Canberra. | |
From AAP: | |
Six players at A-League Men champions Melbourne City have tested positive for Covid-19, prompting the postponement of one league match and two FFA Cup games. | |
Rapid antigen tests picked up the six cases on Tuesday morning and subsequent PCR tests confirmed the results. | |
City’s FFA Cup quarter-final against Wellington on Wednesday night was postponed along with their A-League Men away game against Brisbane Roar on 27 December. | |
In addition, Melbourne Victory’s FFA Cup round of 16 trip to face Gold Coast Knights was postponed – after Victory players were potentially exposed to coronavirus in Saturday’s Melbourne derby against City. | |
“The A-Leagues can confirm that six players from Melbourne City FC’s A-League Men’s football department have tested positive for Covid-19 and are currently in isolation and all report to be currently feeling well,” the A-Leagues said in a statement. | |
“The case involves double-vaccinated individuals who tested positive to a PCR test on 21 December enacted after their daily rapid tests earlier in the day. | |
“As a result of the number of cases, the A-Leagues have determined that Melbourne City’s scheduled round six away match against Brisbane Roar has been postponed.” | |
It is another daily record for the state. Five people are being treated for the virus in hospital but none are in ICU. | It is another daily record for the state. Five people are being treated for the virus in hospital but none are in ICU. |
Of the new cases, 33 are local contacts, all traced to the current outbreak, 15 are from interstate and 149 are still being investigated. | Of the new cases, 33 are local contacts, all traced to the current outbreak, 15 are from interstate and 149 are still being investigated. |
It brings the total number of active cases in the state to 742. | It brings the total number of active cases in the state to 742. |