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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/dec/22/australia-live-news-update-national-cabinet-omicron-mask-rules-covid-vaccine-boosters-scott-morrison-nsw-vic-qld-coronavirus
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| Covid live news update: Scott Morrison says Australians ‘should be wearing masks anyway’; NSW records 3,763 new cases, Victoria 1,503 cases | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow all the day’s news | Follow all the day’s news |
| ACT Health has stopped posting Covid testing centre waiting times to its social media and are instead referring Canberrans to the government website. | |
| As of 10am, they’ve increased: | |
| Mitchell drive through testing clinic (open 8am to 10pm): at capacity | |
| Garran testing clinic (open 7.30am to 9pm): 4 hours+ | |
| Kambah drive through testing clinic (open 8am to 4pm): 3 hours 30 minutes+ | |
| Nicholls testing clinic (open 8am to 3.50pm): 3 hours 30 minutes+ | |
| Wait times have relatively eased in South Australia following the lifting of mandatory testing on arrival to the state. | |
| Tasmania has reported 12 new cases of Covid-19, bringing active cases to 26. | |
| Borders won’t be closing in South Australia after Christmas, Marshall confirms: | |
| South Australia’s premier Steven Marshall is up now. He says it is his “strong belief” boosters should be brought forward and will say as much at national cabinet later today: | |
| Especially disappointing for those who diligently waited hours to get tested, were turned away, or haven’t received results. | Especially disappointing for those who diligently waited hours to get tested, were turned away, or haven’t received results. |
| Fourteen temporary testing sites are now closed in Melbourne. | Fourteen temporary testing sites are now closed in Melbourne. |
| The prime minister has said Australians “don’t have to wait to be told” to wear masks. | |
| What are the odds Morrison will announce he is buying 500 bottles of sunscreen* to be able to order online for free starting in January? | What are the odds Morrison will announce he is buying 500 bottles of sunscreen* to be able to order online for free starting in January? |
| Morrison earlier: | Morrison earlier: |
| *Nothing against sunscreen of course. | *Nothing against sunscreen of course. |
| The Covid testing line is snaking around the block at Sydney’s Royal North Shore hospital. | The Covid testing line is snaking around the block at Sydney’s Royal North Shore hospital. |
| About 900 of Sydney’s northern beaches residents are still without power after the damaging weekend storm blacked out more than 30,000 properties, AAP’s Luke Costin reports. | About 900 of Sydney’s northern beaches residents are still without power after the damaging weekend storm blacked out more than 30,000 properties, AAP’s Luke Costin reports. |
| Ausgrid crews have been working around the clock to restore the power after trees and other debris hit powerlines during Sunday’s brief tornado-like storm. | Ausgrid crews have been working around the clock to restore the power after trees and other debris hit powerlines during Sunday’s brief tornado-like storm. |
| The storm, which particularly impacted beachside areas from Narrabeen to Dee Why, claimed the life of 68-year-old yoga instructor Susan Cobham, ripped roofs off apartment buildings and blacked out 35,000 homes. | The storm, which particularly impacted beachside areas from Narrabeen to Dee Why, claimed the life of 68-year-old yoga instructor Susan Cobham, ripped roofs off apartment buildings and blacked out 35,000 homes. |
| There are now fewer than 900 customers without power and it’s hoped power will be restored to the majority of them on Wednesday. | There are now fewer than 900 customers without power and it’s hoped power will be restored to the majority of them on Wednesday. |
| Northern beaches council chief executive Ray Brownlee wants the area declared a disaster zone, as hundreds of insurance claims are filed and some residents face abandoning Christmas plans for a second year. | Northern beaches council chief executive Ray Brownlee wants the area declared a disaster zone, as hundreds of insurance claims are filed and some residents face abandoning Christmas plans for a second year. |
| More than 700 insurance claims have been filed, with more expected in coming days. | More than 700 insurance claims have been filed, with more expected in coming days. |
| The Insurance Council of Australia warned disaster chasers were in the area, offering tree and debris removal and requesting payment upfront in cash, but either doing a poor job or charging far too much. | The Insurance Council of Australia warned disaster chasers were in the area, offering tree and debris removal and requesting payment upfront in cash, but either doing a poor job or charging far too much. |
| The World Health Organization has just published its latest report on Covid, and it says during the week 13-19 December, the global number of new cases remained similar to those reported during the previous week; however, the weekly incidence of deaths decreased by 9%. | The World Health Organization has just published its latest report on Covid, and it says during the week 13-19 December, the global number of new cases remained similar to those reported during the previous week; however, the weekly incidence of deaths decreased by 9%. |
| Nonetheless, this corresponds to over 4.1 million new cases and just under 45 000 new deaths. As of 19 December, over 273 million cases and over 5.3 million deaths have been reported globally.As of 21 December 2021, the Omicron variant has been confirmed in 106 countries. The report says the variant is highly concerning: | Nonetheless, this corresponds to over 4.1 million new cases and just under 45 000 new deaths. As of 19 December, over 273 million cases and over 5.3 million deaths have been reported globally.As of 21 December 2021, the Omicron variant has been confirmed in 106 countries. The report says the variant is highly concerning: |
| People are being turned away at the Callan Park testing centre in Rozelle. | People are being turned away at the Callan Park testing centre in Rozelle. |
| “If you want to go outside when the sun is shining, you have got to put sunscreen on. This is the same thing.” | “If you want to go outside when the sun is shining, you have got to put sunscreen on. This is the same thing.” |