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| Australia news live update: NSW and Victoria each record 21 Covid deaths; cases in hospital top 3,100; $1,000 fines in NSW for not reporting positive RATs | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow all the day’s news | Follow all the day’s news |
| Merlino says the 21 deaths reported in today’s Covid update are not all from today, but “over the last day or so”, and the health system is under pressure: | |
| From tonight, high risk workers in Victoria will be required to have three vaccination doses - if they are eligible - in order to return to work. | |
| The sectors include healthcare, aged care, disability workers, emergency services, correctional facilities, hotel quarantine, food distribution and processing. | |
| If workers are eligible for a third dose today, they will have until 12 February to get their third shot. | |
| If they are not yet eligible, they will be required to receive their third vaccine at a date to be decided upon in March. | |
| Merlino says in response to “extreme demand” on the health system, Victoria is seeking to recruit some 1,000 Victorians with appropriate knowledge and experience to come on board with the vaccination rollout. | |
| He is calling on health students, retired nurses and people with experience in health settings to be trained and deployed across state run vaccination clinics. Applications open next week. They will be called “limit scope vaccinators”, with training “absolutely key” to be qualified to vaccinate. | |
| Some 53,000 children are booked to get a vaccine in the coming weeks, Merlino says. | |
| There are 119,000 booster shots available in Victoria over the coming weeks. | |
| Victoria’s acting premier James Merlino is up. | |
| He says thoughts and prayers are with the families of the 21 people who passed. | |
| There are 209,715 active cases in the state. | |
| Just over half of those who reported a positive rapid antigen test yesterday actually undertook the test yesterday. Positive RATs accounted for around half of today’s new cases. | |
| More on the mandates: | |
| Anyone in New South Wales who tests positive to Covid with a rapid antigen test will face a $1000 fine if they do not register their Covid status with the state government. | |
| On Wednesday, premier Dominic Perrottet announced the function to register positive RAT results has been incorporated into the Service NSW smartphone application, which is already used for QR code check ins across the state. | |
| Perrottet also confirmed that registering positive status would be mandatory, after a public health order was signed off on this morning. | |
| Anyone who has received a positive result to a rapid antigen test since 1 January must register their result. | |
| If someone fails to register their positive RAT result, they will face a $1000 fine. Enforcement of the fine will come into effect from 19 January. | |
| Perrottet acknowledges it is “a difficult time” for the state. There were 21 Covid-19 deaths reported today. | |
| Some 20.2% of the eligible population in NSW have received a booster shot. | |
| Perrottet says of the people in ICU, more than 50% are unvaccinated: | |
| The NSW premier Dominic Perrottet is up. He says from 9am today, people across the state must register positive rapid antigen tests through the Service NSW App or they can be fined $1,000. | |
| He says “unlike other states” the reason for reporting RATs is to connect people with care. | |
| A reminder that RATs still aren’t included as part of daily case numbers in NSW. | |
| Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath and chief health officer Dr John Gerrard will hold a press conference at 11am local time. | |
| We’re back to the good old days when premiers announce Covid updates at the same time. | We’re back to the good old days when premiers announce Covid updates at the same time. |
| A bushfire in Western Australia’s south-west that forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents and tourists has been downgraded after firefighters managed to contain the blaze, AAP’s Michael Ramsey reports. | A bushfire in Western Australia’s south-west that forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents and tourists has been downgraded after firefighters managed to contain the blaze, AAP’s Michael Ramsey reports. |
| People were evacuated from the tourist hotspot of Eagle Bay in the city of Busselton on Tuesday afternoon. But hours later firefighters contained the fire raging around Eagle Bay, Naturaliste and Dunsborough. | People were evacuated from the tourist hotspot of Eagle Bay in the city of Busselton on Tuesday afternoon. But hours later firefighters contained the fire raging around Eagle Bay, Naturaliste and Dunsborough. |
| The emergency has now been downgraded to ‘watch and act’ although people are being warned to remain on alert in case conditions change today. | The emergency has now been downgraded to ‘watch and act’ although people are being warned to remain on alert in case conditions change today. |
| The cause of the fire, which started near Curtis Bay Beach in Dunsborough, is being investigated. The blaze has burned through more than 220 hectares but it’s believed no homes have been lost. | The cause of the fire, which started near Curtis Bay Beach in Dunsborough, is being investigated. The blaze has burned through more than 220 hectares but it’s believed no homes have been lost. |
| On Tuesday more than 150 firefighters were working to contain the blaze, which left the Eagle Bay and Bunker Bay communities isolated. | On Tuesday more than 150 firefighters were working to contain the blaze, which left the Eagle Bay and Bunker Bay communities isolated. |
| Assisted evacuation convoys left the Eagle Bay community hall and Pullman Bunker Bay resort at 4pm. | Assisted evacuation convoys left the Eagle Bay community hall and Pullman Bunker Bay resort at 4pm. |
| The blaze was first reported on Monday night with firefighters initially unable to access the scene. | The blaze was first reported on Monday night with firefighters initially unable to access the scene. |
| The federal government’s official Covid statistics have been overstating the number of Covid patients admitted to hospital by several thousand. | The federal government’s official Covid statistics have been overstating the number of Covid patients admitted to hospital by several thousand. |
| On Monday prime minister Scott Morrison gave an update on hospitalisation figures, saying: “There are 5,097 patients in hospital who have Covid.” | On Monday prime minister Scott Morrison gave an update on hospitalisation figures, saying: “There are 5,097 patients in hospital who have Covid.” |
| This figure of 5,097 was in part due to the inclusion of 2,170 people hospitalised in the Northern Territory, as listed on the federal Department of Health coronavirus statistics page. | This figure of 5,097 was in part due to the inclusion of 2,170 people hospitalised in the Northern Territory, as listed on the federal Department of Health coronavirus statistics page. |
| However, the Department of Health confirmed on Tuesday that the figure of 2,170 people hospitalised in the Northern Territory was incorrect, and that the correct number was 32, as per the NT government’s coronavirus page. | However, the Department of Health confirmed on Tuesday that the figure of 2,170 people hospitalised in the Northern Territory was incorrect, and that the correct number was 32, as per the NT government’s coronavirus page. |
| This means the correct number of national hospitalisations was just over 3,000 as of Tuesday. | This means the correct number of national hospitalisations was just over 3,000 as of Tuesday. |
| A Guardian Australia analysis suggests that the federal statistics have been overstating the number of hospitalisations due to the error for at least several days, if not weeks. | A Guardian Australia analysis suggests that the federal statistics have been overstating the number of hospitalisations due to the error for at least several days, if not weeks. |
| Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is up and about in Mackay, set to announce Labor’s plan for disaster readiness today. | Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is up and about in Mackay, set to announce Labor’s plan for disaster readiness today. |
| Amid floods, cyclones and pandemics, god knows we need one! | Amid floods, cyclones and pandemics, god knows we need one! |
| The Border Force workers’ union is calling on an urgent industrial intervention after Australian Border Force marine officers have been forced to isolate onboard ABF vessels. | The Border Force workers’ union is calling on an urgent industrial intervention after Australian Border Force marine officers have been forced to isolate onboard ABF vessels. |
| The Community and Public Sector Union says the commonwealth failed to heed warnings from workers about “wholly inadequate” Covid-19 safety plans, and is seeking intervention from the federal regulator ComCare. | The Community and Public Sector Union says the commonwealth failed to heed warnings from workers about “wholly inadequate” Covid-19 safety plans, and is seeking intervention from the federal regulator ComCare. |
| As reported today, for over two years the Australian Border Force Marine Unit workers and their union the CPSU, have been calling on the Department of Home Affairs and the federal government to ensure safe working conditions and adequate testing for vessels. | As reported today, for over two years the Australian Border Force Marine Unit workers and their union the CPSU, have been calling on the Department of Home Affairs and the federal government to ensure safe working conditions and adequate testing for vessels. |
| More than six officers on two Cape-class vessels and one large hull vessel have contracted Covid-19 onboard, or boarded vessels while positive and asymptomatic. | More than six officers on two Cape-class vessels and one large hull vessel have contracted Covid-19 onboard, or boarded vessels while positive and asymptomatic. |
| The CPSU says officers affected have been made to isolate in the detainee transportation accommodation and, in some instances, kept at sea despite being in close quarters with other officers. The transportation quarters do not have appropriate air-conditioning, basic amenities, power points, electricity or reliable wifi to contact family or medical professionals, it says. | The CPSU says officers affected have been made to isolate in the detainee transportation accommodation and, in some instances, kept at sea despite being in close quarters with other officers. The transportation quarters do not have appropriate air-conditioning, basic amenities, power points, electricity or reliable wifi to contact family or medical professionals, it says. |
| Brooke Muscat, CPSU deputy national president, said: | Brooke Muscat, CPSU deputy national president, said: |
| From fires to floods – police are investigating a suspicious fire at an auto-wreckers in Maryborough, Queensland last night. | From fires to floods – police are investigating a suspicious fire at an auto-wreckers in Maryborough, Queensland last night. |
| Emergency services attended an abandoned Kent Street address at 7.15pm to find the business well alight. | Emergency services attended an abandoned Kent Street address at 7.15pm to find the business well alight. |
| A 46-year-old woman located at the scene is currently assisting police with inquiries. Investigations into the cause of the fire is ongoing. | A 46-year-old woman located at the scene is currently assisting police with inquiries. Investigations into the cause of the fire is ongoing. |
| A media conference will be held at 10.30am local time. | A media conference will be held at 10.30am local time. |
| At the same time in Redbank Plains, police will address the media in relation to police dog Quizz, who went missing yesterday during a high-speed chase. I’m not sure I can bring it to you live but I’ll hope to keep the updates rolling in. | At the same time in Redbank Plains, police will address the media in relation to police dog Quizz, who went missing yesterday during a high-speed chase. I’m not sure I can bring it to you live but I’ll hope to keep the updates rolling in. |
| Meanwhile, health minister Greg Hunt is tweeting about the booster program. | Meanwhile, health minister Greg Hunt is tweeting about the booster program. |