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| Australia news live updates: long-lasting Covid immune response from vaccine-induced T-cells; 23 deaths recorded | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow all the day’s news live | Follow all the day’s news live |
| With that, I will pass the blog on to Josh Taylor who will keep you company for the rest of the afternoon. | |
| The ACT’s Covid update has just been released. There have been 1,314 new cases detected, roughly half from rapid antigen tests and half from PCR tests. | |
| There are 42 people being treated with Covid in hospital including one person requiring intensive care. | |
| There have been no further deaths. | |
| Queensland education minister Grace Grace has confirmed all six schools that have remained closed due to flooding - Milpera SHS, Aviation High, Rocklea SS, Milton SS, One Mile SS, and St Helens SS - are hoping to reopen on site in time for the start of Term 2. | |
| Here are the latest coronavirus numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 23 deaths from Covid 19: | |
| ACT | |
| Deaths: 0 | |
| Cases: 1,314 | |
| In hospital: 42 (with three people in ICU) | |
| NSW | |
| Deaths: five | |
| Cases: 24,115 | |
| In hospital: 1,162 (with 44 people in ICU) | |
| Queensland | |
| Deaths: seven | |
| Cases: 10,476 | |
| In hospital: 252 (with seven people in ICU) | |
| Victoria | |
| Deaths: 11 | |
| Cases: 10,471 | |
| In hospital: 243 (with 23 people in ICU) | |
| New in Victoria. Liberal democrat MP David Limbrick has been designated a close contact and will miss parliament this week. | |
| Queensland’s Covid update has been released. There have been 10,476 new cases detected. | |
| Sadly, seven people have died overnight. | |
| There are 252 people being treated in hospital with the virus including seven people requiring intensive care. | |
| Demand for workers remains strong, even as the unemployment rate hits historic lows and is destined to go even lower, AAP reports. | Demand for workers remains strong, even as the unemployment rate hits historic lows and is destined to go even lower, AAP reports. |
| The National Skills Commission said job advertisements posted on the internet rose by a further 3.6% in February to stand at 269,700. | The National Skills Commission said job advertisements posted on the internet rose by a further 3.6% in February to stand at 269,700. |
| Job ads are now 36.2% higher than a year earlier and massive 60.4% above levels prevailing before the pandemic. | |
| Advertisements increased in all eight occupational groups monitored by the commission, with community and personal service workers leading the way with a 7.6% increase in the month. | Advertisements increased in all eight occupational groups monitored by the commission, with community and personal service workers leading the way with a 7.6% increase in the month. |
| Recruitment activity rose in all six states and the ACT, but declined 0.5% in the Northern Territory. The sharpest increase was in Tasmania, up 6.6%. | Recruitment activity rose in all six states and the ACT, but declined 0.5% in the Northern Territory. The sharpest increase was in Tasmania, up 6.6%. |
| The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed the jobless rate had fallen to 4%, a level not seen for almost 14 years. The federal finance minister, Simon Birmingham, on Wednesday hinted next week’s federal budget will point to an unemployment rate below 4% in 2022/23. | |
| However, rising cost-of-living pressures and a downturn in consumer confidence is raising concerns over the outlook for household spending – a key plank for economic growth. | However, rising cost-of-living pressures and a downturn in consumer confidence is raising concerns over the outlook for household spending – a key plank for economic growth. |
| Figures released on Tuesday showed confidence has now sunk to levels last seen in September 2020 when Victoria was enduring the second Covid-19 wave. | Figures released on Tuesday showed confidence has now sunk to levels last seen in September 2020 when Victoria was enduring the second Covid-19 wave. |
| At the same time, consumer inflation expectations have also hit their highest level in 11 years at 6%, almost double the current annual rate at 3.5%. | At the same time, consumer inflation expectations have also hit their highest level in 11 years at 6%, almost double the current annual rate at 3.5%. |
| The Reserve Bank of Australia governor, Philip Lowe, has warned inflation could hit at least 4%, while economists believe it could reach 5% or more. Fitch Ratings believes the outlook for global growth has deteriorated significantly as inflation challenges intensify. | |
| In Queensland, the health minister, Yvette D’Ath, will speak with the media at 12.30pm Brisbane time. | In Queensland, the health minister, Yvette D’Ath, will speak with the media at 12.30pm Brisbane time. |
| Vaccine-induced T-cells provide a long-lasting immune response to Covid-19, new research from the Doherty Institute has found. | Vaccine-induced T-cells provide a long-lasting immune response to Covid-19, new research from the Doherty Institute has found. |
| Tracking the responses of Covid patients following 15 months after infection, researchers have shown that the body’s T-cells provide memory against the virus following vaccination or infection. | Tracking the responses of Covid patients following 15 months after infection, researchers have shown that the body’s T-cells provide memory against the virus following vaccination or infection. |
| Dr Jennifer Juno, a senior research fellow at the Doherty Institute, said despite an initial contraction of the immune response immediately following infection, the T-cells stabilised at six months and remained level after 15 months of monitoring: | Dr Jennifer Juno, a senior research fellow at the Doherty Institute, said despite an initial contraction of the immune response immediately following infection, the T-cells stabilised at six months and remained level after 15 months of monitoring: |
| While B-cells are responsible for producing Covid antibodies, T-cells support the development of the B-cell response. Juno said vaccination boosted the T-cells by up to 30 times: | While B-cells are responsible for producing Covid antibodies, T-cells support the development of the B-cell response. Juno said vaccination boosted the T-cells by up to 30 times: |
| Ongoing protests are again disrupting transport in the nation’s capital. | Ongoing protests are again disrupting transport in the nation’s capital. |
| The member for Goldstein, Tim Wilson, has responded to the supreme court’s ruling allowing the independent candidate Zoe Daniel’s campaign signs to be erected before the federal election is announced: | The member for Goldstein, Tim Wilson, has responded to the supreme court’s ruling allowing the independent candidate Zoe Daniel’s campaign signs to be erected before the federal election is announced: |
| Scott Morrison is asked if there would be any avenues for the government to pursue allegations of bullying following Kimberley Kitching’s death after Anthony Albanese said no formal complaint had been made. | Scott Morrison is asked if there would be any avenues for the government to pursue allegations of bullying following Kimberley Kitching’s death after Anthony Albanese said no formal complaint had been made. |
| He doesn’t answer directly: | He doesn’t answer directly: |
| Barnaby Joyce and Scott Morrison are asked whether Bob Katter’s opposition to a dam proposal below 395 metres will be a worry as they head into the federal election. | Barnaby Joyce and Scott Morrison are asked whether Bob Katter’s opposition to a dam proposal below 395 metres will be a worry as they head into the federal election. |
| The dam would be Queensland’s largest, sitting at 2,100 gigalitres. | The dam would be Queensland’s largest, sitting at 2,100 gigalitres. |
| Joyce: | Joyce: |