Key posts
Watch live: Victoria’s COVID-19 update
By Broede Carmody
Victorian Assistant Treasurer and COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar are due to provide the state’s coronavirus update from 11.15am AEDT.
Watch live below.
Unvaccinated man in 40s, three aged care residents among NSW COVID deaths
By Mary Ward
A man in his 40s from the NSW Hunter region is among seven new deaths from COVID-19 reported in the state today.
The Maitland man died at hospital and was not vaccinated. Higher case numbers have been recorded in the Hunter New England Local Health District in recent weeks.
Today, 62 of NSW’s 283 new local coronavirus cases were recorded in the area, more than in any other district.
Three other men have died in regional NSW since yesterday’s update, all of whom were aged in their 90s and acquired their infection at aged care facilities.
Two of the men were fully vaccinated residents of the Tarrawana aged care facility, north of Wollongong. A third man was a resident at the Mercy Place aged care facility at Albury, in southern NSW, and was not vaccinated.
The remaining three deaths were a partially vaccinated man in his 50s from inner Sydney who died at home and tested positive after his death, a woman in her 70s also from the inner city and a woman in her 70s from south-west Sydney. Both women were not vaccinated.
‘Critical’ Pfizer meeting scheduled next week, Health Minister says
By Lisa Visentin
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has shed more light on plans for booster vaccination shots, saying there was a “critical meeting” planned with Pfizer for Monday.
But he told reporters at today’s press conference that the progress depended on the advice from the TGA and ATAGI, the government’s key advisory bodies.
“The consideration through the TGA which has to receive an application from the respective vaccine manufacturers is in advanced consideration and we’ll have a critical meeting next Monday, with regards to the Pfizer vaccine, but Moderna and AstraZeneca at this stage are still to submit the booster vaccine application,” Mr Hunt said.
A booster shot is a third jab to add extra protection against COVID-19 after receiving the first two jabs.
Professor Paul Kelly said the Government was looking at data from other countries that have commenced booster programs, particularly Israel where it was proving effective for all age groups.
“We were able to look at the data that has come out from Israel yesterday and it very much confirms that this is safe. That it is effective in all age groups, for both decreasing infection as well as severe disease, and for the older age groups, prevention of death. That is absolutely proven now from the Israeli data,” Professor Kelly said.
He said ATAGI was going through the data and would provide advice to the Government about how the booster program should be best done, adding “we’ll have that very soon”.
Australia passes 70 per cent double-dose milestone
By Lisa Visentin
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has declared that Australia has hit its 70 per cent double vaccination milestone for eligible adults over the age of 16.
In total, over 33 million jabs have been administered.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“Significantly, it is 70 per cent double vaccinated and the first vaccination rate is at 85.5 per cent,” Mr Hunt told reporters at a press conference in Canberra.
“That is continuing to grow and this is a testament to the work of Australians. It is a testament to our health professionals and everybody that has been involved in the vaccination program.”
“There are many people still to come forward for first doses and there are many people still to come back for their second doses. That second dose program is providing real and significant protection.”
Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said the milestone meant Australia would move into “phase B” of the national reopening road map, with more freedoms to be unlocked.
At phase B, otherwise known as the transition phase, Australia will seek to minimise serious illness, hospitalisations and fatalities from COVID-19 with low-level restrictions.
Watch live: Health Minister’s press conference
By Broede Carmody
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and the nation’s Chief Health Officer Professor Paul Kelly are holding a press conference in Canberra from 10.30am AEDT.
Watch live below.
Former NSW premier Mike Baird to give evidence today
By Michaela Whitbourn
Former NSW Premier Mike Baird is expected to give evidence at the Independent Commission Against Corruption today, along with his former director of strategy, Nigel Blunden.
Neither man is accused of wrongdoing. Mr Baird was premier in 2016 when the NSW government awarded a $5.5 million grant to the Australian Clay Target Association, a gun club in the Wagga Wagga electorate of the then state Liberal MP, Daryl Maguire.
At the time of the grant, Mr Maguire was in a relationship with the then-treasurer, Gladys Berejiklian, which started in about 2015 and ended in 2018.
The ICAC is investigating the circumstances in which that grant and a larger grant to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, also in Wagga Wagga, were made between 2016 and 2018. Ms Berejiklian has denied wrongdoing and said history will show she acted in the best interests of the people of NSW.
Today’s hearings have just kicked-off. We’re expecting Mike Baird around 11.30am AEDT.
You can follow the latest coverage via our dedicated live blog here.
Victoria trials home quarantine for vaccinated overseas travellers
By Chip Le Grand
Victoria will trial home quarantine for international travellers next week as it joins NSW in dismantling the nation’s “fortress Australia” response to the pandemic.
Passengers booked on a special flight from London to Melbourne arriving at Tullamarine on October 27 will be allowed to isolate at home for seven days instead of being locked in a hotel room for a fortnight.
Vaccinated passengers arriving on a Qantas flight from London next week will only have to spend a week in quarantine at home.Credit:Getty Images
The trial is the first step towards Victoria ditching quarantine for all fully vaccinated returned travellers. It follows NSW’s announcement that from November 1, international travellers can arrive in Sydney without having to quarantine.
For the Victorian trial, returned travellers will be monitored by a phone app equipped with facial recognition and location technology to ensure they remain in their homes for the full week. COVID Quarantine Victoria staff and, potentially, Victoria Police will investigate any suspected breaches of quarantine.
Read the full story here.
Nationals should’ve been leaders on net zero: regional MP
By Lisa Visentin
Back to the federal issue du jour (yes, net zero by 2050), and Victorian independent MP Helen Haines has dished out some stern words to the Nationals.
“The big question [regional Australians] ask is why the National Party is asking for a plan to be given to them, when in fact there hasn’t been any leadership in developing a plan,” Ms Haines said.
Independent MP for Indi Helen Haines. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“This scramble to the finish line before COP26 [the UN climate change conference] is a mystery to regional Australians who have been on board with planning for this future for many, many years.”
The Indi MP, who succeeded fellow independent Cathy McGowan at the last election, has been campaigning heavily on climate action along with Warringah MP Zali Steggal.
With the negotiations within the Coalition expected to drag on into next week, Ms Haines said she was “staggered” it was happening “five minutes to midnight” before the Prime Minister boards a plan for Glasgow at the end of next week.
Ms Haines, who said her electorate is an agricultural seat not a mining seat, was asked whether she agrees that there is a degree of climate scepticism in regional Australia. She conceded that “perhaps people have some different views in other parts of regional Australia”.
“[But] the thing here is that regional Australians have the most to lose by lack of a plan and the most to gain by a really solid plan.”
NSW adults to receive $50 accommodation vouchers
By Sarah McPhee
All adults in NSW will receive a $50 “stay and rediscover” voucher to use towards accommodation to boost the state’s tourism sector.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced more than $500 million in investment this morning to “drive tourism opportunities right across the state”.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet addressing the media on Wednesday morning. Credit:Renee Nowytarger
“We know that the borders will open and we want to be ahead of the curve here in NSW when it comes to ensuring that tourism comes back with a bang,” he said.
The program is being piloted and will kick-in statewide in March.
Travel for holidays and recreation between Sydney and the regions will resume for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on November 1.
The state government last week announced residents would receive two additional $25 dine and discover vouchers, to use towards hospitality and entertainment and valid until June 2022.
NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said they will be “aggressively in the market” to get airlines to offer more flights into Sydney. He also announced $150 million within the tourism recovery package to support small, medium and large events.
NSW records 283 new cases, seven deaths
By Sarah McPhee
NSW has reported 283 new local cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths.
There were 88,664 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
A total of 552 patients are in NSW hospitals with COVID-19 and 124 of those people are in intensive care.
Of the state’s population aged 16 and over, 92.3 per cent have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 81.6 per cent are fully vaccinated.
For 12- to 15-year-olds in NSW, 75.5 per cent have had one dose and 38.2 per cent are fully vaccinated.
Most Viewed in National
https://news.google.com/__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?oc=5
2021-10-20 00:18:38Z
52781948751963
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Australia news LIVE: Nation hits 70 per cent COVID vaccination milestone; Victoria records 1841 new local cases, 12 deaths; NSW records 283 new cases, seven deaths - The Sydney Morning Herald"
Post a Comment