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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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| Australia Covid live news update: NSW records 3,763 new cases, Victoria 1,503 cases; confidence in interstate travel plummets; national cabinet to meet | Australia Covid live news update: NSW records 3,763 new cases, Victoria 1,503 cases; confidence in interstate travel plummets; national cabinet to meet |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Follow all the day’s news | Follow all the day’s news |
| 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: | |
| 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.” | |
| Fallout from rapidly increasing Covid cases in New South Wales – Hamilton is suspending two upcoming shows after positive cases were detected within the company. | |
| The ACT government has released Covid waiting times and as of 9.15am, one site is at capacity and all are beyond three hours: | |
| Mitchell drive through testing clinic (open 8am to 10pm): at capacity | |
| Garran testing clinic (open 7.30am to 9pm): 3 hours+ | |
| Kambah drive through testing clinic (open 8am to 4pm): 3 hours+ | |
| Nicholls testing clinic (open 8am to 3.50pm): 3 hours 30 minutes+ | |
| Ahead of national cabinet, the Royal College of GPs is calling on the federal government to provide support to GPs to deliver vaccines to children aged between 5 and 11, as well as boosters. | |
| They say the situation is making the job of delivering vaccines and making ends meet increasingly difficult for some practices, and they’re already seeing many vaccinators pulling out of the rollout, including pharmacies: | |
| RACGP president Dr Karen Price: | |
| Commending everyone currently in a Covid testing line. | |
| Lines at the Randwick testing centre in New South Wales are looking similar to Melbourne. | Lines at the Randwick testing centre in New South Wales are looking similar to Melbourne. |
| Good morning. If you’ve been following the news in the last 24 hours, you’ll know that the national cabinet meets later today. Before the leaders meet at lunchtime, let’s step out what has happened behind the scenes over the past few days. | Good morning. If you’ve been following the news in the last 24 hours, you’ll know that the national cabinet meets later today. Before the leaders meet at lunchtime, let’s step out what has happened behind the scenes over the past few days. |
| In better news, the reference rate in Victoria is now at 0.98%. | In better news, the reference rate in Victoria is now at 0.98%. |
| And it’s been a huge day for testing. | And it’s been a huge day for testing. |
| In NSW, though, 2.48% of tests came back positive. As we know, Omicron is expected to account for a number of cases in the state. | In NSW, though, 2.48% of tests came back positive. As we know, Omicron is expected to account for a number of cases in the state. |
| This is quite a significant development in Israel: | This is quite a significant development in Israel: |
| Turning to hospitalisations, there are now 302 people hospitalised with the virus in New South Wales including 40 people in ICU. That’s an increase of 18 people hospitalised since yesterday. | Turning to hospitalisations, there are now 302 people hospitalised with the virus in New South Wales including 40 people in ICU. That’s an increase of 18 people hospitalised since yesterday. |
| Heading to Victoria, there are 394 people in hospital including 70 in ICU. That’s an increase of two in hospital since yesterday, and a decrease of three people requiring intensive care. So numbers are relatively stable there. | Heading to Victoria, there are 394 people in hospital including 70 in ICU. That’s an increase of two in hospital since yesterday, and a decrease of three people requiring intensive care. So numbers are relatively stable there. |
| Numbers in New South Wales are in, and it’s another record. There have been 3,763 new Covid cases. | Numbers in New South Wales are in, and it’s another record. There have been 3,763 new Covid cases. |
| That’s a rise of more than 700 on yesterday’s number, a previous record day. | That’s a rise of more than 700 on yesterday’s number, a previous record day. |
| Sadly, there have been two deaths. | Sadly, there have been two deaths. |