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| Australia Covid live news update: national cabinet meets as testing centres overwhelmed; NSW records 3,763 new cases, Victoria 1,503 cases | Australia Covid live news update: national cabinet meets as testing centres overwhelmed; 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 |
| NSW Labor is going hard on free rapid antigen testing this afternoon. | |
| Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader said he is calling on the government to source more RATS to keep up with demand, particularly as people go away for the holidays, and distribute these free to people. | |
| “Many people across NSW are simply trying to do the right thing by their families and communities, and want to get a test for peace of mind, or before a family gathering. | |
| “A free Rapid Antigen Test will provide peace of mind to many and it will also free up some capacity at PCR testing sites. | |
| “We can’t have a situation where people get a PCR and clog up the system simply because they couldn’t afford or couldn’t locate a rapid test. | |
| “Anything that helps hardworking healthcare staff process PCR tests more quickly and ease the backlog and queues is a sensible move and worthy of consideration.” | |
| We’ve got some more info on the 56 cases in NZ today. This is from AAP: | |
| All cases were on the North Island, with 33 in Auckland and 11 in the Bay of Plenty including one in poorly vaccinated Murupara. | |
| The Wellington case recently visited the Lakes district, centred on Rotorua, and a string of retail places in Lower and Upper Hutt from Saturday before their positive test on Tuesday. | |
| Wellington last recorded a case in November, which was later believed to be historical, with the previous cases in August at the start of the Delta outbreak. | |
| Wastewater testing results from the Hutt Valley showed a positive result – as have a string of places which are yet to return positive cases, suggesting undetected community transmission in Napier, Whitianga, Dargaville and Gisborne. | |
| On Wednesday, 51 people were receiving treatment in hospital, including seven in intensive care. | |
| NZ is intent on trying to stop the Omicron variant from entering the community, pushing back plans to allow fully vaccinated Kiwis to self-isolate on arrival from Australia. | |
| Hello everyone – this is Cait Kelly. First, a big thanks to Caitlin Cassidy, who has done a great job this morning. | |
| We’re going to start the afternoon with an unconfirmed report the NSW government is considering charging people who are unvaccinated for their hospital stays. | |
| Ray Hadley dropped this bomb on his show earlier but said he did not know how the premier felt about it. | |
| “It’s a rather radical move put forward by cabinet ministers,” Hadley said. | |
| “I don’t know where Perrottet sits with it at the moment but he certainly has forwarded the issue to Brad Hazzard.” | |
| With that, I will pass you onto Cait Kelly, who will keep you company into the evening. | |
| Sydney’s iconic Imperial Hotel has made the decision to close until 29 December due to escalating Covid numbers. Cafe Fredas in Darlinghurst made the same announcement earlier today. | Sydney’s iconic Imperial Hotel has made the decision to close until 29 December due to escalating Covid numbers. Cafe Fredas in Darlinghurst made the same announcement earlier today. |
| A huge blow for hospitality venues hoping for a strong end to the year. | A huge blow for hospitality venues hoping for a strong end to the year. |
| The NSW Labor party is calling for rapid antigen tests to be freely available in the state, to alleviate pressure on testing centres. | The NSW Labor party is calling for rapid antigen tests to be freely available in the state, to alleviate pressure on testing centres. |
| There has also been a moderate flood warning issued for the Bogan River. | There has also been a moderate flood warning issued for the Bogan River. |
| Bit of tennis news. Craig Tiley is “confident” Nadal will be in Melbourne to play at the Australian Open. But Novak Djokovic will need a medical exemption from ATAGI, or a vaccination. “It’s his choice”. | Bit of tennis news. Craig Tiley is “confident” Nadal will be in Melbourne to play at the Australian Open. But Novak Djokovic will need a medical exemption from ATAGI, or a vaccination. “It’s his choice”. |
| Yes. | Yes. |
| Palaszczuk is asked if there is a case where the chief operating officer reports directly to the minister, not the director general. She replies: | Palaszczuk is asked if there is a case where the chief operating officer reports directly to the minister, not the director general. She replies: |
| She’s really digging her heels in at the journalists, again citing the 10% figure: | She’s really digging her heels in at the journalists, again citing the 10% figure: |
| And off she goes! | And off she goes! |
| Palaszczuk is asked about huge testing lines in Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT in the lead up to Christmas. She says people attempting travel interstate only account for 10% of tests. I am unsure where she got this number from, but she says “we’ve got the data”. | Palaszczuk is asked about huge testing lines in Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT in the lead up to Christmas. She says people attempting travel interstate only account for 10% of tests. I am unsure where she got this number from, but she says “we’ve got the data”. |
| Reporter: | Reporter: |
| Palaszczuk: | Palaszczuk: |
| Reporter: | Reporter: |
| Palaszczuk: | Palaszczuk: |
| In relatively useless news for people coming to Queensland for Christmas, Palaszczuk is looking at approving rapid antigen tests in place of mandatory PCR tests for high risk arrivals from the new year: | In relatively useless news for people coming to Queensland for Christmas, Palaszczuk is looking at approving rapid antigen tests in place of mandatory PCR tests for high risk arrivals from the new year: |
| Palaszczuk says new measures will be introduced in order to stem the spread of the virus. | Palaszczuk says new measures will be introduced in order to stem the spread of the virus. |
| From 5am tomorrow, masks will be mandatory in cinemas and theatres for patrons and staff, and for hospitality staff. Masks were already mandatory in limited settings. Palaszczuk says the industry and unions understand why the regulations are necessary, in light of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. | From 5am tomorrow, masks will be mandatory in cinemas and theatres for patrons and staff, and for hospitality staff. Masks were already mandatory in limited settings. Palaszczuk says the industry and unions understand why the regulations are necessary, in light of the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. |
| Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is up now. | Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is up now. |
| There have been 186 new Covid cases recorded in the state. Some 89.9% of Queenslanders have now received a first dose, with the 90% milestone expected to be reached today. | There have been 186 new Covid cases recorded in the state. Some 89.9% of Queenslanders have now received a first dose, with the 90% milestone expected to be reached today. |
| New Zealand has recorded 56 community cases of Covid and six cases of Omicron in isolated returnees. There are 51 people being treated in hospital with the virus. | New Zealand has recorded 56 community cases of Covid and six cases of Omicron in isolated returnees. There are 51 people being treated in hospital with the virus. |
| Melbourne friends may consider heading to the Royal Exhibition Centre if you’re looking to get a booster shot. | Melbourne friends may consider heading to the Royal Exhibition Centre if you’re looking to get a booster shot. |
| Weimar acknowledges we are facing a “significant challenge” for the healthcare sector, particularly at a time to be spent with loved ones: | Weimar acknowledges we are facing a “significant challenge” for the healthcare sector, particularly at a time to be spent with loved ones: |