Australia’s vaccination program will open up to the 16-39 age group from August 30, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison advising bookings will be available soon.
Here are Thursday’s key events:
- NSW recorded its highest number of new infections in 24 hours since the pandemic began, with 681 locally acquired cases
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the vaccine rollout would open to people aged between 16-39
- WA Premier Mark McGowan said NSW was on the verge of being classified an “extreme risk”, which would lead to its strictest border controls
- More than 50 per cent of eligible Australians have had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
Catch up on all of Thursday’s COVID updates with our blog.
Live updates
By Alicia Nally
Pinned
Today’s case numbers and press conference times
This section will be updated throughout the day. If you don’t see your state or territory yet, don’t worry — press conference times may not be confirmed yet (or there may not be one), and case numbers often filter in through the day.
Victoria
Case numbers: 57 (locally acquired). Press conference: Watch it here
Queensland
Case numbers: Zero. Press conference: Watch it here
New South Wales
Case numbers: 681 (locally acquired); one man in his 80s has died. Press conference: Watch it here
Northern Territory
Case numbers: Zero. Press conference: Watch it here
Australian Capital Territory
Case numbers: 16 (locally acquired). Press conference: Watch it here
Western Australia
Case numbers: Zero
Tasmania
Case numbers: Zero
South Australia
Case numbers: 1 (overseas returned traveller)
By Michael Doyle
That’s all for the blog today
We have been given our cue to close.
It has been another big day on the ABC COVID-19 blog.
A big thank-you to everyone who joined us throughout the day.
We will leave you with one more cute pet.
Until next time, stay safe and be well.
By Michael Doyle
Here are the new rules in the NT
COVID-19 lockdown restrictions have now been lifted in Greater Darwin, allowing people to travel freely in the region.
But some restrictions, including the wearing of masks, will remain in place for another week.
Katherine will remain in lockdown for at least another 24 hours, but authorities say the town is on track for that lockdown to end at 12:00pm tomorrow.
Click here for everything you need to know about the new rules in the NT.
By Michael Doyle
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By Michael Doyle
NSW sites added as venues of concern
Anyone who attended the following venue at the time listed must is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days since they were there, regardless of the result.
- Newtown, Summer House Backpackers Newtown, 5-11 Egan Street, Thursday, August 12, and Friday, August 13, all day
- Dubbo, Burger Urge, Shop 34-35, Dubbo Square, 177 Macquarie Street, Saturday, August 14 between 6:45pm and 7:00pm
Anyone who attended the following venue at the time listed must get tested immediately and isolate until they receive further advice from NSW Health.
- Raymond Terrace, Woolworths, 39 Port Stephens Street, Wednesday August 8 between 7:20am and 10:50pm.
By Michael Doyle
Royal Flying Doctor Service delivers COVID vaccines to remote NT cattle stations
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is flying to Northern Territory cattle stations to vaccinate staff on some of the nation’s most vast and remote properties.
Since June, the RFDS has been vaccinating people in Indigenous communities and towns across outback South Australia.
This week, the organisation has been working with the NT Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) to set up “fly-in” vaccination hubs on a number of remote NT properties.
RFDS executive Natalie Szabo said this week’s lockdowns in Katherine and Darwin had caused a few logistical issues, but staff expected to administer more than 200 vaccines by the end of the week.
“We’ve been spending [the first few days of] this week in the Barkly, and the rest of the week we’ll be spending some time out in the Victoria River district,” Ms Szabo said.
“They’re fairly remote areas and well outside normal catchments for health service delivery.”
Read more from Daniel Fitzgerald about the Royal Flying Doctor Service delivering COVID vaccines.
By Michael Doyle
Half of Australians over 16 have now had at least one COVID vaccine dose
More people will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine this month, as Australia’s rollout hits a major milestone, with more than half of people aged over 16 now having had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The latest vaccination data shows 50.2 per cent of people have had at least their first dose, while 28.2 per cent are fully vaccinated.
A record 309,010 vaccines were administered yesterday.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the numbers reflected the “huge” turnouts for vaccinations.
“It is being sustained, so over a 10-day period now, we have had more than 2.4 million doses delivered,” he said.
Read more on this story from political reporter Georgia Hitch about Australia’s number of vaccine doses administered rising.
By Michael Doyle
Vulnerable Canberrans call for priority COVID-19 testing site after huge queues block access to clinics
Vulnerable Canberrans unable to get a COVID-19 test due to record demand want the ACT government to open a priority testing site for at-risk residents.
More than 250 exposure sites have been identified in the ACT’s current outbreak and close contact numbers have swelled to over 19,000, with the number of casual and secondary contacts estimated to be much higher.
And as the list of exposure sites grows, so has the demand for testing, with huge, snaking queues visible at all public testing facilities over the past few days.
The ACT government has repeatedly said it is doing “everything it can” to ensure vulnerable Canberrans have access to testing, including opening a direct hotline for fast-tracked tests.
But some elderly, immunocompromised or people with a disability said waits were so long, they had been unable to get tested for days, despite being identified as a close contact or showing signs of the virus.
Read more on this story by Selby Stewart by clicking this link.
By Michael Doyle
Sydney apartment block under police guard
A coronavirus cluster in an apartment block in Sydney’s south west has led to it being placed under police guard.
Nine cases have been identified across five apartments in the block of 12 on Hill Street in Campsie.
The Sydney Local Health district says the situation is being assessed and that some cases could be transferred to specialist accomodation.
By Michael Doyle
By Michael Doyle
It’s no longer called AstraZeneca. It’s now called Vaxzevria
The official name of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has been changed.
The pharmaceutical giant says it requested Australia follow the same description used in European countries to alleviate confusion.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved the change and it will now be known as Vaxzevria (Vax-zev-ree-ah).
There are no changes to the manufacturing and quality control of the vaccine.
By Michael Doyle
By Michael Doyle
South Australia records one case in hotel quarantine
The case is a man in his 40s who returned from overseas.
By Michael Doyle
Queensland removes Greater Darwin as a hotspot
By Michael Doyle
A correction on the PM’s quote: He said he wanted zero cases in the community, not 20
You said this:
“What we are seeking to achieve is cases minimised as far as possible, preferably 20
I think he said preferably zero-Preferably 20?
You are correct blog friend.
I thought I heard 20, and so did the transcriber we are using.
But based on your comment, I went back and had a listen and you are right.
The quote should have said:
“What we are seeking to achieve is cases minimised as far as possible, preferably ZERO who are infectious in the community.”
By Michael Doyle
That is the end of the Prime Minister’s press conference
We have heard from the PM.
Australia has one in every two eligible people with at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
More than 16 million jabs have been administered.
There has been a lot of information since the last pet we have published. So here is the next submission.
By Michael Doyle
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By Michael Doyle
Is COVID-zero no longer achievable?
This question was put to the PM after Gladys Berejiklian said it was no longer achievable.
Other leaders have indicated that this is still the goal.
The Prime Minister siad the idea that there would not be one single case of COVID-19 in Australia was never a goal.
“That has never been a goal of Australia. Never,” scott Morrison said.
“I am assuming that is not what premiers are referring to when they say COVID-zero.
“What we are seeking to achieve is cases minimised as far as possible, preferably zero who are infectious in the community. That is what we want to achieve. We need to act in accordance to that.
“I think the Premier (Gladys Berejiklian) is being realistic, given the seriousness of the Delta outbreak in New South Wales, and whether it can be achieved in Victoria and the cases we are seeing down there are the extension of lockdowns — time will tell.”
By Michael Doyle
Greg Hunt thanks those getting vaccinated after 309,000 get the jab yesterday
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says the vaccine rates which are happening now are what the government was hoping for.
These rates now are some of the highest levels that we had hoped but we are doing them instead of in October, in August. I thank everybody involved in the program.
By Michael Doyle
Australia’s vaccine rollout will open to ages 16-39 on August 30
The Prime Minister said the federal government would advise when this age group could book in to get their vaccine.
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