Government accused of using vaccine hesitancy as excuse for low rates in Indigenous population

That is all for the blog

We have been given our cue to close the blog. 

Another day full of new and press conferences. 

Thank-you to everyone who joined us throughout the day. 

Until next time, stay safe and be well. 

New Queensland exposure sites added — all in Beenleigh

Sunday, August 29

Total Tools Beenleigh, 87 Logan Rd, between 9:20am and 10:00am  — close contact

Monday. August 30

Beenleigh Marketplace Shopping Centre, Stylish Nails, between 10:30am and 11:45am  — close contact

Beenleigh Marketplace Shopping Centre, between 10:30am and 11:45am  — low risk

Sydney man’s overdose on Ivermectin and other drugs sees authorities warn against ‘magic cures online’ for COVID-19

Authorities have warned people against acquiring drugs through backdoors after a man who ordered COVID ‘treatments’ online presented at a hospital emergency department with vomiting and diarrhoea.

The Western Sydney man, who recently presented to Westmead Hospital, overdosed on Ivermectin and other treatments, according to Westmead Hospital toxicologist Naren Gunja.

“There’s no evidence to support the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19,” he said.

“Don’t look for magic cures online and don’t rely on what’s being peddled on the internet, because none of them work.”

He said the person was lucky not to have developed severe toxicity.

Some vets and pharmacists have noticed a recent increase in demand for Ivermectin and are concerned people are going through backdoors to access the drug, instead of getting vaccinated — something that is proven to save lives.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant today asked the community not to take their healthcare into their own hands, without seeking expert medical advice.

“Make sure that you’ve got your health care provided by a healthcare practitioner and that you seek advice before taking any medications,” she said.

“It is important to seek the best health advice, our doctors in Australia are across the literature in terms of what drugs and therapies are useful in COVID, please listen to them.”

TGA links two deaths to rare COVID-19 vaccine side effect, as nearly 10 million AstraZeneca jabs administered

The deaths of a 59-year-old Queensland woman and a 54-year-old man from NSW last week have been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration said both had received one dose of the vaccine and were assessed as likely having an incredibly rare blood clotting disorder that can result from it.

The TGA said 19 million vaccine doses have been given in Australia, and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh any potential risks.

Nine deaths have been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine in Australia, with around 9.6 million AstraZeneca doses administered.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,012 deaths from 55,093 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

Dubbo passes 500 COVID cases as health officials ask for greater testing numbers

A total of 506 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Dubbo, which remains at the centre of the regional New South Wales caseload.

Across western NSW, which includes communities like Dubbo, Orange, Bathurst, Cobar and Bourke, 665 cases have been identified.

“It feels like reaching a milestone for all the wrong reasons,” Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders said.

“It doesn’t necessarily change the response.

“This is really the heartbeat of where the cases in our western region have emanated from.

“Numbers will continue to emulate what they have been at for the past few days; every day we’re somewhere between 20 and 50 for the region.”

Read more on Dubbo’s COVID-19 outbreak here by reporter Gary-Jon Lysaght.

Three-year-old Queensland boy granted an exemption to return home

A three-year-old Queensland boy, stranded interstate by the July border closure, has been given an exemption to return to the Fraser Coast. 

The child went to visit his grandparents at their property at Griffith in New South Wales. 

His family claimed they had been denied permission to bring him home.  

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young says the issue has been sorted out and insists there had been no formal application.

“His parents or grandparents hadn’t actually approached us for an exemption, so we’ve now been able to sort it all out,” she said.  

“We wouldn’t leave a child in another state. But we have to be asked to be able to give an exemption.”

NT politicians will not be granted border exemptions, says Chief Minister 

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner says politicians returning to the Territory from hotspots will not be granted exemptions to quarantine at home.

It comes after CLP Senator Sam McMahon yesterday argued the rules in the NT are too strict and being forced to quarantine at Howard Springs prevents her from doing her job.

Senator McMahon is in supervised quarantine after returning from Canberra which is a COVID hotspot.

The Chief Minister has dismissed her request, saying MPs will not be given special treatment and the risk of exposing the Territory to COVID-19 is too great.

Federal Opposition accuses government of using vaccine hesitancy as an excuse 

Federal Labor has accused the government of using vaccine hesitancy as an excuse for low vaccination rates among First Nations people. 

Just over 20 per cent of Indigenous Australians aged over 16 have been fully vaccinated, despite being a priority group in the rollout. 

The Federal Government has blamed misinformation and safety concerns about the vaccine for hindering the rollout for First Nations people. 

But Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney says if hesitancy is genuinely a problem, it’s up to the government to address that. 

“Hesitancy is not an excuse for the federal government,  who is responsible for vaccination rollout,” she said. 

“What needs to happen, where they believe hesitancy is a problem, is to look to states and areas that have overcome the issue of hesitancy.”

Confirmation that NSW has reached the target of 70 per cent of people over 16 have had their first dose

More than 70 per cent of New South Wales’ over 16 population have now received at least a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

The milestone has been confirmed in the daily release of vaccination data from the federal government.

The state is now at 70.5 per cent.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said the government will grant fully vaccinated residents more freedoms when 70 per cent of the population have had both their doses, which is likely to occur next month.

Victoria currently has a first dose vaccination rate of 58.1 per cent of the 16+ population.

The Victorian government plans to ease some restrictions when first dose coverage reaches 70%, which is likely to occur within three weeks.

Australia-wide, 60.5 per cent of the over 16 population have now had their first dose, and 36.4 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Reporting by Casey Briggs. 

South Australia records four new cases. Two interstate and two from overseas

So there are four new cases announced by SA Health. 

Two of these cases were announced yesterday. 

They are two male truck drivers aged in their 20s and 30s who spent time in the community while infectious. 

They have both returned to NSW.

The other two cases are returned travellers from overseas who are both in hotel quarantine. 

You are welcome. There is always help available 

I just want to say that I have just used the Lifeline SMS service today, which I wouldn’t have known existed if you didn’t post it earlier. Thank you.

-Thank you

A good reminder that there is always help available.

And also a good reminder to make sure you are there for your loved ones. 

Beyond Blue Coronavirus Wellbeing Support Service

Phone: 1800 512 348

Website: coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au

Lifeline

Phone: 13 11 14

Kids Helpline

Phone: 1800 55 1800

Head to Health

Website: www.headtohealth.gov.au

Black Dog Institute

Phone: (02) 9382 2991

If you are concerned about suicide, living with someone who is considering suicide, or bereaved by suicide, the Suicide Call Back Service is available at 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au

No news on SA yet. And we love you too

hello, I love what you do here at the ABC. can we get an update SA, please?

-HELLO from the south

Hello blog friend. 

No news from SA. 

To be fair, they always release their figures later in the day.

When they come through, I will let you know.

Couple identified as the origin of COVID-19 outbreak in western New South Wales

The source of the COVID-19 outbreak in Western New South Wales has been pinpointed by health authorities.

A couple who travelled to Western Sydney and returned to the Central West in early August are believed to have been the region’s first cases.

The Western NSW Local Health District (LHD) said the pair came home a week before the Dubbo and Walgett local government areas were placed into lockdown.

“We do believe we’ve picked up the originating case,” LHD chief executive Scott McLachlan said.

“We believe we’ve tracked that down to a location in Western Sydney that has the same strain of COVID-19, and the biological markers.”

Fragments of the virus had been detected in Dubbo’s sewage before the first case had been identified.

Read more on the western NSW outbreak here.

Sudden NSW-Victoria COVID bubble change blindsides mayors, Cross-Border Commissioner

Eight communities will be ejected from the New South Wales-Victoria border bubble at midnight, leaving officials and residents shocked and confused.

The news came through on Wednesday night – hours after the daily state press conferences – that from 11.59pm tonight, the Victorian local government areas (LGAs) of Greater Shepparton, City of Benalla, Greater Bendigo, Buloke, Loddon and Yarriambiack will exit the bubble.

The NSW local government areas of Broken Hill and Edward River will also be removed.

Residents in those LGAs will no longer be eligible for a cross-border extreme risk zone permit to enter Victoria or return from NSW.

They can still apply for a travel permit, but the Service Victoria website says those are unlikely to be granted for work, education or non-urgent medical procedures.

Read more of this story by Charmayne Allison, Sarah Lawrence, Emily Doak, and Alexander Darling here.

More on WA’s vaccine mandate for healthcare workers

Hello – regarding Roger Cook’s announcement that WA healthcare workers will need to be vaccinated, does this include workers outside of the public system?

-Ian CW

Hey Ian. 

It is everyone mate. 

You can read the story here.

Victoria’s Chief Psychiatrist urges parents to check child mental health in COVID pandemic

Victoria’s Chief Psychiatrist Neil Coventry has urged parents to “reach out” to their children to have frank conversations about anxiety and stress during lockdown.

Dr Coventry appeared at today’s press conference to address rising community concern over the impact of the state’s extended lockdowns on child mental health.

You can click this link for the full transcript from Dr Neil Coventry.

A quick game’s a good game

I’m handing things back over to Mick. It’s been lovely!