Live: PM says schools on track to ‘come back, stay back’ despite COVID case surge

By Dannielle Maguire

COVID numbers around the states

If your state is not listed yet, it’s because we haven’t been given that information.

• ACT – 992 new cases. Cases being treated in hospital: 20 Cases in ICU: 2
• NSW – 34,994 new cases, six deaths. Cases being treated in hospital: 1,609 Cases in ICU: 131
• NT – Press conference: Watch it here
• Queensland –  10,332 new cases, one death. Cases being treated in hospital: 284 Cases in ICU: 12 Press conference: Watch it here
• SA – 3,070 new cases. Cases being treated in hospital: 123 Cases in ICU: 12 Press conference: Watch it here
• Tasmania – 751 new cases. Cases being treated in hospital: 1 Cases in ICU: 0 
• Victoria – 21,997 new cases, six deaths. Cases being treated in hospital: 631 Cases in ICU: 100 (51 active, 48 cleared) Press conference: Watch it here
• WA

ACT man in his 20s dies of COVID

NSW Health has announced that a man in his 20s from the ACT has died from COVID-19.

The man, who was being treated at St Vincent’s Hospital, had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and had no known underlying health conditions.

The man was among five other people who died with COVID-19 in NSW’s latest reporting period — four other men and one woman, from the Lake Macquarie area and western Sydney.

The NT’s presser is going to be about 10 minutes late

Just received word.

Where to watch the NT press conference

That’ll kick off in about 15 minutes. 

The ACT records 992 new cases

That’s the territory’s highest daily tally of the pandemic.

NSW Health has also confirmed that a man in his 20s from Canberra has died with COVID-19 at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. He had received two doses of a vaccine and had no underlying health conditions.

20 people are in hospital as a result of the virus, including two people in ICU, both requiring ventilation.

Almost 19 per cent of Canberrans aged 18 and older have received their booster. More than 98.5 per cent of Canberrans aged 12 and older have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

From today, the ACT government’s approach to managing the COVID-19 outbreak has pivoted dramatically, doing away with the terms “close” and “casual” contacts and instead measuring exposure based on high, moderate or low risk.

Reporting by Elise Pianegonda 

Superspreading event in Tasmania

30 new COVID-19 infections have been recorded on Tasmania’s King Island, following what appears to be a superspreading event.

Urgent testing for the virus on the island commenced earlier this week after a positive case attended several large events before they knew they were infectious.

Mayor of King Island Julie Arnold said 109 tests have been processed so far, with 30 returning positive results

The Bass Strait island, that is home to around 1,600 people, managed to stay virus-free until the first case of the whole pandemic was recorded last week.

The annual Festival of King Island, due to be held later this month, has been cancelled due to concerns around the virus.

More testing is being conducted today.

Reporting by Monte Bovill

SA: Too early to tell about the return to schools

SA Premier Steven Marshall was asked about kids going back to school for face-to-face learning. 

He said he’d love it if children were able to return to an actual bricks-and-mortar school on the first day of term one, but it’s still too early to say what will happen. 

“We haven’t reached the peak of Omicron in South Australia,” he said. 

“I think we’re weeks off the peak and we need to get that data in before we can say emphatically that all students will be back day one, term one.”

He says they’ve mapped out “all scenarios”. 

Because children aged 5-11 won’t be able to get vaccinated until next week, they won’t be fully vaccinated before the school year begins. 

Mr Marshall says the state needs more advice about severe illness in children. 

SA’s RAT test system will be set up within seven days

So sit tight, Vegemites! 

SA: There’s a 95 per cent confidence rate for RAT tests 

SA Premier Steven Marshall says PCR tests are more sensitive, particularly at the beginning and end of someone’s infectious period,.

But he says RAT tests are “sufficient for protecting the population”. 

SA: RAT test results will be reported in daily numbers

Because the people getting SA Health rapid antigen tests will be registered, officials will be able to follow them up to get their results. 

SA Premier Steven Marshall says those numbers will be reported with the state’s numbers. 

SA: RAT test changes

SA will be rolling out a system for close contacts to pick up RAT tests if they’re close contacts. 

They have to contact SA Health and then they’ll be sent a QR code. 

They’ll then show that QR code to staff at collection points to get two SA Health rapid antigen tests – so don’t go buy them from the supermarket!.

They’ll have a test for day one and a test for day two. 

“If they get a positive on day one, they’ll be deemed COVID positive,” SA Premier Steven Marshall says. 

“No need for a corresponding PCR test.”

People will need to feed that data back into SA Health.

This system is being set up as we speak. 

Mr Marshall says it’s a “huge logistical exercise”.

SA records 3,070 new cases 

There are 123 people in hospital.

Both figures are a slight decrease on yesterday’s numbers.

And there still 12 people in ICU, one of whom is on a ventilator. 

That’s the same as yesterday. 

SA’s Premier says the test processing times have been reduced again

Nice for some!

He said the lab processing time is now down to around about 11.4 hours, which is a three-hour reduction. 

But he said that’s not the time it takes for people to get their results, because you’ve got to take into account testing lines, swabbing and transport. 

“But that lab time is extraordinarily quick at the moment,” Mr Mashall said. 

“Congratulations again to SA Pathology and the private labs in South Australia who are doing a fantastic job.”

VIC: The Commonwealth grants players’ visa

Victoria’s Health Minister Martin Foley was asked about the whole Novak Djokovic situation. 

“Let’s be clear, there are two steps to anyone associated with  he Australian Open in the international community getting to play at the Australian Open.

“The first is that you get a visa. 

“Someone issued a visa to everyone that’s come to Australia – it’s not the state, the Commonwealth issues those visas.

“Then, the second step is you need to establish in accordance with Australian Technical Advisory Group’s recommendations and guidelines the criteria for either being vaccinated or being exempted on very narrow grounds from that.

“The Commonwealth lets you into the country, Tennis Australia in partnership with the state, lets you into the tournament.

“Someone issued Novak Djokovic a visa, and it wasn’t the Victorian government.”

PM says schools on track to ‘come back, stay back’ despite case surge

Scott Morrison says Australian schools are on track to return on day one of the first term.

Mr Morrison says NSW and Victoria are “well advanced in their plans” but the plan is a target that was agreed in national cabinet (not an objective).

“I have no doubt the other states are moving quickly, and they will put their plans on the table now, and will seek to harmonise those, and I’m looking forward to that report coming forward from the sector next week,” he said.

“There are enough vaccines in the country to vaccinate every single child 5 to 11 between now and school going back.”

Children aged from five to 11 can get vaccinated from next week, but given the timeline for a second jab, most won’t be fully vaccinated before school returns.

VIC: There will be a ‘very strong crowd’ at the Australian Open

Victoria’s Health Minister Martin Foley says he’s confident the tennis comp will continue.

But he said the government will be working with the Australian Open organisers to make sure it’s done safely. 

Where to watch the SA press conference

SA’s press conference will be in 15 minutes

Gosh, there’s a lot of people chiming in with press conferences today.

I’m still listening to the Victorian one, but just let me get into the kitchen and rearrange something.  

VIC: ‘You can’t cut people loose’

Victoria’s Health Minister Martin Foley says the new order about reporting rapid antigen test results is about making sure people are getting the services they need. 

“You can’t say ‘you’re completely on your own, go and talk to your GP’,” he says. 

“We have to have a system that captures the data we have to have a system that supports the people’s needs for their journey through an infectious period.

“This is an initial step we are confident it will work.”

He said he’d like to see Australia have a nation RAT test recording system like the UK, which has QR codes on rapid antigen tests (they call them lateral flow tests over there, BTW) to allow for easy reporting.