Live: All the coronavirus news you need in the one place

By Dannielle Maguire

Cases, hospitalisations and deaths

If you don’t see your state or territory yet, don’t worry – these numbers are updated throughout the day.

For a detailed breakdown of cases across the country, check out Charting the Spread.

NSW: 18 deaths and 9,690 new cases; 2,068 people in hospital, including 132 in ICU

Victoria: 20 deaths and 9,785 new cases; 575 people in hospital, including 72 in ICU. Watch the press conference. 

Tasmania: No deaths and 601 new cases; 15 people in hospital, including one in ICU

Queensland: 12 deaths and 5,178 new cases; 705 people in hospital, including 45 in ICU

The NT has Australia’s highest COVID hospitalisation rate. Experts expect more admissions this week

Queensland: 11 children in hospital with COVID

Seven of those children are aged five to 11, and four are aged 12 to 17. 

“Most, if not all of these, will be in hospital for a reason other than COVID,” Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said. 

“So if they have appendicitis and happen to test positive, they will be included in those data. 

“But it will give us some idea about that impact the return of schools has had – so this is a baseline.”

He said in the last 24 hours, 158 in children aged five to 11 tested positive on PCR tests, and 155 children aged 12 to 17.

Queensland records 12 more deaths

None had received a booster and three were unvaccinated.

Nine of those deaths were in aged care.

The deaths ranged from people in their 30s to their 90s – one in their 30s, two in their 60s, two in their 70s, three in their 80s, and four in their 90s.

Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said the person who died in their 30s was “a somewhat unusual case”. 

“It’s not clear to what extent COVID played a part in this person’s death, but it could have played a part so we included this case for the sake of transparency,” he said. 

There are 663 COVID patients in public hospital, 42 in ICU and 22 of those are ventilated.

Queensland: Aged care deaths

Health Minister Yvette D’ath says of the 160 deaths in aged care, nine had received a booster shot.

Here’s more of a breakdown of the vaccination status of those aged care deaths:

• 21 per cent were not vaccinated
• 55 per cent had received two doses 
• 6 per cent one dose
• 9 per cent is unkown  

Ms D’ath again encouraged people to go and get vaccinated. 

Tasmania records 601 new cases

There is one person in ICU —the same as yesterday —and 15 people in hospital with the virus. Only 10 patients are being treated specifically for their COVID symptoms.

There are no new deaths.

Where to watch the Queensland press conference 

Queensland’s press conference will kick off in a few minutes

We’re going to hear from Health Minister Yvette D’ath shortly. 

Victoria: ‘Each state is in a different place’

Mr Andrews was asked about the WA border rules, but he said he wasn’t going to get into that kind of commentary. 

“There’s a lot of negativity about national cabinet, I don’t buy into that,” he said. 

“I think the fact that we’ve been able to have national decisions where that was appropriate, a forum to talk about issues and to try and find common ground has been very important

“But even more important is that forum… has and should recognise that each state is in a different place 

“[WA Premier] Mark McGowan is trying to keep [the virus] out, I wish him only the best to do that.

“I’m not here to criticise states for doing everything they can to keep their residents safe.”

Victoria: Premier backs ADF in nursing homes

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was asked about the federal government’s plan to bring army personnel into aged care homes. 

“Private aged care sector is doing it incredibly tough at the moment and our thoughts are with residents, with staff and of course with families,” he said.

“So I think it’s a good thing to send in additional staff, others can make judgments about whether that’s enough.

“It should be based on need – if we can help then of course we will, but we’ve got a bit to be getting on with ourselves.” 

Victoria: RATs providing ‘confidence and comfort’ for schools 

Deputy Premier James Merlino says the feedback from schools is that the RAT system has been good. 

He says no schools have been closed because of COVID cases. 

Yesterday, 2,368 students and 125 staff tested positive for COVID, with Mr Merlino saying he had expected numbers to be a bit higher on a Monday because of weekend activities. 

Overall, 7,046 students and 925 staff have tested positive – which Mr Merlino points out is 0.7 per cent of students and 0.84 per cent of staff. 

Fun fact: Mr Merlino says that staff absences at the moment are at less than pre-pandemic levels from 2019. 

“That’s a reflection of the dedication of our teachers, support staff and principals,” he said. 

Victoria: RATs for daycare and kindergarten famlies 

The Victorian government is expanding its rapid antigen test system to early childhood education and care settings.

That means tests will be given to families of children aged three to five in daycare.

But just like the school RAT program, testing won’t be compulsory for kids – Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says it’s about giving families the option to test if they want to. 

About 1.6 million tests will be delivered to centres in the coming weeks, starting off with sessional kindergartens.

Victoria’s press conference is starting now

The announcement will be about childcare testing, but Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is running us through the numbers for now.

Victoria records 9,785 new cases

There were 20 deaths in the last reporting period. 

There are now 575 people in hospital, with 72 in intensive care and 30 on ventilators. 

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NSW records 9,690 new cases

The state has also recorded another 18 COVID deaths. 

There are now 2,068 people in hospital, 132 in intensive care. 

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Where to watch the Victorian press conference

SA truckies association fed up with WA border rules

A truck with three wagons and a truck towing another truck were destroyed by a fire while waiting to get over the WA border yesterday.

The drivers weren’t hurt as they were in a tent waiting for a COVID test.

But Steve Shearer of the South Australian Road Transport Association says the trucks have to park in close formation, which increases the risk of damage spreading in a fire.

Mr Shearer criticised COVID management rules at the WA border:

“[WA authorities] have no regard for the truck drivers who are keeping their community fed.

“You would think when the rail is out and they’re even more desperate for food they would be doing things to help.

“Even… fully vaccinated truck drivers – they keep them waiting for hours.”

Three-quarters of Canberra public schools recorded a COVID case in the first week back

To be more specific, that’s 68 out of 90 schools.

All up, 240 COVID cases were reported. 

But no schools were forced to close.

We’re expecting a Victorian press conference in about half an hour

Boil that kettle, petals!

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Deputy Premier James Merlino will be speaking at 9:00am AEDT, just in time for your second cuppa of the morning.