Completely satisfied new 12 months! It’s Donna Lu right here, bringing you the primary information weblog of the 12 months. Hope you’re feeling vivid eyed and bushy tailed this morning, or enjoying the celebrations elsewhere on the planet.
Police mentioned they had been “typically happy” with revellers’ behaviour on New Yr’s Eve. NSW Police arrested 128 folks state-wide, together with 10 in Sydney’s CBD, whereas 45 move-on instructions had been issued. Assistant commissioner Peter Thurtell thanked “members of the neighborhood who made their plans Covid-safe and celebrated the start of 2022 responsibly, in what we hope is a greater 12 months for everybody.”
New 12 months, similar pandemic, sadly: New South Wales hospitals are resorting to flying nurses in from abroad, with workers being begged to take additional shifts. The state recorded 21,151 new Covid circumstances and 6 deaths yesterday, with a leaked memo from main hospital warned it “can’t appear to maintain up with the exposures and constructive workers”.
Inside a fortnight or so, Australia has gone from having one of many lowest charges of recent Covid circumstances on the planet to being within the top 20 of nations with a inhabitants over 500,000. If NSW had been a rustic, it will be sitting within the high 10. It is crucial, nonetheless, to notice that international locations with higher testing programs are inherently prone to produce larger figures.
From right now, interstate travellers to Queensland will now be allowed to return a negative rapid antigen test as an alternative of a PCR take a look at earlier than journey. Queensland recorded 3,118 new circumstances yesterday, with criticisms the brand new necessities are “pointless” in states with massive outbreaks.
Talking of testing, Victorian and NSW governments are scrambling to organise the distribution of speedy antigen checks to vulnerable people amid a nationwide scarcity.
