ACT records 16 new COVID-19 cases
Long lines with wait times of up to several hours have been reported at ACT COVID-19 testing clinics, as 16 new infections were reported.
Health
International arrival rules eased in NSW
NSW has introduced changes to quarantine rules for international arrivals who will now only need to isolate until they get a negative COVID-19 test result.
Blood donors needed over festive break
Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is calling for almost 9000 additional donors to meet demand over the Christmas break after a record number of "no shows".
Will 2022 be better? Aussie outlook mixed
Surveys charting Australia's optimism, or lack thereof, ahead of 2022 have returned mixed results as the Omicron strain of COVID-19 takes hold.
Warning sounded on Omicron assumptions
Experts have warned Australian authorities against relying too much on the possibility of the Omicron COVID-19 strain causing milder illness.
Aussies urged to take COVID-19 precautions
People have been urged to take COVID-19 precautions such as donning face masks and gathering outdoors to slow the spread of Omicron.
Australia records 4000 cases in a day
Australia has recorded more than 4000 coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time.
Vaccine supply enough to meet booster rise
The national supply of COVID-19 vaccine is more than enough to meet demand for boosters and jabs for children, health officials say.
State parochialism spreads in COVID-19 era
State parochialism has flared after state border closures and COVID-19 restrictions literally and metaphorically divided Australians, experts say.
First man charged with COVID grant fraud
NSW detectives have charged a 21-year-old with 52 offences after he was allegedly caught submitting $350,000 worth of fraudulent applicants for pandemic relief.
SA reports 24 new COVID-19 cases
South Australia has reported another 24 COVID-19 infections and confirmed there have been six cases of the Omicron variant in the state.
PM not worried about COVID infection spike
Scott Morrison says he wants Australians to go about their lives despite rising COVID-19 infections in the lead up to Christmas.
States told to avoid Christmas border bans
The emergence of the Omicron variant and surging case numbers have created fear that premiers may pull the trigger on further lockdowns and border closures.
Southern African travel ban scrapped
The federal government has ceased a travel ban on eight southern African nations imposed last month due to the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Travel ban ends as COVID-19 rules ease
A travel ban with eight southern African nations has been scrapped, while states move to ease their COVID-19 restrictions amid rising case numbers.
COVID rules ease as infection tallies rise
COVID-19 restrictions are easing across swathes of the country as infection numbers rise in the lead-up to Christmas.
New SA centre to advance aged care
A new aged care research centre has been established at Adelaide's Flinders University to modernise the sector across the country.
NT reports 11 COVID-19 cases, rules eased
The Northern Territory has recorded four new COVID-19 cases linked to a community outbreak and seven among returned travellers.
St Basil’s top brass face virus inquest
St Basil's operators Kon Kontis and Vicky Kos have formally requested that they be excused from testifying at an inquest into COVID deaths at the nursing home.
Vic has 1405 new COVID cases, three deaths
Victoria has recorded 1405 new COVID-19 cases and a further three deaths after an Omicron-infected patron visited two Melbourne nightspots.
Prime Minister listed as casual contact
Scott Morrison has been told by NSW Health he is a casual contact after visiting a COVID-19 exposure site, but can continue with official appointments.
Brain trauma in ex-NFL player who shot six
A former NFL player accused of killing six people, then himself, has been found to have suffered severe brain damage through an autopsy.
Omicron case visited two Melbourne venues
Hundreds of people at two Melbourne nightclubs will be forced into isolation for at least seven days after both were attended by an Omicron-infected patron.