Victoria records 7442 COVID-19 infections
Victoria recorded 7442 new COVID-19 infections for the the final day of 2021, starting the new year with another pandemic record number of cases.
Health
COVID testing, close contact changes due
National cabinet will discuss a consistent definition of a close contact and what role rapid antigen tests will play as COVID-19 cases spike across the country.
Thousands of blood donors needed by Monday
The holiday season is always a challenge for blood donation, but new donors are being urged to give, as the number of missed appointments reaches record highs.
Hugh Jackman tests positive for COVID
Actor Hugh Jackman says he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Pivot on COVID test rules as demand swells
State health authorities are changing their requirements for COVID-19 testing as systems struggle to meet demand with would-be travellers adding to long queues.
WA records zero local COVID-19 cases
Western Australia has not recorded any new local COVID-19 cases from almost 5000 tests.
ACT posts 189 COVID-19 cases, new record
The ACT has reported 189 new COVID-19 cases, a record high in daily infections after a dip on Boxing Day.
Australia braces for post-Xmas COVID rise
An increase in daily infections across the country is anticipated after falls in testing rates and hundreds of people being given falsely negative results.
WA detects new case linked to backpacker
Western Australia has found a new COVID-19 case linked to an infected French backpacker who travelled from Queensland.
Sydney hospital sends 400 false negatives
The pathology unit at a major Sydney hospital has accidentally sent more than 400 incorrect negative test results on Christmas Day.
Australians face Boxing Day virus surge
Australians are bracing for virus case numbers to soar past 10,000 after the second Christmas Day since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared.
WA toughens more border restrictions
Western Australia has toughened border restrictions with South Australia and Queensland over "alarming" COVID-19 case numbers in those states.
Aussies celebrate second COVID Christmas
Australians are coming together for their second Christmas since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in Australia, as the Omicron variant continues to spread.
Tasmania records 27 cases, new daily high
Tasmania has recorded 27 coronavirus infections, a new daily high for the island state, and now has 79 active cases.
COVID restrictions return amid case surge
States and territories are reintroducing COVID-safe measures and working to reform how they contact trace exposures amid a sharp spike in infections.
WA to learn extent of COVID-19 outbreak
West Australians are donning face masks for last-minute Christmas shopping after a backpacker visited more than a dozen venues while infected with COVID-19.
Latest snapshot of the coronavirus impact
The latest snapshot of COVID-19 cases, deaths and vaccinations in Australia at 1530 AEDT on Thursday, December 23.
ACT hits new daily COVID record, 85 cases
The ACT has set a new daily record for COVID-19 cases with 85 reported in the latest period.
ACT has record daily rise of 58 cases
The ACT has recorded a new record daily high of 58 COVID-19 infections amid lengthy queues for testing.
NSW climbs to 3763 COVID-19 cases
NSW has recorded 3763 cases of COVID-19 overnight, another daily record for the pandemic as people rush to get tested before the Christmas break.
Two new COVID cases in WA linked to Qld flight
Western Australia's plan to lift travel restrictions from February 5 has been clouded by a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases in NSW and Victoria.
Test queues balloon as NSW urges RAT use
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has urged people without COVID-19 symptoms to reconsider whether they need a PCR test as clinics are overwhelmed.
NT outbreak grows, Omicron reaches Uluru
The Northern Territory has detected 14 new COVID-19 infections as Omicron spreads from Brisbane to Yulara, 450km southwest of Alice Springs.
NSW man jailed for Tas quarantine breach
A NSW man has been sentenced to five months' jail for absconding from hotel quarantine in Hobart and sparking a three-day lockdown across southern Tasmania.
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.
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.