NT records another 16 COVID-19 cases
Northern Territory authorities have detected another 16 cases of COVID-19, with a number active in the community while infectious.
epidemic and plague
Qld scraps day five test, cases pass 1000
Queensland has recorded 1158 new COVID-19 cases as the daily infection rate soars past 1000 for the first time.
Victoria records 2738 new COVID-19 cases
Victoria has recorded 2738 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths, but hospitalisations and ICU admissions are down.
Victoria records 1999 new COVID-19 cases
Victoria has reported 1999 new COVID-19 cases, but the overall active case numbers have fallen by nearly 1000 overnight.
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 toughens more border restrictions
Western Australia has toughened border restrictions with South Australia and Queensland over "alarming" COVID-19 case numbers in those states.
Qld daily virus cases climb to 589
Queensland has 589 new virus cases and Health Minister Yvette D'Ath has warned residents they need to set up a COVID-19 care plan in case they get sick.
More mask rules as Qld records 186 cases
Mask restrictions will tighten in Queensland cinemas and hospitality venues as the state reports a record 186 new COVID-19 cases.
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.
Quarantine rules ease, 86 new cases in Qld
Queensland has reported 86 new COVID-19 cases, while the quarantine period has been halved for fully vaccinated close contacts.
Push to tighten COVID rules as cases surge
Speeding up booster shots, making full vaccination contingent on three COVID-19 jabs and mask mandates are being considered to help curb virus infections.
New jab definition, mask mandate on cards
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will discuss with premiers and chief ministers time frames for booster shots and masks mandates to curb COVID-19's spread.
Leaders to meet to discuss Omicron threat
An emergency national cabinet meeting will be held on Wednesday amid rising numbers of COVID-19 cases linked to the Omicron variant.
Qld officer assaulted over mask mandate
A woman has been arrested for allegedly biting an officer after refusing to wear a mask, but police say overall compliance has been good around the state.
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.
Boosters not brought forward despite surge
The gap between second and third COVID-19 vaccine doses will remain at five months, with some flexibility given to people nearing their time for a booster shot.
US panel urges Pfizer,Moderna over J&J
US advisers say most Americans should get the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines instead of the Johnson & Johnson shot due to rare but serious blood clots.
Free tests call as virus infections rise
Infectious disease expert Mary-Louise McLaws has called for free rapid antigen tests to ensure people don't inadvertently spread the virus over the holidays.
WHO advises on mixing COVID-19 vaccines
Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can be used as subsequent doses after initial doses of AstraZeneca and vice versa, the WHO says.
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.
New rules as S.Korea hits COVID-19 peaks
A record-breaking surge of COVID-19 infections has led to a spike in hospitalisations and deaths and caused South Korea to toughen up social restrictions.
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.
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.
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.
Delta outbreak hurts NSW ambo wait times
NSW ambulance wait times hit a record high in the three months to September, and there was an unprecedented number of life-threatening call-outs.