Qld records another 22,069 virus cases
Queensland has recorded 22,069 new COVID-19 cases, taking the state's outbreak to more than 130,000 cases, with hundreds in hospital with the virus.
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School ‘safer than remaining in community’
NSW and Victoria have doubled down on reopening schools on their scheduled starting days despite calls to delay as COVID-19 infections surge.
Mandatory rapid test reporting for NSW
NSW residents who test positive for COVID-19 on rapid antigen tests must now report their results as the state reaches a record for fatalities.
Victoria recruits 1000 booster vaccinators
Victoria will recruit 1000 people, including first year health students, to administer COVID-19 vaccine boosters as demand for a third dose ramps up.
Vic has 40,127 COVID-19 cases, 21 deaths
Victoria has reported another 40,127 COVID-19 cases and 21 deaths as rising demand and staff absences cause delays in answering triple zero calls.
COVID-hit businesses losing hope: Qld LNP
The Queensland Opposition says COVID-19 has hit small and family businesses hard and has called on the state government to provide more support.
COVID boosters for teens being considered
Medical experts are examining whether to allow COVID booster shots for 16 and 17-year-olds, after the child vaccination rollout began this week.
Push to mandate rapid test reporting
Australian jurisdictions are expected to begin mandating rapid test result reporting to better track where COVID-19 is circulating.
Record daily COVID-19 deaths for NSW
NSW has reported a record number of COVID-19 deaths, including a young child, as the number of people hospitalised with the virus rises.
Home test shortages due to hoarders: Joyce
The federal government has warned people not to hoard rapid testing kits as pharmacies expressed concern about how free tests will be rolled out.
School return locked in, says NSW premier
Premier Dominic Perrottet says NSW has purchased a further 50 million rapid antigen test kits which will be distributed across the state.
Qld surgery bans amid 11,174 COVID cases
Queensland has reported 11,174 new COVID-19 cases and two deaths, as the state suspends non-urgent elective surgeries for eight weeks.
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PM urges workers: keep pushing through
More of the economy is coming under strain as Omicron ravages supply chains and uncertainty affecting everything from recruitment to farmers, food and shops.
Qld mulls over suspending elective surgery
The Queensland government is poised to decide in the coming days whether to suspend all elective surgery when the state's COVID-19 outbreak peaks.
NSW forges ahead with school return plan
NSW is sticking to its plan to return students to classrooms at the start of February, before most primary school aged children can be fully vaccinated.
Restrictions return after Omicron surge
As Australia recorded another one-day high for daily COVID cases, multiple jurisdictions have reintroduced pandemic restrictions to halt Omicron's spread.
WA relaxes mask mandate, Omicron spreads
Western Australia has recorded its first locally acquired Omicron case as authorities ease a face mask mandate in some public indoor venues.
New NSW restrictions, triple-vax mandate
NSW has halted singing in clubs and pubs for three weeks and will impose a triple-vaccination mandate for some people as it tries to slow the Omicron wave.
ACT reports 1246 new COVID-19 cases
The national capital has recorded 1246 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the first time daily numbers have passed into the thousands.
Tas reports 1489 virus cases: a new record
Tasmania has reported 1489 new coronavirus infections, the first time the island state has recorded a four-digit daily figure.
Victoria records 21,728 cases, six deaths
Victoria has recorded 21,728 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths, as the state's health system shifts to rely more heavily on rapid antigen tests.
Omicron surge leads to restrictions return
States have implemented a return to some COVID-19 restrictions as case numbers linked to the Omicron variant surge across the country.
More than 400 virus outbreaks in aged care
There are more than 400 active outbreaks of COVID-19 in aged care facilities across Australia as concerns are raised about how the workforce will cope.
PM ushers Australians to support payment
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has encouraged people to access pandemic support payments if they are forced to isolate due to local health orders.
PM points to state responsibility for RATs
Scott Morrison has defended the government's supply of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests amid criticisms of under-preparation as the tests become harder to secure.
Infected WA security guard spreads virus
Western Australia has detected one new local COVID-19 case as an infected quarantine worker at Perth's Hyatt Hotel spreads the virus.
PM rejects he underprepared for RAT race
Scott Morrison has defended the government's supply of COVID-19 rapid antigen tests amid criticisms of under-preparation as the tests become harder to secure.
ACT man dies from COVID in Sydney hospital
A Canberra man in his 20s has died in a Sydney hospital from COVID-19, having had two vaccines and no underlying health conditions.
NSW hospitals pressured amid record cases
Elective surgery could be cancelled and private hospitals asked to help relieve the hospital system after NSW recorded 34,994 new COVID-19 cases and six deaths.
Qld records 10,332 COVID cases, one death
New COVID-19 cases in Queensland have almost doubled in a single day with more than 10,300 infections and another fatality with the virus.
Experts sound alarm on testing changes
Medical experts have warned surveillance of COVID-19 case numbers could be incomplete following PCR test requirement changes.