Vaccine protesters admitted to parliament
Federal MP Craig Kelly has allowed a small group of anti-vaccination protesters inside Parliament House as demonstrations continue outside.
virus diseases
Qld hits 90pct, over 70s slow on boosters
Queenslanders have built up COVID-19 immunity with double vaccination hitting 90 per cent, but authorities are concerned about boosters among older people.
Aged care minister bucks calls to resign
Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck has defended the federal government's handling of the COVID-19 response in the sector.
Defence force to help aged care sector
Members of the Australian Defence Force will be deployed to help assist aged care facilities as they deal with COVID-19 surges.
Overseas tourists to return on February 21
Australia's ban on international tourists will end on February 21 after a decision by the federal government, with double vaccination required for entry.
Qld has 19 virus deaths, ditches check-ins
Queensland has recorded another 19 COVID-19 deaths and 4701 new cases as the state edges closer to 90 per cent double dose vaccination for those over 16.
PM keen to get international borders open
Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants to get international borders open as soon as possible but without impacting Australia's hospital system.
Qld aged deaths show boosters lag: Miles
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles says the state's COVID-19 death figures are showing that not enough aged care residents have had a booster vaccine.
First guests arrive at Qld quarantine camp
The first guests have settled in to the Queensland government's regional COVID-19 quarantine facility.
Qld reports a record 21 COVID-19 deaths
Another 21 people have died with COVID-19 in Queensland, the most in a 24-hour period for the state which has recorded 8508 new cases.
Spain drops outdoor masks, US cases slip
Coronavirus infection numbers are dipping in the United States and Spain while cases continue to rise in South Korea.
Australia reaches 95pct vaccination target
Some 95 per cent of Australians have been vaccinated against COVID-19, with the country now boasting one of the world's highest jab rates.
Carnival exit hits Aussie cruise industry
International cruise ship line Carnival has cancelled its operations in Australia in another blow to the country's stalled industry.
WA hospital doctor positive for COVID-19
A doctor at a Perth metropolitan hospital is among Western Australia's latest COVID-19 cases, as isolation rules hit mines and schools.
First guests set for Qld quarantine centre
Queensland's regional Wellcamp quarantine facility will welcome its first guests on Saturday.
Vic lifts non-urgent elective surgery ban
Victoria's falling COVID-19 hospital figures will allow non-urgent elective surgery to resume, as an extra $1.4 billion is pumped into the health system.
Qld DP slams PM over aged care handling
The federal government's handling of aged care sector COVID-19 outbreaks is a "national disgrace", Queensland's Deputy Premier Steven Miles says.
Europe virus ‘endgame’, Russia mulls rules
WHO regional director for Europe Hans Kluge says the region is entering a "plausible endgame to the pandemic".
Military not aged care silver bullet: PM
The prime minister says he's spoken to his health and defence ministers and defence chiefs about how to deal with aged care staff shortages.
Data shows growing Indigenous vaccine gap
New data reveals all states and territories have failed to deliver vaccines to Indigenous Australians at the same rate as the rest of the population.
Qld reports 8643 virus cases, nine deaths
Queensland has recorded 8643 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths, including four fatalities in aged care.
NSW worker mandate call amid slow boosters
NSW has recorded 12,632 new COVID-19 cases and 38 deaths as Labor pushes for booster mandates.
Vic has 114k teens due for COVID booster
There are now 114,000 Victorian 16- and 17-year-olds eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot after the age group were given the third vaccine dose green light.
‘Time to move’: Ardern shifts NZ borders
Kiwis in Australia can skip quarantine to enter New Zealand later this month and by July, all Australians can visit under new border changes.
Curbs fall across Europe, Japan cases rise
Several European countries are lifting coronavirus restrictions amid lower pressure on hospitals while COVID-19 infections continue to rise in Japan's capital.
Thousands of teens eligible for boosters
More people will now be able to receive COVID-19 boosters, with 16- and 17-year-olds eligible for the third dose ahead of a predicted winter surge in cases.
Chaos as Omicron arrives at WA schools
Western Australia's hardline approach to managing its Omicron outbreak has forced hundreds of school students into isolation just days into the first term.
Three in four COVID deaths had health risk
A Senate hearing into COVID-19 has been told nearly three-quarters of people who died from the virus had an underlying health condition.
Qld records 16 deaths, including child
Queensland has recorded another 16 COVID-19 deaths, including a child aged under 10, along with 9630 new cases amid calls for more children to be vaccinated.
No Victorian elective surgery restart date
Victoria's nurses union is railing against non-urgent elective surgery restarting next week, but Premier Daniel Andrews says a decision still has not been made.
Many countries yet to hit virus peak: WHO
The World Health Organisation has urged countries relaxing their pandemic restrictions to do so slowly.