First guests set for Qld quarantine centre
Queensland's regional Wellcamp quarantine facility will welcome its first guests on Saturday.
virus diseases
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.
Aged care concern, 10 virus deaths in Qld
Queensland has recorded another 10 COVID-19 deaths and 7588 new cases as the state raises concerns about vaccination rates in aged care.
Vic awaits ATAGI before vax mandate call
Victoria won't make a decision on expanding COVID-19 vaccine mandates until a national advisory panel declares if a third dose is needed to be fully vaccinated.
NSW govt urged to dump ‘silly’ COVID bill
A NSW government plan to remove the presumption that COVID-positive workers in certain industries caught the virus at work will undermine workers, Labor says.
Schools resume, elective surgery to return
There are 12,818 new COVID-19 cases in NSW and 30 people have died, as students return to school and non-urgent elective surgery is set to resume next week.
Rapid tests spark consumer watchdog probe
Retailers charging excessive prices for rapid tests have been sent a warning that if they don't slim their margins they could end up in court.
Rapid test concern as schools return
As school students return for the start of the year, a new survey has shown nearly one in three parents won't follow rapid testing requirements.
School return to test NSW COVID-19 prep
Thousands of public school children returning to class are set to test the NSW government's COVID-19 preparations for the new school year.
Vic COVID cases to climb as schools return
Virus numbers will increase as a million Victorian school students and staff return to school and begin weekly testing, the state's health minister warns.
$500 voucher for families’ daily juggle
Parents will get access to $500 vouchers to be spent on out-of-school care, as COVID-19 fatalities fall to 27 from a record 52.
Qld has three virus deaths, 7462 new cases
Queensland authorities are urging parents to get children vaccinated ahead of school returning as the state records three COVID-19 deaths and 7462 new cases
Qld govt plan unclear on boarding schools
Queensland boarding schools want more information about how COVID-19 cases and contacts will be managed as they wait for rapid antigen tests to arrive.
27 NSW virus deaths, $500 voucher for kids
There are 13,026 positive COVID-19 cases and 27 more deaths in NSW as Premier Dominic Perrottet prepares to announce a $500 voucher for primary school children.
Victoria posts 10,053 cases, eight deaths
Victoria has recorded 10,053 new COVID-19 cases and eight virus-related deaths, as state school students return for Term 1.
NSW parents to get $500 for primary kids
As NSW children head back to school the government is poised to announce a $500 subsidy for parents to put towards out-of-school care costs.