Australia news LIVE Victoria records 1438 new local COVID-19 cases five deaths NSW records 941 new cases six deaths Queensland records five new cases

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Residents of Kyogle and Narromine local government areas in regional NSW will enter a snap lockdown from midnight until October 11 due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in the state’s north and west.

Heath authorities said on Thursday night that the stay-at-home orders would also apply to anyone who had been in Kyogle in northern NSW since September 21, and in Narromine near Dubbo since September 28.

“Everyone in these LGAs must stay at home unless it is for an essential reason, which includes shopping for food, medical care, getting vaccinated, compassionate needs, exercise and work or tertiary education if you can’t work or study at home,” NSW Health said in a statement.

“NSW Health will continue to closely monitor the evolving situation with COVID-19 and will not hesitate to update its advice to protect the health and wellbeing of the people of NSW.

“We urge people throughout NSW to continue to come forward for testing at the first sign of even mild symptoms. To find your nearest clinic visit COVID-19 clinics or contact your GP.

“High vaccination rates are also essential to reduce the risk of transmission and protect the health and safety of the community.”

The Snowy Monaro local government area, south of Canberra, entered a week-long lockdown at 3pm.

Lockdowns have been extended until October 11 for council areas including Bathurst, Dubbo, Central Coast, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven.

NSW authorities have urged residents to continue to comply with the state’s public health orders this long weekend, particularly in regional areas where travel is allowed and at any gatherings for the NRL grand final.

“We’ve all been traumatised by the lack of travel opportunities, by inability to see family and friends, and it is so close,” Police Minister David Elliott said.

Double demerit points will not apply this long weekend in NSW, but there will still be a heavy police presence.Credit:NSW Police

“Let’s not blow it when we can see the finish line.”

He asked anybody gathering to watch the NRL grand final together - within existing restrictions - on Sunday to be conscious of their blood alcohol level and to avoid drink-driving.

Residents of Greater Sydney and regional areas under lockdown restrictions are banned from having visitors to their home except for essential reasons, or “singles bubble” arrangements.

Double demerit points have been suspended for the statewide police operation, which starts at 12.01am on Friday, October 1 and concluding at 11.59pm on Monday, October 4.

Mr Elliott said there would still be a heavy police presence and officers would still be issuing fines to motorists doing the wrong thing.

“It’s just acknowledging the fact that we’ve come a long way, under very difficult circumstances.

“Those punitive punishments via the demerit points won’t be doubled and I think that is just an appropriate thing for motorists to breathe easy on this long weekend.”

Assistant Commissioner Stephen Hegarty said police would focus on preventing road trauma as 203 people had died on NSW roads this year, 147 of whom were killed in regional areas.

He urged anyone planning necessary regional travel to clarify the exemptions on the NSW government website.

“We have seen people who do push the boundaries, people [looking at doing maintenance on their] holiday place, yet they’ve got surfboards, motorcycles in the back of their car,” he said.

“We are stopping people for random breath testing as well. If we see those sort of things, we’re in a position, we can turn them around and send them back to the metropolitan areas.“

Victorian authorities said they believed about one-third of 1438 new COVID-19 cases recorded on Thursday were triggered by illegal gatherings, including AFL grand final parties, over the state’s long weekend.

People aged over 60 will not be able to receive Pfizer vaccines at Victoria’s state hubs despite the federal government’s announcement earlier on Thursday to expand eligibility.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Thursday that all Australians aged 60 and older would have access to the mRNA Pfizer and Moderna jabs from GPs and pharmacies from October 1.

Victoria’s state-run vaccination hubs will not administer Pfizer doses to older people.Credit:Penny Stephens

A spokeswoman for the Victorian government welcomed the move to allow older Australians, some of whom have been holding out for Pfizer, to receive mRNA jabs at GPs and pharmacist.

But state-run hubs will not administer Pfizer vaccines to older people.

“Victoria’s state run hubs continue to prioritise access to Pfizer for people under 60, including teenagers who have no alternative option for vaccination,” the spokeswoman said.

“We urge all eligible Victorians who have yet to do to get vaccinated as soon as possible.”

The expansion is facilitated by the more than 9 million Pfizer doses and 3 million Moderna doses expected to arrive in Australia in the month of October.

The Women’s, Children and Birthing Unit at Latrobe Regional Hospital in regional Victoria is in lockdown after a person tested positive to COVID-19.

The Gippsland Region Public Health Unit said the positive case presented at the facility southeast of Melbourne on Wednesday and had since been transferred to a metropolitan hospital for treatment.

As a result that part of the hospital, known as the Thomson Unit, has been locked down.

Meanwhile, birthing and paediatric support will be provided by Central Gippsland Health in Sale and West Gippsland Healthcare Group in Warragul, the health unit said.

“[Latrobe Regional Hospital] will continue to support women who are in an advanced state of labour,” the spokeswoman said.

“Women and newborns currently on the unit are being cared for by midwives who were not on duty at the time of exposure.”

Anyone who was in the unit before 12.30pm on Wednesday, September 29, was not at risk of exposure, the spokeswoman said.

The City of Latrobe was placed into lockdown late on Tuesday with 26 active cases in the region.

Victorian police have charged one man and are hunting 10 other people allegedly linked to violent anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne’s inner east earlier this month.

A police spokeswoman said numerous police officers were injured, including six who were hospitalised, after the rally across Richmond, Burnley and Kew turned violent on September 18.

More than 2000 officers were deployed as part of the anti-protest operation in Melbourne on September 18.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

On Thursday, detectives arrested a 21-year-old Brunswick West man over the alleged assault of one police officer.

The spokeswoman said the man has since been charged with offences including assaulting police, recklessly causing injury, and hindering police.

He was released on bail and is due to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on April 14.

Police said they were working to track down 10 other people for alleged offences including incitement, assaulting police and damaging a police car.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

South Australia has recorded a new COVID-19 infection in a vaccinated truck driver who frequently travels to Victoria.

SA’s Chief Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the man in his 20s had received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine and was due to get his second injection next week. He had been getting tested for the virus every three days.

SA Chief Health Officer Nicola Spurrier.Credit:Getty

The man tested negative to virus on September 26, but returned a positive result when he was tested again on Wednesday.

She said the man’s wife, who works in an aged care facility, his child and grandparents, who live in the same household in Adelaide, had all tested negative and were quarantining. The adults were all fully vaccinated.

“It’s such a good example of when you have people vaccinated, we don’t have the spread and the transmission of COVID in the community,” Dr Spurrier said.

“I’m very hopeful we won’t have any community transmission as a result of this.”

She said the man was in Victoria and was not experiencing symptoms. She said there were several exposure sites, most of which were petrol stations, that had been listed as tier two venues.

“I think people have understood now one of the major risks for us is the freight industry as people are coming back and forwards between Victoria, NSW and South Australia,” Dr Spurrier said.

Former Argentina captain Pablo Matera is one of six Pumas players stranded in NSW following a day trip to Byron Bay, days before the final Test against the Wallabies in Queensland on the weekend.

Matera, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Felipe Ezcurra, Sebastian Cancelliere, Santiago Medrano, Santiago Socino and two Pumas staff travelled to a Byron Bay health retreat from the Gold Coast on Wednesday.

Argentina players during a heated scuffle in their 27-8 loss to the Wallabies on Saturday. Credit:Getty

The group were stopped at the border on Wednesday evening when they tried to return to Queensland and had to spend the evening at a hotel.

The six players have since been ruled ineligible for selection, but the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship Test against Argentina at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast will go ahead on Saturday.

Individuals are only allowed to enter northern NSW for essential work, medical reasons or on compassionate grounds. The Pumas’ trip did not fall into this category.

In a statement released on Thursday, SANZAAR, the body that oversees Super Rugby, labelled the incident “very disappointing”.

Read the full story here.

Businesses in NSW have warned the Berejiklian government’s decision to extend its JobSaver scheme won’t save those that have been the hardest hit by lockdowns, or that face ongoing restrictions as the state reopens.

The NSW government will provide the financial aid for businesses hurt by COVID-19 until the end of November, at a cost of about $500 million, despite the federal government withdrawing its contributions next month.

Businesses want assurances from government that there will be no more lockdowns once 80 per cent vaccination targets are reached. Credit:Rhett Wyman

Business NSW’s executive director of policy and advocacy, David Harding, said the state’s move was a “laudable intervention, but probably an imperfect interim solution to a difficult situation for our business community”.

“This extension will provide certainty as businesses prepare for reopening, and will help provide a softer landing for many, however there will be some who won’t be able to snap back as readily as others.

“We may find this support is insufficient for businesses who have been significantly impacted, or unable to open, due to the ongoing restrictions under the public health orders, and with closed state borders.”

Mr Harding feared some businesses could “stumble at the final hurdle” without continued financial help from Scott Morrison’s government.

Australian Retail Association chief executive Paul Zahra said the tapering of support payments in NSW would cause an uneven recovery, given the different plans to move out of lockdown in NSW, Victoria and the ACT.

This would probably “unfairly” impact businesses and workers in some locations, Mr Zahra said.

“We appreciate that support schemes like this can’t go on forever, but it’s important to note that when lockdowns are lifted, it’s not an immediate snap back to the way things were.

“Some sectors of retail will face ongoing restrictions and cashflow challenges.

“Retailers in CBD locations, particularly small business operators along with travel retailers, face a long road to recovery.

“We’re still missing international tourists and the working from home trend continues, significantly reducing shopping and dining customers in the city.

“Complicating matters are the inconsistent approaches in the NSW, Victorian and ACT government roadmaps, which all have different trigger points for reopening.”

Mr Zahra said jurisdictions other than NSW should also be mindful that businesses would continue to face challenges once 80 per cent vaccination targets were reached, and after the Commonwealth pulled the pin on its contributions.

“It’s frustrating to have the states and territories going in different directions for their reopenings â€" it’s been a recurring theme throughout the pandemic, and it undermines our business interests.

“There’s been no consistency in terms of what triggers a lockdown, what defines ‘essential retail’, and we’re seeing this again in their reopening roadmaps.”

Mr Zahra said retailers needed consistency and assurances from government that once businesses were open, in line with vaccination targets, there would be an end to lockdowns.

A vaccination and infectious disease expert has been asked if vitamin C and zinc are effective at treating COVID-19, during a court challenge to NSW public health orders which require workers in certain industries to get vaccinated.

Healthcare staff including doctors, nurses and paramedics must have had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination by Thursday to attend work, or provide a medical certificate detailing why they cannot receive the vaccine.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard, pictured on Wednesday, is being sued in the case.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Mandates have also been issued for aged care workers, NSW Police, staff in public schools and preschools and the construction industry.

A challenge has been launched in the NSW Supreme Court by multiple plaintiffs, including aged care workers Natasha Henry and Selina Crowe, paramedic John Larter, high school special education teacher Julie Ramos, and construction worker Al-Munir Kassam.

Others plaintiffs include a pregnant woman who is a staff member of Laverty Pathology, and a worker at Bankstown Hospital.

Read the full story here.

Queensland’s top doctor has defended the eight hours it took for exposure sites on the Gold Coast to be shared with the public as the state battles to contain four growing COVID-19 clusters.

At the 10am press conference on Wednesday, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young revealed that a truck driver who lived at Gaven on the Gold Coast had been infectious in the city from Saturday to Monday, including at Mermaid Waters, Merrimac, Nerang, Surfers Paradise, Miami Beach and Currumbin.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young: “We will get virus circulating, and people will get sick”.Credit:Matt Dennien

But the specific locations, including Coles, petrol stations, a sports club and a fish and chips shop, were not uploaded to Queensland Health’s growing list of exposure sites until about 6pm.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said he was disappointed it took so long and said the information should have been available based on check-in data from the official app.

“It’s not very helpful â€" the people who are up in those suburbs go, ‘well, do I get tested?’” he said.

Read the full story here.

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