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Cuba Tightens Border Controls as Coronavirus Infections Grow

HAVANA, Jan 5 (Reuters) – Cuba tightened border controls on Wednesday as the Caribbean island nation moved to tamp down a growing wave of coronavirus infections while keeping doors open for its economically vital tourism industry.

The country will now require both a negative PCR within 72 hours and proof of vaccination of all visitors, though authorities have said they will continue to welcome tourists and keep children in school.

Cuba had previously required only the vaccination card for most travelers.

Daily cases on Tuesday hit 967, up more than tenfold since the weeks before Christmas, when new infections hovered at fewer than 100 per day, or just 1% of their pandemic peak on Aug. 22. Deaths from the virus, however, have not increased.

Cuba detected its first case of the fast-spreading Omicron variant in early December and numbers have ticked up since.

At a high-level government meeting late on Tuesday, health officials said they expected cases to increase but not deaths, thanks to the country’s unusually high vaccination rate.

The poor, communist-run nation is among the world’s most vaccinated. More than 92% of its population has received at least one shot of its home-grown inoculations, and upwards of 85% with a full course, according to “Our World in Data.”

Cuba has already begun a booster campaign and said last week it hoped to cover the entire country with the additional shot by the end of January.

Health officials appealed to Cubans to recover from non-severe cases of the virus by isolating themselves in their homes, noting that schools and hotels, which were previously used to temporarily care for the sick, would not be available this time around.

On the streets of Havana, tourism workers said they were happy to see visitors return to the island but worried about the new strains.

“We are very afraid that everything will close as before,” said Denis Rosel, a doorman at a private bar in Havana.

“This is a Caribbean country where there is a lot of tourism every year and so we hope…that it can go back to the way it was,” he said.

Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Reuters TV; Editing by David Gregorio

The post Cuba Tightens Border Controls as Coronavirus Infections Grow appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

What we know about detention facility the Park Hotel in Melbourne

Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic has been transferred to the Park Hotel in Melbourne, where he will stay as he awaits his day in court to appeal against the Australian Government's decision to cancel his visa.

The men's world No.1 tennis player had spent hours through the early morning at Melbourne Airport being questioned by the Australian Border Force after the visa he required to enter the country was cancelled.

As he awaits his Federal Court hearing on Monday morning, Djokovic is being held at the hotel alongside about 50 refugees who have been detained for months.

READ MORE: Djokovic to remain in Australia until Monday afternoon as he appeals his visa denial

Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic may not be able to defend his 2021 title after his visa to enter Australia was cancelledSupporters gather outside Park Hotel where Novak Djokovic was taken pending his removal from the country after his visa was cancelled by the Australian Border Force in Melbourne, Australia.  It's also which is also where refugees are held.

The Park Hotel, previously known as Rydges on Swanston, is located in Carlton, in Melbourne's inner north.

It is near the University of Melbourne and the Royal Women's Hospital and has been used by the government since 2020 to house detainees, many of whom are seeking visas to remain in Australia.

Some refugees have been held for years at a time.

The Australian government describes the hotel and several other locations around the country as an "Alternative Place of Detention".

Today, two separate groups of protesters stood holding signs at the hotel, one advocating for refugee rights and the abolishment of detention and another showing support for Djokovic.

Mehdi Ali, who turns 24 tomorrow and has been in detention for nine years, has been staying at the hotel for months and often takes to social media to share his living conditions.

READ MORE: Djokovic detained at Melbourne airport, visa cancelled 

He told 9News.com.au he and fellow refugees watched from their windows today as Serbian activists gathered outside.

"We stand in front of the window in our rooms, some of the detainees can see the streets. We can see the protesters and the Serbians holding their flags," he said.

"They are finding out we have been here for years."

The hotel's website describes itself as a 120-bedroom, 4.5-star facility in a prime location.

Mr Ali said the description was far from the truth for those held there.

"It's a prison, it's a definite prison," he said about the hotel.

READ MORE: Why are so many vaccinated people getting COVID-19 lately?

"We are locked down in our room in this building and there is no deadline, and there is no sentence."

Last week he shared an image of food delivered by the hotel, claiming other detainees had been served meals crawling with maggots.

The week before he said a fire broke out in the building and detainees were held in the lobby.

"When the fire happened they took us all to the lobby but they didn't take us out of the building, they kept us there where the fire was going on," Mr Ali said.

Former Park Hotel detainee Mostafa Azimitabar, who is reportedly suing the federal government for unlawful detention over his time in that and another hotel, said he hoped the attention would "shine a light on Australia's barbaric immigration regime which horrifically destroys dreams every day".

"The whole world is watching as Novak Djokovic is detained at Park hotel prison," he said, on Twitter.

READ MORE: Deadly brown snake leaves behind 'rare' gift for snake catcher

https://twitter.com/AzimiMoz/status/1478930655245340675

"As a refugee I was imprisoned there, & refugees are still imprisoned there in tiny rooms without fresh air.

"No one deserves this. Let's not forget the people that will remain long after Novak leaves."

Djokovic's court appeal is set to be heard at 10am on Monday.

A judge has ordered he cannot be deported until at least 4pm on Monday.

https://twitter.com/cait__kelly/status/1478935207981957124

Omicron Milder, Evades Immunity, Panama Reacts to Surge, Astra Zenica Seeks OK, More

WHO sees more evidence that Omicron causes milder symptoms

  • WHO sees some ‘decoupling’ of COVID-19 cases and deaths
  • Raising global vaccine rates will reduce Omicron’s impact
  • Calls for global coordination on vaccine development

GENEVA, Jan 4 (Reuters) – More evidence is emerging that the Omicron coronavirus variant is affecting the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms than previous variants and resulting in a “decoupling” in some places between soaring case numbers and low death rates, a World Health Organization official said on Tuesday.

“We are seeing more and more studies pointing out that Omicron is infecting the upper part of the body. Unlike other ones, the lungs who would be causing severe pneumonia,” WHO Incident Manager Abdi Mahamud told Geneva-based journalists.

“It can be a good news, but we really require more studies to prove that.”

Since the heavily mutated variant was first detected in November, WHO data shows it has spread quickly and emerged in at least 128 countries, presenting dilemmas for many nations and people seeking to reboot their economies and lives after nearly two years of COVID-related disruptions.

However, while case numbers have surged to all-time records, the hospitalisation and death rates are often lower than at other phases in the pandemic.

“What we are seeing now is….the decoupling between the cases and the deaths,” he said.

His remarks on the reduced risks of severe disease chime with other data, including a study from South Africa, which was one of the first countries where Omicron was detected.

However, Mahamud also sounded a note of caution, calling South Africa an “outlier” since it has a young population, among other factors.

And he warned that Omicron’s high transmissibility meant it would become dominant within weeks in many places, posing a threat to medical systems in countries where a high proportion of the population remains unvaccinated.

VACCINATION, NOT VACCINES, ARE THE CHALLENGE

A man takes a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test at a pop-up testing site as the Omicron coronavirus variant continues to spread in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., December 27, 2021. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

While Omicron seemed to be slipping past antibodies, evidence was emerging that COVID-19 vaccines still provided some protection, by eliciting a second pillar of the immune response from T-cells, Mahamud said.

“Our prediction is protection against severe hospitalization and death (from Omicron) will be maintained,” he said, saying this also applied to vaccines developed by Sinopharm and Sinovac that are used in China, where Omicron cases remain very low.

“The challenge has not been the vaccine but the vaccination and reaching those vulnerable populations.”

Asked about whether an Omicron-specific vaccine was needed, Mahamud said it was too early to say but voiced doubts and stressed that the decision required global coordination and should not be left to manufacturers to decide alone.

“You may go ahead with Omicron and put all your eggs in that basket and a new variant that is more transmissible or more immune-evasive may appear,” he said, adding that a WHO technical group had held recent meetings on vaccine composition.

The best way to reduce the impact of the variant would be to meet the WHO’s goal of vaccinating 70% of the population in each country by July, rather than offer third and fourth doses in some countries, he said.

As case numbers due to Omicron have soared, some countries, including the United States, have cut down isolation or quarantine periods in a bid to allow asymptomatic people to return to work or school.

Mahamud said that leaders should decide based on the strength of the local epidemic, saying Western countries with very high case numbers might consider trimming isolation periods to keep basic services functioning.

However, places that have largely shut it out would do better to maintain the full 14-day quarantine period.

“If your numbers are very small, you better be invested in keeping that number very, very low.”

Reporting by Emma Farge and Mrinalika Roy in Bangalore; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Alex Richardson

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Omicron evades immunity better than Delta, Danish study finds

A doctor shows vials of Biontech-Pfizer's Comirnaty vaccine against COVID-19 at the Institute for Health and Food Safety of Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, December 16, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

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Panama tightens vaccination requirements for public officials as COVID cases rise

A Panamanian health worker receives the second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Santo Tomas Hospital, in Panama City, Panama February 17, 2021. REUTERS/Erick Marciscano

A Panamanian health worker receives the second shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Santo Tomas Hospital, in Panama City, Panama February 17, 2021. REUTERS/Erick Marciscano

PANAMA CITY, Jan 5 (Reuters) – Panama moved to require all public officials to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly coronavirus testing, the health minister said on Wednesday, as the Central American country grappled with a surge in coronavirus cases.

Health Minister Luis Francisco Sucre announced in a news conference that Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo had signed the decree, which mandated public functionaries receive three doses of a coronavirus vaccine or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test each Monday.

“If there is something that cannot be stopped, it is the government institutions that have to continue to function,” Sucre said, adding the measure would take effect on Jan. 28.

Panama registered 4,372 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.

At least 6 million vaccine doses have been administered in Panama to its population of about 4.2 million people, according to government data.

About 90% of the target population, or those above 12 years old, has received at least one vaccine dose and 81% has had a second dose.

The government last month said it would cut the rollout time for booster doses in half, after the country detected its first case of the Omicron variant.

More than 400,000 booster doses have been administered.

Reporting by Milagro Vallecillos in Panama City, writing by Laura Gottesdiener; Editing by Himani Sarkar
=======================================
  • Could offer an alternative advance protection for COVID-19
  • Addressing people with weakened immune system
  • Part of monoclonal antibody drug class

Oct 5 (Reuters) – AstraZeneca (AZN.L) has requested emergency approval from U.S. regulators for its antibody cocktail, the first protective shot other than vaccines against COVID-19, another potential major step in the global fight to combat the virus.

While vaccines rely on an intact immune system to develop targeted antibodies and infection-fighting cells, Astra’s biotech compound known as AZD7442 contains lab-made antibodies designed to linger in the body for months to contain the virus in case of an infection.

COVID-19 therapies based on the same class of monoclonal antibodies are sold by rivals Regeneron (REGN.O), Eli Lilly (LLY.N) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) and its partner Vir (VIR.O) to stop the disease from worsening during early, milder stages of the infection.

The AstraZeneca therapy, designed to last several months to a year, could protect people who do not have a strong enough immune response to COVID-19 vaccines due to, for instance, chemotherapy or anti-rejection drugs after organ transplants.

The drug, given in two sequential injections, could also supplement a vaccination course for those, such as military personnel, who need to booster their protection further, AstraZeneca has said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Regeneron’s drug in September for use in preventing COVID-19 after exposure to infected people. AstraZeneca’s application is however for prevention before any exposure.

Astra’s AZD7442 fell through in the post-exposure setting in a trial in June. Another trial is ongoing to test the drug as a treatment of the infected. read more

In a statement on Tuesday, the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker said it included data in its filing with the FDA from a late-stage trial that showed the drug reduced the risk of people developing any COVID-19 symptoms by 77%. The positive trial data was published in August. read more

The logo for AstraZeneca is seen outside its North America headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., March 22, 2021.  REUTERS/Rachel Wisniewski
The logo for AstraZeneca is seen outside its North America headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., March 22, 2021. REUTERS/Rachel Wisniewski

SUPPLY TALKS

A U.S. authorisation for AZD7442 – based on antibodies discovered by Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the United States – could be a major win for AstraZeneca, whose widely used COVID-19 vaccine has yet to be approved by U.S. authorities.

Talks regarding supply agreements for AZD7442 are ongoing with the United States and other governments, AstraZeneca said.

The company agreed in March to supply up to half a million extra doses of the antibody cocktail to the United States. The $205 million U.S. extension deal built on a U.S. contract a year ago for initial supplies of 200,000 doses. read more

In June last year, the U.S. provided $23.7 million in early funding for the development project.

Britain’s government also has an in-principle agreement over a million doses of AZD7442. The government declined to provide an update.

Under a plan to set up a global production network, Astra enlisted contract manufacturer Lonza (LONN.S) a year ago to produce the antibody treatment in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, starting in the first half of 2021.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for an update on the supply and production agreements.

Astra’s pioneering filing contrasts with delays in its quest for approval for its COVID-19 vaccine Vaxzevria in the United States, where the vast majority of those willing to get immunised have already received shots from the Pfizer-BioNTech (PFE.N)(22UAy.DE) alliance, Moderna (MRNA.O) or Johnson & Johnson . read more

Reporting by Sachin Ravikumar in Bengaluru and Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; Editing by Barbara Lewis and Keith Weir

The post Omicron Milder, Evades Immunity, Panama Reacts to Surge, Astra Zenica Seeks OK, More appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

U.S. Sends 119 Cuban Migrants Home as Growing Number Take to Sea

HAVANA, Jan 5 (Reuters) – The U.S. Coast Guard said late on Tuesday it had returned 119 Cuban migrants to their island home after picking them up at sea, marking a growing trend of migration by water from the poor, communist-run country to its wealthy northern neighbor.

The migrants, swept up in 12 operations that took place over just three days in the South Florida Straits from the Bahamas to the Florida Keys, were found in boats adrift offshore, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.

Cuban state media said Tuesday’s repatriation was the largest in four years. Footage from the docks on Cuba’s north shore showed masked health workers clad in white receiving the migrants, who had been delivered by boat by U.S. authorities.

A growing group of migrants are trying their luck at sea in recent months as Cuba’s economy is battered by mounting U.S. sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has hobbled international tourism vital for foreign exchange on the Caribbean island.

The dangerous crossing, complicated by swift ocean currents, relentless sun and wind and shoddy vessels, has claimed the lives of many Cubans over decades.

Coast Guard figures show 586 Cuban migrants have attempted to illegally migrate to the United States in the first three months of fiscal year 2022 alone, a far faster clip than in 2021, when the Coast Guard repatriated 838 Cubans all year.

The number of Cubans arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border also hit its highest in a decade between October 2020 and May 2021, according to U.S. immigration statistics, as many Cubans turn to overland routes to attempt to enter the United States. read more

Cuba says it advocates legal, orderly and safe migration, and has blamed the United States for the uptick in illegal migration, saying the country’s policies, including the Cold War-era embargo, encourage Cubans to risk their lives to leave the island.

U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said last year following unprecedented protests in Cuba that Cubans leaving the island “will not come to the United States.”

Reporting by Anett Rios and Dave Sherwood; editing by Barbara Lewis

The post U.S. Sends 119 Cuban Migrants Home as Growing Number Take to Sea appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

NRL player Curtis Scott to defend domestic violence allegations

NRL player Curtis Scott will defend domestic violence allegations made by his former girlfriend.

The 24-year-old was arrested while playing a game of golf with his current girlfriend at Barden Ridge about 6pm on Wednesday.

He was taken to Sutherland Police Station where he was charged with eight offences against Tay-Leigha Clark, dating back to 2018 when Scott played for the Melbourne Storm.

They include "choking" and "assault occasioning actual bodily harm".

Scott's lawyer Sam Macedone told 9News his client "vehemently denies" the allegations.

He's been granted conditional bail and will appear in court for the first time on January 12.

Both the NRL and NSW Police have been aware of the domestic violence allegations for several years but Ms Clark had not acted on them.

In his short but successful NRL career, Scott has made plenty of headlines.

He's defending charges over a nightclub brawl in Canberra last year and will also sue police for wrongful arrest over an encounter in Sydney in 2020.

The latest incident comes amid talk of a new deal with the Parramatta Eels but it's understood the club told Scott not to turn up to the first day of pre-season training.

He is currently without a contract for the 2022 season.

Brother of notorious Sydney crime figure shot dead

The brother of a notorious Sydney crime member has been shot dead and a car has been found alight in South Wentworthville today.

Emergency services were called to Rawson Road at the intersection of the Great Western Highway after a 35-year-old man was found injured in a car parked on the street about 12.45pm today.

9News understands that man is Ghassan Amoun, the brother of convicted criminal Bassam Hamzy and cousin of Bilal Hamze who was killed in the city's CBD last year.

LIVE UPDATES: Huge fines announced for rapid antigen test price gougers

Brother of Bassam Hamzy shot dead and car found alight in South Wentworthville.

NSW Ambulance paramedics started treating Mr Amoun however he died at the scene.

9News also understands police warned Mr Amoun that he was a target when he was released from jail earlier this week.

A car was also found alight nearby on Una and Smith Streets, South Wentworthville, and is believed to be related to the shooting.

Police released an image of a Mini Cooper that was allegedly stolen from Warrawee in November last year.

That same car was used in today's execution before it was torched.

Officers predicted it would be used in the city's ongoing gang wars.

Police are now calling for anyone who has seen this car to come forward.

Acting Superintendent Glen Fitzgerald said the shooting is "quite obviously targeted".

"Obvious connections to criminal networks are underway as far as investigations," he said.

READ MORE: Deadly brown snake leaves behind 'rare' gift for snake catcher

The brother of a notorious Sydney crime member has been shot dead and a car has been found alight in South Wentworthville today.The brother of a notorious Sydney crime member has been shot dead and a car has been found alight in South Wentworthville today.

Superintendent Fitzgerald said police have information about the burnt-out vehicle and may be looking for at least two offenders.

"There are appears to be a driver and a shooter that got out of one of the vehicles," he said.

Superintendent Fitzgerald said Mr Amoun was approached as he was getting into his car.

READ MORE: Djokovic detained at Melbourne airport, visa cancelled 

Brother of Bassam Hamzy shot dead and car found on fire in South Wentworthville.Brother of Bassam Hamzy shot dead and car found alight in South Wentworthville.

He described the shooting as a "very brutal attack" during daylight hours.

"Any type of incident like this is a worry," he said.

"This is what happens when firearms are in the possession of the wrong people."

Crime scenes have been established at both locations and police have started investigations.

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Djokovic to remain in Australia as he appeals his visa denial

Novak Djokovic will remain in the country as he challenges the Australian Government's decision to cancel his visa, with the appeal set to be heard in the Federal Court on Monday.

The star tennis player's case went before the court at 6pm, where his lawyer Nick Wood pushed for an interim injunction order to be granted to prevent Djokovic being deported before his appeal hearing at 10am on Monday.

No orders were officially made because Judge A Kelly did not have the documents before him.

But Commonwealth government barrister Christopher Tran said Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews did not oppose an interim injunction against deporting Djokovic today.

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It is understood the interim order will be made in chambers this evening.

The court also heard Djokovic was proposing to undertake damages of the appeal, which the judge accepted.

The tennis star is being held at a hotel in Melbourne's CBD. Already protesters have gathered outside it, calling for him to be freed.

Djokovic's case was previously addressed in the court at 4pm, after it had been adjourned from an earlier hearing.

However, the judge "emphasised without criticism" that he had not been able to make a ruling on Djokovic's application because the documents had not reached him since the court was adjourned earlier in the afternoon.

The court heard Tennis Australia would need to know by Tuesday if Djokovic can play at the Australian Open, to which the Judge responded: "The tail won't be wagging the dog here".

Novak Djokovic was not given any special treatment in regards to his application for a medical exemption, Tennis Australia says.

Earlier, Scott Morrison claimed Novak Djokovic's high-profile anti-vaccination stance was a magnet for attention at Australia's border.

The prime minister also explained that the evidence Djokovic had relied on for a medical exemption to enter Australia without being vaccinated was insufficient.

"He did not have a valid medical exemption," Mr Morrison said, explaining why Djokovic's visa was sensationally cancelled by Australian Border Force this morning.

There are reports the world number one will be deported on a flight tonight after he was taken to a Carlton hotel following his nine-hour detention at Melbourne Airport.

READ MORE: How the world reacted to Novak Djokovic visa cancellation

Supporters gather outside Park Hotel where Novak Djokovic was taken pending his removal from the country after his visa was cancelled by the Australian Border Force in Melbourne, Australia.  It's also which is also where refugees are held.Activists in support of the refugees held at Melbourne's Park Hotel,  where Novak Djokovic was taken pending his removal from the country after his visa was cancelled.

Mr Morrison said the ABF had acted on "intelligence", intercepting Djokovic at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport.

"When you get people making public statements, of what they say they have, and what they are going to do, and what their claims are, they draw significant attention to themselves," Mr Morrison said. 

"Anyone who does that, whether they are a celebrity, a politician, a tennis player, a journalist, whoever does that, they can expect to be asked questions more than others." 

Mr Morrison laid the blame for the prolonged airport stand-off and visa cancellation on the world number one, saying the evidence for Djokovic's medical exemption was "insufficient".

"He provided information to the airline to allow his entry onto the plane but … that is not an assurance that they will be able to come through Australia's border at the other side.

"It is for the traveller to be able to assert and backup their ability to come into the country consistent with our laws."

https://twitter.com/Fi_Willan/status/1478885099999404034

Djokovic detained after Australian Open exemption

Djokovic was detained at Melbourne Airport this morning after being granted a medical exemption to play in the Australian Open.

It is understood Djokovic, who has won the nine Australian Open titles, including the last three, may appeal the decision in a Victorian court and could also reapply with a new visa.

In a statement, the ABF declared Djokovic had not complied with Australian laws and entry requirements.

"The ABF can confirm that Mr Djokovic failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to Australia, and his visa has been subsequently cancelled," the ABF said.

https://twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP/status/1478848008363991049

"Non-citizens who do not hold a valid visa on entry or who have had their visa cancelled will be detained and removed from Australia."

An investigation will almost surely examine why the Victorian government had approved a medical exemption which ultimately did not stand up under intense ABF scrutiny.

Djokovic's coach, Goran Ivanisevic, and support staff have been processed, it is understood, but they are choosing to remain at the airport.

Unless a court overturns the decision, Djokovic will miss the chance to become the most Grand Slam winning men's player in history.

Djokovic has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles, tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

READ MORE: Why are so many vaccinated people getting COVID-19 lately?

'Strong approach' on unvaccinated entries

Speaking on Today before the ABF Djokovic decision, Mr Hunt said the Federal Government was insistent on a "very strong approach to ensuring equity of the rules for everybody".

Unvaccinated people, as a general rule, cannot enter Australia unless there they have a medical exemption.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic will be deported from Australia, unless a court overturns a decision to cancel his entry visa.

"My understanding is that the Border Force is reviewing that," Mr Hunt said.

"We have taken a very strong clear approach on treating everybody the same."

The Djokovic situation is now set to escalate into an international diplomatic incident.

Just before the cancellation announcement, the Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić made a statement declaring that the whole of Serbia was with Djokovic.

READ MORE: Deadly brown snake leaves behind 'rare' gift for snake catcher

https://twitter.com/Fi_Willan/status/1478845678939824128

He said Serbian agencies were "doing everything to see that the harassment of the world's best tennis player is brought to an end immediately."

Two-time Australian Open quarter-finalist Tennys Sandgren, an American player and outspoken vaccine sceptic, called the Djokovic announcement "wild" and "astonishing".

He expected the reaction among players, fans and media to be a "mixed bag".

"I'm sure there will be people that are upset that there was even an exemption in the first place and I can see why," he told Today.

"But I know some people will be happy to see him play because he's one of the best ever to pick up a racket."

Health Minister Mr Hunt said the Commonwealth had requested information pertaining to the medical exemption from the Victoria Government.

"It will be a matter for them to explain that."

Djokovic's father claims tennis star 'held captive'

Speaking with Sputnik Serbia, the tennis star's father threatened to call a gathering on the streets if his son wasn't let into Australia imminently.

The tennis star's father said Djokovic was being held "captive" in a room with two police officers and had been without his mobile phone for a number of hours.

The ABF later rejected that claim, saying "Mr Djokovic had access to his phone".

"I have no idea what's going on, they're holding my son captive for five hours," Srdan Djokovic said.

Novak Djokovic.

"This is a fight for the libertarian world, not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world.

"If they don't let him go in half an hour, we will gather on the street, this is a fight for everyone."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday warned the controversial tennis star will be "on the next plane home" if the evidence for his medical exemption to travel and compete in the Australian Open doesn't stack up.

Mr Morrison said Djokovic, whose exemption sparked outrage from many corners, would not be treated differently to anyone else.

"If he's not vaccinated, he must provide acceptable proof that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons and to be able to access the same travel arrangements as fully vaccinated travellers," Mr Morrison said.

Djokovic revealed on Tuesday night he had been granted a medical exemption to compete in the Australian Open, which begins on January 17.

2021 the coolest and wettest year in Australia in years

Australia has broken records for the coldest year in almost a decade after the La Niña phenomenon caused wetter and cooler conditions across the country, however experts have said the year was still unusually warm.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said 2021 was the coolest year since 2012 and the wettest year since 2016.

At the end of 2021, no large parts of the country were experiencing drought conditions for the first time in five years.

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Clouds and rain hang over Bondi Beach as more wet wether sets in for Sydney, 25 November 2021. Photo Jessica hromas

"For Australia, in 2021 the mean temperature was 0.56 degrees above the average, it made it the 19th warmest year since records began in 1910 but also the coolest year since 2012," senior climatologist Dr Simon Grainger said.

"2021 was actually almost 0.4 degrees cooler than the average temperature on record from 2011 to 2020.

"It was actually much cooler in 2021 than the last decade."

However Dr Martin Rice, the Climate Council's director of research, said 2021 was actually the warmest La Niña year on record.

"Last year was a standout because it was warmer than any previous La Niña year," he said.

"It is amazing to consider that 2021, a year influenced by a La Niña event, was the coolest year in only one decade, which shows you that 2021 is sitting on an exceptionally strong long-term warming trend," Climate Councillor Professor Will Steffen said.

"If you zoom out to the bigger picture — over a few decades or longer — there is an underlying, upward trend in temperature driven by human emission of greenhouse gases."

Temperatures were above average for most of northern Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia's west coast while NSW saw below-average temperatures.

READ MORE: Djokovic detained at Melbourne airport, visa cancelled 

Despite showers of rain a rowing crew during training passes moored boats in Iron Cove near Lilyfield, NSW.

Not only was it the coolest year in a decade but it was also the wettest year since 2016.

Dr Grainger said the above-average rainfall helped ease the drought conditions the country had endured between 2017 and 2019, but it did mean there was more flooding.

"Rainfall overall was nine per cent above the average," Dr Grainger said.

Dr Grainger said November was the wettest month on record, particularly in NSW.

"November was the wettest November since national records began in 1900," he said.

Above-average rainfall was also recorded in eastern Victoria, southern and central west Queensland and the western parts of Western Australia.

READ MORE: Why are so many vaccinated people getting COVID-19 lately?

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 24:  Flood affected areas are seen from a helicopter in the Windsor and Pitt Town areas along the Hawkesbury River on March 24, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. Recovery and flood clean up begins for parts of Western Sydney following days of continuous rain leading to dozens of communities declared disaster zones. (Photo by Lukas Coch - Pool/Getty Images)

This substantial rainfall caused "significant flooding" across eastern Australia in March and again in November and December.

The BoM said the major rainfall meant major dams, particularly in the Murray Darling Basin, had replenished water levels.

Ocean temperatures were however warmer than usual, with NSW marine temperatures currently soaring to levels not seen in decades.

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The 2010-12 La Nina cycle was powerful and devastating.

The increased rainfall was a result of the La Niña phenomenon that Australia has experienced for the past two years.

The condition also caused the lower than usual temperatures.

"The combination of La Niña events and the residual effects of Indian Ocean Dipole all contributed to Australia having its wettest November on record," Dr Grainger said.

NSW Premier flags suspension of elective surgeries as cases surge

The NSW Premier has warned elective surgery may be suspended after the state's health system buckles under the pressure of surging COVID-19 cases.

Dominic Perrottet told 2GB a suspension of elective surgery "may happen" after the state recorded 34,994 new infections in the past 24 hours.

"Yes it may happen. Just like it happened earlier this year and last year," he said.

"There's obviously significant pressure on the system."

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Victoria has already suspended elective surgeries, with only urgent procedures to go ahead to help hospitals deal with the rising number of COVID-19 patients.

NSW doctors said an elective surgery suspension will mean people are no longer being treated in a recommended time frame.

"Elective surgery is not elective," NSW AMA Dr Michael Bonning said.

"It is required for people to live full and active and healthy lives."

"It's surgery people need."

Health system under pressure

Paramedics have warned the government "for months" that hospitals would face a crisis as COVID-19 cases grow.

"Some of the worst cases we've seen for priority one cases are upwards of four, five and six hours for ambulances to arrive," Australian Paramedics Association Brett Simpson said.

"These cases could be people having heart attacks, strokes and difficulties breathing."

An ambulance arrives at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney

With calls to emergency and hospitalisations steadily increasing, NSW Ambulance released a confronting new commercial in a bid to deter "trivial" Triple Zero calls.

NSW Health has also urged residents to "not placing any unnecessary burden on the health system."

"You should not call Triple Zero (000) or attend a hospital emergency department if you want to get a COVID-19 PCR test."

Six deaths including man in his 20s

A man in his 20s is one of six people who died with COVID-19 in NSW overnight.

The man, who was from the ACT, had been double vaccinated and had no underlying health conditions before passing away at St Vincent's Hospital, according to NSW Health.

The five other people who died were in their 60s, 80s and 90s.

The 34,994 new cases mark a slight drop from the record 35,054 infections recorded yesterday, however hospitalisations have increased again, with 1609 people being treated with the virus and 131 in intensive care.

That's 118 more people in hospital, and 12 more in the ICU than yesterday.

This comes as Victoria's coronavirus outbreak continues to grow.

Overnight, 22,197 new infections were recorded – an increase from the 17,636 yesterday.

Six more people in Victoria have died with the virus.

The Sydney suburbs with the highest active COVID-19 case rate have been revealed, with a number of beachside Sydney postcodes posting a high active case rate.

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1478848813334892550

Edmonson Park in Sydney's south-west has the highest active case rate in the state with 77 cases per 1000 residents.

Popular beach side postcodes, including Bondi, Bondi Junction, Coogee and Clovelly follow closely behind, while Schofields in the city's north-west is also one of the worst-affected areas with 53 active cases per 1000 residents.

A number of beachside suburbs boast a high active case rate.

Changes to testing requirements

In response to the surge in cases and amid mounting demand for PCR and rapid antigen tests, a trend being mirrored in other states, National Cabinet has brought in sweeping changes to Australia's testing requirements.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday announced rapid antigen tests would start being used at COVID-19 testing sites to speed up results, officially scrapping the requirement of a positive PCR test.

Mr Morrison said concessional free tests would also be available at pharmacies to those who have a Commonwealth seniors health card, a healthcare card, a low-income card, a pension concession card, DVA Gold card or a DVA white card.

Mr Morrison said rapid antigen tests would not be free for all citizens.

"Universal free access to tests was not agreed by any of the states and territories today, or the Commonwealth. I make that very clear," he said.

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Buying limits reintroduced

Demand is so high for rapid antigens tests even Australia's largest supermarkets who wield massive buying power can't keep up.

There's a warning that staff shortages sparked by COVID-19 will have a domino effect across NSW with Coles now imposing buying limits on a number of products in most states to combat food shortages.

Distribution centres are experiencing higher than usual absenteeism due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in the Greater Sydney community.

Woolworths says it is not put any restrictions just yet.

"We've seen the demand for (RATs) in the last seven days just explode," Coles chief operations officer Matthew Swindells said.

"We've got a good pipeline of stock coming through," the Coles boss said, "but the demand is extremely high."

Posters for COVID-19 rapid antigen test, outside a pharmacy in Sydney.

A Woolworths spokesperson said tens of thousands of RATs were being sent from distribution centres to its stores each day.

"But they're selling through very quickly with the recent surge in demand," the spokesperson said.

More rapid antigen tests are expected to arrive in Australia by mid-January.