A search is underway in Canterbury following reports a swimmer disappeared in the Waimakariri River earlier this evening. It is the second emergency water incident in Canterbury today after a young child died in a suspected drowning…

A tree has fallen on a golf buggy leaving a man injured in Sydney's south-west.

Emergency services were called to the golf course on Brickmakers Drive at Moorebank just before 5pm today.

A large tree branch had reportedly fallen on a golf buggy trapping a man inside.

READ MORE: Response to Omicron will focus on three key areas, PM announces

A man in his 50s has been treated at the scene for head and leg injuries.

The man was taken to Liverpool Hospital in a stable condition.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Braden Robinson said it's "a challenging situation when patients are trapped".

"It was a very heavy branch and it appears that a golf cart took the brunt of the impact. The outcome here could have been much much worse."

By Katie Todd of RNZ A Covid-19 modeller warns the red traffic light would do little to stop the rampant spread of Omicron in New Zealand, after case numbers quadrupled in one week in New South Wales.Pressure is mounting on…

Handmade biscuits that have been sold around Australia are being recalled after it was discovered the packaging does not declare that they are made with milk.

An official recall has been issued for House of Biskota Gluten Free Choc Almond Handmade Biscuits marked with any best before dates.

The biscuits have been sold at independent retail stories, including IGAs, in New South Wales, ACT, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.

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There are concerns that the biscuits could cause a reaction in anyone who eats them who has a milk allergy or intolerance.

Anyone who has a milk allergy or intolerance is being advised not to eat the biscuits and to return them for a full refund.

For more information, visit houseofbiskota.com.au.

A motorcyclist has died following a collision with a northbound freight train near Otaio in Canterbury. The man was on a farm track that intersects with a private level crossing when the collision happened just after 5.30pm today.Waimate…

Dozens of businesses in New South Wales are being forced to close due to staff shortages after hundreds are in isolation.

Christmas week would normally be peak season for hospitality businesses however with the surge of COVID-19 cases in the state, many are being forced to close.

One Newcastle business said that 70 per cent of their staff are in isolation after they were deemed close contacts.

READ MORE: COVID-19 testing clinics swamped amid growing frustration over tourism rules

Luke Tilse owns multiple venues in Newcastle including The Young Street Hotel said he's received a surge in cancellations over Christmas and some of his other venues are closed due to staff shortages.

"Staff are dropping like flies, just trying to get our head around the changes casual contacts, close contacts, low risk, all of the publicans are calling each other comparing notes," Mr Tilse told 9News.

Mr Tilse called for changes to restrictions in NSW as the state moves towards "living with COVID-19".

"Honestly, this cannot be the way that we move forward," Mr Tilse said on Instagram.

"Even lockdown was better. At least then we got support, and knew our staff were being looked after."

Venues in Sydney have also been forced to close after staff were exposed to COVID-19.

Bondi Icebergs in Sydney's eastern suburbs has closed until further notice after staff were exposed to the virus.

Other hospitality venues in the city including The Lord Gladstone in Chippendale and the Shell House in Sydney's CBD have also shut up shop due to the surging case numbers.

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"Due to high rising case numbers in the local area and other venues close to us being affected by positive COVID-19 cases, we have made the difficult decision to shut up shop as of today through till NYE," The Lord Gladstone said on Instagram

"The latest outbreak has been a blow to us and sadly means that we do not have the team members needed to provide the level of service we expect to deliver to all of our guests," the Shell House also said on Instagram.

Productions shut down due to COVID-19 cases

Some productions have been shut down after COVID-19 cases were detected in the staff.

Hamilton has suspended two showings and Come from Away has also suspended two performances as both companies undergo COVID-19 testing.

Holiday tourism destinations see rise in cancellations

Many holiday tourism destinations on the NSW Mid North Coast were booked out prior to the current surge in COVID-19 cases.

Many operators in the Hunter region are now seeing a drop in bookings as people are either in isolation or are concerned about the risk of the virus.

Prior to the current outbreak, the demand for holidays homes was surging with many places booked out over the Christmas period.

"Our businesses doubled which has been a product of high prices and a lot of people wanting to take advantage of the short term economy," Peter Smith, CEO of Weekenda, said.

READ MORE: Omicron cases could hit 200,000 a day across Australia

Mr Smith said some people are beginning to cancel bookings due to COVID-19 concerns.

"There's definitely some pressure people are looking at Newcastle numbers and getting a bit spooked about Newcastle and the Hunter," he said.

"As those infection rates go up I think we will get more and more pressure from people who want to cancel or just don't want to travel."

Current close contact rules

Current rules mean a vaccinated close contact must isolate for seven days from the last time they were with a COVID-positive person.

A close contact is deemed as someone living in the same household as a positive case, having a "household-like" relationship with the positive person, or if they've been to a setting or event deemed a "superspreader".

To be cleared, the person will need a negative PCR test on day one and again on day six.

READ MORE: How to have a COVID-safe Christmas

For casual contacts – someone who has come into contact with a COVID-positive person for a short period of time – still need to stay at home until they receive a negative PCR test.

With current wait times for test results that could be around 72 hours.

NSW recorded 3763 COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.

Case numbers are doubling roughly every four and a half days in the state.

Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt’s new work phone has been sitting at the council since early last year, unused, despite his claims he is soldiering on with one that is barely functional.Confusion still surrounds the nature of…

Lockdown has been extended in the remote Northern Territory communities of Tennant Creek and Ali Curung as the territory recorded five new COVID-19 cases.

The lockdown has been extended by 24 hours and will end on Thursday December 23 at 5pm.

"We are very mindful that it is Christmas and a lot of people have a lot of work to do to prepare for Christmas day," Acting Chief Minister Nicole Manison said.

READ MORE: Response to Omicron will focus on three key areas, PM announces

A mask mandate has also been immediately introduced in Alice Springs for all public indoor settings for the next 48 hours.

"This is in recognition of early movement of recent cases and close contacts while contact tracing is underway," Ms Manison said.

"And acknowledging it will not be possible to socially distance in public indoor settings like shopping centres while people are out getting supplies for Christmas."

A mask mandate in the Barkley local government area has also been extended for another 24 hours.

READ MORE: NSW COVID-19 cases leap amid pleas for border rule changes

It comes as the territory recorded five new cases of COVID-19.

Two men who arrived from Sydney on different flights, Jetstar flight JQ672 and a Qantas flight, both tested positive to the virus.

Three cases have also been linked to the territory's regional cluster.

Ms Manison said the cluster now stands at 125.

READ MORE: COVID-19 testing clinics swamped amid growing frustration over tourism rules

A woman in her 50s who was a close contact of previous cases in the Barrow Creek area has tested positive.

She was infectious in the community.

A teenager from Katherine east tested positive to the virus while in quarantine.

A child in Tennant Creek also tested positive and may have been infectious in the community.

Small changes to testing requirements for interstate arrivals to the territory have also been announced after today's National Cabinet meeting.

A PCR test 72 hours before arrival remains however the day three and six tests can now be completed as rapid antigen tests.

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