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headline

One new local COVID-19 case detected in Sydney

New South Wales has recorded one new case of locally acquired COVID-19 today.

The case, a man from Western Sydney, is being investigated by contact tracers but is believed to be linked to the Berala BWS cluster.

There were also 11 new cases reported in quarantine hotels, all acquired overseas.

READ MORE: Victoria eases border restrictions for Brisbane, with Sydney set to follow

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1350237190312214528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The results come from roughly 14,500 COVID-19 tests conducted yesterday, down from over 16,000 the day before.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned yesterday that the easing of restrictions may be delayed if testing rates don't increase.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant echoed the premier's calls for increased testing.

"It is critical at this time in the response that we mop up any transmission chains, but also I would urge you to go about practising those COVID-safe practices," she said.

It was a message that was reiterated today by NSW Health's Dr Chatu Yapa, who warned it was "very likely" that COVID-19 is continuing to circulate in the community among people with mild or no symptoms.

"It is vital that we pick up every case of COVID-19 if we are to prevent further community transmission, and the best way we have of doing this is maintaining high testing numbers," she said.

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Cabinet establishing Universal Health Insurance Implementation Committee

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — The Federal Cabinet in St. Kitts and Nevis is establishing a committee to provide advice on the implementation of Universal Health Insurance (UHI).

The move is the latest step by the government to introduce a robust insurance programme that would provide quality health insurance to the population. The initiative is a costly venture as estimates place the price tag between $143 million and $181 million.

“Consideration may have to be given to salary deductions from individuals,” said Eugene Hamilton, the Minister responsible for National Health Insurance. “In other words, how it is going to be funded, what benefits are we going to provide, when it will start and on what legislative framework will it stand. Those are the things which will come from a new committee put in place this year to ensure that Universal Health Insurance becomes a reality.”

The minister’s was commenting at the Prime Minister’s Monthly Press Conference on January 14. He said that the expectation is for UHI to be implemented shortly after the committee completes its work. The minister reminded citizens that the country and other nations around the world continue to grapple with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said it has influenced the measured approach being taken by the government.

“We are very cautious, we are careful, we are very deliberate in what we do in implementing Universal Health Insurance,” said Hamilton.

The enormity of introducing such a comprehensive and transformative programme was compared to other historical, landmark decisions such as purchasing plantation lands, introducing a Citizenship by Investment Programme, constructing the then Southeast Peninsula Road, known as the Kennedy A. Simmonds Highway, and establishing a Social Security Fund.

Minister Hamilton said these decisions were ahead of their time and have positively impacted the development of the country.

“Universal Health Insurance is in that category,” said Hamilton. He called on the public to fully support the programme.

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Ministry of Tourism encouraging US $200m Ritz-Carlton Hotel project

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Lindsay Grant, said his ministry is still actively pursuing the Ritz-Carlton Project. The Ritz-Carlton has been seeking to expand in the Caribbean region.

“What I can say with respect to the Ritz-Carlton is that we have been engaged with them for a very long time,” said Minister Grant during the Prime Minister’s Monthly Press Conference held at the National Emergency Management Agency Conference Room on January 14.

“I updated the Cabinet this week with respect to the Ritz-Carlton, and ongoing discussions and negotiations,” said Hon. Grant. “The Ritz-Carlton is a huge project; it’s a project that is destined to be over US $200 million and it is taking time.”

“Because of the pandemic, things have slowed, however, I am advised that very shortly we will be able to be in a position to come to the country and give some further details on that,” said Grant.

The Ritz-Carlton announced in 2018 that it will develop 10 villas and 15 condominiums that are sustainable and have responsible comfort in the St. Kitts and Nevis.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC is an American multinational company that operates the Ritz-Carlton luxury hotel chain.

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Victoria accused of 'double standards' over Australian Open

The Victorian government is being accused of double standards as it welcomes over 1000 tennis players and officials ahead of the Australian Open, despite its own residents overseas and interstate unable to get home.

Around 1200 elite international players and their support staff are set to arrive in Melbourne to begin their 14-day coronavirus quarantines ahead of the tournament on February 8.

Hundreds have already arrived since Thursday, flying in on chartered flights organised by the Australian Open.

It comes a week after the federal government slashed the number of returned travellers allowed into Australia's hotel quarantines in half, citing concerns around more infectious new COVID-19 variants.

There are still more than 37,000 Australians stranded overseas and unable to get home, with 4800 of those classed as "vulnerable".

Overnight, Emirates announced it would suspend all its flights to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne until further notice, adding further hurdles for those seeking to return from Europe and the Middle East.

All Australian Open players and officials must return a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to Australia.

Two players, former world number one Andy Murray, and Grand Slam finalist Madison Keys have already had to cancel their travel plans after returning positive tests.

The players will spend 14 days in three quarantine hotels in Melbourne, but will be allowed out for five hours each day to train.

Despite the strict measures, the move has attracted criticism from stranded Australians as well as politicians interstate and airline bosses.

Sydney and Brisbane remain designated "red zones" according to the Victorian government's "traffic zone" system for identifying hot spots, despite both cities reporting a number of days without locally acquired cases.

This means all residents from those regions are barred entry, unless granted a special exemption, leaving hundreds of Victorians unable to return home.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce described the decision as "devastating", saying it was bizarre to let tennis players in from countries where COVID-19 ran rampant, while Victorians interstate were left stranded.

"Victoria's approach to Sydney seems to be out of proportion with the actual risk," Mr Joyce said on Friday.

He said Qantas and its budget arm Jetstar had cancelled almost 3000 flights between Melbourne and Sydney since the northern beaches outbreak saw borders slam close before Christmas.

"Behind each of those cancelled flights are a lot of people whose plans have been thrown up in the air," Mr Joyce said.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance yesterday accused the Victorian government of inconsistency in its border restrictions.

"Against the backdrop of having an international event and trying to maintain normalcy: fine," Mr Constance said.

"But I think where this falls short is the inconsistency in their decision making.

"Throughout 2021, we need consistency around the trigger points that these state restrictions are going to have or else it will just trash jobs."

Victoria recorded its tenth consecutive day with no new locally acquired coronavirus cases today, with three detected in hotel quarantine.

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Federation’s digital transformation efforts to provide upgraded services, better access

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — Minister of Information and Communication Technologies, the Honourable Akilah Byron-Nisbett, said that both islands of St. Kitts and Nevis will benefit from the digital transformation efforts of the government because it is a federal undertaking.

Minister Byron-Nisbett was at the time speaking at the Prime Minister’s Press Conference held on January 14 at the National Emergency Management Agency Conference Room.

“Just this morning, the Prime Minister would have spoken to the restructuring that is taking place at it relates to the Federal Office in Nevis,” said Hon. Mrs. Byron-Nisbett. “There are services at the federal level that will be offered through that office as well as are other engagements that will take place there that would require access to the information at the federal level.”

“This means that whatever is done on St. Kitts must be replicated in Nevis to ensure a smooth transition of information and that that information is shared across both islands,” said Mrs. Byron-Nisbett. “It will also ensure that anyone accessing the information or services in Nevis have the same type of services that is in St. Kitts.

“The government has begun the first phase of its transformation efforts, which includes the whole of government strategy and the cybersecurity strategy,” said Mrs. Byron-Nisbett. “Just last week, we began the different interviews and meetings with various ministries and departments across government to get an idea of where the different ministries are in terms of their transformation efforts and their IT so that we can get a better understanding of where we are going.

“The government has also reached out to different departments and ministries in Nevis that offer some level of federal services,” she said. “They are still waiting on confirmation on when we can have interviews with them.”

She said the meetings and interviews have been going well so far.

“We’ve touched on a good cross-section of ministries, including the Ministries of Health, Information and Communication Technologies, the Inland Revenue Department and Ministry of Finance,” said Mrs. Byron-Nisbett. “The interviews are ongoing.”

The Cable is assisting the government in the roll-out of its Government Wide Area Network.

“This means the fibre runs necessary to connect all of our ministries and departments together, the infrastructure necessary to be able to roll out the necessary services, platforms and applications that would sit on that network to provide the digital services that are required,” said Mrs. Byron-Nisbett.

Minister Byron-Nisbett said that in recent discussions with The Cable, they have been trying to determine the best route to run the fibre lines between St. Kitts and Nevis.

As part of its digital transformation efforts, the government will also roll out Wi-Fi to all community centres as early as next week. This is also in collaboration with The Cable.

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