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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has gone into self-isolation after being deemed a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case that was on the same flight as her.

Ms Ardern was on flight NZ8273, which departed from KeriKeri and flew to Auckland on January 22.

The flight has been added to the New Zealand Ministry of Health's website as a location of interest.

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A result from whole genome sequencing for the positive case is expected tomorrow and is expected to reveal that the case is infected with the Omicron variant.

All other passengers on the flight have been deemed close contacts and are required to immediately get tested, self-isolate and remain in quarantine for 10 days since being exposed to the virus.

In a statement Prime Minister Ardern said she is asymptomatic and is feeling well.

She said she will be tested immediately and will stay in isolation until Tuesday.

New South Wales has recorded its deadliest day of the COVID-19 pandemic with 49 deaths while Queensland reported a steep rise in infections.

NSW has seen a slight rise in case numbers reporting 13,354 COVID-19 infections

There are 2693 people in hospital in the virus and 186 people admitted to intensive care.

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Hospital admissions in NSW have slightly dropped overnight, from 2737 to 2693.

Seven-day outdoor mask mandate for the Northern Territory

The Northern Territory is putting in place an outdoor mask mandate for seven days starting from 6pm local time today.

People aged 12 and over who can't physically distance must wear a mask when they're outside as well as inside.

People exercising outdoors will not need to wear a mask.

"This is just acknowledging, as we predicted, increasing case numbers with the conclusion of the school holidays and people returning to the territory," Northern Territory Health Minister Natasha Fyles said.

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The Territory recorded 828 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.

At the end of the seven days, the public health order will revert to a sole indoor mask mandate.

Also, from 2pm local time today, the lockdowns will end for Wurrumiyanga, Gunyaŋara (Ski Beach), and Utopia.

Ms Fyles also addressed the food shortages and supply issues being experienced in parts of the Territory.

"Supplies are limited but the advice we have is that we've rerouted or the supermarkets have rerouted those trucks through Queensland so we should start to see supply come through in the next few days," Ms Fyles said.

"I've just been advised that a couple of goods trucks have been able to get through the South Australian Stuart Highway entry into the Territory so hopefully it's just short-lived. But people certainly would be noticing an impact to what's available and some varied menus on the households of Territorians."

Queensland records 12 new deaths

Queensland has recorded 10,391 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours.

Twelve people have died with the virus.

Queensland's Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard said there are 833 people in hospital with the virus, a slight increase from 818 admissions yesterday.

There are 53 people in intensive care.

"What we're seeing in hospitals is the older age group and those with co-morbidities," he said.

"This is the last group we will see infected."

Dr Gerrard said the "outcomes in hospitalisations" is significantly lower than what was expected.

Victoria sees drop in infections

Meanwhile, in Victoria, the state recorded 12,250 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours.

The state reported 31 people had died with the virus.

There are 953 people in hospital with COVID-19 and 39 people on ventilators.

It is a slight drop in infections where the state reported 12,755 yesterday.

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Speaking in Dandenong, Victorian COVID Commander Jeroen Weimar urged people to come forward for their boosters.

"Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic continues to evolve and we need to evolve with it," he said.

"If you are double vaccinated, you are not as fully protected as you could be."

WA records 22 new local COVID-19 cases

Western Australia has recorded 22 new local COVID-19 cases, one of which is unlinked to any existing clusters. An additional infection is related to interstate travel.

Of the new cases, 14 are connected to the Library Nightclub cluster, while one is likely linked to the greater Bunbury cluster.

And six cases are household contacts from known clusters in the South West, Safety Bay, Rockingham, Willagee and Wheatbelt areas.

https://twitter.com/MarkMcGowanMP/status/1487280013699272712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

South Australia records 1740 new COVID-19 cases

South Australia has recorded 1740 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours.

"That's the lowest we have had for the entire year," Premier Steven Marshall said.

Five people have died with the virus including one person in their 50s, one in their 60s, two in their 70s, and one in their 80s.

Of the 1740 new cases, 1329 came from PCR tests and 411 came from positive rapid antigen tests.

Mr Marshall also announced a $50 million support package for businesses impacted by COVID-19.

"So up to $22,000 cash grant to those businesses who remain affected," he said.

"In addition to that, to businesses outside of that, there is a further application which they can make if they are suffering significant losses as well."

"That will kick into place as of this coming week."

Slow vaccine uptake in five to 11-year-olds

New modelling is being formed to estimate the spike in COVID-19 cases as kids return to school in NSW next week.

The Doherty Institute is building modelling to show what the rise in COVID-19 cases will look like as thousands of kids get back in the classroom next week.

Meanwhile, only 35 per cent of five to 11-year-olds in NSW have had their first jab as the rollout enters its fourth week.

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Infections in children are making up a rising proportion of the state's infections with more than 14,000 children under the age of nine contracting the virus in the first week of January.

Experts said the slower uptake could be due to delivery issues and cancelled appointments in the first week of the rollout.

The Federal Government has announced new funding for koala conservation, however environmental experts say more action on climate change and deforestation to help the native species.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison today announced a $50 million funding package to boost the long-term protection and recovery efforts for Australia's koalas.

Conservation bodies have welcomed the funding for the beloved animals but say it should be accompanied by a plan to address climate change and deforestation, which are the two biggest contributors to the decline in koala populations.

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"We're pleased to see the government investing in koalas and contributing to some of the key recovery actions needed to save them from extinction after the devastating 2019-20 bushfires," WWF-Australia spokesperson Tanya Pritchard said.

"This money is much needed, but without stronger laws and major landholder incentives to protect koala habitat their forest homes will continue to be bulldozed and logged.

"Koalas are the face of our forests, yet we're still clearing the habitat of many priority populations."

Ms Pritchard said additional measures to protect the koalas should be taken, including by listing them as an endangered species on Australia's east coast.

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Mr Morrison said today the government is "committed to protecting them (koalas) for generations to come".

"Our $50 million investment will enhance the protection of koalas by restoring koala habitat, improving our understanding of koala populations, supporting training in koala treatment and care, and strengthening research into koala health outcomes," he said.

The $50 million investment will include $20 million towards grants for habitat and health protection projects, $10 million for community-led initiatives, $10 million for the National Koala Monitoring Program, $2 million to improve koala health outcomes and $1 million for training for veterinarians and nurses to treat koalas.

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Environment Minister Sussan Ley said the funding would also help the conservation of other native species.

"Importantly, the extra funding will build on work already happening across the koala range to restore and connect important habitat patches, control feral animal and plant species, and improve existing habitat," Minister Ley said.

The announcement comes as Mr Morrison embarks on the campaign trail through Queensland ahead of the federal election, which is expected to be held in May.

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A New Hampshire postal worker is now a local hero after she helped save a woman's life.

Newmarket mail carrier Kayla Berridge realised during her shift on January 27 that mail had been piling up for four days at a resident's home. Newmarket is around 40 miles from Concord.

"I hadn't seen her in a while and I noticed her mail wasn't getting picked up, so I got a little concerned," Ms Berridge told CNN on Friday.

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The woman, who is in her 80s, would sometimes chat with her, Ms Berridge said.

Ms Berridge had a gut feeling that she ought to call for a wellness check on the home, she said.

It was the right decision. Inside, the woman had been trapped on the floor of her bedroom for at least three days, the Newmarket Police Department would later report.

Police Lt Wayne Stevens told CNN the first detective to arrive on the scene could faintly hear the woman calling for help as he knocked on the door.

Lt Stevens pulled up to the house with another officer who had visited the woman before and was able to gain entry.

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Once inside, the officers found the woman on the floor of her bedroom, under items including artwork and frames. Police believe she tried to grab her bed for support but the items on the bed ended up falling on her.

The woman was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with hypothermia and dehydration. She is still in the hospital as of Friday, but her family told Lt Stevens she is stable and recovering well.

During her four years as a mail carrier, Ms Berridge said she has never had to call a wellness check, but there have been close calls. Mail piling up, no outgoing mail or a car parked in the driveway consistently are all signs Ms Berridge said she looks for.

"Newmarket is a great little town," Ms Berridge said. "Everyone has each other's backs."

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Lt Stevens said this isn't the first time the department has conducted a wellness check called in by a postal carrier, but it is a rare case where they found someone in need of help.

"Without a doubt, she saved this lady's life," Lt Stevens said.

"That's part of being a letter carrier in a small town and taking your job to the next level. She did a great job."

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