Three weeks since its eruption upended the lives of thousands, the volcano on Spain’s La Palma island is still spewing out endless streams of lava with no signs of ceasing.

Authorities have monitored a new stream of molten rock that has added to the destruction of more than 1100 buildings. Anything in the path of the lava — homes, farms, swimming pools and industrial buildings in the largely agricultural area — has been consumed.

The collapse on Saturday of part of the volcanic cone sent a flood of bright red lava pouring down from the Cumbre Vieja ridge that initially cracked open on September 19. The fast-flowing stream carried away huge chunks of lava that had already hardened. An industrial park was soon engulfed.

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“We cannot say that we expect the eruption that began 21 days ago to end anytime soon,” said Julio Pérez, the regional minister for security on the Canary Islands.

La Palma is part of Spain’s Canary Islands, an Atlantic Ocean archipelago off northwest Africa whose economy depends on the cultivation of the Canary plantain and tourism.

The new rivers of lava have not forced the evacuation of any more residents since they are all so staying within the exclusion zone that authorities have created. Some 6000 residents were promptly evacuated after the initial eruption.

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Government experts estimated that the largest of the lava flows measures 1.5km at its widest point, while the delta of new land being formed where lava is flowing into the Atlantic has reached a surface of 34 hectares.

The scientific committee advising the government said that if the delta continues to grow outwards into the sea, parts of it could break off. That would generate explosions, gas emissions and large waves, committee spokeswoman José María Blanco said, but should not represent a danger to those outside the no-go zone.

The Canary Islands' tourism industry was already hard hit by the pandemic, and officials were urging tourists not to keep staying away.

READ MORE: La Palma volcano eruption intensifies as flights suspended due to ash cloud

“This eruption is impacting a part of the island, but La Palma is still a safe place and can offer a lot to those who visit,” said Mariano Hernández, the island’s leading authority.

The last eruption on La Palma 50 years ago lasted just over three weeks. The last eruption on all the Canary Islands occurred underwater off the coast of El Hierro island in 2011 and lasted five months.

Sydney has been locked down for more than 100 days this year.

In that time thousands of businesses across retail, hospitality, beauty services and beyond have also had their doors closed.

We spoke to three business owners in Sydney to find out how they have been preparing to reopen and what their first month back in business will look like.

EXPLAINED: Can I leave my 5km bubble when NSW restrictions lift?

Adam Walmsley, friends&family salon in Chippendale

Adam and his wife Natalie run the friends&family hairdressing salon. They each have decades of experience and have worked in Australia and the UK.

The salon opened four years ago and seats three clients at a time.

Located in Chippendale, in the inner-city, it has been closed for more than four months.

How has lockdown been for you?

"At the start, it was horrific, mainly due to the uncertainly of how long it would go on for," Mr Walmsley told 9news.com.au.

"The financial implications of being a small business and not having a buffer meant that what we worked for four years is basically gone.

Mr Walmsley said it took some time to get financial assistance, and there "was a couple of months there where there was no money coming in".

"It was pretty scary and a little bit demoralising."

"Over time you come to terms with the money side of it and go 'well that's that'."

What has the preparation to reopen been like?

Mr Walmsley said the preparation to reopen hasn't been too physically intense, but it is likely the calm before the storm.

"A big one was just making sure all of our suppliers were paid and up to date so we could order some more products.

"It's pretty straightforward for us – we just had to clean the place up and make sure we've got equipment for everyone.

"We've had to buy some temporary seating so people can sit out on the street and wait for us if they would prefer.

"It's mainly just been the logistics to fit hours in for the staff, but also respect the space that we have," Mr Walmsley said.

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What is your first month open going to be like?

The next three months, in a word, will be busy at friends&family.

"I don't think we've got a spot available until mid-November," Mr Walmsley said.

"I'm going to be in five days a week doing 12 hour days and Johnny our barber will be in three-four days a week, my wife Nat in a few days a week.

"Everybody is flat chat until November so I fully expect that to continue through until Christmas. We're going to be pretty much flat out until the new year."

Mr Walmsley said it will be a delicate balance between the excitement of reopening and having money come in again and adjusting after not having worked for months.

"I fully expect it to be crazy but I've got a really lovely client base and I think everyone is going to be really respectful of the fully vaxxed, masks, social distance rules.

"It's all the emotions – you want to get back into that life, but also, I've got used to not working and hanging out with the girls (his wife and two daughters)," Mr Walmsley said.

Yvette Manettas, Manager at Nicks Group

Yvette Manettas is a manager at Nicks Restaurant and Bar Group – which encompasses four venues at Sydney's Darling Harbour and Cockle Bay Wharf.

The iconic Nick's Seafood and Cyren restaurants are preparing to reopen after being closed for the first time in over 20 years.

Usually, the seafood restaurants operate seven days a week, 365 days a year. The group also owns I'm Angus Steakhouse and Adria Bar Restaurant.

How has lockdown been for you?

"Lockdown has been difficult for us, just like everybody. It's horrible seeing your businesses empty," Ms Manettas said.

"A really big adjustment to make, it's emotional as well… People have their hearts and souls in it."

She said it was also hard to see Darling Harbour – a usually bustling part of Sydney – essentially empty.

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What has the preparation to reopen been like?

"When you shut down you strip everything back – so you clear out all of your perishables, you have to flush out your beer lines, your restaurant gets packed up and everything gets secured and packaged to retain it all," Ms Manettas said.

To rebuild the restaurant means "the entire workforce" is back to in help.

"We got together when we saw it was going to happen and said: 'what do we want this to look like?'.

Ms Manettas said the team came up with new menu items, the chefs are in prepping sauces and food, and the fishermen the restaurant uses are back in action.

"It's been hard work and it's been a lot of grit and determination."

What is your first month open going to be like?

"We're hopeful it's going to be really positive, our local and loyal customer base have all responded really positively," Ms Manettas said.

"We're just going to open seven days, we're going to do lunch and dinner, and do who we are."

She said the group is hoping that the end of lockdown will bring in customers, and then the festive season will keep them coming.

"We're ready for it, we want to do the right thing and we want everyone to be safe but we want them to be happy too," Ms Manettas said.

"I think customers and staff are equally exciting."

Anastasia Fenech, owner By Anastacia & Co

Anastasia Fenech opened her beauty salon in Five Dock, in Sydney's inner-west just before the city's first lockdown last year.

The salon offers a range of bespoke beauty treatments such as brow treatments, specialised facials and peels, lashes and semi-permanent tattooing.

During the latest lockdown she had to shift her business quickly, and is ready to see clients in person again.

How has lockdown been for you?

"The first initial lockdown last year happened for me only a month after officially opening my doors and salon to the public, so it was quite a shock," Ms Fenech said.

"I had to compromise and try to think of a way to make ends meet just to pay the rent for the three months of being closed, so I decided to sell home skin and brow kits to my clients which were a hit."

She said being forced to close for the second time in two years was incredibly challenging.

"I honestly didn't think I would be able to push through this lockdown but thankfully I've just gotten by thanks to our amazing clients who have supported us throughout this lockdown," Ms Fenech said.

What has the preparation to reopen been like?

Ms Fenech said when the lockdown was initially announced in Sydney it was just for two weeks so she moved her clients' appointments around. But now there is a backlog of months.

"Now almost four months later the build-up is a lot more intense for the beauty industry as clients are itching to get back to their beauty treatments.

"Unfortunately now with the current vaccinated and unvaccinated statuses it really has a big toll on us small businesses to open safely and have to comply with our current health advice it's been quite a challenging journey preparing to reopen again," she said.

What is your first month open going to be like?

"Busy. October is completely booked out, November is almost booked out and we have just opened the books for December for our clients to pre-book, as close to Christmas tends to get fully booked very quickly," Ms Fenech said.

"But we are so excited and ready to get back to normal and see all of our clients again."

A seven-year-old girl has died after she was hit by a caravan at a campground in Victoria's south east.

The girl was hit by the caravan in Tidal River in Wilson's Promontory about 10am today.

According to police, an off-duty paramedic performed CPR on the girl but she was unable to be revived.

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The driver who was towing the caravan stopped and is assisting police with the investigation.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

More than a quarter of a million Australian families will receive cheaper childcare earlier than expected after the federal government announced it will bring forward increases to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

From 7 March 2022, around 250,000 Australian families will receive the increase to the CCS, making them on average more than $2,200 a year better off.

The March date is some four months earlier than original July deadline, following faster than expected technical changes across government departments.

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The additional subsidies apply to families who have two or more children aged under five years and in care, with their CCS rate increasing by 30 percentage points for their second child, up to a maximum of 95 per cent.

More than half of eligible families will receive the maximum 95 per cent subsidy.

A family earning $110,000 a year with two kids in care, four days a week, will be better off by around $100 each week.

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A full explainer of the changes as they were announced in the last Federal Budget can be found here.

Alan Tudge, Minister for Education and Youth, said the fast-tracking of the subsidy increase comes at a time when the economy needs it most.

These changes are good for families and great for the economy, and it's significant that we are able to deliver them sooner," Minister Tudge said.

"Removing the cap and increasing subsidies means more parents, particularly mothers, can return to work or take on more hours if they choose to.

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"There are 280,000 more children in child care than when we came to office and this additional support will take our total investment to $11 billion a year.

"Importantly, our support is targeted to those who need it most. We are reducing the out-of-pocket child care costs which really add up when you have two, three or more children in care."

It's estimated the additional subsidy will mean the equivalent of 40,000 parents are able to work an extra day per week, boosting the economy by up to $1.5 billion per year.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he's working with the New South Wales government to accelerate opening of international borders into the state sooner than expected.

In a video message released ahead of stay-at-home orders being lifted across New South Wales tomorrow, Mr Morrison acknowledged the difficult path the global health pandemic has paved, claiming it is time to "take our lives back" one step at a time.

"The NSW Premier (Dominic Perrottet) and I have been discussing how we can accelerate our plan to open international travel when home quarantine is made available," Mr Morrison said.

"I know the NSW government is looking to fast track home quarantine in November and if that happens we will be able to move to facilitate the opening up of the international border into NSW sooner."

EXPLAINER: What NSW residents can and can't do as the state enters 'Freedom Day'

Mr Morrison said that would mean home quarantine for vaccinated Australians wishing to return home through Sydney and giving the option for international travel for vaccinated Australians to leave and to return.

"Vaccinations are winning the fight, with daily case numbers in NSW now close to one third of what they were at the height of the outbreak," he said.

He commended Australians for their sacrifices and high COVID-19 vaccination rates in the face of what he has described as "battle of our generation".

"Australians have worked so hard and sacrificed so much to come together and save lives and save livelihoods," he said.

"The phenomenal response from Australians to go and get vaccinated, as we've seen those vaccination rates rise right across the country, means it's now time that Australians are now able to reclaim their lives.

"We're beating COVID and we're taking our lives back."

He said Australia has administered more than 30 million vaccines nationwide.

This means 82.2 per cent of eligible Australians over the age of 16 have had a first COVID-19 dose, and 61.9 per cent with both doses.

"Of the whole population, more than half of Australians are vaccinated," he said.

"Our first dose vaccination rate is higher than Germany and the United States. Our first dose vaccination rate is higher than when the United Kingdom lifted restrictions."

He offered words of encouragement for those still in lockdown in Victoria, saying the situation in NSW provides "light at the end of the tunnel".

"I welcome the Premier's (Daniel Andrews) announcement to safely reopen …. Victorians have sacrificed so much. More than any right across the country," he said.

He said amid the moments of celebration, Australians must remember not to be complacent against the COVID-19 virus.

"We still have to take one step at a time safely and ensure we put that safety goal first as we reopen the country," he said.

NSW today recorded 477 new COVID-19 cases and six new deaths in the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, Victoria recorded 1890 new COVID-19 cases and a further five deaths in the past 24 hours.

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A Virgin Australia flight to South Australia is being treated as a coronavirus transmission site after a teenage passenger tested positive to COVID-19.

SA Health confirmed the new COVID-19 case and exposure site involving the domestic flight from Melbourne to Adelaide on October 4, in a media statement this afternoon.

"Today's case is a male in his teens who travelled on flight VA219 from Melbourne to Adelaide on 4 October. He has been in a medi-hotel since his arrival," the media statement said.

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"Flight VA 219 will now be treated as a transmission site and SA Health are ensuring that quarantine arrangements for all passengers reflect this higher level of concern."

Yesterday, it was revealed a Virgin Australia cabin crew member was infectious with coronavirus while working for three days last week, including the VA 219 flight.

The crew member was on flights from Melbourne to Adelaide, Sydney and Newcastle between October 4 and October 6, Victoria's Deputy Secretary of COVID-19 Response Kate Matson said.

"Fellow crew members on those flights have been deemed close contacts," Ms Matson said.

"Passengers on those flights are being contacted by the relevant jurisdictions and we have been in close contact with both NSW and South Australia and working closely with them to contact the relevant passengers."

The flights are VA 219 from Melbourne to Adelaide on October 4, and the returning VA 218 Adelaide to Melbourne the same day.

On October 5 the cabin crew member flew on VA 827 to Sydney, and on VA 808 back to Melbourne the same day.

On October 6 they flew on VA 1593 to Newcastle, and on VA 1594 back to Melbourne.

The case was detected by Virgin's surveillance testing.

South Australia has a total of 911 COVID-19 cases.

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