Tag Archives: oceania

NSW records 1007 new local cases, 11 more deaths

New South Wales has recorded another 1007 new local cases of coronavirus overnight, with another 11 deaths reported.

One of the deaths reported today was a man in his 70s from the Blue Mountains who resides at the Uniting Springwood Residential Aged Care Facility. He was not vaccinated.

NSW Health confirmed nine others were not vaccinated and two people had received one dose.

READ MORE: Police gear up for another day of Melbourne protests

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1441568285472919556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

At least eight had underlying medical conditions.

Three people, one man in his 40s, one man in his 50s, and one woman in her 80s died at home. Their infections were diagnosed after their deaths.

The people of New South Wales are a step closer to regaining their freedom after the state government held a crisis meeting yesterday to determine what will happen once the state reaches 80 per cent full vaccination rates.

While the specifics of that meeting won't be revealed until next week, the easing of certain restrictions is likely.

These include the return of community sport, bigger crowds at stadium events and auctions able to be done in person.

More visitors will be allowed in homes and the number of guests at weddings and funerals will also likely expand.

Home quarantine will be expanded and people will be encouraged to return to the office.

New South Wales is currently sitting at around 85 per cent single dose vaccination and 58 per cent double dose.

READ MORE: Gabby Petito mystery: 'This was murder in slow motion'

READ MORE: What life will look like once NSW hits 80 per cent vaccine target

The state is expecting to get to that first milestone of 70 per cent of double dose on October 11, with the 80 per cent double dose target expected to be reached a couple of weeks after that.

There are concerns though that some suburbs in Local Government Areas (LGA) are lagging behind.

That includes the City of Sydney, the Inner West, and Randwick.

They are home to over half a million people but local councils say they haven't had the same opportunities to vaccinate as other areas.

There will be a push in those areas in the next week or two, with health authorities also concentrating on Northern New South Wales, Tweed and Byron as well.

With concerns those areas won't reach the 70 or 80 per cent milestone when the rest of Sydney does, authorities are asking people not to travel to affected areas until they reach those targets.

Dozens arrested on sixth day of Melbourne lockdown protests

Police have arrested 94 people in the Melbourne CBD and St Kilda after anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protesters took to the streets for a sixth day.

There was significant police presence in the city today as the threat of another outbreak of violence loomed, with protest organisers trying to direct members to Luna Park in St Kilda to block roads and traffic in the area.

Police said there were small groups and arrests were a result of breaching health orders, along with other matters including outstanding warrants and drug offences.

READ MORE: Victoria records 847 new local COVID-19 cases, one death

Protesters chanted slogans like "together, united, we'll never be divided" and at least a dozen arrests were made, according to The Age.

"All those arrested will be issued with penalty notices for breaching the CHO directions," Victoria Police said in a statement.

"Police are disappointed to see the number of people who are continuing to breach the CHO directions and will continue to arrest and fine them if they are found to be in breach of the CHO directions."

Police had set up at key checkpoints around Melbourne's CBD to discourage protest activity.

Most pedestrians are stopped and asked about their movements at Flinders Street Station in an attempt to ward off any protesters hoping to take part in lockdown protest.

READ MORE: Gabby Petito mystery: 'This was a murder in slow motion'

Around 1000 protesters have also gathered at Adelaide's Hindmarsh square, taking a stand against lockdowns, vaccines and media coverage of the coronavirus pandemic.

Victoria Police had one of their busiest days yesterday, making 200 arrests around Melbourne and issuing more than $1 million in fines.

Today's Melbourne protests were scheduled to kick off around midday AEST, however the police presence in the city was strong and crowds aren't as big as they had been.

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There were concerns people picnicking around Melbourne parks ahead of tonight's AFL Grand Final could be targeted again after families were set upon by angry protesters in Blackburn Park, in the city's east, yesterday, who tried to rip their masks off and allegedly tried to cough on them.

It comes amid growing fears Wednesday's demonstration will become a super spreader event after a protester was hospitalised with COVID-19.

Victoria recorded 847 new local cases and one death overnight, after yesterday saw the highest daily increase this year, with 733 new local cases.

Melbourne protests police presence around CBD on day six - Saturday September 25, 2021.

READ MORE: Scott Morrison joins Indo-Pacific leaders at first Quad nations meeting

The state has fallen short of its first freedom target with the government confirming the state will not hit 80 per cent first dose vaccinations by tomorrow.

Despite a record week of jabs, restrictions are unlikely to ease meaning golf, tennis, basketball and the travel limit extension remain off the cards.

Melburnians are also reminded to stick to the rules with curfews still in place for tonight's AFL Grand Final.

Australians stranded overseas may be offered flights by government

Stranded Australians could be offered seats on more government-facilitated flights in the months ahead, to get as many home by Christmas as possible.

The number of citizens registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as wanting to return to Australia has surged to 45,000 since a cap on incoming international arrivals was tightened.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said getting people home by Christmas is a priority, but that the nation had to reach the double dose vaccination milestone of 80 per cent first.

READ MORE: Three diagnosed with coronavirus after dying in NSW homes

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"Once we hit 80 per cent vaccinations, that means Australians will be able to travel to those states that are opening up," Mr Morrison said in Washington.

"They will be able to get on planes and go overseas and come home.

"That means Australians who are overseas, and who are vaccinated with vaccines recognised in Australia, will be able to get on planes and come to Australia."

Mr Morrison said he expects commercial airlines will ramp up services when demand increases, but flagged a willingness to arrange more government-facilitated flights if needed.

"We have been running commercial flights but if we need to, we will do more," he said.

Mr Morrison's promise of Christmas reunions also depends on all states sticking to the national plan out of the coronavirus pandemic.

With Queensland and Western Australia resisting pressure to reopen, it's unclear if families in every state will be back together in time for the festive season.

Shadow Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australians overseas have heard these promises before.

"Let's remember, the Prime Minister promised Australians they would be home by Christmas," Ms Wong said.

"That was last Christmas. We have more people stranded now than when he made that promise."

Police called to break up huge crowds at Bondi and Manly

Police were called to break up huge crowds at Sydney's Bondi and Manly last night as hundreds of people descended along each beachfront, making the most of the warm weather.

Although groups of five fully-vaccinated adults have been allowed to gather outdoors as part of the first set of freedoms introduced in New South Wales, footage uploaded to social media has seen limited social distancing among the masses.

At Manly, a number of move-on directions were issued as well as at least three fines to people in breach of public health orders.

READ MORE: NSW records 1007 new local cases, 11 more deaths

While in Bondi, police were also forced to move people on after crowd numbers continued increasing throughout the night.

Angry locals have since taken to social media to upload photos of rubbish left behind by the revellers.

READ MORE: Nurse assaulted in punch attack for vaccinating man's wife 'without his consent'

Beer bottles, cans, wrappers and other garbage was left along East Esplanade at Manly, with council rangers and residents forced to clean up after people after they left.

READ MORE: Sydney frees up more parks for beer and bubbles as 'thank you' to vaccinated residents

Police have said that they will continue monitoring popular seaside spots, as well as Sydney's parklands for rule breakers across the weekend.

"As part of Operation Stay at Home, operations will continue at Sydney beaches, parks and open recreational spaces across the weekend to ensure compliance with the current Stay at Home orders," a spokeswoman for NSW Police said.

READ MORE: What life will look like once NSW hits 80 per cent vaccine target

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has previously said that being outdoors is the "safest place" for Sydneysiders to be in warm weather, however, authorities have warned that people must still adhere to lockdown rules, which means practicing social distancing where possible.