Tag Archives: oceania

SA police investigate fatal crash after rollover

South Australian police are investigating following a fatal rollover near Port Augusta.

Emergency services were called to Shack Road, Commissariat Point, about 4.15pm yesterday after reports of a single vehicle rollover.

Paramedics and police arrived to treat an injured 33-year-old local man, the only occupant of the Holden Commodore sedan.

Despite their best efforts, the man died at the scene.

SA Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott.

RELATED: SA man to reveal grief after killing his best mate in a high-speed car crash

His death marks 63 lives lost on South Australian roads this year. This compares to 56 the same time last year.

Major Crash investigators arrived and examined the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestopperssa.com.au.

NSW records 239 new COVID-19 cases

NSW has recorded 239 new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 to equal Thursday's record-breaking figure as the highest yet seen since the start of the pandemic.

Of the new cases, 115 are linked to a known case or cluster, 92 are household contacts and 23 are close contacts.

Eighty cases were in isolation throughout their infectious period and 35 cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period.

While only 26 were infectious in the community, there are still 98 cases whose isolation status is under investigation.

READ MORE: Queensland records nine new cases of COVID-19

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1421636946741190657

Of today's new cases, 110 are from south-west Sydney, 51 are from western Sydney, 69 are from Sydney's CBD, three are from south-east Sydney, four are from north Sydney and two are from the Blue Mountains.

A man in his 60s is the latest casualty of the current outbreak.

The man, who was a resident of south-western Sydney, died at home after contracting the virus.

He is the 14th person to die from the current Sydney outbreak and the 70th death in the state since the pandemic begun.

READ MORE: Lockdowns trigger relapses for people with disordered eating, expert says

Dr Jeremy McAnulty from NSW Health said the data was showing that young people are "driving" the current outbreak that's crippling Sydney's west and south-west.

"We are concerned about young people particularly 18 to 39-year-olds who are driving a lot of the epidemic. We are seeing cases at high rates in those age groups," Dr McAnulty said.

"This is the age group that tends to be a link between kids, younger people, and older, elderly relatives.

"They are working, they have big social networks. If you are in that age group it is important that you be aware that you are very vulnerable to the infection."

READ MORE: Five arrested after police 'attacked at illegal Sydney house party'

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged all eligible residents to get at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to give themselves a layer of protection against the virus.

"AstraZeneca is safe. Health authorities have said under the current circumstances any adult over 18 should come forward to get the vaccine – it doesn't matter which one you are offered," Ms Berejiklian said.

"One dose itself reduces your chance of spreading the virus but it also keeps you out of hospital. And we know that vaccination is working against this terrible delta strain."

READ MORE: Fruit shop placed on Sydney exposure sites list for second time this week

'Let August be the month we break records'

Ms Berejiklian has challenged NSW to make August the biggest vaccination month in the history of Australia.

"Let August be the month we break records and vaccinations because that is how we get freedom," Ms Berejiklian said.

"I don't say that lightly.

"There is no place in the world that has been able to live with the Delta virus and not have higher rates of vaccination. We have to be very clear about that."

In the past 24 hours, NSW Health administered 21,342 vaccine doses.

Almost 3.9 million doses have been administered in NSW since February 22, 2021.

Ms Berejiklian noted that the state needed to reach 9.2 million jabs to achieve a vaccination rate of 70 per cent and more than 10 million to reach 80 per cent – the vaccination coverage required to reach the next stages of the Commonwealth government's pathway out of the pandemic.

READ MORE: 'Herculean task' in reaching 80 per cent vaccination rate

The newly opened South Western Sydney Vaccination Centre at Macquarie Fields.

NSW Police to fine Sydneysiders who don't check in to supermarkets

Sydney residents who deliberately break the rules of the city's current COVID-19 lockdown will be the focus of police as authorities work to crack down on spiraling case numbers.

NSW Police have warned the public they will be conducting a "compliance crackdown" on the use of QR check-ins and face masks in and around supermarkets and large retail premises in the Greater Sydney area.

Businesses not complying with the QR check-in system will receive a $5000 fine.

READ MORE: NSW records 210 new local COVID-19 cases, the majority in south-west and Western Sydney

QR codes will be compulsory across all workplaces in Victoria.

Members of the public who fail to check in using the QR code will be fined a total of $1000. Not wearing a face mask carries a fine of $500.

The crackdown comes as five men were caught at a house party in the epicentre of Sydney's current COVID-19 outbreak allegedly attacked the police officers who tried to shut down the gathering.

Police attended a home on Unicombe Crescent in Oakhurst, in the Blacktown local government area, at around 4.10pm yesterday after neighbours reported a party.

When they got there, they found a group of men drinking in a garage.

READ MORE: Five arrested after police 'attacked at illegal Sydney house party'

They asked them to produce identification, and when they refused things got heated.

The 44-year-old occupant of the home allegedly pushed an officer in the chest.

Police tried to arrest the man, and that's when the four other men allegedly become violent and attempted to hinder police.

All five men were eventually arrested and taken to Mt Druitt Police Station. They are all due to face court on a range of charges.

Lockdowns trigger relapses for people with disordered eating, expert says

With millions of Australians now facing another month in COVID-19 lockdown, experts are reporting a rise in the number of people struggling with a mental health relapse.

The coronavirus pandemic has already seen an alarming spike in demand for support around eating disorders and manager at the Butterfly Foundation, Danni Rowlands, said for some, the return of lockdown can mean the return of their illness.

"Over the past 12-18 months our helpline has seen not only an increase in people seeking support for the first time, but also an increase in people calling who are reporting a relapse or return of some or all of their eating disorder thinking and behaviours returning," Ms Rowlands told 9news.com.au.

READ MORE: Managing disordered eating during lockdown

Sydney fog generic June 2021

The combination of heightened stress levels, social isolation and increased health anxiety presents a significant challenge for those with a history of disordered eating.

"Eating disorders often develop as a way to cope with intense and negative experiences and emotions and for some people, this time can trigger hard feelings and emotions," Ms Rowlands said.

"For someone who has experienced an eating disorder these, of course, can contribute to a return of eating disorder thinking and behaviours resurfacing, or in some cases causing a relapse."

READ MORE: Where to get mental health care during COVID-19 lockdowns

Ms Rowlands said it can be difficult for people to recognise signs of relapse and they can be both emotional and behavioural.

"Recovery from an eating disorder is a really personal thing," she said.

"What someone may deem as recovered, another person may not.

"Eating disorders also thrive on keeping a person isolated and so it can be challenging to know if the thinking and behaviours are the eating disorder, as it may sound the same, or different to how it did in the past.

"The common warning signs that would have been present at the beginning of the person's eating disorder may be present again.

"But it can also look and feel different too."

READ MORE: Tougher mask rules, 5km travel limit for high-risk Sydney LGAs

Red flags might include over-preoccupation with food, eating and cooking, restricting or over-eating behaviours to manage anxiety, an increasing obsession with exercise, and just generally being preoccupied with food, exercise, and the body, Ms Rowlands said.

Whatever the warning signs, and no matter how small they may seem, Ms Rowlands said it's important to seek help sooner rather than later.

"If you're feeling vulnerable at this time, now is the time to draw on those skills and strategies, to go back to basics and use what you have in your toolkit to support you," she said.

"It is important to remember that you are human and that recovery can be fluid, it can move in different directions based on what life throws at you.

"But it is ok to say you are struggling, if you are."

With screen time also on the rise during lockdown and more time to spend on social media, Ms Rowlands also suggested curating your pages to diversify the kinds of content you're consuming.

"Add in humour and hobbies that make you feel good, listen to music that lifts your spirit up, write, journal write – do the hobbies and things that help you feel good," she said.

Most importantly, Ms Rowlands said, "be kind to yourself".

"Life is not linear and it's important that recovery is also considered in this way, this can help to reduce the expectation and recovery ideal," she said.

"It is a tough time for many, it's great if you're doing well and it's ok if you're not.

"You are a human being and lockdowns are not typical, natural or normal.

"Each and every lockdown, every day will bring about new feelings and emotions and also challenges.

"During each day, strive to do your best and put those protective barriers around you."

If you or someone you know is concerned they are experiencing a relapse or struggling with an eating disorder, ReachOut's National Helpline is open every day between 8am and 12 midnight AEST – call 1800 33 4673 (1800 ED HOPE), connect via webchat, or email su*****@***********rg.au.

New antiviral pill could soon be used to treat COVID-19 from home

There are hopes a new antiviral pill which could reduce the effects of COVID-19 might soon be available in Australia.

The Federal Government is understood to be in talks with a number of pharmaceutical companies and is expected to sign a pre-purchase deal in a matter of days for a newly developed antiviral drug.

The drug would have the potential to make people less infectious, as well as stopping those who catch the virus falling critically ill.

READ MORE: Richmond apartment block sent into hard lockdown as more exposure sites released

Astrazeneca vaccine.

Currently there are a number of treatments being used with patients with severe virus symptoms, with the new pills considered to be another layer of protection.

The drugs won't replace vaccines and will need to pass more clinical trials before being made in Australia, but could become critical in the fight against the disease.

READ MORE: Five men arrested after allegedly attacking police who tried to shut down illegal houseparty in western Sydney

Across the country, a drug called Remdesivir is used in hospitals to treat ill patients with the virus, but there are currently no at-home treatments, something the government is seeking to change.

Yesterday, NSW recorded 210 new COVID-19 cases, while eleven LGAs across Queensland were plunged into the strictest lockdown the state has seen yet.