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Thousands remain in isolation as Queensland lockdown lifted

Thousands in Queensland remain in isolation as the last of its lockdown lifted on Saturday night.

Brisbane and Moreton Bay were freed from lockdown at 6pm despite five new local cases.

It was more than the number of new cases that sparked Queensland's latest lockdowns, but health authorities say the risk is now reduced.

"If we'd not locked down for those three days, I suspect we would have had a lot more cases," Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said.

READ MORE: Lockdown ends in Brisbane and Moreton Bay

Focus will be high on how many new cases emerge today and how many of those diagnosed will have been moving amongst the community.

It's hoped contact tracers have reached almost every person who may have crossed paths with confirmed COVID-19 cases.

"We've got thousands in isolation and it's going up every minute," Dr Young said.

Despite lockdown ending, south-east Queensland, Townsville and Palm Island local government areas will still have to wear masks when outside and in most public places where you can't socially distance. 

Additionally, up to 30 people are allowed in homes and public spaces. Up to 100 are allowed at weddings and funerals. 

Indoor and outdoor seated events will also be able to accommodate 100 percent capacity, including tomorrow's Brisbane Broncos game and Wednesday's Wallabies games at Suncorp Stadium. 

READ MORE: Threat to Sydney lockdown as cases surge again

Threat to Sydney lockdown as cases surge again

Ending Sydney's coronavirus lockdown as planned may be in jeopardy after large crowds flocked to enjoy the sunshine on the same day as the state's biggest surge in COVID-19 cases during the current wave.

One week into full lockdown, 35 new cases were recorded on Saturday, nine of which were infectious during their time in the community.

Despite that, people flocked to beaches, parks and markets.

READ MORE: NSW records 35 new COVID-19 cases

Premier Gladys Berejiklian claimed "we have seen the tide turn" on the outbreak but warned people to follow lockdown rules.

"We have a chance to get out of this lockdown as soon as we can, so long as we don't let our guard down and suddenly let the virus spread today and tomorrow because of the good weather," Ms Berejiklian said.

"Please avoid any social contact with anybody outside your household."

The hopes of the turning tide rest on the number of new cases that have been detected whilst already in isolation, which health authorities expect will see the rate of community transmission swiftly turn.

"It isn't a half-hearted lockdown, we are seeing the impact and the flattening, but we've had bumps because what's happened is we've had some super-spreading events," Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

Dr Chant said 29 of Saturday's new cases were linked to previous ones, including 14 household contacts.

Six cases were under investigation.

Dozens of fines for COVID breaches

Police said they had fined 78 people for breaching health orders in the previous 24 hours, including people refusing to wear face masks.

"We are deep in a war with this virus and we can't win this war unless the community are all with us," Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.

"You don't win it with whacko views. Unfortunately, we're seeing that some people who think it's OK not to wear masks.

"My strong message to the community is, we will only win this war against the virus if people wear masks and follow all the other instructions that we understand will keep us safe.

"Wear a mask and don't get caught up in the whacko views some are expressing."

Three men — two aged 21 and one 23 — were fined after they travelled from Sydney to the Jenolan Caves "because they were feeling bored", police said.

READ MORE: Hundreds enjoy Sydney sunshine during lockdown

Hundreds soak up Sydney sund despite lockdown

Police and health authorities are again pleading with the Sydney public after hundreds across the city were seen out and about on Saturday, some ignoring social distancing rules as dozens of fines were handed out for face mask breaches.

As the city was treated to a warm sunny winter weekend day, hundreds were seen packing local beaches and parks to soak up the rays.

With NSW recording 35 new local cases of coronavirus today, nine of which were exposed to the public while infectious, health authorities are warning the lockdown may not be lifted on July 9 as hoped.

Sydney social distancing failSydney social distancing fail

Two staff members at a café in Bowral have been charged for allegedly refusing to wear face masks, with a further 78 people being issued fines in NSW as police crack down on public health order breaches.

Officers attended a food store on Bowral Street, Bowral today as part of their public health order foot patrols.

On arrival, officers said they found 20 people at the store, including two female employees serving customers, allegedly not wearing face masks while inside the premises.

READ MORE: NSW records 35 new local cases of COVID-19, nine infectious in community

Sydney social distancing failSydney social distancing fail

Police say the two staff members, aged 43 and 62, refused to put their masks on when directed to.

Both women were arrested and charged with not wear fitted face covering in business premises and will face court at a later date.

Earlier this week, officers attended a cafe on Snowy Valley Way, Jindabyne, after receiving numerous complaints from members of the public that staff were not complying with health orders.

When they arrived, they found the owners – a 32-year-old woman and 33-year-old man – were not wearing face masks, despite being asked to do so.

When officers revisited the café two days later, they found once again no face coverings being worn by members of the public, no QR code and no sign-in sheet.

Sydney social distancing fail

The owners were subsequently issued $1000 fines each.

"Police tried to work with this café," NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Worboys said.

"There were infringement notices issued.

"The next step will be, if that café refuses to comply with the public health order… I am sure the health minister would be in the position to issue a closure notice under the Public Health Act to the premises.

"So, that's that escalation of events that both police and health are prepared to take to make sure that people not only comply with that public health orders but protect their customers and workers."

READ MORE: Queensland records five new local cases of COVID-19, Brisbane and Moreton Bay lockdown to end at 6pm

Sydney social distancing fail

A group of men who travelled to the Jenolan Caves from Sydney's west, have been also caught by police and fined.

When officers asked the group – two men aged 21 and one aged 23 – for their reason for visiting the caves, they responded with "because they were feeling bored".

"The tour operator there realised where they were from, called police, those people returned to Sydney and issued each an infringement notice for $1000," Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.

"It is quite clear now that people will report this sort of behaviour to police and we'll take action."

READ MORE: 'Look at Sydney': McGowan defends Perth lockdown after no new cases

Tourists at Jenolan Caves.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard slammed those caught doing the wrong thing, saying that the entire community must all collectively follow health instructions.

"We are deep in a war with this virus and we can't win this war unless the community are all with us," he said.

"You don't win it with whacko views. Unfortunately, we're seeing that some people who think it's OK not to wear masks.

"My strong message to the community is, we will only win this war against the virus if people wear masks and follow all the other instructions that we understand will keep us safe.

"Wear a mask and don't get caught up in the whacko views some are expressing."

'Look at Sydney': McGowan defends Perth lockdown after no new cases

No new cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in Western Australia as the state exits its snap lockdown.

Premier Mark McGowan said four overseas cases remained active in hotel quarantine.

He praised the 8925 Western Australians who were tested for COVID-19 yesterday.

"Of close contacts related to the northern suburbs cluster, 383 people out of 398, or 96 percent, have now tested negative," Mr McGowan said.

"I can also report dozens of these close contacts have also had their five-day test and returned negative results. Of casual contacts related to the northern suburbs cluster, 2334 out of 2882, or 81 percent, have now tested negative."

Mr McGowan also defended the decision to lock down the Perth and Peel regions.

"I remind you all to look at Sydney. I expect their lockdown will go on for a long time," he said.

"That is an area of probably five or six million people in lockdown for weeks and weeks on end. We have avoided that, and I want us to keep on avoiding that."

Mr McGowan also said Australia was a victim of its own success at containing the pandemic when it came to the vaccine rollout.

A medical worker prepares a syringe of the Astra Zeneca vaccine.

"People are very relaxed and thinking to themselves, 'I can wait'," he said.

"But as we've seen in NSW, an incident can spread very quickly and very widely."

He said it was important for Western Australia to vaccinate as many people as the state could, as soon as possible.

The Perth and Peel regions left lockdown at midnight, but still face interim restrictions.

The news is a welcome relief for tourism providers as they brace for visitors during what's left of the school holiday period.

Plans were sent into disarray earlier this week after WA Premier Mark McGowan announced the state would lock down for a minimum of four days following a number of community cases.

READ MORE: Perth and Peel to exit lockdown as planned, despite one new COVID-19 case

Since then, case numbers have remained low and testing numbers high, prompting the premier to lift the stay at home orders, although some restrictions, such as mask wearing, will remain in place for the next three days.

After July 6, masks will no longer be mandatory, and after July 12, a further relaxing of restrictions will occur.

However, Mr McGowan said that while initial advice had been that gyms could reopen, last night the health authorities advised that while outdoor fitness is permitted, indoor classes can proceed only from July 6.

Nonetheless, the struggling hospitality and tourism sectors have embraced the lockdown lift, with many still recovering from the effects of Cyclone Seroja.

Owner of the Murchison River Caravan Park in Kalbarri Anthony Allen said that for residents in the region, things have "pretty tough".

READ MORE: 'We want to see the tide turn': NSW enters crucial days of COVID lockdown

"Kalbarri has been through a lot in the last 12 months, all the operators have been looking forward to a busy school holidays so the relaxed restrictions are great news," he said on Weekend Today.

"Predominantly our bookings for these holidays in particular are basically the Perth market coming on up.

"I'm hoping that the Perth people will decide to get out and have a look in our regions."

Mr Allen said despite the rollercoaster of a year, he's hopeful for the future.

"It's been pretty tough going. We obviously had Cyclone Seroja in April, which devastated a lot of people's homes," he said.

"There was a lot of trauma and displacement there.

"But on flip side is no-one was injured and it was great to see the community come together…and the town has been on the mend ever since, we are looking really good.

"Kalbarri is the jewel of the west. We have coastal gorges where they've done beautiful board walking on the Cliffs. We have a national park and beautiful river, it's a great place to come and visit."

Western Australia currently maintains a hard border with NSW and Queensland, and a 14-day isolation and testing requirement for Victorian, Northern Territory and ACT visitors, Mr McGowan said.

Tasmanians and South Australians are free to visit the state.

Tree crashes through Adelaide couple's roof

A young Adelaide couple were lucky to escape unharmed when a tree came crashing down on top of their roof overnight.

Ashley Brown and his partner James Harrington were in for the night at their Kensington Gardens unit when they heard a loud crashing sound just before midnight.

"It sounded like a dump truck had dropped its entire load on our roof," Mr Brown told 9News.

Kensington Gardens tree through roofKensington Gardens tree through roof

READ MORE: South Australian woman lucky to be alive after tree falls on her house during storms

"I heard this god-awful thunder crack and just knew the roof had caved in."

Branches from the mature river red gum pierced the ceiling in the lounge room, just metres from where Mr Harrington was sitting.

"I just got up from the couch yelling 'oh my god this is crazy' then ran into the bedroom to Ash hyperventilating," he said.

If he was sitting on one of the lounge room's recliners, he would have been crushed by debris from above.

It took SES crews three hours to clear the tree safely from the top of the unit and the couple's neighbours offered their support to the shocked duo.

Kensington Gardens tree through roofKensington Gardens tree through roof

This isn't the first time one of the older large trees has come crashing down in the quiet suburban street, with locals worried it could be deadly if it happens again.

Council told 9News the tree outside Mr Brown and Mr Harrington's home was inspected by an arborist 12 months ago and the incident is under review.

"Burnside Council really need to do something about it because they are a hazard," Mr Brown said.

Clean-up crews warned the debris may contain asbestos so the couple are staying with family for the time being.

Kitesurfer charged with allegedly getting too close to whale and calf

A man from Adelaide's south has been charged after allegedly kitesurfing too close to a mother whale and her calf.

Police were called to the Esplanade at Christies Beach just after 10am today after several people reported a kitesurfer appearing to get dangerously close to the two sea giants.

Officers took witness statements and were given photographs and a description of the alleged offender.

Christies Beach kitesurfer whale Christies Beach kitesurfer whale

READ MORE: Man wakes from coma after whale crushes boat

The mother and her calf have been entertaining locals along the beach for the past week and some witnesses also reported a similar incident of a kitesurfer getting too close to them yesterday as well.

In one photo provided by witnesses, the man appears to see the close proximity of the whales while he is on the water.

Christies Beach kitesurfer whale

READ MORE: Lobster diver eaten by whale, spat out

Following an investigation, police arrested a Reynella man and charged him with two counts of molestation of a protected animal and fail to keep a prescribed distance from a protected animal.

"I'm not sure how smart it is, going near a whale that's got a calf with her, probably not the smartest move as well," one woman told 9News.

SA law states any ocean-going vessel must keep at least 100 metres away from a whale and 300 metres away from a calf.

The 32-year-old was granted conditional bail to appear at Christies Beach Magistrate's Court on August 2.

Houses crushed and almost two dozen missing after Japan landslide

A powerful mudslide carrying a deluge of black water and debris crashed into rows of houses in a town west of Tokyo following heavy rains on Saturday, leaving at least 19 people missing, officials said.

Dozens of homes may have been buried in Atami, a town known for hot springs, said Shizuoka prefecture spokesman Takamichi Sugiyama.

READ MORE: Ruptured gas pipeline sees fire boiling to ocean's surface

Public broadcaster NHK gave the number of missing people at 20, but Mr Sugiyama said the prefecture confirmed at least 19, although he said the number may grow.

Torrential rains have slammed parts of Japan starting earlier this week. Experts said dirt had been loosened, increasing landslide risks in a country filled with valleys and mountains.

Mr Sugiyama said it had been raining hard in the area all morning. Self-defence forces will join firefighters and police in the rescue operation, he added. Evacuation warnings were issued for a wide area.

The landslides appeared to have struck multiple times, about as fast as a car. Footage showed a powerful, black mudslide slide down a mountainside, knocking down and crushing houses and sweeping away cars in its way. Helpless neighbours watched in horror, some recording on their phones.

NHK TV footage showed a part of a bridge had collapsed.

Atami is a quaint seaside resort area in Shizuoka prefecture, about 100 kilometres southwest of Tokyo.

The area that was hit by the mudslide, Izusan, includes hot springs, residential areas, shopping streets and a famous shrine.

Teen hit and killed by truck while helping car crash victims

A teenage boy has died after he was involved in a car crash in the NSW Central West and was then hit by a truck while helping the occupants of the other car.

Police say the boy was a passenger in a Toyota ute crashed with a BMW hatchback on the corner of the Mitchell Highway and Thompson Road in Orange just after 8pm yesterday.

When the 15-year-old got out of the ute to check on those in the BMW, police say a Prime Mover truck struck both cars, killing the teen on the spot.

Orange fatal truck crashOrange fatal truck crash

NSW Police Acting Inspector Joshua Dixon commended the teen for doing the right thing in checking the other parties involved in the crash.

"They've done the right thing to get out and check on the occupants of that BMW and it's absolutely tragic that this was the result," Acting Inspector Dixon told 9News.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Peter Rowlands said the tragedy was a reminder for every driver to be vigilant on the roads.

"Accidents on country roads are always traumatic, and this one was especially bad. When crews arrived there was debris was all over the road. It's one of the worst accidents I've seen," Inspector Rowlands said.

"Fatal accidents are always upsetting and we are providing the appropriate support to our paramedics."

Orange fatal truck crash

The 17-year-old driver of the Toyota and the occupants of the BMW, a 72-year-old man and 71-year-old woman, suffered non-life threatening injuries and were taken to Orange Hospital for treatment.

The truck driver, a 48-year-old man, was taken to Orange Hospital for mandatory testing and was treated for shock.

The Mitchell Highway was closed overnight and a crime scene was established, with detectives investigating the cause of the crash.

'We will continue to bring people home'

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says the government hasn't forgotten the thousands of Australians still waiting to get home.

Yesterday the government announced Australia will temporarily reduce commercial inbound passenger international arrivals by 50 per cent to ease the pressure on quarantine facilities due to the increased risks of the Delta strain of COVID-19.

Mr Hunt today said there will be an increase in facilitated arrivals via the Howard Springs location.

READ MORE: International passenger arrivals to be reduced by half to ease pressure on quarantine facilities

"In terms of arrivals we know well over 500,000 people have returned home since changes were made in March 2020," Mr Hunt said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt.

"In terms of arrivals we know well over 500,000 people have returned home since changes were made in March 2020," Mr Hunt said.

"We will continue to bring people home. There will be a decrease in the commercial arrivals but an increase in what I called the facilitated arrivals to Howard Springs in the Northern Territory.

"We know that some of those flights have in fact been under-subscribed in recent weeks and so there is the capacity to bring additional Australians home via Howard Springs.

"We know the Delta strain is new – we can manage it, but we have to take precautions – We have to keep Australians safe."

READ MORE: Top doctor says full Australian vaccinations by year's end 'very realistic'

Passengers on a Qantas flight from India are transported to the Howard Springs quarantine facility in Darwin, Australia.

READ MORE: Aussies stuck overseas 'heartbroken' by flight cuts

Mr Hunt couldn't provide information on the number of flights currently scheduled or the destinations flights would be coming from, but said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is working on a case by case basis.

"We are looking at the particular needs and particular numbers, looking at where the demand is, noting that many of these flights had in fact been under-subscribed in recent weeks," he said.

"DFAT will complete that work and then make the details available."