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NSW enters crucial days of COVID lockdown

NSW Health authorities are pleading for people to stay home this weekend as the current COVID-19 wave gripping Sydney continues to grow without slowing down.

One week into the full lockdown, 31 new cases of community transmission were recorded, including 13 who were out and about while infectious.

Health authorities are already eyeing a lockdown extension, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian saying the next few days will be crucial.

READ MORE: Two Sydney swimming pools added to COVID exposure sites

"Come early next week, we do want to see the tide turn in terms of the number of the people with the virus who are in isolation as opposed to those who have been active in the community," Ms Berejiklian said.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the shape of the outbreak had morphed, with the virus still spreading but not in the same way it was a week ago.

"Because of the lockdown, the exposure sites are really shifting," Dr Chant said.

"We're seeing a move from hospitality venues, beauticians, hairdressers, to retail."

READ MORE: State-by-state COVID-19 restrictions explained

At Coles in Bondi Eastgate alone, hundreds were forced on Friday night into two weeks of isolation after a worker tested positive following a five-hour shift on Tuesday afternoon.

Sydney's lockdown is at risk of being extended if people who are infectious continue to move about in the community before they test positive.

"Stay at home means stay at home, don't leave the house unless you absolutely have to," Ms Berejiklian said.

The shape of Sydney's outbreak

Sydney's COVID-19 sub-clusters grew on Friday:

  • 8 new cases linked to the student nurse who worked at Fairfield and Royal North Shore hospitals, bringing the total to 10 with 390 staff and patients who were close contacts
  • The West Hoxton birthday party is now at 42 cases, up one case
  • Two more cases for the Crossways Hotel at Strathfield South, now at 12
  • At the Lyfe Cafe at Bondi, 3 new cases took the cluster to 28
  • One more case for Joh Bailey Double Bay, the total now 14
  • Great Ocean Foods at Marrickville remained unchanged at 19 cases

More than 73,000 people were tested on Thursday, a result Ms Berejiklian said was "very pleasing".

What Queensland needs to lift final part of lockdown

The last of Queensland's lockdown may be lifted today if contact tracers working overtime have been able to isolate anyone connected to the state's latest COVID-19 cases.

Just when the doors were about to be opened, three new coronavirus cases were announced on Friday morning, which meant Brisbane and Moreton Bay would stay shutdown for at least another 24 hours.

Every other local government area had their lockdown lift at 6pm, including the Sunshine Coast despite a fourth new case announced on Friday afternoon of a man in his 50s from Aroona.

READ MORE: Queensland COVID-19 exposure venues

"We really need, our contact tracers … to really get on top of this issue quickly," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Friday.

Two of the new cases were a mother and daughter from Carindale who had "been out quite extensively around Brisbane", Ms Palaszcauk said.

It wasn't immediately known how they were linked to existing clusters.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young praised huge testing rates in Townsville that helped it avoid a worrying outbreak from the Prince Charles receptionist who travelled there with her family while she was infectious.

READ MORE: PM outlines pathway out of pandemic

"The amount of testing that has been done up there has been absolutely fantastic," Dr Young said.

Contact tracing will be crucial in deciding if the Brisbane and Moreton Bay lockdowns can be lifted or if the strictest restrictions drag on into Sunday or next week.

Sunshine Coast on high alert

The man who tested positive on Friday afternoon works at the Sippy Downs campus of the University of the Sunshine Coast and was at work on June 28 and 29.

Anyone in the Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Sippy Downs or Maroochydore areas is urged to come forward for testing even if they have only the slightest symptoms.

Dr Young said she was confident in the Sunshine Coast lifting out of lockdown.

"The man was only in the community while potentially infectious for two days before the lockdown began, at his workplace, and briefly during lockdown," she said.

"Because of this, I am confident we can continue with the eased lockdown for the Sunshine Coast this afternoon, and we'll continue to monitor the situation.

"Contact tracing is already underway and we are contacting everyone that we can identify."

Coles at Sippy Downs has now been classed as a low risk venue.

Leaked: Apple iPhone 12s 2021 design revealed

Apple has grown so big that the company is unable to keep its new products secret as they once may have done so well.

With the second half of the year underway, all eyes in the tech world are turning to Apple's new iPhone, due each year around September.

While the specifications and performance of the device are most certainly under wraps, the design of the new iPhone seems to leak out of factories in China around this time every year, and 9News has obtained samples of what are known as "dummy versions" of the 2021 iPhone.

READ MORE: Watchdog warns parents to keep Apple product away from children

These "dummies" are plastic, non-working devices, but they are built to the exact specifications of the new iPhone — and in the 3-4 years we've been seeing these dummies, they've never been wrong.

The devices we have right now indicate another four-phone lineup from Apple in 2021.

At the smallest end, a mini version of what we expect to be called the iPhone 12s.

READ MORE: New features coming to all iPhones in 2021

Given 13 for some is an unlucky number, it seems safest for Apple to use its inter-generational moniker used many times before on iPhone models — the addition of an s.

The standard iPhone 12s features the same new look diagonal dual camera array on the back as the iPhone 12s Mini, while the iPhone 12s Pro features a larger camera island than the 12s, and may well feature the same camera system as the larger iPhone 12s Pro Max.

READ MORE: Tiny drones with fluttering wings developed by US Air Force

Both devices share a similar camera array, and both are larger than that which we saw on the 2020 iPhone 12 models.

None of the cases for the iPhone 12 fit the 2021 model iPhones, meaning all new cases will be made for these new devices.

The biggest change expected based on these mock up models is a reduction in the size of the "notch" at the top of the iPhone screen. Moving the upper speaker to the very edge of the phone means that notch could be reduced on the iPhone 12s.

There's no certainty these models are accurate representations of the yet-to-be-announced new iPhone, but if history is anything to go by, they'll be pretty spot on.

We expect an announcement from Apple in mid-September, with the new iPhone hitting stores in Australia by the end of September.

NRL player's brother identified as victim of alleged road rage crash

A motorcyclist killed in a suspected road rage attack in the Gold Coast hinterland has been identified as police say they believe there may have been a clash before the alleged hit and run.

Police say Jakob Opacic may have been involved in a verbal stoush with two others outside the Numinbah Correctional Centre just after 10am on Friday.

It's understood the 28-year-old — who is the brother of Parramatta Eels NRL player Tom Opacic — had been at the correctional centre visiting a woman on the day of her release.

READ MORE: PM outlines pathway out of pandemic

He then left on his motorbike, riding south along Nerang Murwillumbah Road for about three kilometres before he crashed at Natural Bridge.

Police are investigating if Mr Opacic was run off the road by a car, possibly a black sedan, and whether that was a deliberate act by the driver.

Mr Opacic, from Bracalba, north of Brisbane, died at the scene.

The woman and four other people are now speaking with police.

Gold Coast detectives and forensic crash unit officers are investigating.

"At this stage we believe there may have been an altercation between the deceased and some other people at this location [the prison]," Queensland Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn said.

All lanes of Nerang Murwillumbah Road were closed in both directions between Staffords Road and Daves Creek Road, but have since reopened.

Anyone who witnessed something suspicious, or who has dashcam video along Nerang Murwillumbah Road or in the area between 9.30am and 10.30am today, is urged to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Family priased for potentially saving COVID outbreak

The family of six at the centre of South Australia's latest COVID-19 scare has told 9News they are overwhelmed by the support they've received.

Authorities have praised the family's actions, which appear to have prevented a major outbreak of coronavirus in Adelaide.

Parents Kristen and Adam Ryan have been updating people on social media as the family from Adelaide's east quarantines together.

READ MORE: Aussies stuck overseas say flight cuts 'a major kick in the guts'

Kristen and Adam Ryan caught COVID-19 after he worked with an infected miner but are now all in a quarantine hotel.

All six now have COVID-19, including their baby girl.

Mr Ryan was briefly taken to hospital as he battles symptoms of the virus.

Mrs Ryan said health workers had been "super cautious and checked he was ok".

The family first "isolated as a precaution" after one of Mr Ryan's mining colleagues in the Northern Territory was diagnosed with the virus.

Given they have all since contracted the virus and their isolation likely saved an outbreak, the family has been applauded.

"All the love has been a major uplift for us all," Mrs Ryan told 9News.

Kristen and Adam Ryan caught COVID-19 after he worked with an infected miner but are now all in a quarantine hotel.

"All we did was isolate for a few days as a precaution, and so many would have done the same already."

They may have even saved the state from a lockdown simply by following the rules, officials said.

"This family has done absolutely the right thing," Chief Health Officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said

Premier Steven Marshall also praised the family.

Kristen and Adam Ryan caught COVID-19 after he worked with an infected miner but are now all in a quarantine hotel.

A total of 344 close and 144 secondary contacts of the miner have been tested and put into isolation, with authorities confident they have contacted everybody.

The state's current restrictions, including masks and banning of standing in the pub, will remain over the weekend.

US plans to make airlines refund fees if bags are delayed

The US Transportation Department will propose that airlines be required to refund fees on checked baggage if the bags aren't delivered to passengers quickly enough.

The proposal, if made final after a lengthy regulation-writing process, would also require prompt refunds for fees on extras such as internet access if the airline fails to provide the service during the flight.

A department official said the agency will issue the proposal in the next several days, and it could take effect by next summer.

The proposal will require refunds if airlines fail to deliver a bag within 12 hours of the passenger's US flight touching down or within 25 hours after an international flight.

READ MORE: Aussies stuck overseas say flight cuts 'a major kick in the guts'

Current regulations require refunds only if bags are lost, although airlines must compensate passengers for “reasonable” incidental expenses incurred while their bags are delayed. The government does not know how often airlines keep fees even when bags are significantly delayed.

The bag-fee proposal is the first of several airline-consumer regulations coming from the Biden administration, according to a senior Transportation Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a proposal that hasn’t been made public.

Last year, more than 100,000 consumers complained to the government about airline service. Refunds were the biggest gripe, although most claimed airlines refused to give refunds to consumers who canceled trips because of the pandemic.

The Transportation Department is seeking a USD$25.5 million fine against Air Canada, but has not taken action against other carriers over refunds for canceled flights.

In 2019, the last full year before the pandemic, passengers paid US airlines USD$5.76 billion in fees on checked bags, according to the Transportation Department. That dropped to USD$2.84 billion last year, when travel slumped because of the pandemic. The figures do not include fees for carry-on bags.

READ MORE: Thailand's most popular island reopens to vaccinated travellers

For many years, customers could check one or two bags on almost any airline without paying a fee. That began to change during a travel slump caused by the financial crisis of 2008.

Now, most US airlines other than Southwest charge even for a single bag, although fees are usually waived for customers who buy high-fare tickets or carry the airline's credit card.

American Airlines generated USD$2 billion from checked-bag fees over the past two years, followed by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, each around USD$1.5 billion. Because of their smaller size, discount airlines including Spirit and Frontier reap less money but get a higher percentage of revenue from the fees.

Gastro outbreak spreading rampantly among Melbourne dogs

A warning has been issued for dog owners as a canine gastro outbreak spreads through Melbourne's inner-east.

A Richmond vet told 9News his clinic has been seeing up to 30 dogs a day with gastro, who were likely catching the bug at popular parks.

Golden Retriever Lenny had to be rushed to emergency after falling ill with gastro.

READ MORE: Australia's pathway out of the pandemic

"He was vomiting and just not acting like himself at all," owner Maddy Robin said.

"He would only really eat if I literally spoon-fed him."

"Obviously all I was thinking was the worst."

Dr Ross Ansell warned the bug was very contagious.

"As we know with the pandemic, these things can escalate," he said.

"You only need someone to take a sick dog into the park and there are 100 dogs down there, it's like a sick kid going into kindergarten."

READ MORE: Deadly venom-spitting cobra recaptured after three days on loose

The bug can last anywhere from a few days to a matter of weeks and is spread through canine social interaction.

While it's not always serious, some dogs have needed hospitalisation and rehydration treatment.

Yarra City Council's compliance team is performing spot checks, but some owners aren't too fazed.

"I'm not worried at the moment but if he got gastro again I'd just stop coming here," one local dog owner said.

Vets say if your dog is healthy there is no reason to stay away from the park.

But if you pooch is showing symptoms, they must stay home to stop the spread.

NSW virus cases spike with 31 cases

New South Wales has recorded 31 new cases of community transmission as the state nears the end of its first week in lockdown.

Thirteen of today's COVID-19 cases were active in the community while infectious.

Despite the rise, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was "relieved" by today's figures.

LIVE UPDATES: Three new local Queensland cases

READ MORE: State-by-state COVID-19 restrictions explained

"What we're seeing today is a lag of the last couple of days before we went into lockdown," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We are anticipating there could be an increase in numbers over the next few days.

"Then hopefully early next week we should see the impact of the lockdown really turning and having a positive impact."

More than 73,000 people were tested for the virus in the last 24 hours, a result Ms Berejiklian said was "very pleasing".

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1410766516186845184

A total of 27 of today's cases are linked to previously confirmed cases, with 17 identified as household contacts.

"We are treating and managing 172 cases, most of those are being treated in non-acute out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in special accommodation, but we have three patients in intensive care," Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

https://twitter.com/NSWHealth/status/1410780267753525256

Venues of concern

Certain venues remain of particular concern including the Crossways Hotel in Strathfield, the Joh Bailey hairdresser in Double Bay and the Lyfe Cafe in Bondi.

Two new cases have been linked to the Crossways Hotel, bringing the total number of cases linked to the venue to 12.

Three new cases are linked to the Lyfe Cafe with 28 people now infected as a result of the cluster.

A woman is seen cleaning the sanitiser station at a shop store in Bondi Junction in Sydney

A swimming pool in Bankstown and the Coles supermarket in Bondi were also highlighted as venues of concern.

Bankstown Swimming Centre on Chapel Road was an exposure site on the weekend of June 26-27.

"We will be announcing some additional dates related to the Bankstown swimming centre as we investigate both upstream acquisition and infectious cases at that site," Dr Chant said.

Dr Chant said the exposure sites were "shifting".

"The message is, please don't go out and about shopping in retail, in any setting, if you have got symptoms.

"It also highlights the importance, as people are moving around in shopping centres, please do assume that you are next to someone who may have COVID and ensure you are wearing a mask at all times."

Burwood, in Sydney's Inner West, is also on high alert for COVID-19 with several locations listed in the latest exposure sites alert from NSW Health.

READ MORE: Two Sydney swimming pools added to COVID exposure sites

'It's not on': Police slam non-compliance

Police issued 75 infringement notices and 12 court attendance notices across NSW in the past 24 hours, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys said.

Two people were penalised after leaving Greater Sydney and travel to Lightning Ridge and then to Dubbo's Western Plains Zoo.

Additionally, an infringement notice was issued at a café in Bowral in the Southern Highlands where a person told police they "had no belief" in mask-wearing, and "no intention" of wearing one, Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.

Gary Worboys

Police continue to investigate a group trip from Sydney to Western Plains Zoo.

Mr Worboys slammed people trying to take holidays disguised as business trips.

"It is not on, it is imperative to comply with the public health orders in terms of moving around New South Wales."

Will lockdown be extended?

Dr Chant refused to comment on the possibility of extending the Sydney lockdown, but said a downward trend in numbers would need to be seen before restrictions lifted.

"What I can say is that the factors we consider closely is those infectious days in the community," she said.

She praised the community's response to the crisis but said high testing numbers would also need to continue before the lockdown lifted.

Premier 'disappointed' for Aussies stuck abroad

Ms Berejiklian said she would respect National Cabinet's decision to reduce international arrivals, but said it would not stop "mistakes" from happening.

"I am disappointed for those thousands of Australians that can't come home," she said.

NSW currently has about 5500 people in quarantine.

"Yes, we have had issues but if you compare that to other states who have only had a few hundred coming in or far less numbers, bringing less people home doesn't mean you won't have outbreaks," she said.

Ms Berejiklian said decisions made at National Cabinet today would provide a unified way forward on lockdowns and lockouts.

"It was very unfair when NSW was bringing home citizens from other states at a rate no other state was even comparing to and yet our citizens were being locked out of their states for no reason," she said.

"Let's look at the facts when we are making decisions, let's look at the science when we make decisions. Let's not burden the citizens unless we absolutely have to."