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UK Prime Minister Boris Johnsons' former aide Dominic Cummings has stepped up his criticism of the government by leaking private WhatsApp messages in which his former boss apparently calls the Health Secretary "totally f—ing hopeless".

Mr Cummings, a key architect of the Brexit campaign and at one stage said to have been one of the most powerful men in the country as the PM's top advisor, has been hammering his former boss, and particularly Health Secretary Matt Hancock, since quitting in November last year after a power struggle.

In a 7000-word blog post, he accused the Prime Minister's office lying "repeatedly" as they tried to "rewrite history" around the UK's initial handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

READ MORE: Eleven bombshell COVID-19 claims from Boris Johnson's former top advisor

To back up his claims, the former adviser published screenshots apparently from several private WhatsApp groups and with Mr Johnson.

In one message, Mr Cummings complains that in the space of a fortnight the US ramped up testing from 2200 a day to 100,000 while Mr Hancock was sceptical about achieving even 10,000.

"Totally f—ing hopeless," Mr Johnson replied, just after midnight on March 27, according to the screenshot.

Later that morning, Mr Cummings said officials had admitted turning down ventilators over increased prices.

"It's Hancock. He has been hopeless," Mr Johnson apparently replied. A month later he apparently considered "taking Hancock off and putting (current Cabinet Office Minister Michael) Gove on".

While being driven past reporters on Wednesday, Mr Hancock was asked whether he was "hopeless".

"I don't think so," he replied.

In response to the leaked messages, Downing Street reportedly said the PM had full confidence in the Health Secretary but did not deny he had referred to him as "hopeless".

The BBC quoted Mr Johnson's official spokesman saying the PM "worked very closely" with Mr Hancock and "will continue to do so".

READ MORE: Boris Johnson's former top aide Dominic Cummings says UK government failed public over COVID

Mr Cummings has repeatedly criticised Mr Hancock, including in extraordinary testimony to a government committee last month in which he accused the Health Secretary of lying and said he "should have been fired for at least 15, 20 things".

The committee asked Mr Cummings to send evidence to back up his claims but he had not done so by the time Mr Hancock fronted the same inquiry two weeks later.

The Health Secretary described the ommission as "telling" and said the government had operated better since Mr Cummings left.

Mr Johnson hit back at the allegations the following day, saying "some of the commentary I have heard doesn't bear any relation to reality".

Mr Hancock said "the unsubstantiated allegations around honesty are not true."

Mr Cummings justified his decision to leak the messages by accusing Number 10 Downing Street and Mr Hancock of "openly lying" and saying he had been asked by the committee to provide evidence, which the public should see as well.

He said he would only publish messages that "further the question of 'what went wrong and how do we learn'," not "just to embarrass the PM or others".

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.

– with Associated Press

A second new case of coronavirus has been detected in Bondi, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, as the list of exposure sites grows to include cafes, department stores, a movie theatre and a car wash.

Late on Wednesday, NSW Health revealed the new case was a househould contact of a man in his 60s, whose positive COVID-19 test was announced earlier in the day.

The first identified case is a driver and transports international flight crews, NSW Health said. 9News understands he is not vaccinated against COVID-19.

Urgent investigations into the source of the infection and contact tracing are underway, as is genome sequencing.

NSW Health is reaching out to close contacts of the man. On Wednesday night, two locations at the East Village Shopping Centre in Zetland, a bus route, several sites in Bondi Junction and a car wash in Redfern were added to the list of exposure sites. (Full list below.)

Sydney exposure sites

A series of locations from Redfern to the eastern suburbs have been identified as potential exposure sites.

Anyone who was at the 1.45pm screening of Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard at Bondi Junction on Sunday must get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.

The same rules apply to anyone on the 200 bus from Bondi Junction interchange to Blue St, North Sydney on June 15 from about 2.25pm to 5pm.

Anyone at the below venues must contact NSW Health, get tested, and self-isolate until while they hear back from health authorities.

• Vaucluse: Belle Café 103 New South Head Road, Friday 11 June 9.15am to 9.50am
• Bondi Junction: Sourdough Bakery 500 Oxford Street, Friday 11 June 12.40pm to 1.10pm
• Vaucluse: Belle Café 103 New South Head Road, Saturday 12 June 10.20am to 10.45am
• Bondi Junction: David Jones 500 Oxford Street, Saturday 12 June 11am to 11.40am
• Bondi Junction: Myer Bondi 500 Oxford Street, Saturday 12 June 11.40am to 12.15pm
• Vaucluse: Washoku Vaucluse 52 New South Head Road, Saturday 12 June 12pm to 1.30pm
• Vaucluse: Belle Cafe 103 New South Head Road Saturday 12 June 1.20pm to 1.50pm
• Vaucluse: Belle Cafe 103 New South Head Road Sunday 13 June 11.30am to 12pm
• Bondi Junctios: Events Cinema (all screenings other than the Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard) 500 Oxford Street Sunday 13 June 1.30pm to 4pm
• Vaucluse: Rocco's 103B New South Head Road Monday 14 June 10.55am to 11.30am
• Zetland: Coles, East Village Shopping Centre, Monday 14 June, 11am to 1pm
• Zetland: Taste Growers (fruit and vegetable shop), East Village Shopping Centre, Monday 14 June, 11am to 1pm
• Redfern, Wax Car Wash Cafe, Monday 14 June, 12pm to 3pm
• Vaucluse: Belle Cafe 103 New South Head Road Tuesday 15 June 9.50am to 10.25am
• North Ryde: Celeste Catering Macquarie Park Cemetery Cafe Macquarie Park Cemetery, Corner of Delhi and Plassey roads, Tuesday 15 June 1pm to 1.20pm
• Bondi Junction: Harry's Coffee and Kitchen, Tuesday 15 June, 3pm to 3.40pm
• Bondi Junction: NAB in Westfield Tuesday 15 June, 2.45pm to 3.10pm
• Bondi Junction: David Jones in Westfield, Tuesday 15 June, 3.30pm to 4.15pm
• Vaucluse: Field to Fork, Friday 11 June, 12pm to 4pm

Anyone who visited the Fruitologist in Bondi on Tuesday from 1pm to 2pm is considered a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.

A full list of exposure sites across the state is available on the NSW Health website.

According to health authorities, NSW currently has 36 active cases of coronavirus with three of those counted as returned overseas travellers in the past 24 hours.

The last previous local coronavirus case in the state was reported on May 5, 42 days ago.

NSW has confirmed 5437 cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began and a total of 56 people have died from the virus.

A total of 1,737,557 people in NSW have had at least one vaccine dose since February 22, 2021 and there have been 17,223 doses administered in the past 24 hours.

Queensland issues quarantine order

Queensland Health has ordered that anybody in Queensland who had been to one of the NSW COVID-19 exposure sites during the risk period is automatically required to quarantine.

"We will be closely monitoring the situation in NSW over coming days," Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said.

"It's important that anyone who has been to these venues in Sydney follow the advice of NSW Health, and not travel.

"If you have been to any of these sites and are already in Queensland, you must immediately travel by private transport directly to your home or accommodation and quarantine.

"You also need to complete the Queensland Health online contact tracing self-assessment form, get tested as soon as possible tomorrow morning, and await advice from Queensland Health.

"We act quickly in these situations to protect the health and safety of Queenslanders and visitors."

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.

More to come.

Coronavirus restrictions in Melbourne and regional Victoria will further ease as it's revealed a vaccinated nurse is among the latest infections.

Victoria's Acting Premier James Merlino confirmed the 25 kilometre travel radius is among the restrictions that will be relaxed at 11.59pm tomorrow, allowing free movement between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Testing Commander Jeroen Weimar said health authorities were "very concerned" after learning a vaccinated nurse had tested positive, and may have been infectious while working at Epping Private Hospital on June 14.

"There is a full, instant response team working through the circumstances," he said.

LIVE UPDATES: US pandemic deaths hit 600,000, equal to yearly cancer toll

The nurse is among the state's five new cases.

She had looked after three Arcare aged care residents.

Another two were detected in adult men at a Southbank apartment complex which is currently in lockdown after multiple cases have emerged.

Two further cases are in a family at the Kings Park building in Southbank.

'Victoria is at its best when we are together'

Mr Merlino said the restrictions in Melbourne were able to be loosened on advice from the Chief Health Officer.

"We have been waiting to see those people and places that we love," he said.

Public gatherings will be allowed with up to 20 people and private household gatherings will be permitted with up to two visitors to a home per day plus dependents.

https://twitter.com/Brett_McLeod/status/1404987054195281922

Venues including gyms, indoor entertainment venues and electronic gaming will be able to reopen.

Patron caps will also increase for restaurants and cafes, religious settings and entertainment venues.

Hospitality venues will be able to host up to 25 people before applying the density limit.

Public gatherings will be allowed with up to 20 people and private household gatherings will be permitted with up to two visitors to a home per day plus dependents.

Venues including gyms, indoor entertainment venues and electronic gaming will be able to reopen.

Patron caps will also increase for restaurants and cafes, religious settings and entertainment venues.

Hospitality venues will be able to host up to 25 people before applying the density limit.

READ MORE: Victoria's coronavirus restrictions ease: what you can and cannot do

People should continue to work from home if possible, but office workers can return with a 50 per cent capacity or up to 20 people, whichever is greater.

Competition for community sport can return for both juniors and adults. However, no spectators will be allowed.

https://twitter.com/JamesMerlinoMP/status/1404987188283002880

Masks will no longer be required outdoors, however they are still recommended where you cannot maintain at least a 1.5-metre distance from others.

"Everyone must continue to wear them indoors, whether that's shopping, on the train or at your workplace," Mr Merlino said.

The acting premier said he expects to announce further easing of restrictions next week.

"We are making positive progress with the announcements we are making, both for regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne."

Some AFL crowds to return

Mr Merlino said AFL crowds would not return to Melbourne this week.

Western Bulldogs or Cats fans from neighbouring areas will be able to attend in Geelong if they are club members.

"I know that football is something on a lot of people's minds," he said.

"While we can't have the crowds back in Melbourne just yet, we will be able to get some people along to the game in Geelong on Friday.

"We will work with the AFL and clubs to allow a crowd of up to 7000 people from the regions."

Mr Merlino said health authorities were working with other sporting codes to ease restrictions and allow fans at future games.

Regional Victoria restrictions ease

Restrictions will also ease in regional Victoria from 11.59pm tomorrow.

Visitors to homes will be increased to five adults per day, plus dependents.

Public gatherings will be increased to 50 people. Restaurants and cafes can open to a maximum of 300 patrons per venue for seated service and smaller venues can host up to 25 people before any density limit applies.

Funerals will be limited to 100 mourners and weddings will be capped at 50 people.

While office workers will be able to return to work at a 75 per cent capacity or 30 people, whichever is greater.

New safety measures for snow holidays

Melburnians who wish to travel to regional alpine resorts for the snow season must return a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departing, under a strict new safety measure.

"We want to keep regional Victoria free of this virus," Mr Merlino said.

"That's why the public health team have recommended slightly stronger settings for metropolitan Melbourne as extra protection as we run down these remaining cases.

Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said the mountains had the potential to be "high-risk" environments.

"A single case infectious on the mountain would be a potential super-spreader event," he said.

"It is essentially how it spread across Europe in March last year."

READ MORE: Stack of new coronavirus exposure sites emerge across Melbourne

Regional Victoria was able to move to more "liberal settings" as no transmission had been detected in the regions, Professor Sutton said.

While the "risk is greater" in metropolitan Melbourne.

"That is where transmission is still occurring," he said.

"There will be people travelling from metro Melbourne, as you would expect, into regional Victoria, so we still need some of those constraints in terms of the size of gatherings in various settings, in various locations to be able to manage the risk should a case occur there."

The state was not ready to "snap back to COVID-normal".

"We're not at that stage yet," Professor Sutton said.

"We are moving by safe and steady increments with a view to continuing to ease restrictions as we go along, as we run down these last few cases."

Victoria records five new local cases

The state's new coronavirus cases include two men at the Kings Park Southbank townhouse complex.

One is the vaccinated nurse who may have worked at a private hospital while infectious.

The other two cases are from a family of four living in the complex.

They were previously close contacts as the other two family members had already been diagnosed.

There is now a total of eight positive cases linked to the complex.

It comes as residents inside the Southbank townhouse complex were yesterday forced into lockdown after the new infections linked to the building emerged.

The Kings Park Apartment Complex on Dodds and Wells Streets in Southbank has been listed as a Tier One exposure site.

This means anyone at the complex at any time between June 2 and June 14 must quarantine for 14 days and get tested.

The complex has just over 100 apartments and has "multiple access points" into the building.

More than 380 PCR tests have been conducted at the site.

"We still have a very active response around the Kings Park in Southbank," Mr Weimar said.

He said there are significant support services for the many residents isolating.

"We are trying to make sure that we can run any remaining traces of the virus to ground in that particular complex," Mr Weimar said.

The testing station will remain onsite for the next few days. Anyone in the Southbank area can get tested there.

Mr Weimar said locking down the Kings Park complex earlier would not have necessarily prevented more cases.

He said the risk of transmission had been mitigated as those infected had restricted movement in the community over the last 10 days.

"It highlights how important the circuit breaker has been."

Mr Weimar noted the contact tracing process had been effective in identifying the cluster.

"As we did with the Arcare staff member who was the first positive case in the community, around her movements, around those primary contacts," he said.

"We did a testing blitz around her and her partner was identified.

"It was only when the second individual came forward, symptomatic, a few days ago that we identified it was a wider spread of that exposure site."

Resident Mehran Mirzaee, who lives in the complex, told Today he was shocked when he heard the building had gone into lockdown.

"I saw things changing around us and they put up some testing station and then I saw paper under my door that we've been in a Tier One exposure site," he said.

"We can't do anything about it. We probably need to respect the rules and help the community to avoid any further spread."

READ MORE: 'Digital certificate' for COVID-19 jab explained

Mr Mirzaee said he turned off his apartment's heating as he had concerns about the virus spreading through the air conditioning system.

"I personally freaked out and I stopped using the apartment heating system.

"I asked my friend to bring me a small heater. We all know Melbourne has cold nights."

Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws told Today authorities had to act promptly following the discovery of the cases.

"We shouldn't be taking this lightly. I can only congratulate Victoria for shutting down when it did," Professor McLaws, from the University of NSW, said.

"It feels extreme. But if they (the cases) are very well connected, and it's an apartment block where a lot of people may socialise and know each other, it may well be important to do, like they did in North Melbourne last year.

"It's unpalatable but it is necessary."

READ MORE: The highly contagious Delta strain explained

Mr Weimar said there was evidence of transmission of the virus in communal areas, such as shared stairwells and hallways.

Health authorities say the complex is a location they are most concerned about in the state's outbreak.

Professor McLaws said the new cases show how important it is for restrictions to be eased gradually together with a vigorous vaccination drive for younger Victorians.

"Restrictions need to be lifted really slowly and vaccination numbers need to be lifted," she said.

"The most important group at the moment is the 20- to 39-year-olds.

"They are the ones that carry most of the risk of infection. Therefore, most of the risk for transmitting it."

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.

Western Australia Police are standing by a decision to access personal data from the state's COVID-19 contact tracing app in their investigation into the assassination of former Rebels bikie boss, Nick Martin.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson told Nine Radio's 6PR the investigators' actions were lawful and he "expected officers to do everything possible to bring a murderer to justice".

"The police have only got information twice out of 240 million transactions, and they are exceptional circumstances – it is lawful," Commissioner Dawson said today.

READ MORE: WA announces 'compulsory registrations' to fight COVID-19

"If a person is murdered – the police have a duty to collect the best possible evidence and put that before the court."

Nick Martin, 51, was allegedly murdered in December at a packed Kwinana Motorplex, sparking a major police operation to find his accused assassin.

Police say Mr Martin was shot by a sniper from more than 300 metres away.

The bullet went through his chest, also injuring his son-in-law and a five-year-old boy.

In March, detectives arrested and charged a former soldier, who cannot be named for legal reasons, with Mr Martin's murder.

As part of their investigation, police have seized a rifle and security vision from the Kwinana complex.

https://omny.fm/shows/breakfast-with-steve-and-basil/i-make-no-apology-police-commissioner-defends-acce/embed

READ MORE: Man accused of sniper murder of ex-bikie boss faces Perth court

Several search warrants have also been executed with multiple people also interviewed.

When the SafeWA app was made compulsory in WA in December, Premier Mark McGowan said personal data would only be used by health authorities for the purpose of contact tracing.

But Commissioner Dawson said there was a loophole in the terms and conditions where the information can be used for "lawful reasons".

"I accept that people don't always read the fine print – I am not going to take half measures with (the investigation) and I make no apology for it," he said.

Mr McGowan confirmed in parliament that he learned about the data access in April and asked Commissioner Dawson not to access personal details again.

READ MORE: Police raid Perth properties over former Rebels bikie boss Nick Martin's sniper murder

"I requested the police no longer do that, but the commissioner advised me his officers are exercising their rights under the law and are doing their job – I accept that," Mr McGowan said.

"I have no difficulty that police officers do their jobs. But our view is that the SafeWA app should be used only for contact tracing purposes."

Mr McGowan said after the police loophole was identified, emergency legislation was introduced to Parliament yesterday to stop anyone other than WA Health being able to access the data.

"The reason behind that is that we need to have public confidence in the use of the app," Mr McGowan said.

Supermarket shoppers can now pour items directly into their own containers in a bid to cut down plastic use and drop prices.

Soaps, coffee and even olive oil can be poured straight from the tap in the trial rolled out in Victorian Coles stores.

The supermarket giant is cutting packaging and offering lower prices to customers who bring their own bottles, jars and containers.

READ MORE: COVID restrictions ease in Victoria as vaccinated nurse tests positive

At a trial run in Fitzroy, shoppers were on board with the scheme.

"I think it's brilliant," one shopper said.

"I hope people get behind it."

"I just gives you more flexibility," another told 9News.

"Yes, it is a good idea."

"I think it could have a huge impact … I mean you look what's happened with shopping bags – its changing customer shopping habits," Martine Alpins from Coles said.

READ MORE: Victoria's coronavirus restrictions ease – what you can and cannot do

Rob Stewart from DC Coffee said the company and customers would benefit from the refill model.

"Cutting our costs in that manufacturing part is definitely going to deliver the product on the shelf a lot cheaper," he said.

Olive oil is 17 per cent cheaper when filled up at the tap.

Shampoo and conditioner are both 43 per cent less expensive than on the shelf.

Dishwashing liquid is 12 per cent more affordable, and, where available, laundry detergent can be 55 per cent cheaper.

"I think it's great! I just need to get more organised and remember to bring my containers," one shopper said.

A fill-your-own laundry detergent station was trialled in April and Woolworths last month launched a similar system at its store in Burwood.

Victoria is the first to introduce the stations, but they're expected to grow into a regular feature.

READ MORE: New community coronavirus case in Sydney under investigation

It's a trial at this stage but if the idea catches on, hundreds of supermarkets across the country could soon invite customers to enter the shop with their basket already full of empty containers.

Karen Moxey from Squeaky Gate Olive Oil said it was an opportunity for supermarkets and producers to do their bit and reduce waste.

"Anything we can do to reduce our footprint on the environment is a really positive thing in our view."

Police are investigating a “suspicious” house blaze in Wellington’s Mt Victoria. Ten fire crews battled the fire, which broke out in a two-storey house on Austin St in Mt Victoria about 9.15pm on Wednesday. DO YOU KNOW MORE?…