Australia news LIVE NSW records 1063 new COVID-19 cases six deaths Victoria begins earthquake clean-up as state records 766 new cases protests continue

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NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Marianne Gale are providing a coronavirus update.

Watch live below.

Meanwhile, Victorian Premier Dan Andrews, Deputy Chief Health Officer Deb Friedman and COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar are providing a coronavirus update.

Watch live below.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard says lockdown restrictions will end in the regional areas of Orange and Glen Innes from midnight tonight.

“There will be still standard restrictions and precautionary measures but they will be out and back to a more normal life,” he said.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard today.Credit:Janie Barrett

Mr Hazzard added that restrictions might also ease in Narromine on Saturday night if the area continued to record no cases.

Lockdown restrictions were eased in Brewarrina, Gilgandra, Lismore and Albury from midnight.

Those areas entered the restrictions that will be introduced statewide for fully vaccinated people once the state hits 70 per cent full vaccination for people aged 16 and over next month.

NSW Deputy Chief Health Officer Marianne Gale said health authorities were hoping to see case numbers come down further across western Sydney, notably in the suburbs of Liverpool, Punchbowl, Cabramatta, Greenacre, Merrylands, Guildford, Blacktown, Auburn, Yagoona and Lakemba.

NSW has reported 1063 new local coronavirus cases on Thursday, and six deaths from the virus.

In a statement, NSW Health said four of those who died, all from western and south-west Sydney, were not vaccinated.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard at today’s press conference.Credit: Janie Barrett

A woman from the city’s west in her 50s who was fully vaccinated also died. The department said she had “significant” underlying health conditions.

A woman in her 90s from St Mary’s Villa Aged Care at Dubbo, in the state’s west, also died. She was the fourth resident to die from the virus at this facility.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said he wanted to highlight that western Sydney and south-west Sydney were “really doing a very good job”, noting that cases in the area had almost halved over the past fortnight.

The rate of first-dose vaccination among people aged 16 and over in NSW is now 83.6 per cent.

The state’s second-dose rate is 55.5 per cent.

Mr Hazzard said the state had an increase of about one percentage point each day in its second doses and 0.5 percentage point a day in its first doses.

“That is quite remarkable and I want to thank everybody who is going out and doing their bit for the community and for themselves and getting vaccinated,” he said.

A coronavirus cluster has emerged at North Sydney’s Mater Hospital, after 14 patients and staff tested positive in the past week.

A spokesperson for the hospital said five patients, eight staff members and one carer had tested positive to COVID-19.

The Mater Hospital in North Sydney where there has been an outbreak of 14 COVID-19 cases.Credit:Kate Geraghty

“The Mater is identifying contacts of these patients and staff and has sought advice from Northern Sydney Local Health District to ensure the health and safety of all patients and staff is maintained,” the spokesperson said.

“Contacts are undergoing testing and isolation, in line with public health advice.”

The hospital has cancelled all elective surgery due to the cases, the spokesperson said.

“All of our COVID-positive staff cases are now in isolation and are being supported ... staff currently undertaking duties in the affected areas are wearing additional PPE to ensure the safety of patients and staff. Cleaning and enhanced infection control measures are in place.”

The outbreak comes as a second major outbreak unfolds at Liverpool Hospital, with 24 patients testing positive across six wards.

Twelve people died when a virus exposure occurred across the Liverpool Hospital’s geriatric and neurology wards earlier this year.

Queensland has recorded one new local case of COVID-19 and one overseas-acquired case in hotel quarantine.

The local case, a student at Brisbane’s St Thomas More College in Sunnybank, tested positive on day nine of home quarantine, where she has been during her entire infectious period.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also said there were plans to reignite the state’s cruise industry.

The Premier made the announcement at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, which will become a new vaccination hub, particularly for port, airline and other employees who work in industries in the Pinkenba area.

The $177 million cruise terminal was expected to be a glittering prize in Brisbane’s tourism industry, with an opening date of October 2020, but when the coronavirus pandemic hit the cruising industry was shut down and decimated.

Ms Palaszczuk said the state government would work with the industry to allow some Queensland-based small cruises.

“I’ll put that to national cabinet as well, but I honestly think that is a great option for Queenslanders who are fully vaccinated to actually trial some smaller cruises up and down the Queensland coast,” she said.

Among eligible Queenslanders, 61.53 per cent have received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while 42.78 per cent are fully vaccinated.

More delays to parcel deliveries are expected after FedEx employees last night voted to strike next week and about 2000 StarTrack workers walked off the job this morning.

Transport Workers Union secretary Michael Kaine said the two strikes would involve about 6000 transport workers and came in response to “rampant outsourcing” and a push towards insecure work.

“Everywhere you look, transport workers are in the fight of their lives to stop insidious cost-cutting plans which would gut the decent jobs that thousands of workers and their families rely on,” he said.

StarTrack employees went on strike from midnight for 24 hours over a dispute about job security and pay after a last-minute attempt by the postal company to have the strike action blocked by the Fair Work Commission failed.

The company had unsuccessfully argued the strike action would delay vaccine deliveries.

A StarTrack spokesperson said: “Our commitment to deliver for Australians is unwavering. While we respect the decision of the Fair Work Commission, there will be delivery impacts tomorrow, at a time when the delivery of essential items has never been more important.”

Mr Kaine said FedEx workers voted to strike next Thursday for 24 hours after crisis talks with the postal company about outsourcing broke down.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is providing a coronavirus update.

Watch live below.

Have you fallen out with a long-time friend or family member over a pandemic-related issue, such as adhering to lockdown rules or arguments over vaccines?

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If you’re happy to speak to reporter Rachael Dexter, please get in touch via the form below. Just remember to leave a name and contact number.

There are fresh dramas this morning between the Victorian and Commonwealth governments over financial assistance to the state’s building industry, which is currently shut down.

State Treasurer Tim Pallas is claiming a refusal by his federal counterpart Josh Frydenberg of special financial assistance to the local sector is the latest example of preferential treatment for NSW from Canberra.

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas.Credit:Getty

Mr Frydenberg told Sky News earlier this morning he had called Mr Pallas to offer assistance in the wake of that day’s earthquake and had been asked for additional money from the Commonwealth to help Victoria’s building industry.

The answer was no, Mr Frydenberg told TV station.

“I made it clear to him that we have already provided very significant funding to Victoria, including the COVID disaster payment where we pick up the bill. Around $2 billion has already been made available to 570,000 people in Victoria, including those who may have been affected by the construction industry interruption.”

But Mr Pallas has shot back at his federal counterpart, accusing the Commonwealth government, again, of double standards in its treatment of the nation’s two most populous states.

“The Commonwealth government provided business support to construction businesses in NSW affected by their construction shutdown â€" in addition to the COVID Disaster Payment,” Mr Pallas said.

“Josh Frydenberg needs to explain why construction businesses in Sydney deserve Commonwealth support while those in Victoria miss out.”

Victoria’s daily coronavirus numbers are in.

The state has recorded 766 new, locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and four deaths.

Today marks Victoria’s largest ever daily coronavirus tally. Victoria’s previous record was 725 daily cases reported in August last year.

The Department of Health has not said how many cases are linked to known outbreaks or how many people were already isolating when they received a positive test.

There were no new cases detected in hotel quarantine. There are now 6666 active coronavirus cases across the state.

Today’s numbers are off the back of yesterday’s 62,408 coronavirus tests.

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