- Aged Care minister Richard Colbeck will face a Senate COVID-19 inquiry on the government's pandemic response. He’s expected to be questioned on RAT and PPE shortages, as well as the delayed vaccine booster program.
- Around 566 people in aged care facilities have died during the current COVID-19 outbreak.
- There are currently 11,000 virus cases among aged care residents in New South Wales, and only one in 10 residents have received their booster shot.
- It comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison was criticised for the government's response to the crisis. He acknowledged mistakes were made but stopped short of an apology.
- The Therapeutic Goods Administration has released a warning not to eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth or chew gum for 10-30 minutes before collecting saliva for a rapid antigen test as it may produce an incorrect result.
- In South Australia and New South Wales, elective surgeries will make a staged return from next week after they were paused during the Omicron outbreak.
- While in Victoria non-urgent elective surgery could recommence as soon as next week, but nurses are rallying against the restart.
- The tsunami impacted nation of Tonga will begin a two day lockdown after two positive coronavirus cases were identified. The last reported case of COVID-19 was in October last year. The cases have not been linked to Australian aid efforts.
COVID-19 Stats:
NSW reported 2,622 patients hospitalised with 170 in intensive care, 27 new deaths, and 11,807 new cases of COVID-19.
In Victoria, 768 people were hospitalised, 99 in ICU, there were 25 deaths and 14,553 new infections.
In Queensland there are 763 people in hospital including 49 in intensive care. There were 16 deaths and 9,630 new cases.
Tasmania recorded 666 new cases, 13 people hospitalised with 2 in ICU, and zero deaths.
In South Australia 1 person has died, 233 people were hospitalised, 21 in ICU, and there were 1,723 new cases.
A number of states have set up RAT registration forms.
Quarantine and restrictions state by state
Travel
Financial help
There are changes to the COVID-19 Disaster Payment once states reach 70 and 80 per cent fully vaccinated:
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