The coronavirus pandemic is reaching new peaks in Australia this week off the back of a busy Christmas and New Year’s period, and governments are today starting to bring back restrictions. Before we whip around the new rules, here are the COVID numbers we have so far: New South Wales: 38,625 new cases, 11 deaths, 134 in ICU, 1738 in hospital. Victoria: 21,728 …

Serb politicians and celebrities have described the treatment of Novak Djokovic as shameful scapegoating, as the foreign ministry in Belgrade suggested the world tennis No 1 had been “lured to Australia … to be humiliated.” The 34-year-old champion, who was born in the Serb capital, is in detention in an immigration hotel in Melbourne pending a legal challenge to Australia’s decision on …

Here’s a quick wrap of what’s happening in COVID news across Australia. NSW records more than 20,000 COVID-19 cases for second-straight day New South Wales has recorded 22,577 COVID-19 cases, the second day in a row where more than 20,000 new cases were reported. There were also four deaths of people with COVID-19 reported. Hospitalisations rose to 901, up from 832 …

Masks are now mandatory in almost every public setting in Queensland, in an attempt to slow the rapid spread of COVID-19 — which has already taken hold in several vulnerable locations. From today, masks are needed in workplaces, waiting rooms, libraries, hairdressers, nail salons and in hospitality venues and indoor stadiums, except while seated. They were already required for public …

One good thing can be said about 2021: it wasn’t as tumultuous as 2020, which put in a claim to be the worst year ever. That, however, may be damning with faint praise. Yes, the past twelve months did bring some good news. Indeed, for a moment in early summer it seemed that COVID-19 was in the rearview mirror. However, it isn’t. And 2021 …

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer has warned the country can expect even more COVID-19 cases after the majority of the nation’s leaders broadly agreed to relax close contact definitions and isolation requirements. As the nation’s daily cases surpassed 21,000, Prime Minister Scott Morrison convened an emergency national cabinet meeting to recalibrate Australia’s response to the highly transmissible Omicron variant sweeping the …

COVID-19 testing clinics and laboratories in NSW are being overwhelmed by demand, driving up the time taken to process tests and delaying diagnoses. Healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 in New South Wales will be able to leave isolation and return to work after seven days instead of 14 under new guidelines. NSW Health has moved to reduce the time healthcare …

NSW records 6,288 and no deaths There were 6,288 new COVID-19 infections recorded in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday. The state recorded no deaths, with 388 patients in hospital with the virus. There are 52 people currently in intensive care, one less than the previous day. NSW has also reported 95 per cent of residents aged 16 and …

Masking wearing indoors will become mandatory in NSW from midnight tonight as the state government reintroduces restrictions to curb the Omicron wave. Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced density limits of one person per 2 square metres for hospitality venues would also be reinstated from December 27, while QR code measures will be “back in a limited way”. The mask and …

Federal Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has ridiculed Health Minister Greg Hunt for announcing Covid booster jabs will be brought forward for Australians, a day after criticising the Labor leader for suggesting it. On Friday morning Mr Hunt announced that the Covid-19 booster shot interval will be brought forward from five to four months from January 4, and shorten again to a three-month …