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Austria orders nationwide lockdown for unvaccinated people
The Austrian government has ordered a nationwide lockdown for people who are not fully vaccinated in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
The move prohibits unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people aged 12 and older from leaving their homes from midnight Sunday (local time), except for basic activities such as working, grocery shopping, exercise – or getting vaccinated.
Kurt Switil was vaccinated against COVID-19 in Vienna back in April. The Austrian government is now urging people who were vaccinated earlier in the year to come forward for a booster doseCredit:AP
The move follows a series of regional lockdowns last week.
Authorities are concerned about rising deaths and that hospital staff will no longer be able to handle the growing numbers of COVID-19 patients.
“We must raise the vaccination rate. It is shamefully low,” Schallenberg told a news conference announcing the new measure after a video call with the governors of Austria’s nine provinces.
“It’s our job as the government of Austria to protect the people.”
Austria has one of the lowest vaccination rates in western Europe: only around 65 per cent of the total population is fully vaccinated. Many Austrians are sceptical about vaccines, a view encouraged by the far-right Freedom Party, the third biggest in parliament.
AP, Reuters
Health Minister flags cruise ships to return to Australian shores before Christmas
By Amelia McGuire
More than a year after the devastating effects of the Ruby Princess COVID-19 disaster, the federal government has announced cruise ships may be returning to Sydney Harbour in time for holiday season.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Sunday that as 83 per cent of the country is now fully vaccinated, health officials are reviewing the order under the Biosecurity Act that has barred international cruise ships travelling in Australian waters for the past year.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government was working with the states and territories to consider relaxing the ban on cruise ships in Australian waters. Credit:Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
“I expect to be able to make a decision on cruise ships in the coming weeks once we’ve got the medical information, but it will require at least one state or territory to partner on that,” he said.
“We’re working with a number of states and territories, we’ll let them make their own considerations. But, we would like to see cruising back on before Christmas.”
In March 2020, the docking of the Ruby Princess in Sydney led to a devastating outbreak of COVID-19 resulting in 28 deaths and 662 cases.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the return of the industry would need to meet a range of health and safety criteria and also be approved by the Commonwealth before operations can begin.
NSW records 165 new COVID-19 cases and one death
By Michaela Whitbourn
NSW’s coronavirus numbers are also just in.
The state has recorded 165 new cases of COVID-19 and one death.
There are 216 people in the state’s hospitals with coronavirus, of whom 32 are in intensive care.
More than 90 per cent (91.1 per cent) of people aged 16 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 95.2 per cent have received a first dose.
Of course, booster shots are now available for people who received their second jab at least six months ago and some immunocompromised people are now receiving a third shot as part of their primary course.
In the population aged 12 to 15, 73.4 per cent are fully vaccinated and 80.6 per cent have received a first dose.
Victoria records 860 new COVID-19 cases, five deaths
By Michaela Whitbourn
Victoria’s coronavirus numbers are in.
The state has recorded 860 new cases of COVID-19 today, down from 905 cases yesterday, and five deaths.
There are 378 coronavirus patients in Victorian hospitals, 78 of whom are in intensive care. Forty-eight people are on ventilators.
On the vaccination front, 87 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and up (not 16 and up, as is reported in NSW) are now fully vaccinated against the virus.
NSW Police announce new William Tyrrell searches
By Josh Dye
In breaking news, NSW police detectives are launching a new search for missing boy William Tyrrell, who disappeared seven years ago.
Strike Force Rosann detectives are beginning a fresh search from Monday and Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett will hold a press conference at 10.30am to announce the activity.
William Tyrrell vanished in 2014 dressed in his Spider-Man suit.
William, then aged three, was last seen at his foster grandmother’s home at Kendall on the NSW Mid-North Coast on September 12, 2014.
We’ll have more on this breaking story as the day unfolds.
Melbourne, Geelong private hospitals resume elective surgeries at half-capacity
By Cassandra Morgan
Private hospitals and day surgeries in Melbourne and Geelong will resume performing elective surgeries at 50 per cent their normal capacity today.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement on Thursday, saying the change was possible thanks to current COVID-19 hospitalisation numbers that allowed for a “safe and modest restart of non-urgent elective surgery in the private sector”.
Private hospitals and day surgeries in Melbourne and Geelong will resume performing elective surgeries at 50 per cent their normal capacity today. Credit:Glenn Hunt
The private hospitals and day procedure centres will be able to operate at half their usual elective surgery lists as long as they still have enough capacity to deal with the coronavirus response.
“This will ensure that non-COVID public patients can continue to be treated at private hospitals, to help free up beds for COVID patients at our public hospitals,” Mr Andrews said in a statement.
The hospitals and day surgeries will continue to prioritise time-critical and urgent elective procedures. A small number of metropolitan public hospitals that are not designated as major COVID-19 streaming sites will also expand their elective surgery to half-capacity.
Meanwhile, elective surgery will start returning to full capacity from today for public and private patients in hospitals in Greater Sydney, including the Nepean Blue Mountains and Illawarra Shoalhaven, owing to high vaccination rates in the state and the relatively small number of coronavirus patients in hospital.
‘We are not the enemy’: Ita Buttrose doubles down on ABC political interference claim
By Josh Dye
ABC chair Ita Buttrose has doubled down on her claim of political interference over a federal government decision to launch a Senate inquiry into the way the broadcaster handles complaints from the public.
On Thursday Liberal senator Andrew Bragg, chair of the Senate standing committee on environment and communications, announced the inquiry into the national broadcaster and the SBS.
“I don’t think there is anything regular about the Senate inquiry and the way Senator Bragg has engineered it,” she told Radio National this morning.
“I think we’re probably the most accountable institution in Australia, having been subjected to so many numerous inquiries and reviews - but this matter is completely different.”
She noted ABC is usually subject to inquiries from the references committee, not the legislative committees.
In addition, the ABC is already conducting its own external review into its complaints handling process, and she said the government should wait for the outcome of that.
“Senator Bragg has chosen to use the device of the legislation committee, where the government has a majority, to force an inquiry into the ABC’s complaints handling.
“That’s unlike the references committee, which requires approval by the Senate - the government doesn’t control the numbers there. So what we have here really is a partisan political exercise under the guise of using the Senate’s legislation committee, for government senators to undermine the ABCs independence. There’s no other way that I can take this.”
Ms Buttrose said the relationship between the ABC and the government is not in good shape.
“I think it is strained and it’s a matter that concerns me very much. And I would wish we had a much better relationship with the government,” she said.
“The role the ABC players is vital in exposing situations that need to be corrected … We are not the enemy.”
Rebate scheme launches for Melbourne midweek diners
By Cassandra Morgan
From today, diners in Melbourne’s CBD will be able to claim back 30 per cent of their bill when they eat out between Monday and Thursday.
The $5 million Midweek Melbourne Money initiative - a partnership between the Victorian government and the City of Melbourne - offers a maximum rebate of $150 per customer for the duration of the program.
Cheaper midweek lunches and dinners are on the menu in Melbourne’s CBD.Credit:Joe Armao
To be eligible to claim back 30 per cent at Melbourne restaurants, cafes, and bars, diners have to spend between $50 and $500.
The rebate is not available on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and will be offered on a first-in-first-served basis until the money is exhausted.
To claim the rebate, diners have to pay for their meals in full at the outset and scan their receipt and upload it to the Melbourne Money website. The rebate will then be processed and credited to their bank account.
Snow in Tasmania as Hobart records coldest November morning in 68 years
By Michaela Whitbourn
Snow has fallen in Tasmania as the mercury dropped overnight in Hobart.
It was just 2.9 °C shortly after 5:30 am in the capital city, the coldest November temperature since 1953.
Queensland premier poised to release more details about December 17 reopening
By Michaela Whitbourn
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will today release more detail about the state’s road map to reopening the state on December 17, when 80 per cent of the state aged 16 and up will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.Credit:Dan Peled/Getty Images
The state hit a 70 per cent double-dose vaccination milestone on Sunday for the same age group, as zero new cases of the virus were detected in the state.
Federal government data released on Sunday showed Queensland had fully vaccinated 70.25 per cent of its population aged 16 and up against the virus, and 81.99 per cent are partially vaccinated.
As Stuart Layt reports, the state’s border restrictions are set to change as a result of that 70 per cent milestone being passed. Under the new rules, people will be allowed to travel by air from interstate, provided they meet strict criteria.
Anyone wanting to enter Queensland must be fully vaccinated and have had a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their travel. They can only fly in, and they must also quarantine at home or at an agreed residence for 14 days.
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2021-11-14 22:20:03Z
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