COVID-19 News And Updates

Coalition of UK industry bodies warns of ‘painful’ job losses if Treasury returns tax to pre-Covid levels in April Hospitality and tourism bosses are pleading with the government to permanently lower the VAT rate on businesses in their sectors to help safeguard thousands of jobs. The appeal comes as the tax’s rate for pubs, restaurants, holiday accommodation and admission to certain attractions rises on Friday to 12.5%, following a temporary cut to just 5% that was introduced in July 2020 to help businesses struggling in the pandemic. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

We are looking for the guy who did this! Sign up here to get an email whenever First Dog cartoons are published Get all your needs met at the First Dog shop if what you need is First Dog merchandise and prints Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Number of daily infections in the UK has risen in the past month after restrictions removed; Malaysia recorded 9,671 deaths in September as backlog counted Covid cases rise as UK schools return and furlough scheme ends Australian prime minister says international borders will open within weeks Flu and Covid jabs safe to be given at same time, study finds See all our coronavirus coverage Hello and welcome to today’s live coronavirus coverage. The number of daily new Covid infections in the UK has risen in the past month after the removal of most pandemic restrictions and as schools and offices reopened, fuelled by the Delta variant. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Supply chain shortages and price rises could lead to the zero growth and high inflation seen in the 1970s Covid cases rise as UK schools return and furlough scheme ends Opinion: what government has to do to get economy moving Business confidence in the UK has collapsed after a month that has seen supply bottlenecks, rising energy prices, fuel shortages and looming tax increases combine to stifle growth. In its latest health check on the economy, the Institute of Directors said sentiment had “fallen off a cliff” in September, adding to fears that Britain was on course for a dose of 1970s-style stagflation. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Daniel Andrews says workers who are allowed to work outside the home must have first dose by 15 October and second by 26 November Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates Vic hotspots ; Vic restrictions ; border restrictions Vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; cases and data tracker 5km and 10km from home map: check your travel radius Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Victoria has extended vaccination mandates to more than one million workers on the authorised worker list after another day of more than 1,000 locally-acquired Covid cases. On Friday the state recorded 1,143 new local cases and three coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Ministers must sit down with businesses to work out a recovery plan to stop Britain’s economy falling into recession UK business confidence collapses as ‘stagflation’ fears grow Covid cases rise as UK schools return and furlough ends The events of the past week have shown the fragility of the UK’s economic recovery. The issue of labour shortages is nothing new. Three years ago, the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) quarterly economic survey for the fourth quarter of 2018 found 81% of manufacturers were experiencing difficulties in finding the right staff. At the time, this was the joint-highest level since the survey began in 1989. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The PM announces plans to allow vaccinated passengers to travel with a pre-flight Covid test and one week of home quarantine Follow our Australia Covid live blog for the latest updates Vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; cases and data tracker 5km to 25km from home map: check your travel radius Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Australian states will be able to reopen to international travel in November once they hit their 80% vaccination targets, under a plan outlined by Scott Morrison on Friday. The plan would see states follow the New South Wales lead in allowing travel for vaccinated passengers with pre-flight Covid testing and one week of home quarantine. Seven-day home quarantine for Australian citizens and permanent residents fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved for use in Australia or ‘recognised’ by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Fourteen-day managed quarantine for anyone not vaccinated or vaccinated with a vaccine not approved or reco

ACT chief minister said today was the 'toughest day' of the territory's pandemic response so far after 52 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded and two more deaths. 'Today's increase in case numbers will come as a shock to many, but it's an important reminder that the virus is still very much active in our community' Mr Barr said. Follow the Australia Covid live blog for the latest updates Australia Covid live news update Vaccine rollout tracker Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Here are the current coronavirus hotspots and Covid-19 public health exposure sites in Queensland and what to do if you’ve visited them. Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates Vaccine rollout tracker ; get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Authorities have released a list of coronavirus hotspots and public exposure sites in Queensland visited by a confirmed case of Covid-19. Here are the current coronavirus hotspots, Covid exposure sites, venues and case location alerts and what to do if you’ve visited them. Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Irresponsible statements are fuel for those who falsely believe their rights have been taken away When former prime minister John Key referred to New Zealand as a “smug hermit kingdom” in his widely disseminated op-ed , I thought it was pushing it a bit, but not completely off the mark – we closed our borders to outsiders, after all. What I didn’t expect was for him to start calling the government’s response “North Korean”. This isn’t just lazy rhetoric, it’s obviously wrong. This is what North Korea’s been through: it closed its borders at the beginning of 2020, before most of the world put itself into lockdown. It stopped all shipments in and out of the country, including China, which is its largest trading partner and aid donor. Fishing in its surrounding waters and even salt harvesting was halted, for fear Covid may be transmitted that way. Foreign diplomatic staff left on one-way tickets: one group of Russians took a hand-powered rail cart out of the country. Continue reading

Clinical trial on joint flu, Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccinations reported only mild to moderate side-effects Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Flu jabs are safe to give at the same time as the Pfizer or AstraZeneca Covid vaccines, according to the first clinical trial to investigate co-administering the shots in a single appointment. While some people experienced more side-effects with certain combinations of flu and Covid shots, the ailments were mainly mild to moderate, the study found. The most common side effects included pain at the injection site and temporary fatigue, headache or muscle pain. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Breaks from quarantine permitted for matches and training Rules will only apply to those who are double vaccinated The government is to announce new rules to enable players who travel to red zone countries during the international break to play upon their return, but conditions will be stricter for those who have not received the Covid-19 vaccine. Plans would mean returning players would be forced to enter a quarantine similar to that experienced by Olympic athletes in Tokyo this summer. Allowed to train and play matches from the day of their return, players would otherwise be confined to a hotel room for 10 days. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

There was also a rise in prescriptions for ivermectin being filled, despite no evidence either drug is effective against the virus The amount of hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin dispensed from Australian pharmacies increased significantly in 2020 as the Covid pandemic took hold, according to new research. Analysis of six publicly subsidised drugs – including hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, corticosteroids and the common antibiotic azithromycin – found Covid-related changes in prescription patterns in Australia. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Federal health minister Greg Hunt has been criticised for claiming the lagging rollout is about ‘hesitation’ rather than access Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates Australian vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; Cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing More than 3,000 Indigenous Australians have been infected with Covid-19 in New South Wales since the June outbreak, as lagging vaccination rates take their toll. Seven Indigenous people have died in the NSW outbreak and there are currently 872 active cases, according to statistics sourced from the NSW health department. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Welsh first minister also says universal credit cut ‘disgraceful’ and he has not spoken to PM since June The Welsh first minister has launched a strong attack on the UK government, claiming that a combination of ideology, incompetence and malevolence had resulted in the fuel crisis and is leaving the most vulnerable people facing one of the most difficult winters for years. Mark Drakeford raised concern about the UK’s more relaxed approach to Covid restrictions, suggesting that this seemed to be prompting some people in England take more risks. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

GDP grew faster than forecast in second quarter as fewer Covid restrictions prompted households and companies to spend Higher NHS spending, stronger investment and a bounce back in exports helped the UK economy to recover more quickly from the lockdown at the start of the year, official figures have shown. After shrinking by 1.4% in the first three months of the year, the economy grew by a record 5.5% in the second quarter as restrictions on activity were eased. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Violence against healthcare workers from patients and families has increased during the pandemic In 2019, Laura Paul, a registered nurse, was seeing a sedated patient in the intensive care unit at Cox Medical Center Branson in south-west Missouri when “he went from out cold to swinging in a matter of seconds,” she said. Paul, a house supervisor who moves among different units of the hospital, tried to dodge the patient’s attack and screamed for help. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Global coffee prices forecast to hit $4.44 a kilogram due to Brazilian cold snap following a string of droughts and pandemic supply chain issues Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Scientists have long warned climate change is coming for our morning coffee and a recent spike in global bean prices could be the first sign it’s actually happening. Global coffee prices are forecast to jump to $4.44 a kilogram this year, according to IBISWorld, after a July cold snap in a major arabica coffee-producing region of Brazil wiped out a third of the crop. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Chancellor under pressure to help more as rising energy bills, end to furlough scheme and universal credit uplift loom The government has said it will launch a £500m fund for councils to support poorer families through the winter amid an energy supply crisis and the withdrawal of other forms of financial assistance. It said the new household support fund will “support millions” via small grants for food, clothing and utilities, with money being disbursed by local authorities. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The impact of poverty on health has always been obvious to me, now maybe it will be obvious to everyone else When I do my ward round on my patients with Covid, I don’t ask them why they aren’t vaccinated. I don’t ask them how they caught Covid. My role is to provide caring, compassionate non-judgmental care. But sometimes people tell me unprompted and the reasons leave me feeling sad and frustrated for the inequality in our health system. Many of my patients don’t speak much English, and since I am monolingual, we rely on phone calls with family members to help us communicate. We always ask how everyone else in the household is. One patient told me they live with seven people and all have Covid. In our hospital, there are multiple families with more than one person who has been admitted. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Many private schools may not reopen after staff laid off during lockdown say they will not return to the profession The last message Mary Namitala received from the private school in which she taught was in March last year, the day all schools in Uganda were ordered close due to Covid-19. The message read: “No more payments until when schools open.” “My husband and I decided to leave our rented house in town and shifted to the village, to our unfinished house. We could not afford to continue paying rent,” says Namitala, from her home in Bombo in central Uganda, about 20 miles north of the capital Kampala. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Greg Hunt says expanding choice from AstraZeneca to mRNA jabs could help 300,000 older people who have been waiting to get vaccinated Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates Vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; Cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Australians aged 60 and over will be able to get Pfizer and Moderna vaccines from Friday regardless of their state or territory of residence, health minister Greg Hunt has announced. Hunt said expanding vaccine choice from AstraZeneca to include the mRNA vaccines could help more than 300,000 older people who have been waiting to get vaccinated. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Housing charity Crisis says £20-a-week reduction could be final blow for struggling households At least 100,000 renting households will be placed at risk of eviction when the government’s planned £20-a-week cut to universal credit comes into effect next week, the housing charity Crisis has warned. The proportion of private renters relying on benefits in England has surged to around one in three since the start of the pandemic, leaving thousands at risk of homelessness due to arrears if the uplift to UC is removed by ministers as planned. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

UK benefit bonus comes to an end ; Australian state of Victoria records 1,438 new cases as Delta outbreak continues to grow 37% of people have Covid symptoms six months after infection Brazil hospital chain accused of hiding Covid deaths and giving unproven drugs The California region where Covid ‘just isn’t slowing down’ See all our coronavirus coverage 5.49am BST In Australia, Victorian authorities say Thursday’s spike in Covid-19 cases – the highest one-day total for the state the pandemic so far – was “completely avoidable”, with parties for the Australian Football League grand final and other social gatherings over the long weekend behind up to one-third of the 1,438 new local infections. Premier Daniel Andrews said he was sure the latest case numbers would be “of great concern to all Victorians”. Related: Victoria Covid update: grand final parties blamed as state hits 1,438 cases 5.28am BST Charity food banks in Britain are “preparing for the worst” as the governmen

The ‘highly authenticated’ digital record will enable international travel and be used by third parties, such as airlines and other countries’ customs officials Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Technology allowing Australians to travel overseas with an internationally recognised vaccine certificate will be ready within weeks, as the government prepares to announce a plan for the country’s borders to finally reopen. In evidence to the Senate’s Covid committee on Thursday, the chief executive of Services Australia, Rebecca Skinner, said the department had developed a visible digital seal for vaccine status that would be ready by the end of October. “Our plan is to have all of the technology in place so that it is a settled and tested situation before the policy decisions need to be made. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

I feel like I’m living in a re-enactment of Cold Mountain, but the mountain’s been swapped out for a suburban LGA. And yet I’m among the lucky ones It’s been 16 weeks since I found myself trapped in Sydney, just in time for the coronavirus lockdown. It’s 16 weeks since I last saw my partner. As we parted, there wasn’t too much of the Casablanca about our farewell at Wagga Wagga train station – no hats, no mist, not even the soundtrack throb of a string section. There was just business with luggage, a cuddle and the shared hope that Sydney’s lockdown would be over in a few days and we’d be reunited. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Little Freddie King has survived three shootings, stabbings, a near fatal bike accident, a stomach ulcer, an accidental electrocution, Hurricane Katrina, and now a pandemic In a dark, wood-panelled room, thick with humidity and reeking of smoke, the bluesman sits on a battered red couch that droops in the middle. He takes a moment to reflect before walking to the stage. He’s dressed in a pair of shades, a straw fedora, and a technicolor suit jacket splashed with turquoise, pink and peach. His flamboyance is an instant contrast with the dingy surroundings. He takes a final drag of a cigarette, down to the butt, before adjusting his tie. Little Freddie King has played this venue – BJ’s Lounge, a ramshackle bar in the Bywater neighbourhood of New Orleans – for the past 27 years. But tonight is special. Tonight is his 81st birthday. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Premier Daniel Andrews says many of the new infections were ‘completely avoidable’, as the state also recorded five Covid fatalities Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates Vic hotspots ; Vic restrictions ; border restrictions Vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; Cases and data tracker 5km and 10km from home map: check your travel radius Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Victorian authorities say Thursday’s spike in Covid-19 cases was “completely avoidable”, with grand final parties and other social gatherings over the long weekend behind up to one-third of the 1,438 new local infections. Premier Daniel Andrews said he was sure the latest case numbers would be “of great concern to all Victorians”. . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

A continuing global shortage of semiconductors further dents the sector’s post-pandemic recovery British car industry output declined for the second month in a row in August as the months-long shortage of computer chips hampered the sector’s recovery effort. The number of cars built in UK factories fell by 27% year-on-year to 37,200 in August, according to lobby group the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). That was down from 51,000 in the same month in 2020, when carmakers were racing to make up for time lost to lockdowns. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The Savannah in the Round festival in the Cairns hinterland this weekend will feature a Covid-19 vaccination hub – headlined by Pfizer Queensland Health has teamed up with a country music festival to get more jabs in arms in the battle against Covid-19. This weekend’s Savannah in the Round music festival, which will take place in Mareeba in the Cairns hinterland, will be headlined by John Butler, John Williamson, Lee Kernaghan and Sheppard. Also on the lineup: a vaccination hub, offering festival goers a free dose of the Pfizer jab. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The line outside the charity’s CBD pop-up pantry isn’t showing any signs of shrinking Follow our live blog for latest Covid updates Vic restrictions ; Vic hotspots Vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; Cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing By the time Foodbank opens the doors to its CBD pantry in Melbourne, the line of international students stretches hundreds of metres. Most are hospitality workers who have lost their jobs each lockdown and are now struggling to keep up with rent or even fill their pantries. Most wait quietly in the queue on Wednesday morning but, among the hundreds of young people in need, there are pockets of cheery conversation and laughter. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Brisbane and the Gold Coast on high alert before NRL grand final; billions promised for one-off assistance package. Follow all the day’s news NSW and Vic restrictions ; Vic hotspots Vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; Cases and data tracker 5km and 10km from home map: check your travel radius Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing 10.34pm BST Good morning, Mostafa Rachwani with you this morning to go through the early headlines. We begin in Queensland , which yesterday recorded only one new case, raising hopes the state has again dodged an outbreak, but Brisbane and the Gold Coast are on high alert after dozens of new exposure sites have been released. Hundreds of people have entered home quarantine over the past week, and mask mandates have been introduced, but no further restrictions yet. We’re still waiting to see if this will impact the NRL grand final. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Vaccinated athletes to enter ‘closed-loop system’ on arrival Only spectators from mainland China can attend Games Athletes and other participants who are not fully vaccinated against Covid-19 must spend 21 days in quarantine before competing at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed. The organisers of the Beijing Games presented their Covid-19 counter-measures at a meeting with the IOC president, Thomas Bach, on Wednesday. Tickets for events will be sold only to spectators from mainland China, while all fully vaccinated participants will be able to move freely within what it called a “closed-loop management system”. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Group of whistleblowing doctors gave 10,000-page dossier to investigators last month with allegations against Prevent Senior One of Brazil’s biggest healthcare providers has been accused of covering up coronavirus deaths, pressuring doctors to prescribe ineffective treatments, and testing unproven drugs on elderly patients as part of ideologically-charged efforts to help the Brazilian government resist a Covid lockdown. Related: Trump may be gone, but Covid has not seen off populism Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Josh Frydenberg says tapering business support, which mirrors changes to income assistance, is in line with national reopening plan The federal government has signed off on a final multi-billion dollar business assistance package for NSW, Victoria and the ACT, but will switch off financial support once vaccination rates reach 80% of the adult population. Following a decision to wind down income support payments, the federal government is set to announce it will provide a final boost for businesses aimed at bridging the final six weeks of lockdown before states reach the 80% double dose target. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Advocacy organisation condemns rollout failures, including difficulties securing appointments, inaccessible environments and challenges for those requiring sedation Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing A top advocacy organisation says Australia’s vaccine rollout has failed to adequately cater for young people with disabilities and their families, with some facing significant barriers to getting the jab. Days after the disability royal commission warned the rollout had been “seriously deficient”, a new survey from Children and Young People with Disability Australia (Cyda) details the many challenges faced by some young people, parents and carers. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

With the Covid pandemic not yet over, experts analyse risks of catching the virus Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Audiences are expected to flock to sold-out screenings when No Time to Die opens on Thursday, especially after rave reviews , and for many it will be the first cinema visit since the pandemic took hold. For others, even the prospect of Daniel Craig’s final turn as 007 may not outweigh concerns about sitting in an enclosed space for three hours with hundreds of strangers. So, with the coronavirus pandemic not yet over in the UK, how safe is it to go to the cinema? Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Streaming site cracks down on harmful content about all approved Covid jabs YouTube is to remove videos that spread misinformation about all vaccines, as it steps up a crackdown on harmful content posted during the coronavirus pandemic. From Wednesday, the video streaming site, which has already banned Covid jab falsehoods , will take down content that claims any approved vaccine is dangerous and causes chronic health defects. Under previous guidelines, the platform demoted – effectively hiding from view – videos that spread misinformation about non-Covid vaccines or promoted vaccine hesitancy. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Kindergarten, year 1 and year 12 students will return on 18 October, the government is expected to announce on Thursday Follow our live blog for latest Covid updates Vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; Cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing School students in New South Wales will head back to class earlier than expected with the government bringing forward start dates by one week. The new timetable, agreed to by the state’s crisis cabinet on Wednesday, means kindergarten, year 1 and year 12 students will return on 18 October. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The state has the country’s lowest case rate. But in the vaccine-resistant Central Valley and rural north, healthcare workers are pushed to the limit California has the lowest coronavirus case rate in the country. But within the state, the agricultural Central Valley and rural north remain overwhelmed. Resistance to vaccines and public health mandates, combined with the advance of the Delta variant, have triggered an explosion of cases that are pushing already strained public health systems to the brink. In some counties, the case rate per 100,000 people is three or more times that of the state. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Gladys Berejiklian has revealed a roadmap out of lockdown for the state, and an easing of restrictions for some parts of regional NSW. Here’s the full list of what you can and can’t do in NSW and the ACT NSW Covid reopening plan and roadmap ; NSW Covid vaccination rate by postcode – check your suburb 5km and 10km from home radius map: check how far you can travel ​​ Covid vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; Cases, trends and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Stay-at-home orders are still in place for large parts of NSW, including greater Sydney. The premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has revealed a roadmap out of lockdown for the state and an easing of restrictions for some parts of regional NSW. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Gerard Rennick says he ‘doesn’t like secrecy’ and will oppose the bill, along with independents Jacqui Lambie and Rex Patrick Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing The federal government’s bill that would shroud national cabinet in secrecy appears doomed in the Senate with Liberal senator Gerard Rennick and independent Jacqui Lambie both announcing they oppose it. Rennick said he “doesn’t like secrecy at the best of times” and will cross the floor on national cabinet secrecy – and a second government bill that would exempt the Future Fund from freedom of information laws. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

WorkSafe alleges failures included not appointing infection prevention experts and not adequately training security guards Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates Victoria restrictions and hotspots Vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; Cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing The Victorian health department has been hit with more than 50 criminal charges for alleged breaches of work safety laws in the state’s hotel quarantine program. WorkSafe Victoria announced on Wednesday it had laid 58 charges against the department for failing to provide a safe working environment for staff during the initial hotel quarantine program between March and July 2020. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

As legal proceedings over coronavirus begin, history tells us that boosting solidarity is more helpful than pointing the finger Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Earlier this month, proceedings opened in Austria in a civil suit brought against the authorities by the widow and son of a man who died of Covid-19 after staying in Ischgl, the ski resort widely regarded as having hosted a super-spreader event early in the pandemic. The week before, former French health minister Agnès Buzyn was ordered by a court to answer, essentially, for the government’s lack of anticipation of the pandemic. In the UK, meanwhile, the government has promised a public inquiry into the handling of the crisis. It’s due to start next spring. Those pushing for it to begin sooner argue that the lessons learned could still save lives, but apportioning blame is another function of a public inquiry. The finger of blame has hovered over this pandemic since the beginning, and now

Victoria records 950 new coronavirus cases, while NSW marked its deadliest day of the pandemic with 15 deaths and 863 cases Follow our live blog for latest Covid updates NSW and Vic restrictions ; Vic hotspots Vaccine rollout and rates tracker ; Cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing New South Wales businesses have been warned they will be fined if they provide services to unvaccinated people in the early reopening stages, while Victoria is overhauling contact tracing to keep up with growing case numbers. Victoria recorded 950 new cases of Covid on Wednesday, topping NSW for the second day, which reported 863 cases and 15 deaths, the worst daily death toll for the state. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Burger King and Starbucks leaders also sign up to new body to discuss mounting challenges Bosses from chains including Nando’s, Starbucks and Prezzo have been drafted in to advise the government on its plans to boost the hospitality sector after the easing of lockdown this summer. Amid mounting concern over staff shortages and supplies across the economy, ministers said the group of executives would help to identify and oversee actions that the government could take to smooth the post-pandemic recovery for pubs, hotels, cafes and restaurants. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

New Zealand reports 45 cases, more than five times previous day’s total; United Airlines says nearly 600 workers face termination over failure to comply with the carrier’s vaccination policy New Zealand reports jump in cases as opposition calls for opening up Guam’s vaccination success story turns grim with Covid surge Covid can infect cells in pancreas that make insulin, research shows 12% of English pupils report continuing Covid symptoms weeks after infection See all our coronavirus coverage 5.58am BST United Airlines said on Tuesday nearly 600 Us-based employees faced termination after failing to comply with the carrier’s vaccination policy. In early August, the company became the first US carrier to require Covid vaccinations for all domestic employees, requiring proof of vaccination by Monday. 5.37am BST New Zealand’s daily Covid cases have jumped sharply to 45 – more than five times the previous day’s number. The rise comes after several days of about 12 cases a day,

The ACCC has responded to fears that major airports could ‘take advantage’ of the Covid reopening to recover lost profits Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates NSW and Vic restrictions ; Vic hotspots Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Australians travelling domestically could be hit by a spike in airfare costs in coming months and years, the consumer watchdog has warned, as it puts capital city airports on notice amid fears they could be “systematically taking advantage” of the Covid-reopening and hiking fees they charge airlines. In its Airline Competition in Australia report released on Wednesday, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has also found people flying in and out of regional Australia continue to face higher ticket costs. This is due to a lack of core demand on some routes, as well as diminishing competition since Virgin Australia’s restructuring last year that has seen Qantas extend its dominance on regional tr

Queensland currently has no LGAs in lockdown, but some restrictions have been introduced in Brisbane and Moreton. Here’s the full list of what you can and can’t do Full list of Queensland exposure sites and hotspots Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates Other restrictions: NSW ; Vic ; border restrictions Vaccine rollout tracker ; get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing From 10am, Tuesday 28 September all of Queensland is under stage three restrictions. Up to 100 people can gather in homes and there is no limit for people gathering in public spaces. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Queensland currently has no LGAs in lockdown, but some restrictions have been introduced in Brisbane and Moreton. Here’s the full list of what you can and can’t do Full list of Queensland exposure sites and hotspots Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates Other restrictions: NSW ; Vic ; border restrictions Vaccine rollout tracker ; get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing From 10am, Tuesday 28 September all of Queensland is under stage three restrictions. Up to 100 people can gather in homes and there is no limit for people gathering in public spaces. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Union’s Melbourne office declared tier one exposure site after four staff test positive to coronavirus Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing The Victorian construction union has blamed the violent protests at its Melbourne headquarters last week for a Covid-19 outbreak which has seen four officials test positive to the virus and forced the union’s secretary, John Setka, into isolation. The CFMEU’s headquarters was declared a tier-one exposure site by the Victorian government on Wednesday after a number of positive cases among union staff. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

A large study reveals the scale of long Covid, with symptoms affected by sex, age and severity of infection Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage One in three people infected with coronavirus will experience at least one symptom of long Covid, a new study suggests. Much of the existing research into the condition – a mixture of symptoms reported by people often months after they were originally ill with Covid-19 – has been based either on self-reported symptoms or small studies. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Authorities address concerns over 10-minute wait times on triple zero calls while staff reportedly struggle with workload Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates Victorian restrictions Vaccine rollout tracker ; Covid cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing One of Victoria’s largest public hospitals has been forced to close its Covid screening clinic and divert resources to emergency and intensive care patients, as the state’s health system strains under pressure from a surge in cases. The Royal Melbourne hospital confirmed the closure of its Covid testing clinic on Tuesday. The RMH chief medical officer, Dr Cate Kelly, said the demand on emergency meant the hospital had been forced to close the public clinic. The hospital has four Covid wards, plus the intensive care unit, between them managing 77 Covid-positive patients. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Specific income support for people who lost work during lockdown will likely end in NSW in mid-October and in Victoria the following month Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Covid disaster payments for lockdown-affected workers will end after states and territories reach the 80% vaccination mark – even if some regions end up being locked down again as a result of an outbreak. The federal treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, will announce on Wednesday that after paying out more than $9bn in disaster payments to 2.16 million people since June, the government will begin to wind up the payments once vaccination rates reach 70% of the adult population. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

One source says it’s ‘naive’ to expect pre-pandemic travel with uncertainty over quarantine and vaccine passports to limit airlines’ commercial viability Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Foreign airlines say international tourism is unlikely to resume by Christmas because there’s too much uncertainty surrounding quarantine requirements and vaccine passports, with one source dismissing the Morrison government’s timetable as “naive”. Even when the international border reopens, flights in and out of Australia will operate at a “fraction of pre-pandemic levels” due to home quarantine requirements, the airlines have warned. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Health minister Brad Hazzard and a senior doctor agree the state healthcare system is not ‘out of the woods yet’ Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates NSW Covid roadmap explained Vaccine rollout tracker ; Covid cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing Covid hospitalisations in New South Wales are not growing as fast as previously predicted, however health officials expect pressure on the system to increase due to a surge of cases when restrictions are lifted next month and Covid patients take longer to recover. On Tuesday, as new case numbers in NSW remained below 1,000 for the third day in a row at 863, there were 1,155 Covid patients being treated in hospital, with 213 in intensive care, 113 of whom were on ventilators. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

TGA has received dozens of applications to import and sell different types of rapid antigen tests Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates NSW Covid roadmap explained Restrictions: Vic , NSW ; borders: Vic , NSW 5km and 10km from home map: check your travel radius Vaccine rollout tracker ; Covid cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing If the UK is any guide, rapid antigen test kits for Covid-19 could become as ubiquitous in our lives as QR codes – an essential key to accessing workplaces and venues – and businesses are lining up to cash in. The tests, which have a 15-minute turnaround, have up till now been used mainly in large workplaces, aged care and sensitive health settings, because they had to be administered by a health professional. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Restaurant and cafe owners fear confrontations if a QR code-style system is not in place Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates NSW Covid roadmap explained Vaccine rollout tracker ; Covid cases and data tracker Get our free news app ; get our morning email briefing New South Wales cafes and restaurants are “confused and bewildered” about who will enforce looming laws barring unvaccinated patrons, and fear the lack of a QR code-style system will create confrontations, the industry’s peak body warns. The state government is preparing to ease restrictions for fully vaccinated residents , likely from 11 October, and will soon make new public health orders to continue restrictions for those who are unvaccinated until December. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian