“Oral antivirals have the potential to not only curtail the duration of one’s COVID-19 syndrome, but also have the potential to limit transmission to people in your household if you are sick,” said Timothy Sheahan, a virologist at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill who has helped pioneer these therapies.

Australia COVID-19 update 26 September 2021.

Australia wide — 1765 new locally acquired cases, 4 new OS acquired cases, 11 deaths.

NEW SOUTH WALES
• 964 new from 106,451 tests, 961 locally acquired, 3 OS travellers in hotel quarantine, 9 deaths.
• About 12,622 active cases, 1146 in hospital, 222 in ICU, 117 ventilated.
• There have been 53,088 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021 and 297 deaths.
• Deaths: 6 men and 3 women, 8 unvaccinated. One was in their 40s, 2 in 60s, 2 in 70s, 4 in 80s. 3 from SW Sydney, 4 Western Sydney, 1 Inner-West Sydney , 1 Eastern suburbs.  
• New cases by Local Health Districts are 246 SW Sydney, 206 Western Sydney, 102 SE Sydney, 96 Sydney, 82 Nepean Blue Mountains, 75 Illawarra Shoalhaven, 45 Hunter New England, 36 Northern Sydney, 30 Central Coast, 21 Western NSW, 11 Southern NSW, 5 Far West NSW, 2 in correctional settings, 4 yet to be assigned an LHD.
• The highest numbers of cases are occurring in suburbs such as Auburn, Guildford, Punchbowl, Merrylands, Penrith, Bankstown, Bossley Park and Liverpool.
• Concerns about sewage detections in Muswellbrook, Grafton North and South, Wardell and Dareton.
• Details on the state's COVID roadmap are being finalised and will be released next week.
• NSW Police are seeing an 'increase in compliance' despite large gatherings in NSW.
• List of exposure sites.

VICTORIA
• 779 new from 46,322 tests, all locally acquired, 2 deaths.
• 8,011 active cases, 325 in hospital, 73 in ICU, 54 ventilated.
• Of those in ICU, 4 are in their 20s, all of them are on a ventilator with 8 in their 30s, 3 of whom are on a ventilator.
• Over half of new cases are in Melbourne's northern suburbs with 417 cases including Craigieburn, Meadow Heights, Roxburgh Park; a quarter are in the western suburbs (Altona North, Point Cook, St Albans); SE suburbs have 93 cases in Pakenham, Dandenong and Cranbourne East; 31 cases in 
In eastern suburbs particularly in Templestowe.
• Of the 20 cases in regional Victoria, 6 are in Geelong (all linked) 5 in Mitchell Shire, 2 in Ballarat, 2 in Shepparton, 1 in Bendigo and a few other cases here and there.
• Geelong and the Surf Coast are due to exit lockdown from 11:59pm tonight.
• Second Melbourne anti-lockdown protester tests positive.
• List of exposure sites.

ACT
• 25 new from 2,217 tests, all locally acquired.
• 240 active cases, 10 in hospital, 4 in ICU, 3 ventilated.
• 18 linked to a known case or exposure site, 7 unlinked as yet. At least 16 spent some time infectious in the community.
• Of the 32 new cases announced yesterday, 10 were linked to the Calvary Haydon Retirement Community, 9 residents and a staff member, bringing the total for that facility to 12. Of the residents, 92% are fully vaccinated and 97% have had a first dose.
• List of exposure sites.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• 1 new from 4,056 tests, a returned OS traveller quarantined in a medi-hotel.
• 5 active cases, 0 in hospital.

QUEENSLAND
• 0 new from 8,022 tests. 
• 17 active cases, 7 in hospital, 0 in ICU.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• 0 new from N/A tests.
• 6 active cases, 0 in hospital.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
• 0 new from 1,426 tests.
• 4 active cases, 0 in hospital.

TASMANIA
• 0 new from N/A tests.
• 0 active cases, 0 in hospital.

NEW ZEALAND
• 21 new from 13,442 tests, 18 locally acquired, 3 OS travellers in managed isolation (2 historical).
• 225 active cases, 12 in hospital, 4 in ICU.
• All new local cases are in Auckland. Two of them are yet to be linked.
• The 16 linked cases reported today are all in isolation at home or in MIQ.
• NZ vaccination campaign has reached a new milestone with 5 million doses administered. First doses made up 19,350 of yesterday's jabs, and second doses made up 32,122. And 82% of Aucklanders have now had their first dose.
• List of exposure sites.

Australia COVID-19 update 27 September 2021.

Australia wide — 1511 new locally acquired cases, 3 new OS acquired cases, 14 deaths.

NEW SOUTH WALES
• 788 new from 93,577 tests, 787 locally acquired, 1 OS traveller in hotel quarantine, 12 deaths.
• About 12,100 active cases, 1155 in hospital, 214 in ICU, 115 ventilated.
• There have been 53,865 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021 and 309 deaths.
• Deaths: Four people were in their 60s, two people were in their 70s, four people were in their 80s, and two people were in their 90s (5 in SW Sydney, 2 SE Sydney, 2 Western Sydney, 1 Inner West Sydney, 1 East Sydney,1 Wollongong). Six people were unvaccinated, 5 had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 1 had received two doses. 
• New cases by Local Health Districts are 239 SW Sydney, 158 Western Sydney, 74 Sydney, 73 SE Sydney, 63 Illawarra Shoalhaven, 46 Hunter New England, 43 Nepean Blue Mountains, 29 Central Coast, 24 Western NSW, 16 Northern Sydney, 9 Southern NSW, 4 Far West NSW, 4 in correctional settings, 1 Mid North Coast, 4 yet to be assigned an LHD. 
• The virus outbreak in western NSW has moved away from Dubbo to nearby Wellington 50 kilometres away. The town has has recorded dozens of cases in recent days with more than 20 cases over the weekend and a further 11 cases today.
• Concerns about recent sewage detections in North and South Grafton, Wardell and Dareton.
• NSW passes 85% first dose COVID vaccination rate.
• Worksites across NSW can now operate at full capacity, after being limited to 50%.
• List of exposure sites.

VICTORIA
• 705 new from 51,252 tests, all locally acquired, 1 death.
• 8,538 active cases, 363 in hospital, 75 in ICU, 56 ventilated.
• Of the new cases, 23% are in their 20s. Additionally, 30% of today's cases are in the Hume LGA (suburbs that remain most concerning are Craigieburn, Roxburgh Park, Meadow Heights and Epping). Today's cases include 165 Melbourne's western suburbs (across Point Cook, Tarneit, Truganina), 84 in Pakenham, Dandenong and Hampton Park, 32 in Melbourne's east, including Boronia and Camberwell, 12 Macedon Ranges, 2 Mitchell Shire, 2 Geelong, 1 Ballarat.
• The emergency department at Melbourne's Alfred Hospital has been identified as a tier 1 exposure site, along with retail outlets in Wodonga and Traralgon.
• List of exposure sites.

ACT
• 19 new from 4,906 negative tests, all locally acquired, 1 death.
• 255 active cases, 8 in hospital, 4 in ICU, 3 ventilated.
• 17 linked to a known case or exposure site, 2 unlinked as yet.
• Lockdown will end if the public health risk remains stable over next two weeks.
• List of exposure sites.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• 1 new from N/A tests, a returned OS traveller in hotel quarantine.
• 7 active cases, 0 in hospital.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
• 1 new from 1062 tests, a returned OS traveller at the Howard Springs facility.
• 5 active cases, 0 in hospital.

QUEENSLAND
• 0 new from 5,922 tests. 
• 12 active cases, 7 in hospital, 0 in ICU.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• 0 new from 3,537 tests.
• 3 active cases, 0 in hospital.

TASMANIA
• 0 new from 2,455 tests (over 72 hours).
• 0 active cases, 0 in hospital.

NEW ZEALAND
• 12 new from 6,906 tests, all locally acquired.
• 222 active cases, 13 in hospital, 4 in ICU.
• All new local cases are in Auckland with all in isolation and two cases yet to be linked.
• List of exposure sites.

Australia COVID-19 update 28 September 2021.

Australia wide — 1747 new locally acquired cases, 6 new OS acquired cases, 12 deaths.

VICTORIA
• 867 new from 49,450 tests, all locally acquired, 4 deaths.
• 9,261 active cases, 375 in hospital, 81 in ICU, 61 ventilated.
• Of today's cases, more than 50% are in Melbourne's northern suburbs including 270 in Hume, 125 in Whittlesea, 88 in Moreland and 43 in Darebin. In the west, cases have been centred around Wyndham, Brimbank and Moonee Valley, and cases are also growing in Melbourne's south-east. There are ten new cases in regional Victoria. 
• Latrobe Valley saw a sudden double-digit surge in cases with 12 recorded overnight spread across Traralgon, Moe, and Newborough.
• List of exposure sites.

NEW SOUTH WALES
• 866 new from 132,279 tests, 863 locally acquired, 3 OS travellers in hotel quarantine, 7 deaths.
• About 11,600 active cases, 1155 in hospital, 213 in ICU, 113 ventilated.
• There have been 54,714 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021 and 316 deaths.
• Deaths: 1 in their 40s, 1 in 50s, 2 in 70s, 2 in 80s, 1 in 90s with 3 fully vaccinated, 3 with one dose and 1 unvaccinated. Two people who died acquired their infections in hospitals.
• New cases by Local Health Districts are  241 SW Sydney, 161 Western Sydney, 98 SE Sydney, 80 Sydney, 63 Hunter New England, 62 Illawarra Shoalhaven, 53 Nepean Blue Mountains, 31 Northern Sydney, 29 Central Coast, 21 Western NSW, 14 Southern NSW, 5 Far West NSW, 3 in correctional settings, 2 yet to be assigned an LHD.
• Tweed and Byron Bay to exit lockdown. Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Muswellbrook 'put on notice'.
• List of exposure sites.

ACT
• 13 new from 2,260 negative tests, all locally acquired, 1 death.
• 243 active cases, 8 in hospital, 3 in ICU, 3 ventilated.
• The first death associated with the outbreak announced yesterday, was a man in his 90s who had been receiving end-of-life care at the Calvary Haydon aged care facility.
• 11 linked to a known case or exposure site, 2 unlinked as yet.
• At least 7 of the new cases spent some time infectious in the community.
• List of exposure sites.

QUEENSLAND
• 6 new from 9,348 tests, 4 locally acquired, 2 returned OS travellers in hotel quarantine. 
• 17 active cases, 7 in hospital, 0 in ICU.
• The 4 new locally acquired cases include a fully vaccinated man in his 30s who works at an aviation training facility and was active in the community for 3 days; the man's wife; a truck driver living in shared accommodation who was infectious in the community for 8 days; a person who tested positive after leaving hotel quarantine (authorities are less concerned about this case).
• The interstate driver came forward for testing after experiencing some flu-like symptoms, and had stayed at three different locations: two hotels in Spring Hill and a boarding house on Stevens Road in South Brisbane. Quarantine being organised for fellow guests.
• Masks must be worn in all indoor settings in Brisbane and Moreton Bay LGAs. Access to hospitals, aged care and disability facilities will also be restricted in those LGAs.
• Queensland to make vaccines mandatory for interstate truck drivers,  first dose by October 15 and second dose or a booking by November 15.
• Tweed Heads and Byron Bay back in the Queensland-NSW border bubble from 1:00am tomorrow. 
• List of exposure sites.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
• 1 new from 2,235 tests, a young returned OS traveller at the Howard Springs facility.
• 6 active cases, 0 in hospital.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• 0 new from 10,887 tests.
• 7 active cases, 0 in hospital.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• 0 new from 4,331 tests.
• 3 active cases, 0 in hospital.

TASMANIA
• 0 new from 829 tests.
• 0 active cases, 0 in hospital.

NEW ZEALAND
• 12 new from 9,955 tests, 8 locally acquired, 4 OS travellers in managed isolation (1 historical).
• 216 active cases, 14 in hospital, 3 in ICU.
• All new local cases are in Auckland, 7 are contacts of existing cases.
• The 1 unlinked case is a person who presented at Waitakere Hospital and five staff members have been stood down. Eight patients are being treated as contacts.
• List of exposure sites.

Covid survivors are 50% more likely to be struck down with lasting symptoms of the disease than people who beat flu, study says

Oxford University experts behind the study said it suggested there was nothing 'unique or special' about long Covid. Some 970,000 Britons say they are suffering lingering symptoms of the virus.

Australia COVID-19 update 29 September 2021.

Australia wide — 1836 new locally acquired cases, 3 new OS acquired cases, 23 deaths.

VICTORIA
• 950 new from 61,322 tests, all locally acquired, 7 deaths.
• 9,890 active cases,  in hospital, 81 in ICU, 55 ventilated.
• Another highest daily total of new cases for the entire pandemic.
• Deaths: 2 in their 80s, 1 man in his 80s, a woman in her 70s and a woman in 50s were all from the Hume LGA. A woman in her 80s and 90s were both from the Whittlesea communities.
• Today's case locations include: 31 Melbourne City, 240 Hume, 102 Whittlesea, 63 Moreland, 63 Brimbank, 55 Melton, 54 Wyndham, 22 Maribyrnong, 50 Casey, 29 Moonee Valley, 28 Darebin, 19 Port Phillip, 16 Greater Dandenong, 15 Manningham, 14 Cardinia, 10 Stonnington, 6 Boroondara with 30 new cases across regional Victoria: 9 in Mitchell Shire, 4 in Warrnambool (all from one household), 2 in Moorabool, 2 in Wellington and one who had been in multiple shires.
• An illegal family party on Saturday night in the Latrobe Valley is being blamed for plunging the region into a seven-day lockdown with all its 22 active cases directly and indirectly linked to the gathering.
• List of exposure sites.

NEW SOUTH WALES
• 866 new from 120,281 tests, 863 locally acquired, 3 OS travellers in hotel quarantine, 15 deaths.
• About 11,600 active cases, 1082 in hospital, 212 in ICU, 108 ventilated.
• There have been 55,570 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021 and 331 deaths.
• Deaths: 8 men and 7 women, 2 in 40s, 2 in 50s, 4 in 60s, 3 in 70s, 1 in 80s, 3 in 90s. 1 fully vaccinated, 5 one dose, 9 unvaccinated. Locations include 5 SW Sydney, 3 western Sydney, 1 Inner West Sydney’s inner west, 1 SW Sydney, 1 Eastern suburbs, 1 Newcastle, 1 Lake Macquarie, 1 Dubbo, 1 Bateman’s Bay. Two people died at home at Lake Macquarie (unvaccinated, underlying health conditions) and Bateman’s Bay (fully vaccinated, underlying health conditions, diagnosed after death). 
• New cases by Local Health Districts are 227 SW Sydney, 187 Western Sydney, 94 Illawarra Shoalhaven, 80 SE Sydney, 68 Sydney, 55 Hunter New England, 38 Northern Sydney, 34 Nepean Blue Mountains, 24 Western NSW, 23 Central Coast, 18 Southern NSW, 5 Far West NSW, 2 Northern NSW, 3 in correctional settings, 5 yet to be assigned an LHD.
• Concerns about sewage detections in Dareton, South Grafton, Jindabyne and Moruya.
• In Western NSW, Oberon put into lockdown after several people were infectious there, some for up to a week. But Wellington remains the epicentre, recording 16 of today's 24 cases. In Cowra, the vast majority of the 33 active cases are aged under 10 years old.
• Tweed and Byron Bay to exit lockdown but a new case detected in the Byron Bay area overnight.
• List of exposure sites.

ACT
• 22 new from 3,443 negative tests, all locally acquired, 1 death.
• 237 active cases, 10 in hospital, 3 in ICU, 3 ventilated.
• 12 linked to a known case or exposure site, 10 unlinked as yet.
• At least 7 of the new cases spent some time infectious in the community.
• Deaths: A fully vaccinated woman died at home and was diagnosed with COVID after her death.
• List of exposure sites.

QUEENSLAND
• 1 new from 11,208 tests, locally acquired.
• 18 active cases, 10 in hospital, 0 in ICU.
• The new locally acquired case is linked to the aviation worker case reported yesterday and lives in Biggera Waters on the Gold Coast.
• In addition, a truck driver who tested positive in NSW was infectious on the Gold Coast from September 25-27. He has been in Mermaid Waters, Mermaid Beach, Merrimac, Nerang, Surfers Paradise, Miami Beach, Palm Beach and Currumbin over those three days as well as Byron Bay and Ballina in northern NSW.
• The current restrictions for Brisbane and Moreton Bay LGAs extended to include the Gold Coast after two cases were out in the community. Masks mandatory indoors and no visits to aged care, hospitals, disability accommodation and detention centres.
• Tweed Heads and Byron Bay back in the QLD-NSW border bubble.
• List of exposure sites. Many new added.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
• 0 new from N/A tests.
• 6 active cases, 0 in hospital.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• 0 new from 4,990 tests.
• 4 active cases, 0 in hospital.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• 0 new from 5,741 tests.
• 2 active cases, 0 in hospital.

TASMANIA
• 0 new from 480 tests.
• 0 active cases, 0 in hospital.

NEW ZEALAND
• 45 new from 15,437 tests, all locally acquired.
• 256 active cases, 16 in hospital, 3 in ICU.
• All new local cases are in Auckland.
• 33 of the new cases are known household or close contacts of existing cases. Many have been isolating at home or in MIQ while infectious. Of the 26 household contacts, 12 come from two households. 12 unlinked cases.
• List of exposure sites.

Australia COVID-19 update 30 September 2021.

Australia wide — 2417 new locally acquired cases, 3 new OS acquired cases, 12 deaths.

NEW SOUTH WALES
• 943 new from 120,993 tests, 941 locally acquired, 2 OS travellers in hotel quarantine, 6 deaths.
• About 11,700 active cases, 1090 in hospital, 213 in ICU, 105 ventilated.
• There have been 56,500 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021 and 337 deaths.
• Deaths: 4 men and 2 women; 3 in their 70s, 2 in their 80s, 1 in their 90s; 4 unvaccinated, 2 first dose; 2 in SW Sydney, 1 each from Sydney’s inner west, Western Sydney, SE Sydney and NW Sydney.  
• New cases by Local Health Districts are 231 SW Sydney, 177 Western Sydney, 93 SE Sydney, 82 Hunter New England, 82 Illawarra Shoalhaven, 63 Sydney, 45 Nepean Blue Mountains, 43 Western NSW, 42 Northern Sydney, 36 Central Coast, 26 Southern NSW, 3 Far West NSW, 3 Northern NSW, 2 Mid North Coast, 1 Murrumbidgee, 12 yet to be assigned an LHD. 
• Concerns about sewage detections in Tweed Banora Point, Gunnedah, South Grafton, Gulgong, Dareton, Moruya and Thredbo.
• Snowy Monaro to lock down today, other stay-at-home orders extended until 11 October for Bathurst Regional, Bourke, Central Coast, City of Cessnock, Dubbo Regional, Eurobodalla, Goulburn Mulwaree, Kiama, City of Lake Macquarie, City of Lithgow, City of Maitland, City of Newcastle, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional, City of Shellharbour, City of Shoalhaven, and Wingecarribee.
• NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro says the number of COVID cases in intensive care could rise to 1,000 when the state opens up next month as restrictions ease on October 11, with regional travel likely to follow two weeks later. Mr Barilaro says the government has planned for a significant rise in ICU patients. 
• NSW residents aged 60 and older will now have access to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
• List of exposure sites.

VICTORIA
• 1,438 new from 65,497 tests, all locally acquired, 5 deaths.
• 11,018 active cases, 398 in hospital, 83 in ICU, 55 ventilated.
• Deaths: A woman in her 70s and a man in his 80s from Whittlesea, 2 men in 60s and 90s from Hume, a man in 70s from Moreland.
• Highest daily totals of both new cases and active cases to date. 
• The rising case numbers are in line with projections for the months ahead, with new infections and hospitalisations still about a month away from their expected peak.
• Today is a significant setback with many new cases in previously unlinked households. More than 500 cases linked to grand final weekend gatherings, COVID commander say as illegal gatherings and house parties over the AFL grand final day long weekend are behind the dramatic jump in new cases.
• 46 new cases in regional Victoria. Traralgon maternity ward in lockdown after a positive case attended yesterday.
• List of exposure sites.

ACT
• 31 new from 2,177 negative tests, all locally acquired, 1 death.
• 246 active cases, 10 in hospital, 3 in ICU, 3 ventilated.
• 17 linked to a known case or exposure site, 14 unlinked as yet.
• At least 17 of the new cases spent some time infectious in the community.
• Pfizer and Moderna vaccines now available for everyone aged 60 and over in the ACT.
• The Calvary Haydon Retirement Community cluster has grown to 17 cases with two more residents and one staff member counted in today's figures. The facility remains one of three active public sites of transmission, along with the London Circuit construction site (17 cases) and Ainslie Village (13 cases).
• List of exposure sites.

QUEENSLAND
• 6 new from 14,216 tests, all locally acquired.
• 22 active cases, 9 in hospital, 0 in ICU.
• Of the 6 new local cases, 4 are linked to existing cases in the aviation training cluster, 1 is a pilot who flew to Townsville, 1 is a person who travelled from interstate and caught the virus in Kyogle, NSW.
• The 22 active cases in the state right now have been out and about in the community. Premier says it's vital people get tested, vaccinated, and wear masks.
• Stage 2 restrictions from 4:00pm for Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Moreton Bay, Logan, Townsville and Palm Island. Details.
• List of exposure sites. Many new listed.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
• 1 new from 2,695 tests, a returned OS traveller at the Howard Springs facility.
• 7 active cases, 0 in hospital.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• 1 new from 4,415 tests, a South Australian truck driver.
• 2 active cases, 0 in hospital.
• The male truck driver travelled back and forth to Victoria for work and is currently there. The man's household contacts including his wife, his child and his wife's parents, have tested negative so far but they will all go into quarantine. The man has received his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and was due to have his second dose this week, while his wife and her parents have been fully vaccinated.
• List of exposure sites.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• 0 new from 4,729 tests.
• 3 active cases, 0 in hospital.

TASMANIA
• 0 new from 1,207 tests.
• 0 active cases, 0 in hospital.

NEW ZEALAND
• 22 new from 16,537 tests, 19 locally acquired, 3 OS travellers in managed isolation.
• 272 active cases, 18 in hospital, 4 in ICU.
• Of the 19 new local cases, 18 are in Auckland and 1 in Waikato; 16 are known household or other contacts, one is a household contact who was not previously identified and one is a possible contact. Just four of yesterday's case remain unlinked.
• List of exposure sites.

Australia COVID-19 update 1 October 2021.

Australia wide — 2061 new locally acquired cases, 5 new OS acquired cases, 20 deaths.

VICTORIA
• 1,143 new from 62,883 tests, all locally acquired, 3 deaths.
• 10,944 active cases, 395 in hospital, 87 in ICU, 59 ventilated.
• Deaths: A man in his 80s from Hume, woman in her 70s from Alphington, a man in his 70s from Moreland.
• Metropolitan Melbourne suburbs are continuing to experience growing virus clusters, with the northern suburbs still accounting for the most number of cases.
• 62 new cases were reported in regional Victoria, including 12 in the Mitchell Shire, 12 in Shepparton and six in the Moorabool Shire west of Melbourne.
• Moorabool LGA will enter a seven-day lockdown from 11:59pm tonight.
• Construction sites can reopen on Tuesday with up to 25% capacity, but workers must have had their first vaccine dose. Residential builds can open with five vaccinated workers.
• Victoria expands list of workers for mandatory vaccine. All people on the authorised workers list to have had one shot by October 15 to continue working onsite. Authorised worker list.
• List of exposure sites.

NEW SOUTH WALES
• 866 new from 112,334 tests, 864 locally acquired, 2 OS travellers in hotel quarantine, 15 deaths.
• About 10,500 active cases, 1055 in hospital, 210 in ICU, 104 ventilated.
• There have been 57,357 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021 and 352 deaths.
• Deaths: 8 women and 7 men (9 unvaccinated, 1 first dose, 5 fully vaccinated); 3 in 50s, 2 in 60s, 2 in 70s, 6 in 80s, 2 in 90s; locations include 5 in Western Sydney, 4 in SW Sydney, 3 Nepean Blue Mountains, 2 Inner West Sydney, 1 SE Sydney; 2 acquired their infection at an aged care facility, 2 became infected in hospital and 1 woman died at home (diagnosed after death).   
• New cases by Local Health Districts are 188 SW Sydney, 167 Western Sydney, 96 Illawarra Shoalhaven, 83 SE Sydney, 69 Hunter New England, 48 Western NSW, 45 Sydney, 44 Nepean Blue Mountains, 36 Central Coast, 35 Northern Sydney, 20 Southern NSW, 7 Far West NSW, 7 Murrumbidgee, 5 Northern NSW, 3 Mid North Coast , 4 in correctional settings, 7 yet to be assigned an LHD. 
• Concerns about sewage detections in Hastings Point, Ballina, Quirindi, Armidale and Tamworth.
• Gladys Berejiklian has resigned as NSW Premier.
• List of exposure sites.

ACT
• 52 new from 2,999 negative tests, all locally acquired, 2 deaths.
• 274 active cases, 11 in hospital, 3 in ICU, 3 ventilated.
• A new daily record for the ACT since the pandemic began.
• Two people aged in their 80s have died, both were receiving palliative care at the Calvary Haydon aged care facility.
• 12 of the new cases are currently unable to be linked to other known cases.
• At least 31 of the new cases spent some time infectious in the community.
• List of exposure sites.

QUEENSLAND
• 3 new from 19,764 tests, 2 locally acquired, 1 returned OS traveller in hotel quarantine.
• 22 active cases, 14 in hospital, 0 in ICU.
• One of the new local cases is linked to the aviation cluster. The southern Gold Coast is on high alert after this man spent several days in the community while infectious. He has been holidaying in the Kirra/Coolangatta area with his wife and two children over the last week staying at the Kirra Beach Resort for four days from September 25th. He visited several venues in the area including the North Kirra Surf Lifesaving Club, the Kirra Surf Lifesaving Club, Timezone, local cafes and Woolworths at The Strand.
• The other is a NSW man who "travels up and down from NSW picking up animals and relocating them". He was infectious on the Gold Coast for a "short time" on September 29 when he was picking up an animal.
• According to the Premier, Queensland has avoided going into lockdown because "We do not have any seeding or unlinked transmission". But she's warned that if authorities do see any unlinked community transmission, "I'm quite sure that Dr Young will not hesitate to recommend a lockdown". 
• List of exposure sites.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
• 1 new from N/A tests, a young returned OS traveller at the Howard Springs facility.
• 8 active cases, 0 in hospital.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• 1 new from 4,415 tests, an unvaccinated Victorian truck driver.
• 2 active cases, 0 in hospital.
• The new case only visited two fuel stop sites in the early hours of the morning and has returned to Victoria.
• List of exposure sites.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• 0 new from 784+ tests.
• 3 active cases, 0 in hospital.

TASMANIA
• 0 new from 968 tests.
• 0 active cases, 0 in hospital.

AUSTRALIA VACCINES
• Pfizer and Moderna will be available to all Australians aged over 12 from today.

NEW ZEALAND
• 19 new from 19,038 tests, all locally acquired with 18 of 19 cases linked.
• 275 active cases, 23 in hospital, 4 in ICU.
• All 19 new local cases are in Auckland with 9 in isolation throughout their infectious period.
• List of exposure sites.

Australia COVID-19 update 2 October 2021.

Australia wide — 2355 new locally acquired cases, 5 new OS acquired cases, 12 deaths.

VICTORIA
• 1,488 new from 71,224 tests, all locally acquired, 2 deaths.
• 11,591 active cases, 429 in hospital, 97 in ICU, 54 ventilated.
• Victoria's highest jump in daily cases since the beginning of this outbreak.
• Deaths: 2 men in their 60s from the Hume area and the Mornington Peninsula.
• Of today's 1,488 new cases: 421 are in Melbourne's west (including Tarneit and Sunshine West); 290 in the south-east (including Noble Park and Pakenham); 88 in eastern suburbs such as Bayswater; 3 cases were detected interstate; 14 cases still under investigation; 71 cases were detected across regional Victoria. In the locked-down parts of regional Victoria: 95 active cases in Mitchell Shire, 39 in Latrobe Valley, 34 in Shepparton, 32 in Moorabool.
• Greater Shepparton in a 7-day lockdown after cases increased in recent days.
• Moorabool Shire was also put into lockdown overnight.
• Several medical facilities across Victoria listed as tier 1 exposure sites as outbreaks grow regionally.
• List of exposure sites.

NEW SOUTH WALES
• 814 new from 98,266 tests, 813 locally acquired, 1 OS traveller in hotel quarantine, 10 deaths.
• About 10,000 active cases, 1005 in hospital, 202 in ICU, 99 ventilated.
• There have been 58,158 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021 and 362 deaths.
• Deaths: 6 men and 4 women (4 unvaccinated, 5 one dose, 1 fully vaccinated); 1 person in their 50s, 3 in 60s, 4 in 70s, 3 in 80s, 1 in 90s; 5 from SW Sydney, 2 Western Sydney, 1 Inner West Sydney, 1 Wollongong area, 1 Lake Macquarie area. The fully vaccinated person was a man in his 60s from western Sydney who was infected at Mount Druitt Hospital with underlying health conditions.
• Two people died at home: an unvaccinated man in his 60s from Sydney’s inner city tested positive after death and a man in his 80s with underlying health conditions from Lake Macquarie area had received one jab.
• New cases by Local Health Districts are 196 SW Sydney, 155 Western Sydney, 73 Sydney, 72 Illawarra Shoalhaven, 71 SE Sydney, 65 Hunter New England, 42 Nepean Blue Mountains, 30 Central Coast, 29 Northern Sydney, 27 Southern NSW, 19 Western NSW, 8 Northern NSW, 6 Far West NSW, 3 Murrumbidgee, 3 Mid North Coast, 6 in correctional settings, 8 yet to be assigned an LHD.
• The following Sydney suburbs have had the highest number of cases: Campbelltown, Guildford, Greenacre, Toongabbie, Penrith, Bankstown, Liverpool, Mount Pritchard, Belfield and Merrylands.
• Concerns about sewage detections in Dareton, Dungog, Karuah, South Grafton and Bermagui.
• List of exposure sites.

ACT
• 52 new from 3,421 tests, all locally acquired.
• 319 active cases, 13 in hospital, 3 in ICU, 3 ventilated.
• ACT's highest daily number of daily cases since the pandemic began.  
• Of the 52 new cases, 30 are linked including 14 household contacts with 22 under investigation.
• At least 29 of the new cases spent time infectious in the community.
• List of exposure sites.

QUEENSLAND
• 4 new from 21,194 tests, 2 locally acquired, 2 returned OS travellers in hotel quarantine.
• 25 active cases, 14 in hospital, 0 in ICU.
• The new cases are both linked to the aviation cluster and are currently in home quarantine. They are the children of a man announced yesterday who had been holidaying at Kirra on the Gold Coast.
• Further testing revealed 1 local case recorded yesterday was actually a false positive, a truck driver described as an "animal handler" is no longer of concern.
• The NRL grand final is still going ahead in Brisbane with a 75% capacity crowd and pop-up vaccination clinics around the stadium.
• List of exposure sites.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• 2 new from 5,854 tests, both returned OS travellers quarantined in medi-hotels (1 historical). 
• 3 active cases, 0 in hospital.
• List of exposure sites.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
• 0 new from 1,688 tests,.
• 8 active cases, 0 in hospital.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• 0 new from N/A tests.
• 2 active cases, 0 in hospital.
• The oil and chemical tanker the Stolt Sakura berthed this morning at Fremantle Port to allow for WA Health public health officials to test all crew members today after the captain notified WA Health on Tuesday that 12 out of 22 crew members had returned non-negative rapid antigen tests, reporting either mild or no symptoms at that stage. At this stage it is expected that crew members will remain in isolation or quarantine on board the vessel, pending the test results which are expected by tomorrow.

TASMANIA
• 0 new from N/A tests.
• 0 active cases, 0 in hospital.

NEW ZEALAND
• 28 new from 22,041 tests, 27 locally acquired, 1 OS traveller in managed isolation. 
• 239 active cases, 22 in hospital, 3 in ICU.
• Of the 27 new local cases all are in Auckland. 14 are household contacts, 8 are known contacts with 5 under investigation.
• List of exposure sites.

Australia COVID-19 update 3 October 2021.

Australia wide — 1927 new locally acquired cases, 5 new OS acquired cases, 13 deaths.

VICTORIA
• 1,220 new from 71,275 tests, all locally acquired, 3 deaths.
• 11,785 active cases, 476 in hospital (only 5% fully vaccinated), 98 in ICU, 57 ventilated.
• Deaths: a man in his 50s, a woman in her 70s and a man in his 80s.
• 70% of new hospital cases in the last 24 hours are under age 40 with 54% who came into hospital under the age of 30. Of 12 teenagers and 22 in their 20s, only 1 was fully vaccinated. 
• New Melbourne case locations include 497 northern suburbs, 361 cases in the west, 236 cases in the south-east (growing), 73 cases in the east. There are 52 cases in regional Victoria Mitchell Shire 9, Shepparton 8, Latrobe 7, Ararat 4, Ballarat 4, Geelong 5 and few isolated cases elsewhere. 
• List of exposure sites.

NEW SOUTH WALES
• 668 new from 88,210 tests, 667 locally acquired, 1 OS traveller in hotel quarantine, 10 deaths.
• About 9,500 active cases, 981 in hospital, 195 in ICU, 93 ventilated.
• There have been 58,811 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021 and 372 deaths.
• Deaths: 6 women and 4 men (4 unvaccinated, 4 one dose, 2 fully vaccinated in aged care); 2 in their 50s, 4 in 60s, 2 in 70s, 2 in 80s; locations include 3 SW Sydney, 3 Western Sydney, 1 SE Sydney, 1 Eastern Suburbs, 1 Wollongong, 1 Nepean Blue Mountains. Two people died at home, an unvaccinated man in his 60s from Wollongong area with underlying health conditions and a woman in her 50s from the Eastern Suburbs had one dose and tested positive after death.
• New cases by Local Health Districts are 154 SW Sydney, 109 Western Sydney, 82 Hunter New England, 64 SE Sydney, 49 Illawarra Shoalhaven, 43 Central Coast, 36 Sydney, 34 Western NSW, 27 Southern NSW, 24 Northern Sydney, 15 Nepean Blue Mountains, 6 Northern NSW, 4 Far West NSW, 2 Mid North Coast, 9 in correctional settings, 9 yet to be assigned an LHD. The 6 Northern NSW cases include 3 in Tweed, 2 in Lismore and one in Kyogle.
• NSW health authorities are urging people to follow the rules during today's NRL grand final celebrations, with large social gatherings, including in households, not permitted.
• List of exposure sites.

ACT
• 38 new with 1,973 negative tests, all locally acquired.
• 342 active cases, 14 in hospital, 5 in ICU, 3 ventilated. 
• Of the 38 new cases, 14 are yet to be linked to a known source.
• At least 16 of the new cases spent time infectious in the community.
• List of exposure sites.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• 3 new from N/A tests, 2 mariners, 1 OS diplomat detected in home quarantine, now in hotel quarantine.
• 5 active cases, 3 in hospital.
• Further case numbers to be reported tomorrow.
• WA detects 12 positive cases aboard a tanker docked in Fremantle Harbour. Three crew members have been taken to Fiona Stanley hospital, 2 are in ICU. The others are quarantining on the ship.

QUEENSLAND
• 1 new from 18,427 tests, a returned OS traveller in hotel quarantine.
• 23 active cases, 15 in hospital, 0 in ICU.
• NRL grand final going ahead at Brisbane's Lang Park with a 75% capacity crowd and pop-up vaccination clinics around the stadium.
• List of exposure sites.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• 1 new from 4,160 tests, locally acquired.  
• 4 active cases, 0 in hospital.
• SA has recorded a positive case for the fourth day in a row. The new case is a woman in her 40s from Mount Gambier who had been in Victoria previously. The mother of four had been visiting family in Casterton within SA's current 70-kilometre border bubble. As a result, the SA border bubble with Victoria will shrink from 70 kilometres to 30 kilometres for seven days from tonight.
• List of exposure sites.

TASMANIA
• 1 new from N/A tests, an interstate traveller in home quarantine.
• 1 active case, 0 in hospital.
• The new case is Tasmania's first in 58 days. He is male teenager who flew on flight VA 1364 from Melbourne to Launceston on Friday, 1 October. He then travelled from Launceston Airport into quarantine at a family home, and underwent a routine test the same day. He is currently isolated, and his family close contacts are in quarantine.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
• 0 new from 1,144 tests.
• 8 active cases, 0 in hospital.

NEW ZEALAND
• 33 new from 16,915 tests, all locally acquired. 
• 263 active cases, 26 in hospital, 3 in ICU.
• 32 new local cases are in Auckland 1 in Waikato district.
• Parts of the Waikato region go into snap lockdown.
• Air New Zealand to require full COVID-19 vaccination for international travellers.
• List of exposure sites.

WORLD
• The United States has recorded over 700,00 COVID deaths, with President Joe Biden calling the figure a "painful milestone”. He notes more than three-quarters of all Americans age 12 and up have received at least one vaccine dose, including nearly 94% of all seniors.

Australians vaccinated against COVID-19 are being given the chance to win $1 million thanks to a new campaign dedicated to accelerating the country's vaccination rates.The Million Dollar Vax campaign will give away a total of $4.1 million worth of prizes to people vaccinated against the virus in the next four and a half weeks.It will award $1000 gift cards to entrants daily on top of the ultimate $1 million prize, which will be given away on 5 November.

Just reading  [or trying to] this news.

It reminded me of yesterday when I was in hospital and I was thinking of how many people around me didn't have a JAP?

How many is the question we should be asking not how many are sick.

It makes me start to be ashamed of Australia with so few people having the vaccine by now and it is October.

How many have to be permanently ill for the rest of their lives because they are too scared to have the JAP?

I was back in hospital with high blood pressure yesterday so once again I am having issues with reading so I shall give it a bit of a rest today.

 

NSW recorded 623 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and six deaths in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday.

Across the state, 88.4 per cent of people aged 16 and over have received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, and 67.1 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Of the reported deaths, one person was in their 40s, three were in their 60s, one was in their 70s and one person was in their 90s.

Four people were not vaccinated, one person had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and one person had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

The person who had received two doses of a COVID-19 was a woman in her 90s who died at Hawkesbury Living Nursing Home. 

It is the fourth death linked to this outbreak.

A man in his 60s from south-western Sydney, who died at Campbelltown Hospital, acquired his infection at the hospital and was the third death linked to this outbreak.

There have been 378 COVID-19 related-deaths since the Delta outbreak began in June, with 434 in total since the start of the pandemic.

Lismore local government authority (LGA) has been locked down until October 11 due to an increased COVID-19 public health risk.

The stay-at-home order also applies to anyone who has been in the Lismore LGA since September 28.

NSW Health said it was also closely monitoring Cowra, Muswellbrook and Port Macquarie and would provide further advice later today.

There are currently 959 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 193 people in intensive care, 97 of whom require ventilation.

Australia COVID-19 update 4 October 2021.

Australia wide — 2030 new locally acquired cases, 12 new OS acquired cases, 12 deaths.

VICTORIA
• 1,377 new from 67,789 tests, all locally acquired, 4 deaths.
• 12,711 active cases, 498 in hospital, 96 in ICU, 57 ventilated.
• 45 per cent of new cases are under 30.
• Deaths: Two women from Hume, one in her 70s and one in her 60s, a man in his 60s from Manningham and a man in his 80s from Moreland died yesterday.
• New case locations in Melbourne include 582 in the Northern suburbs (42%) primarily in Hume with 304, Whittlesea, Moreland and Darrebin; 352 (26%) in Western suburbs  (Brimbank, Melton, Wyndham, Moonee Valley and Maribyrnong); 293 SE suburb  primarily in Casey, Greater Dandenong, Monash and Port Philip; 72 Eastern suburbs.
• In regional Victoria there are 73 new cases - including 13 in Latrobe, 12 in Michell Shire, 11 in Shepparton and 8 in Geelong. CHO Brett Sutton says vaccination is making a difference in the Hume and Wyndham areas, where case numbers have stabilised.
• New sites listed overnight including several tier 1 venues in regional centres: Village Cinemas in Morwell for September 26 7:00pm and 10:30pm; Pets Domain at Morwell Mid Valley Shopping Centre on September 28 12:00pm and 2:00pm and MFS 24/7 Gym in Shepparton on September 27, 28, and 29.
• List of exposure sites.

NEW SOUTH WALES
• 623 new from 76,892 tests, all locally acquired, 6 deaths.
• About 9,700 active cases, 959 in hospital, 193 in ICU, 97 ventilated.
• There have been 59,419 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021 and 378 deaths.
• Deaths: 3 women and 3 men (4 unvaccinated, 1 first dose, 1 fully vaccinated); 1 in their 40s, 3 in 60s, 1 in 70s, 1 in 90s; 3 were from SW Sydney, 2 from Western Sydney, 1 from Nepean Blue Mountains; the fully vaccinated person was a woman in her 90s who died at Hawkesbury Living Nursing Home (the fourth death linked to this outbreak). A man in his 60s who died at Campbelltown Hospital, acquired his infection there (the third death linked to this outbreak).
• New cases by Local Health Districts are 144 SW Sydney, 103 Western Sydney, 77 Illawarra Shoalhaven, 59 Hunter New England , 52 SE Sydney, 51 Sydney, 32 Central Coast, 25 Nepean Blue Mountains, 23 Western NSW, 21 Southern NSW, 18 Northern Sydney, 4 Northern NSW, 3 Mid North Coast, 1 Murrumbidgee, 1 Far West NSW, 3 in correctional settings, 6 yet to be assigned an LHD. 
• Lismore LGA back in lockdown. Lockdown in Gunnedah, from midnight tonight for one week after 5 new cases confirmed overnight. Lockdowns in Cowra and Port Macquarie LGAs will be lifted from tomorrow.
• List of exposure sites.

ACT
• 28 new with 1,902 negative tests, all locally acquired, 2 deaths.
• 362 active cases, 16 in hospital, 5 in ICU, 1 ventilated.
• Of the 28 new cases, 14 are yet to be linked to a known source.
• At least 16 of the new cases spent time infectious in the community.
• Deaths: One was a fully vaccinated resident of an aged care facility receiving end of life care. The other was a woman in Canberra Hospital since Friday night receiving palliative care for COVID and other health issues.
• List of exposure sites.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
• 10 new from 11,726 tests since Friday, all crew members of the Stolt Sakura tanker in Fremantle.
• 15 active cases, 6 in hospital, 2 in ICU.
• The family member of a returned diplomat who tested positive to the virus yesterday has also returned a positive result, and will be counted in tomorrow’s numbers. They are both in hotel quarantine and present an “extremely low” public health risk.

QUEENSLAND
• 3 new from 9,411 tests, 1 locally acquired, 2 returned OS travellers in hotel quarantine.
• 26 active cases, 15 in hospital, 0 in ICU.
• The new local case is unlinked and has been infectious in the community for 10 days. The fully vaccinated woman in her 50s lives in Fitzgibbon on Brisbane's northside and works in the massage business. She is not linked to any known clusters or exposure sites with authorities investigating where she contracted the virus. Anyone with symptoms in the Fitzgibbon area, and from Redcliffe down through Chermside to Cannon Hill urged to get tested. Her exposure sites listed below.
• Tougher border restrictions for the NSW LGA of Lismore after it was put into lockdown.
• List of exposure sites. Urgent alert for multiple massage parlours.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
• 1 new from 3,941 tests, an interstate truck driver who has since returned to Victoria.  
• 4 active cases, 0 in hospital.
• Tighter restrictions imposed on Mt Gambier, Wattle Range Council and the Grant LGA for 7 days following the positive case of a Mount Gambier woman announced yesterday.
• List of exposure sites.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
• 0 new from 1,234 tests.
• 6 active cases, 0 in hospital.

TASMANIA
• 0 new from 2,586 tests (over 72 hours).
• 1 active case, 0 in hospital.
• New exposure site linked to 15-year-old positive case announced yesterday. The teenager left home quarantine and travelled with a cousin to a Newnham IGA on Saturday October 2, from 2:20pm to 2:45pm. He did not wear a mask inside the store.
• There was further exposure in the teen’s family on Friday night, when people visited the home. These contacts are now in quarantine and authorities are currently waiting on their test results.

AUSTRALIA VACCINES
• Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says Australia is expected to hit 80% first dose milestone this week.

NEW ZEALAND
• 31 new from 13,693 tests, 29 locally acquired, 2 OS travellers in managed isolation. 
• 287 active cases, 30 in hospital, 5 in ICU.
• 28 new local cases are in Auckland, 1 in the Waikato district. Eight of today's 29 cases are so far unlinked to existing cases and investigations are ongoing.
• List of exposure sites.