Get up to speed on all the coronavirus news from across Australia.
Look back on all of Thursday's news and updates in our live blog.
Key events
- Tasmania conducts world-first trial on booster shots in vulnerable people
- WA records 617 new cases, 610 local cases
- ACT records zero deaths, 41 hospitalisations
- Queensland records eight deaths
- Tasmania records no deaths, 12 hospitalisations
- Victoria records 16 deaths, 322 hospitalisations
- NSW records 12 deaths, 1,211 hospitalisations
Live updates
By Caitlyn Davey
Cases, hospitalisations and deaths
For a detailed breakdown of cases across the country, check out Charting the Spread.
This post will be updated throughout the day as numbers are announced, so if your state or territory is not mentioned, check back later.
NSW: 12 deaths, 1,211 hospitalisations, 59 of which are in the ICU. There are 8,271 new cases.
VIC: 16 deaths, 322 hospitalisations, 43 of which are in the ICU. There are 6,715 new cases.
TAS: No deaths, 12 hospitalisations, two of which are in the ICU. There are 853 new cases.
QLD: Eight deaths, 334 hospitalisations, 30 of which are in the ICU. There are 6,094 new cases.
ACT: No deaths, 41 hospitalisations, three of which are in the ICU. There are 661 new cases.
WA: No deaths, 610 new local cases.
By Caitlyn Davey
That's all folks
We're going to wrap today's blog there, but will be back tomorrow with more COVID news.
Have a good afternoon.
By Caitlyn Davey
COVID vaccine supply for global program outstrips demand for first time
The global project to share COVID-19 vaccines is struggling to place more than 300 million doses in the latest sign the problem with vaccinating the world is now more about demand than supply.
Last year, wealthy nations snapped up most of the available shots to inoculate their own citizens first, meaning less than a third of people in low-income countries have been vaccinated so far compared with more than 70 per cent in richer nations.
As supply and donations have ramped up, however, poorer nations are facing hurdles such as gaps in cold-chain shortage, vaccine hesitancy and a lack of money to support distribution networks, public health officials told Reuters.
By Caitlyn Davey
One year since the vaccination program started in Victoria
Does it feel like an eternity, or did it fly by? Bit of both really! But jabs got into arms, and now 93.9 per cent of Victorians have recieved two doses (the 12+ population).
By Caitlyn Davey
WA edges towards 1,000 cases per day
The WA Premier says the state is not far away from reaching 1,000 COVID-19 cases a day.
The state has today reported 610 locally-acquired cases and seven travel-related infections.
The figures come as the State Government announces a $67 million dollar financial support package for businesses affected by public health measures, like capacity rules.
Mark McGowan says the existing measures are modest but acknowledge a number of businesses have been affected.
"Many people are deciding not to go out, they're making that decision of their own volition. This is designed to help small businesses over this difficult period, which we expect will extend potentially to the end of April."
By Caitlyn Davey
Tasmania conducts world-first trial on booster shots in vulnerable people
A world-first trial into how the immune system of vulnerable people responds to COVID booster shots will be conducted in Tasmania.
The research will focus on pregnant women and the elderly and explore how diet and lifestyle impacts the body's response to vaccination.
The Clifford Craig Foundation has announced 360 thousand dollars towards the project, which will be lead by the Launceston General Hospital's head of infectious diseases, Katie Flanagan.
By Caitlyn Davey
Grumbling grows as Hong Kong sticks with zero-COVID policy
Schools have already switched to online learning and summer holidays are being moved forward so that the buildings can be used as facilities for testing, isolation and vaccination. Hong Kong says it will go ahead with the plan to test every one of its 7.5 million residents three times in March.
Under the “zero-COVID-19" strategy, every person testing positive must be quarantined in a hospital or other government facility for 14 days regardless of symptoms. It's in contrast with most countries, which are reducing restrictions and allowing people with mild or no symptoms to remain at home.
“The whole world knows we have to live with the virus, only the Hong Kong government does not know,” said taxi driver Chan Tai-man. “Actually it's not that they don't know, they only do what the Chinese government tells them to.”
With hospitals in Hong Kong already overwhelmed, construction crews from mainland China are being sent to build new isolation units and the city was moving to convert hotels, halls, indoor stadiums and other quarantine locations, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said.
Chinese medical teams were also building mobile testing laboratories to help prepare Hong Kong for the launch of the mass testing.
By Caitlyn Davey
The Australian border has reopened, but when can we go back to normal?
For couples who have been separated by border closures, the reopening is more than just news.
Danielle Vogl and her US partner Eric Lochner have been apart since October 2019.
She burst into tears, knowing they could finally reunite, when Australia's hard border came down for the first time in two years.
"I actually woke him up to tell him, because I thought it was big enough news to do that," the Canberra woman told the ABC.
"He couldn't believe it … he was like, 'are you sure, is this true', and I'm like, 'yes, it's happening'.
"This is over now: we can be together again."
Ms Vogl said her partner's flight to Australia in April 2020 was cancelled due to COVID and later he was unable to get a travel exemption as the couple were not married or living together at the time.
Talking to each other virtually was the only way to keep the relationship going.
"It's been a very long and very cruel process for us," Ms Vogl said.
"It's all a credit to our relationship that we've survived it, but there were a lot of really sad times."
Ms Vogl will wait until April for her reunion but for many tourism operators, the return of international travellers can not come soon enough.
By Caitlyn Davey
ACT's ANU O Week cluster grows
The ACT has reported 661 new covid cases today, as the cluster from the ANU's O Week activities continues to boost numbers.
There are 41 people in hospital with covid, including three in intensive care, but none requiring ventilation.
Just under 78 per cent of 5 to 11 year olds have now had their first dose of a vaccine, while just over 66 per cent of over 16-year-olds, have had their third dose.
By Caitlyn Davey
New Zealand records one death, two in ICU
Across the ditch, our kiwi friends have reported one death and 205 hospitalisations - two of which are in the ICU. There are 6,137 new cases.
By Caitlyn Davey
Concern for outbreak in Bidyadanga, WA
WA's Health Minister says she expects COVID-19 case numbers in the state's largest Aboriginal community to grow as testing continues this morning.
There have been 17 cases confirmed in Bidyadanga, 180km south of Broome.
Amber Jade Sanderson says so far, there have been no reports of severe illness.
But she says a basketball tournament, which took place in the community earlier this week, has raised concerns.
By Caitlyn Davey
WA announces $67 million small business support package
He has announced the Level 1 COVID-19 business package, which is $67 million in eight programmes to support small businesses affected by capacity constraints.
By Caitlyn Davey
WA records 617 new cases, 610 local cases
By Caitlyn Davey
Cambodia vaccinating ages 3-4 to fight omicron outbreak
Cambodia began vaccinating 3- and 4-year-olds with Chinese-made Sinovac shots Wednesday after finding young children accounting for many new infections.
Prime Minister Hun Sen appealed to parents to have their children vaccinated as soon as possible and said five of his 21 grandchildren and one of his daughters have tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
“To overcome COVID-19 depends not just on the government or the Health Ministry, but needs the participation of all the people,” Hun Sen said at a groundbreaking ceremony for a wastewater treatment facility on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.
He endorsed the vaccination plan for younger children last week after health officials found at least 25 per cent of newly reported infections involved children under five years of age.
After vaccinating adults and older children, Cambodia approved shots for children aged 6-11 last September as part of reopening its schools. In November, vaccinations for 5-year-olds were approved.
More than 80 per cent of Cambodia’s almost 17 million people have received at least two shots. China’s Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines account for most inoculations.
By Caitlyn Davey
Hundreds evacuated from Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre due to COVID case
The Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre in WA closed abruptly last night with all patrons told to leave after it was discovered that a suspected COVID-positive case had visited the site multiple times during the week.
Hundreds of people were inside the centre at 7pm on Wednesday when an announcement was made asking patrons to leave immediately.
Taking to social media, the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre apologised for the inconvenience.
"Due to a suspected Covid-19 case attending Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre this week, the centre will be closed until further notice."
By Caitlyn Davey
Queensland's numbers
There were eight deaths reported, with 334 hospitalisations - 30 of which are in the ICU and 6,094 new cases.
By Caitlyn Davey
South Australians unlikely to hear on restrictions easing until tomorrow
It's increasingly likely South Australians will need to wait another 24 hours to hear if COVID restrictions will be further eased.
The Premier yesterday flagged an announcement today, with density limits, singing and dancing, and crowds at the Adelaide Oval on the agenda.
Steven Marshall says while the latest COVID numbers are better than yesterday's spike, a decision will still probably be delayed.
