Australia has reported 77 COVID-19 deaths today, the highest figure since the pandemic started.
New South Wales has reported 36 deaths, Victoria 22 and Queensland has recorded 16 — however not all of these deaths happened yesterday.
Look back over how the day unfolded.
Key events
- Australia moving to 'next stage' in Omicron response plan
- And that's a wrap on the SA and NT COVID updates
- Concerns over 'incursion of COVID-19' into vulnerable settings in the NT
- Missed the Victorian, Tasmanian and Queensland COVID updates?
- TAS: The state is scrapping testing requirements for interstate travellers
- Victoria declares Code Brown as health system buckles under Omicron wave
- Tasmania reports two people in ICU, 1,310 new cases
- Victoria records 22 deaths and 20,180 cases
- NSW records 36 deaths and 29,830 cases
Live updates
By Jacqueline Howard
Cases, hospitalisations and deaths
If you don't see your state or territory yet, don't worry - these numbers are updated throughout the day.
NSW: 36 deaths and 29,830 cases; 2,850 people in hospital, including 209 in ICUs
Victoria: 22 deaths and 20,180 cases; 1,152 people in hospital, including 127 in ICUs
Tasmania: 1,310 new cases; 12 people in hospital, including two in ICUs
Queensland: 16 deaths, 15,962 cases. 819 people in hospital, including 50 in ICUs
NT: 0 deaths and 625 cases; 43 people in hospital, including 1 in ICU
SA: 2 deaths and 3,079 cases; 285 people in hospital, including 24 in ICUs
ACT: 1 death and 1,860 cases; 63 people in hospital, including 6 in ICUs
WA: 0 deaths and 2 cases
By Liam Butterworth
Thanks for joining us
That's all from us today, that's where we are going to leave it.
Thanks for joining us, we'll be back in the morning.
By Bridget Judd
Japan ready to expand COVID restrictions as infections surge
Let's look overseas quickly, where Japan’s government is preparing social restrictions in Tokyo and other regions as the Omicron variant infects more people.
Japan has never had a lockdown during the pandemic but has focused instead on asking restaurants and bars to close early.
Crowds are back in many parts of Japan, with people packing stores and events, while COVID-19 cases jump.
The order will be finalised this week and is likely to take effect Friday for Tokyo and nine other regions, including Chiba, Kanagawa, Aichi and Kumamoto, a government spokesman says.
An order was issued earlier this month for Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima prefectures. Other areas seeing surging infections, such as Osaka, may be added later.
“The infections are rising at an unprecedented speed,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.
By Bridget Judd
'It's not a matter of costs, it's a matter of supply chains'
Health Minister Greg Hunt has accused the Opposition of wanting to put undue pressure on rapid antigen test supplies across the country.
Labor argues the Coalition has failed to prepare for the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases over the last couple of months, and should make rapid tests free for all Australians through Medicare.
Mr Hunt says that's a dangerous proposition.
"If you had the daily use of 10 million a day, over 100 days, that's 1 billion tests. If you had it over 300 days, that's 3 billion tests.
"It's not a matter of costs, it's a matter of supply chains, and diverting those tests."
By Bridget Judd
Chief Medical Officer: 'Listen to the experts'
Australia's Chief Medical Officer is urging people to get their kids vaccinated against COVID-19, despite ongoing criticism from rogue members of the federal government's backbench.
Retiring LNP member George Christensen has taken to social media to tell parents not to get their children vaccinated. He's been a vocal critic of many elements of the COVID-19 response.
Professor Paul Kelly says there's no basis for the comments that fly in the face of medical advice.
"We are of one voice - it is very important for children, down to the age of five, to be vaccinated. So, please go ahead with that and listen to the experts."
Reporting by Matthew Doran
By Bridget Judd
Fears as virus spreads to remote NT communities
COVID-related hospital admissions in the Northern Territory have risen to 43, as the virus spreads to more remote communities.
Eight of today's new cases were recorded in the remote community of Galiwin'ku, which entered a week-long lockdown yesterday.
Territory Health Minister Natasha Fyles says eight new cases were also detected in the remote central Australian community of Utopia.
"We did have a very low vaccination rate in Utopia. I do believe that it has seen some increase.
"But we again call on not only the residents of Utopia, but throughout the Territory, if you haven't been vaccinated to please get vaccinated."
By Bridget Judd
COVID recoveries an indication SA is 'at or around that peak' of Omicron wave
The state recorded 3,079 new cases in the latest reporting period, a reduction on the previous day's numbers.
Premier Steven Marshall says the recovery numbers are another indication the state has reached the peak of the current wave.
"Very importantly, yesterday, we had 4,046 recovered - so more than 1,000 people recovered, over and above the new infections in South Australia.
"I think this gives us another clear indication that we are at or around that peak."
By Bridget Judd
Exposure site text messages serving their purpose, NT Chief Minister says
Data from the Northern Territory's check-in app is only being used to notify people they have visited a venue with a positive case and does not include a date, time or location.
Michael Gunner says those details aren't important, adding that Territorians aren't being sent alerts for every instance of exposure.
"That would not only be a lot and it would mean you were getting multiple repeated text messages.
"All we want you to do is monitor for symptoms, you are not a close contact, we are not asking you to isolate, we are not directing you to get tested."
By Bridget Judd
Surgical face masks make people look more attractive, new study finds
Striding up to greet someone for the first time with half your face obscured doesn't exactly fill you with meet-cute confidence.
But a new study by British academics suggests that protective face masks can make you more attractive — particularly the blue surgical kind.
Seven months after masks became mandatory in the United Kingdom, researchers at Cardiff University were curious to know whether the pandemic had altered perceptions of attractiveness.
The study — published in the peer-reviewed journal Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications — asked 43 women to rate the attractiveness of 40 male faces, with and without different types of masks and coverings.
Cardiff University school of psychology's Michael Lewis, the study's co-author and an expert in the psychology of faces, said they were surprised by the results, which indicated an overall sentiment of mask positivity.
"Our study suggests faces are considered most attractive when covered by medical face masks," he said.
"This may be because we're used to healthcare workers wearing blue masks and now we associate these with people in caring or medical professions."
By Bridget Judd
What's this private hospital agreement all about?
As we heard earlier, the federal government has re-activated an agreement with private hospitals that could see thousands of beds freed up to take COVID-19 patients from public hospitals in a bid to ease the burden on the health system.
When the pandemic first began, the government struck a deal with private hospitals nationwide to gain access to beds and extra staff.
In return, the Commonwealth agreed to support private hospitals while elective surgeries — their main form of income — were cancelled.
"The private hospitals agreement will see up to 57,000 nurses and [more than] 100,000 staff made available to Omicron-affected areas around the country," Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
Mr Hunt also said the agreement meant there would be extra help available for aged care facilities that needed extra staff and resources.
As well as staff, one of the other crucial resources private hospitals have to offer are beds in ICU.
By Bridget Judd
Woolworths resumes orders from SA abattoir after concerns about COVID procedures addressed
Woolworths says it'll once again start selling meat processed through an abattoir in Naracoorte in South Australia's south-east.
The supermarket chain had been worried about COVID procedures at the Teys abattoir and on Sunday decided to temporarily suspend orders.
At least 140 staff at the meatworks had tested positive to COVID-19 recently, and had been told to keep coming to work unless they were feeling unwell.
Woolworths says it's consulted with Teys, SA Health and Safework SA and is now satisfied with the protocols in place and will resume processing there on Friday.
Teys says employees who test positive will not return to work for at least seven days.
By Bridget Judd
The Sunshine State is edging closer to 90pc double vaxxed
By Bridget Judd
'This is about patient care and it's really being impacted by a lack of action'
Jason Agostino, medical adviser to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), says First Nations people have been more likely to be infected, and more likely to develop a severe illness, throughout the pandemic.
But he says since Omicron has taken hold, health authorities no longer have a clear picture of how Indigenous people are being impacted.
"The reporting systems in most states are overwhelmed and, because of that, people aren't recording Indigenous status," he says.
"We recommend in lots of settings that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people receive certain treatments earlier and at younger ages, and without the system identifying that person as Indigenous, there's a risk they won't be able to access that therapy.
"This isn't some problem with counting numbers and spreadsheets — this is about patient care and it's really being impacted by a lack of action."
By Bridget Judd
Pharmacy Guild to launch website to find rapid antigen tests after 'market failure'
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia says it will launch its own website to help people find out which stores have stock of rapid antigen COVID tests.
Guild president Trent Twomey says social media and alternative websites are "causing more harm than good" for consumers trying to find a RAT.
"We need a single source of truth on where you can get these.
"Rather than driving all around or monitoring Facebook accounts or waiting for friends to send a text message, you'll be able check in real-time on that website.
"Pharmacies will have control over putting up who's got stock and what stock is available."
The website is expected to go live next Monday.
By Bridget Judd
New exposure sites listed for WA
They include New U Massage at Mount Lawley, ToastFace Grillah (what a name) in Perth, Curtin University Bentley Campus in Bentley, CPP Carpark in Perth and Priceline Pharmacy in Kwinana.
| Exposure date & time | Suburb | Location | Date updated | Health advice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 11/01/2022 at 9:30am - 9:00pm | Mount Lawley | New U Massage | 18/01/2022 | Get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days from the date of last exposure, unless directly advised otherwise by the Department of Health. If you have not been contacted by the Department of Health phone 13 COVID (13 26843). |
| Sunday 16/01/2022 at 10:45am to 11:30am | Perth | ToastFace Grillah, | 18/01/2022 | Get tested immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result, unless directly advised otherwise by the Department of Health. |
| Friday 14/01/2022 at 12:00pm to 4:00pm | Bentley | Curtin University Bentley Campus – B103 Library | 18/01/2022 | Get tested immediately and isolate until you receive a negative result, unless directly advised otherwise by the Department of Health. |
| Wednesday 12/01/2022 at 8:00am to 9:00am and 5:15pm to 6:15pm Thursday 13/01/2022 at 8:00am to 9:00am and 5:15pm to 6:15pm Sunday 16/01/2022 at 8:00am to 9:00am and 4:00pm to 5:00pm | Perth | CPP Carpark, | 18/01/2022 | Monitor for symptoms unless directly advised otherwise by the Department of Health. If symptoms develop, get tested and isolate. |
| Thursday 13/01/2022 at 11:30am - 11:45am | Kwinana | Priceline Pharmacy | 18/01/2022 | Monitor for symptoms unless directly advised otherwise by the Department of Health. If symptoms develop, get tested and isolate. |
By Bridget Judd
Kyrie Irving says he won't 'be swayed' on vaccine debate
Australian-born Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving says an injury to teammate Kevin Durant won’t change his stance on not getting the COVID-19 vaccine.
With Durant potentially sidelined for six weeks with a knee injury suffered Saturday, Irving was asked if he’s feeling more pressure to get vaccinated.
Irving, who only recently returned to action after a drawn-out stalemate over getting vaccinated, says he won't be swayed.
“Kev’s going to heal. Kev’s going to be OK, and we’re going to have to deal with that as his teammates.
“But in terms of where I am with my life outside of this, I stay rooted in my decision and that’s just what it is.
"It’s not going to be swayed just because of one thing is this NBA life that somehow it’s brought to my attention to being more important than what’s going on in the real world. It’s just not happening for me.”
AP
By Bridget Judd
By Bridget Judd
Fears of a 'lopsided recovery' from COVID pandemic
The UN Secretary General has warned business leaders at the Davos World Economic Forum about a lopsided recovery from the pandemic if low-income countries are left behind.
Speaking virtually to the annual event usually held in the ski resort town in Switzerland, Antonio Guterres again called for better COVID vaccine distribution and debt relief.
He says if the world fails to vaccinate as many people as possible, new variants will continue to spread across borders and bring economies to a grinding halt.
"And if you fail to provide debt relief and financing to developing countries it would create a lopsided recovery that can send an interconnected global economy into a tailspin."
By Bridget Judd
And that's a wrap on the COVID update with Greg Hunt and Paul Kelly
If you weren't following along, here's a bit of what you missed:
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Mr Hunt says the government is moving to the "next stage in our Omicron response plan". It includes:
- Activating the private hospitals agreement, which is designed to support state hospital systems
- Activating the national medical stockpile to support states and territories that have shortages of PPE
- Providing 10 million units of PPE and related products to the aged care sector and facilities across the country
- Almost 2 million vaccinations were delivered in just one week across Australia, while new vaccination records were set on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week
By Bridget Judd
Have we failed to prepare for the new variant?
Professor Kelly was asked that one a short time ago, in light of the increase in hospitalisations and deaths in recent weeks.
He says authorities knew there would be "a large wave" of Omicron, adding that "we knew it was less severe, but there would be a small proportion that have severe disease and require hospitalisation".
"It was envisaged that there would be cases and some of those would be severe when the national reeopening plan was announced," he says.
"We're coping with that along the parameters we have, using the levers we have, in terms of control as well as dealing with the severe end of the spectrum [of cases]."
