The latest information about the coronavirus pandemic from across Australia and the globe.
Look back at how the day's COVID news unfolded.
Key events
- Remote communities ordered to lock-in
- Visitors to Northern Territory no longer required to take tests on arrival
- Northern Territory records 849 cases
- Western Australia records 20 new cases
- Queensland students will not be regularly tested on return to school
- Queensland records 13 deaths, 8,580 cases
- South Australia records 2 deaths, 1,633 cases
- ACT records 584 new cases
- Omicron sub-variant BA.2 present in NSW
- Perrottet announces financial support package
- NSW records 52 deaths, 13,524 new cases
- Victoria records 20 deaths, 10,589 new 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.
For a detailed breakdown of cases across the country, check out Charting the Spread.
NSW: 13,524 new cases, 2,663 people in hospital, 182 in ICU, 52 deaths.
VIC: 10,589 new cases, 889 people in hospital, 111 in ICU, 20 deaths.
TAS: 594 new cases, 20 people in hospital, one in ICU, one death.
SA: 1,633 new cases, two deaths.
ACT: 584 new cases, 62 people in hospital, three in ICU.
QLD: 8,580 new cases, 745 people in hospital, 41 in ICU, 13 deaths.
WA: 20 new cases.
NT: 849 new cases, 121 people in hospital, three in ICU.
By Dan Nancarrow
Thanks for reading
Thank you for reading the blog today. We will be back tomorrow. Until then, if you want to keep up to date with the latest pandemic news, head over to our dedicated Coronavirus page.
By Dan Nancarrow
Labor would provide 'limited' number of free RATs, Albanese says
Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has clarified Labor's pledge to provide free rapid tests to all Australians if elected this year, saying people will get access to a "limited" number through Medicare.
Mr Albanese has repeatedly laid blame with the federal government for widespread shortages of the rapid tests, accusing the Coalition of failing to adequately prepare last year ahead of a massive surge in Omicron cases.
Earlier this month, the government announced eligible concession card holders, including pensioners and low-income earners, would be able to pick up a capped number of free RATs at some participating pharmacies.
Speaking on the ABC's Insiders program, Mr Albanese said a Labor government would expand access to all Australians.
He did not specify how many free tests Australians would be able to claim nor did he specify how much the policy would cost but said Labor would "have all of our policies going forward fully costed".
Under the existing government scheme, concession card holders can get up to 10 free RATs over a three-month period, with a maximum of five in a month.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham claimed Labor's plan could cost more than $13 billion.
By Dan Nancarrow
New Zealand reports 103 new local cases of COVID
The country recorded 150 cases in total, with 37 new cases identified at its border.
It also reported 11 hospitalisations today.
Ninety-four per cent of New Zealanders aged 12 and over are double vaccinated.
By Dan Nancarrow
Good afternoon
Hi everyone. I'll be taking you through the afternoon on the blog.
By Jacqueline Howard
That's it from me
I'm passing the blog onto Daniel Nancarrow to keep you company through the rest of the afternoon.
By Jacqueline Howard
No cases of Omicron BA.2 in the NT
The NT's Chief Health Officer Hugh Heggie says genomic testing thus far shows there are no cases of the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant in the territory at this stage.
By Jacqueline Howard
Remote communities ordered to lock-in
From 2:00pm today, the following remote communities in the NT will undergo a seven-day lock-in. It means nobody can enter or leave the community for that period.
- Ampilatwatja
- Palumpa
- Milingimbi
- Milikapiti
- Elcho Island including Galiwin’ku and Wessell Islands.
By Jacqueline Howard
Communities in 'lock-in' won't receive food packages
The NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said there would not be food packages delivered to communities who are subject to future 'lock-in' orders.
"We will not be delivering food packages to lock-in communities. You have the means and the ability to go to your community store and get the food that you and your family need. You need to look after your old people, you need to look after those people in your community who are COVID-19 positive, and go to the store for them."
Commissioner Chalker said anyone breaking the lock-in order will be fined. He said the standard length of a lock-in order is seven days.
By Jacqueline Howard
Visitors to Northern Territory no longer required to take tests on arrival
From Tuesday, those entering the NT will no longer need to take three tests in their first week of arrival.
Instead, Mr Gunner urged those who feel sick to get tested.
"Giving a test to someone arriving in the Territory is about as effective as giving a test to a random person in Darwin - it's not effective," he said.
Interstate arrivals are no longer required to use the Good2Go app for their first 14 days, but they do need to fill out a border entry form.
The border remains closed to those who have not been vaccinated, and there will be random spot-checks on those arriving into the Territory.
By Jacqueline Howard
Northern Territory records 849 cases
The Northern Territory has recorded 849 new cases in the most recent reporting period.
There are 121 Territorians in hospital, which makes up 2.4 per cent of active cases.
Eight people in hospitals are on oxygen, which is 2 fewer than yesterday. There are three people in ICU units, and the territory has seen two patients leave the ICU since yesterday.
The lockouts for Alice Springs, Amoonguna, Yuendumu and Yuelamu will end today at 2:00pm as scheduled.
The Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said going forward, there would be a bigger focus on restrictions on entry and exit to communities, rather than lockdowns.
By Jacqueline Howard
Queensland school Q&As
Minister Grace said there would be Q&As and places parents could ask for further information.
Do we know where this would be?
-Qld Mum
It's not immediately clear what Education Minister Grace meant when she said parents would have the opportunity to ask questions about the back to school plan at "many Q&As that will be on site".
I'd wait for correspondence from your school directly about that.
By Jacqueline Howard
QR code check-ins unlikely to go away in Victoria
The state opposition in Victoria has today called for QR code check-ins to be immediately scrapped in low-risk settings, arguing the state is in a new phase of the pandemic.
But Premier Daniel Andrews said while he looked forward to a time when check-ins were no longer required, they would stay in place for now.
He said they were not just to help people track their movements if they became infected, but to ensure the integrity of the "fully vaccinated economy" in Victoria.
"It really is a tool to make sure that only those who are double-dosed, and I think at some point, triple-dosed, are out and about," he said.
"Those who are not vaccinated have made the wrong choice. They've made a choice that puts so many other people at risk, I could not be clearer about this."
He said the state had only been able to reach its high level of vaccination protection by mandating vaccinations.
By Jacqueline Howard
Northern Territory press conference to be held at 12:15pm ACST
By Jacqueline Howard
Just numbers from WA at this stage
Any other news from WA? Or just case numbers released today
-Any other news?
Who knows what goes on behind that mysterious hard border, but at this stage all I know is the numbers.
By Jacqueline Howard
More than 120 Victorian aged care homes experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks
Premier Daniel Andrews said at last briefing, around five state-run aged care homes and more than 120 privately run aged care homes regulated by the Commonwealth were hit by outbreaks.
He said both state and federal health ministers were working closely to try and rein in those outbreaks and roll out boosters.
He acknowledged it was a tough time for workers in the sector as the widespread community transmission depleted staffing levels.
Andrews offers to support Federal government following aged care outbreaks
Mr Andrews confirmed reports of COVID outbreaks at aged care facilities across Victoria.
He said active cases had been detected in five state-run facilities and in more than 110 privately-run facilities.
Mr Andrews said that while it was primarily an issue for the Federal government to address, he was willing to work with the Commonwealth on controlling the outbreaks.
"We're there to help, we're there to assist, running away from responsibility … no one benefits from those sorts of arguments," he said.
Mr Andrews thanked the staff at Victorian aged care facilities, and said the staff-to-resident ratios made "all the difference" in navigating COVID outbreaks.
By Jacqueline Howard
COVID-19 cases in your local area
Hi. Can you please ask the Govt to provide some information about the people who have died each day. They are just not a number. They are people and I really feel the reporting (not by you) of deaths is not respectful enough. So many amazing people are being lost. Their lives deserve to be better recognised.
Please also can you provide a link to (or the site address of) where we can access information about the numbers of cases in our area. I thought I had it bookmarked, but it seems to have disappeared.
many thanks for you and the team's hard work. it is really important to us all.-Ros
Hi Ros,
Thanks for your comments and feedback. I agree, the loss of life is something that some are becoming desensitised to (easy to succumb to in the current climate). I suppose there is a balance of information in the public interest and respect of privacy for the families to be considered.
On your second point, your state government should have a list on their COVID website, but there is also a national map you can check out here.
By Jacqueline Howard
Western Australia records 20 new cases
Western Australia has recorded 20 new COVID cases, with 19 linked to previously known clusters.
There is one person being treated in hospital for COVID-19.
There are 147 active cases in the state.
By Jacqueline Howard
Queensland workplaces to return on site
From Monday, February 7, the Queensland government is encouraging workplaces to return to on-site work. It's the same date schools are set to return.
Masks will be mandatory indoors at the workplace.
"As long as you're wearing masks indoors, it is safe to gradually return back to work," Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
"So, of course, speak with your employer, speak with your supervisors. If you're part of that vulnerable group, you may decide not to be returning to work at the moment before we get through this wave. So very good advice there for people, but I'm quite sure that employers will be speaking with members of their staff to have a safe return to work."
