Coronavirus Australia news: WA to open border to Victoria and Queensland next week, waiting on NSW's local transmission milestone — as it happened

But now it's time for me to go.

Have a great afternoon.

I'll be back tomorrow with updates and hopefully to see your shiny, happy comments and questions.

He is calling them on a daily basis to ensure that we "continue to have certainty about the offshore production", Professor Kidd said.

"We have good news in that from March we will have the onshore production of the AstraZeneca vaccine beginning to rollout vaccines for the Australian population, subject to approval by the TGA."

Do you know if any of the airlines will be adding more flight between Sydney and Adelaide now that restrictions are being lifted?

-Worried

If its in their commercial interest, I'm sure they will!

Then they'll advise the Australian Government about whether or not to resume the travel bubble with New Zealand.

Professor Kidd also reiterated what Health Minister Greg Hunt said earlier about the vaccines.

Everything is on track in that regard!

Not CMO Professor Paul Kelly (sorry about the faulty intel)!

You can watch his press conference via the live stream above.

British tennis player Heather Watson wasted no time getting back on the court after being given permission to leave her hotel, posting a video of her practising at Rod Laver Arena at 12:54am this morning.

"FINALLY FREE from 15 days in strict quarantine and of course my first stop is Rod Laver Arena for a midnight practice!" she said on Twitter.

Other players such as Italy's Fabio Fognini and the UK's Johanna Konta also shared their joy on Twitter as they took to the streets of Melbourne.

More to the story here.

As of yesterday, if you are in the Greater Sydney region (including the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong), face masks are still mandatory in the following indoor settings:

• on public/shared transport and at public transport waiting areas
• places of worship
• hair and beauty premises, such as hairdressers, beauty salons, nail salons, tanning salons and waxing salons
• massage parlours and spas
• tattoo parlours
• hospitality venues (customer-facing staff only)
• gaming areas in licensed premises, including pubs, registered clubs and casinos

NSW Health recommends that you wear a face mask at retail shopping centres but it is not a mandatory requirement.

Wearing a face mask is one important way we can reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, along with physical distancing, washing your hands regularly and getting tested when you have even the mildest of symptoms.

*UPDATED: We previously said he'd be speaking at 2:30pm AEDST, but now that's been pushed out a half hour.

That's 2:00pm for those in Queensland, 12:00pm for those in the west and 2:30pm for those on Central Time.

Will SA open the border to NSW tomorrow?

-nsw residents

Travel restrictions with Greater Sydney will be lifted from 12.01am January 31 (TONIGHT), provided NSW records no new cases of community transmission between now and then.

Travellers from Greater Sydney can enter South Australia for any reason.

However they will need to get a COVID-19 test on Day 1, Day 5 and Day 12, and they must self-isolate until their Day 1 test returns negative.

Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the positive detection was found in a sewage collection sample taken on January 27, 2021 from the Belconnen testing location, in the city's north.

"We know this news may be concerning for residents in the Belconnen area, however this news does not automatically mean we have an active case here in the ACT," Ms Stephen-Smith said.

"As we've seen in other parts of Australia where there have been positive detections in wastewater, it may represent a person who has recovered from COVID-19 and is no longer infectious, but is continuing to shed the virus.

"Although there is no cause for alarm, this is an important reminder that COVID-19 has not gone away, and that we need the community to remain alert."

The testing site covers wastewater from all Belconnen suburbs and Hall.

ACT Health has advised anyone who lives in, works in or has recently visited the Belconnen area, to get tested if they experience any COVID-19 symptoms, particularly if they have been travelling interstate.

"If there is an active case we are not aware of, it is vitally important that we know that as quickly as possible so our contact tracers can get to work … and break those chains of transmission," Ms Stephen-Smith said.

All the sample results in the ACT's other wastewater testing locations reported negative results on January 27.

Further wastewater testing will be conducted over the next week.

There are no active COVID-19 cases in the ACT, and the number of negative tests recorded so far is 155,364.

By Kate Midena

For the second time in as many days, viral fragments of coronavirus have been found in three Victorian communities.

The new fragments have been detected in wastewater samples taken from Castlemaine, Cowes and Pakenham on January 27.

But it’s not clear if the weak positive detection is due to an active infectious case or to people who have recovered and are shedding the virus, the report from the Victorian Chief Health Officer said.

Anyone who lives in or has visited Cowes, Castlemaine or Pakenham from January 25 to 27 should get tested, no matter how mild their symptoms are.

Yesterday the health department reported viral fragments had also been found at Leongatha, Gisborne and Hamilton.

Anyone in Gisborne from January 24-25, Hamilton between January 25-27 and Leongatha from January 17-19 should be tested.

Wastewater samples are taken at least weekly from 95 locations across the state.

There was one new case of coronavirus in a returned traveller who is identified as a woman in her 20s who works as an international airline crew member.

It’s been 24 days since there was a locally-acquired case in Victoria.

Currently, there are 23 active cases of COVID-19.

Yesterday 13,702 tests were processed bringing the overall testing number in Victoria to 4.446 million.

Reporting by Kathy Lord

So, Greg Hunt didn't have anything new to say, but he reassured Australians that everything was still on track.

He also said he welcomed the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) decision to authorise AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union.

"The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) will make an independent decision based on the international evidence. We believe the TGA is the world’s best medical regulator, and they continue to prioritise safety above all else.

"As set out earlier this week, the Government remains on track for a late February commencement of the Pfizer rollout, commencing with availability of approximately 80,000 doses per week.

"In addition, roll out of the AstraZeneca international dose is on track for an early March roll out subject to TGA approval and final shipping confirmation.

"The latest guidance from the company is for supply of approximately 1.2 million AstraZeneca offshore doses during March.  The company remains committed to the full supply of the 3.8m offshore doses and will confirm additional shipping dates once global supplies are confirmed.

"Further, Australia’s certainty and continuity of supply is underpinned by the 50 million dose domestic production agreement with CSL and AstraZeneca. This supply is now projected to commence in late March, earlier than previously expected with 1 million doses per week.  It is projected that 2 million domestically produced doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine will be supplied in late March."

The Community and Public Sector Union has responded to a report that $78 million was paid to Victoria's hotel quarantine workers while the program was suspended.

The Victorian Government said that money went to keeping staff on standby in readiness for the resumption of hotel quarantine and allowed for training and induction to ensure safety standards were improved.

Here what the CPSU had to say in response:

"Those recruited were from industries excluded from the Morrison government's JobKeeper support payments," a CPSU Victoria spokesperson said.

"Having already abandoned them did [Victorian Government Opposition spokesman] David Southwick want these workers to starve as well while trained , inducted, isolating and forbidden under revamped program to seek other work.

"Insecure work and multiple jobs with the private security guards initially engaged had to be redressed to ensure Covid wouldn't again breakout into the community from the quarantine program.

"It has been highly successful to date and the Opposition's criticism is just shrill opportunism without intellectual consideration."

Hiya, given how swiftly the situation changed last time (Christmas and New years) in regards to going to Victoria from Sydney - there has got to be a lot of people, not just me, nervous about booking a trip to Victoria (from Sydney) and been caught out having to quarantine and not getting back to NSW in time to go to work etc.
Is there any assurance that a bit of time would be given next time, or is just better to cancel the trip to Victoria and spend my tourism money locally?

-Nervous Nellie

There are no assurances, Nervous Nellie.

You either take a gamble or stay local.

I wish I could tell you different, but as we've seen many times this virus is unpredictable and very contagious.

The European Union has introduced tighter rules on exports of COVID-19 vaccines that could hit shipments to nations including Australia, amid a deepening dispute with drug manufacturers Pfizer and AstraZeneca over supplies of potentially lifesaving shots.

The Federal Government said it would take steps to ensure Australia received the 1.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine on order from Europe despite the imposed export controls.

Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel Darren Chester told the ABC representations would be made to the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure vaccine shipments to Australia remained on track.

"These supply shocks were not unexpected given the nature of the virus," Mr Chester said.

"But I've had reassurances from colleagues and I understand Greg Hunt as minister is making all the responsible moves you need to make to ensure that supply is available to us."

The whole story is right here.

Hi Alicia,

What does the easing WA/QLD border mean for Queenslanders who have already made the trip and are self isolating. Do we still have to do our time? Or do we get out early for good behaviour?
Love the blog you guys at the ABC have been running. It's been the source of much elation and deflation.

Cheers

-David from Over East

You get out early for good behaviour, David from Over East!

Queenslanders currently in quarantine in WA can leave after 12:01am on Monday!

Hi Alicia
Are New Zealand allowed to come here without Quarantine after Sunday, or is it being reviewed on Sunday.
Thanks for your fantastic blog

-Qlder

Hi Qlder,

We don't have any update yet on whether the quarantine-free travel bubble with NZ (only one-way remember, Aussies can't leave at the moment without a very good reason) will be resumed after tomorrow.

Will keep you posted when I hear what's going on!

He said France was "a year late" in deciding to close borders.

The Premier said it was his opinion, guided by health advice, that tough measures worked better.

Hi fabulous ABC blog
I have followed your blog almost everyday since it's start back in March last year.
I have a question.
Is Brisbane area a green zone for traveling to Victoria?
Thanks
The Blog Lover

-The Blog Lover

Blog Lover, you are a person of amazing taste and class!

Thank you for tuning in every day!

And, I'm happy to give you some good news - all of Queensland is GREEN! 

Including of course, the capital, Brisbane.

Travel away!