COVID updates: Australians urged to socially distance if heading out for Halloween — as it happened – ABC News
Health authorities are calling for safe measures to be in place as people head out for Halloween.
Here are the key moments from Sunday:
- NSW recorded 177 new locally acquired cases, while their double-dose vaccine rate hit 87.5 per cent
- Victoria has reached its milestone of 80 per cent double-dose vaccine on Sunday, along with a further 1,036 new cases
- Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand into NSW and Victoria will be allowed from Monday
- Booster shots will be available to those in Western Australia on Monday, Premier Mark McGowan says.
Catch up on all of Sunday’s COVID-19 news and updates on our blog.
Live updates
By Michael Doyle
That is all for the blog today
We have been given our cue to close the blog.
Great to report the rising vaccine figures throughout the day.
A big thank you to everyone who was on the blog today, and to those who commented.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
Until next time, stay safe and be well.
By Michael Doyle
Northern Territory records no new cases of COVID-19
By Michael Doyle
WA records no new cases of COVID-19
By Michael Doyle
WA will have booster shots available from tomorrow
WA’s Premier Mark McGowan has announced vaccine boosters will be offered to West Australians aged 18 and over from tomorrow.
It comes as the Therapeutic Goods Administration announced Pfizer as a safe booster vaccine on Wednesday.
People will be able to get the booster shot, six months after they’ve received their second dose of the Covid vaccine.
Mr McGowan says bookings will not be required.
“I just urge anyone in that position to go and get your booster vaccine and as time goes by, more and more people will be eligible as they hit the six-month period from their second dose so that’s good news for people across the state who want to get vaccinated,” he said.
By Michael Doyle
By Michael Doyle
Victoria calls for trick-or-treaters to stick to COVID rules
Trick-or-treaters in Victoria are being urged to stay outdoors and keep their distance to make sure Halloween does not lead to a COVID-19 nightmare.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton wants parents and children planning to go house to house collecting lollies on Sunday to stick to the rules, especially since those under 12 are not yet eligible for a vaccine.
It is recommended trick-or-treaters stay outside and keep their distance, homes only offer individually wrapped lollies and parents encourage kids to clean their hands with sanitiser.
Any Halloween parties in homes cannot have more than 10 visitors, in line with the state’s current gathering restrictions.
AAP
By Michael Doyle
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard calls for social distancing during Halloween festivities
Brad Hazzard is urging people who go out for Halloween to be safe.
The Health Minister called for people to socially distance themselves from one another, and for those handing out lollies to ensure they are wrapped.
“I think most parents are being cautious around Halloween. I encourage parents to be cautious. Let the kids have fun but do it safely,” he said.
“Anyone giving out lollies, keep your social distance. Make sure those lollies are wrapped.”
By Michael Doyle
By Michael Doyle
Queensland’s vaccine rate is 77.3 per cent first dose, 63.5 per cent second dose
By Michael Doyle
‘It’s a sprint’: Queenslanders urged to go and get the jab
Transport Minister Mark Bailey has continued the state government’s calls for those who have not got the COVID-19 vaccine to do so.
Mr Bailey said it was not a race anymore, but it is a sprint.
By Michael Doyle
Queensland records no new cases of COVID-19
By Michael Doyle
South Australia will not mandate vaccines for volunteer firefighters
The Chief Officer of South Australia’s Country Fire Service says he won’t be mandating COVID-19 vaccines for volunteer firefighters.
Speaking at the launch of the bushfire season campaign, Mark Jones said he didn’t feel it was appropriate to put the requirement on volunteers.
He said most are doing the right thing, but he won’t force the issue with a vaccine mandate.
“Volunteers are not contracted, they give their service willingly and I don’t think it’s really appropriate for me to be heavy-handed in mandating vaccination,” he said.
By Michael Doyle
Tasmania announces 99pc of health workers meet vaccine mandate
Tasmania’s Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff says 99 per cent of the state’s healthcare workforce has provided evidence of a COVID vaccination as of last night.
Health workers in the state were required to meet a vaccination mandate as of midnight last night to provide evidence of vaccination or a booking, or face termination.
By Michael Doyle
Travel for people across the NSW-Victoria border from tomorrow
Reporting by Yara Murray-Atfield
After months of travel restrictions imposed by both Victoria and New South Wales to either side of the border, free movement between the states for fully vaccinated people will resume on Monday.
The changes also apply to Victoria’s border arrangements with the Australian Capital Territory.
People will still need to apply for border permits under the state’s traffic light system, but those who are fully vaccinated do not have to quarantine.
Victoria’s regional public transport service, V/Line, confirmed passengers will be able to travel to and from Victoria, NSW and the ACT from next week. Services that usually run to South Australia will continue to stop at the border.
The move coincides with changes to quarantine rules and international travel changes that effectively open the country back up for the first time in a year and a half.
The Victorian Department of Transport says these are the resuming coach services:
- Bairnsdale — Batemans Bay
- Bairnsdale — Canberra
- Bairnsdale — Narooma
- Barham — Melbourne
- Bendigo — Mildura will resume stopping in Euston NSW
- Bendigo — Moama
- Bendigo — Swan Hill will resume stopping in Euston NSW
- Benalla — Mulwala
- Canberra — Bairnsdale
- Canberra — Wodonga
- Corowa — Wangaratta
- Deniliquin — Melbourne
- Griffith — Shepparton
- Kerang — Albury
- Melbourne — Moama
- Mildura — Albury (Murraylink)
- Moama — Murchison East Station
- Moama — Seymour
- Moama — Shepparton
- Seymour — Tocumwal
- Shepparton — Tocumwal
By Michael Doyle
New Zealand travels allowed into NSW and Victoria without quarantine from tomorrow
New Zealanders will be able to travel to New South Wales and Victoria from tomorrow, without having to quarantine upon arrival in Australia.
Under the rules of the one way travel bubble, travellers will need to be fully vaccinated and will require a negative COVID-19 test within three days prior to departure.
Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says Australians will still need to undergo quarantine if they travel to New Zealand.
“We’re welcoming New Zealand tourists, family and friends back here to Australia and when it comes to Victoria and NSW it will be quarantine free but for Australians travelling to NZ they will have to abide by the restrictions the NZ government has in place,” he said.
By Michael Doyle
Victoria confirms it has reached 80 per cent double-dose target for the over 16s
Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford confirmed Victoria had reached the 80 per cent fully vaccinated milestone for those aged 16 and older, days earlier than initially indicated.
“There’s a bit of a lag in the reporting. We were confident that we were at 80 per cent for today, for yesterday, for Friday night and the reporting now captures that,” Ms Pulford said.
She said the next eligible cohort of 12 to 15-year-olds were around a day behind the rest of the state in vaccination rates.
“The young ones are bringing up their 80 per cent a day later. I think we’re just a smidgen under 80 per cent for the 12 and ups, but they have caught up.”
Reporting by Judd Boaz
By Michael Doyle
Today is the final day as Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young
By Michael Doyle
No press conference in Victoria today
Is Victoria giving a press conference today?
-Mim
By Michael Doyle
ACT records seven new locally acquired cases
By Michael Doyle
AMA endorses tough travel rules in WA
The Australian Medical Association’s WA branch has welcomed tough new travel requirements for people entering the state from jurisdictions with COVID-19 cases.
The rule will come into play for approved travellers from the ACT, New South Wales and Victoria on Friday.
Other states and territories are currently unaffected, deemed low-risk.
AMA WA president Mark Duncan-Smith says he expects the double vaccination requirement to be expanded.
“Once COVID becomes endemic in all states, which it will once we open up and reduce restrictions, then it’s going to be part of a COVID passport,” he said.
If you want to travel, you’ll need to have a COVID passport. You’ll need to be double vaccinated.”
Posted 7h ago7 hours agoSat 30 Oct 2021 at 9:11pm, updated 41m ago41 minutes agoSun 31 Oct 2021 at 3:46am
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