New South Wales has recorded another 32 deaths from Covid-19, Victoria reports 20,769 new cases and Queensland opens its international border while reporting 19,932 cases.
Photo: AFP
NSW residents will be able to access a Covid-19 vaccine booster dose three months after their second dose, the state government has announced.
The announcement came after the state recorded another 32 Covid-19 deaths.
The number of people with the virus in the state's hospitals increased to 2,863, while ICU admissions were up slightly to 217.
A total of 32,297 new cases were reported from 12,450 positive rapid antigen tests (RATs) and 19,847 PCR swabs.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said residents could now make an appointment for the third vaccine dose at any of the 40 vaccine hubs across the state.
The four-month wait to get a booster shot at a GPs or a pharmacy will continue until 31 January, in line with federal guidelines.
"In our vaccination hubs we'll be bringing forward the eligibility for booster shots ... [this] will enable over 3.5 million people to be eligible for the booster shot," Perrottet said.
Federal government data shows 1,773,457 people in NSW have received a booster vaccine, about half of those who are eligible.
The latest figures show 27.8 percent of people have had three doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, while 16.4 percent of those aged 5-11 have had one dose.
The Premier said with 95 percent of the population double vaccinated, it was clearly a "key factor" in keeping the pressure down on the NSW health system.
Victoria reduces internval between second and third vaccine
There are now at least 253,827 active cases in Victoria.
The state has officially recorded 20,769 new Covid-19 infections, but the true number of new cases in the community could be much higher.
The new cases were reported from 10,726 PCR results and 10,043 at-home rapid antigen tests (RATs).
About 26 percent of Victorian adults have received three doses of a vaccine so far.
Victoria is reducing the interval between second and third Covid-19 vaccine doses to three months at all state hubs.
Premier Daniel Andrews said it meant the total number of people who were eligible would now increase substantially by about 1.2 million Victorians.
He said that was on the advice of the public health team and consistent with ATAGI's broader advice.
"It is safe, it is effective," Andrews said.
Andrews said it would help get more people third-dose boosted quicker than would otherwise be the case.
"There are currently 1,365,004 Victorians who are 18 and over and have had a third dose," he said.
"And with the announcement I've just made, effective immediately, reducing the interval down to three months, there are now 2.45 million Victorians who are eligible, but have not yet had their third dose."
He said it was consistent with NSW and South Australia.
Andrews said there would be a booster blitz of 60,000 shots on the weekend, with longer hours and walk-in allowed at some centres.
Department of Health deputy secretary Naomi Bromley said reducing the interval would mean that someone getting a booster shot this weekend would have full protection within the first week of February.
Queensland opens international border for quarantine-free travel
Queensland has recorded 11 more deaths with Covid-19, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced.
The state detected 19,932 more cases in the reporting period, with 5940 of those picked up with rapid antigen tests (RAT).
There are now 835 people being treated in Queensland hospitals with 52 of those in intensive care. There are 18 people on ventilators.
Palaszczuk also announced quarantine-free international travel into the state for fully vaccinated people would resume from 1am this Saturday, with Queensland expected to reach its 90 percent vaccination rate target for those aged 16 and over this week.
Travellers will not have to quarantine, provided they are fully vaccinated and have a negative Covid-19 RAT within 24 hours of entering the country.
"This gives certainty to the airlines, it gives certainty to incoming travellers that from 1am Saturday, you can come into Queensland and if you are vaccinated - you will not have to quarantine," Palaszczuk said.
"Now is the right time with our vaccination rates so high.
"It's a time for families to reunite.
"I think it now actually allows them allows certainty for people to be able to book their airline tickets.
"We'll get through this wave and hopefully it will encourage people to not just travel domestically around Australia, but also travel overseas."
She said unvaccinated people would still need to quarantine.
Palaszczuk said the requirement for international arrivals to take a rapid antigen test was a "precautionary measure."
"They're probably more likely to catch the virus in Australia at the moment but it's precautionary, it's consistent with the other states," she said.
Of Queenslanders aged 16 and over, 88.82 percent are fully vaccinated, while 91.56 percent have had one dose of a vaccine.
Of the most recent deaths, one person was in their 30s, one was in their 50s, two were in their 60s, one was in their 70s, three were in their 80s and three were in their 90s.
Two were unvaccinated, seven were fully vaccinated and two had received their booster shots.
The person in their 30s who died was unvaccinated.
Cases in Tasmania not yet peaked
Tasmania has recorded 29 hospitalisations and 1185 new cases of Covid-19, health authorities say.
Two patients are in ICU - the same as yesterday - and 12 people are receiving treatment specifically for Covid complications.
The state's total of active cases has dipped slightly to 6323, with 1279 people leaving quarantine in the past 24 hours.
Nearly 5000 rapid antigen tests (RATs) were distributed yesterday, with 714 infections being identified through a RAT and 471 through a PCR test.
Although the daily cases have been stable, experts say it is unlikely the state's Covid-19 outbreak has peaked yet.
Public Health director Mark Veitch yesterday said more than half the total number of people being treated in hospital for Covid were aged in their 70s or 80s.
In the state's north, an investigation is underway into two positive cases detected in a medical ward at the Mersey Hospital at Latrobe.
Health Department boss Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said one of four patients on the ward tested positive after exhibiting symptoms and subsequent tests found a second positive case in the ward.
- ABC
