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Key posts
- NSW CHO urged ‘consistent’ lockdown restrictions across Sydney, emails reveal
- Surge in Victorians seeking treatment for debilitating ‘long COVID’
- Senate blockade over vaccine mandates
- Police find unknown fabric as heavy rain hampers Tyrrell search
- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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NSW CHO urged ‘consistent’ lockdown restrictions across Sydney, emails reveal
The NSW government imposed harsh lockdown restrictions on the poorest areas of Sydney’s west and south-west despite Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant advising that the rules should be implemented consistently across Greater Sydney.
Emails sent between health officials and Health Minister Brad Hazzard in mid-August have revealed Dr Chant recommended that “consistent measures” be implemented across all of Sydney.
Then NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian, Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant and Health Minister Brad Hazzard during the lockdown in July.Credit:Nick Moir
Despite the health advice, the extended lockdown left 12 local government areas under restrictions that were far tougher than other parts of Sydney, outraging community leaders who declared the handling of the Delta outbreak had left the city divided.
“Implement consistent measures across greater metropolitan Sydney with outdoor masks, consistent 5km rule and authorised workers only,” Dr Chant wrote in the email of recommendations on August 14.
That day, the government restricted Greater Sydney residents to travel within five kilometres of their local government area (LGA) border, while residents in south-western and western Sydney hotspots were restricted to five kilometres from their house.
The August email is among documents released under a parliamentary order highlighting health advice that informed policy decisions during the extended lockdown, which began on June 26.
Read the full story here.
Surge in Victorians seeking treatment for debilitating ‘long COVID’
Hundreds of Victorians are seeking treatment for strange and debilitating symptoms lingering many months after their COVID-19 diagnosis, including some whose ailments are so severe they are struggling to return to work.
Head of respiratory medicine research at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne, Professor Anne Holland, said the hospital’s post-COVID follow-up clinic was supporting a rising number of people infected in the latest Delta outbreak, some of whom were having to cut back their working hours, or were finding it difficult to return to their studies.
Petra Theilhaber still has no sense of smell and taste more than a year after contracting COVID-19.Credit:Jason South
Many were young, otherwise healthy people, who had only minor bouts of the disease, but were reporting symptoms including brain fog, extreme fatigue, chronic pain, shortness of breath, and palpitations more than two months after infection.
Others are experiencing tinnitus (a ringing or buzzing noise in the ears) or recurring pins and needles (a sensation of uncomfortable tingling or prickling), despite having no history of the conditions.
Read the full story here.
Senate blockade over vaccine mandates
A vaccine revolt is set to block Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s agenda when Parliament resumes today for its last sittings of the year, escalating a fight over rules that limit freedoms for Australians who will not sign up for coronavirus vaccines.
The government will struggle to pass contentious bills in the Senate after two renegade Liberals called for an end to restrictions they consider unfair for unvaccinated people who are barred from events.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison receives his COVID-19 booster vaccine on Friday. Credit:Kate Geraghty
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation is also joining the blockade in a bid to pressure Mr Morrison into easing the restrictions even though the rules are being imposed by the states to encourage people to be inoculated.
Senator Hanson will introduce a bill to Parliament this week to try to force the rules to be relaxed, presenting Mr Morrison with an ultimatum after she asked the Prime Minister to act on the issue in a private meeting last Thursday.
The Senate stand-off is widening a policy row over when to phase out public health orders that require people to show proof of vaccination to go to movies, retail stores, gyms, large gatherings, sport and other events.
Read more about this issue here.
Police find unknown fabric as heavy rain hampers Tyrrell search
Despite heavy rain, police continue to search the area surrounding the NSW Mid North Coast home William Tyrrell disappeared from seven years ago.
Police found a piece of fabric Sunday morning near a creek, one of three key areas in the small town of Kendall they have been searching this week. The item has been taken for forensic testing.
About 30 police operational support officers were replaced by a new team yesterday and continue searching for clues following credible new information.
A severe weather warning has been issued for the area, with thunderstorms expected which may lead to flash flooding in some parts of the Mid North Coast.
More on the search here.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning and thanks for your company.
It’s Monday, November 22. I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.
Here’s everything you need to know before we get started.
- NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant called for “consistent” lockdown restrictions across all of Sydney during the city’s recent lockdown, documents released under parliamentary orders reveal. As you might remember, suburbs in Sydney’s west and south west faced weeks of tougher restrictions. Meanwhile, the search for the remains of missing boy William Tyrrell has entered its second week. Police efforts are being hampered by the rain that is blanketing much of Australia’s east coast. NSW yesterday reported 176 new cases of COVID-19 and two deaths.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant. Credit:Kate Geraghty
- There has been an increase in the number of Victorians seeking treatment for what’s become known as long COVID. Some people’s symptoms are so debilitating they are struggling to return to work. Meanwhile, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has accused Prime Minister Scott Morrison of “pandering to extremists” in the wake of anti-pandemic legislation and vaccine protests in Melbourne. While the PM has condemned extremism, he has also suggested people are sick of governments interfering in their lives. Victoria reported 1275 new cases of COVID-19 and four deaths on Sunday.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Credit:Paul Jeffers
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison will face a Senate backlash this week over vaccination mandates. Both houses of federal parliament are sitting today for the last stint of the year. But two Liberals have called for an end to the unvaccinated being barred from certain spaces and events and will side with Pauline Hanson’s One Nation in a move that could scuttle the Morrison government’s agenda. This is despite vaccine mandates being issued by the states and not the federal government.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison waiting to receive his COVID booster shot late last week. Credit:Kate Geraghty
- Two Indigenous communities outside Katherine in the Northern Territory are in a hard lockdown after nine new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Saturday night. Residents in the Binjari and Rockhole communities are only able to leave their properties for medical treatment, legal matters or an emergency. No additional cases were recorded in the NT yesterday. The total number of cases linked to the NT’s current outbreak is 35.
Small pockets of the NT are currently in lockdown. Credit:Krystle Wright
- South Australia’s borders will reopen tomorrow. Thousands of people have already applied to enter the state from COVID hotspots (i.e. Melbourne, Sydney and the ACT). Meanwhile, SA hospitals are gearing-up for a possible outbreak as a result of interstate travel.
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
- And the ACT recorded 16 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, up slightly from Saturday’s 14 cases. There are five people in hospital with the virus. Of those, two are in intensive care. One is on a ventilator.
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