Covid-19 News Updates

Positive COVID-19 case travelled to Brisbane, Sunshine Coast

Queensland Chief Health Officer (CHO) Dr Jeannette Young has today confirmed the movements within the state of a positive COVID-19 case from Sydney's Northern Beaches, where a cluster has now grown to 28 known infections.

The case was one of three reported by Dr Young today, including two in hotel quarantine who had returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The third case is a lady in her 50s who travelled up from the Northern Beaches on the 16th of December. She flew up on Virgin flight VA925, arriving into Brisbane Airport at 9:30am," Dr Young said.

"We are currently contact tracing the rows in front of where she sat, behind and either side.

"Anyone who was on that flight should, if they develop any symptoms at all immediately get themselves tested."

The woman then rented a hire car and went to lunch at The Glen Hotel in the southern Brisbane suburb of Eight Mile Plains, so anyone who visited the venue after 11:30am on 16 December has been urged to get tested if they develop any symptoms.

"The lady then travelled to the Sunshine Coast and we're contact tracing there. She went to a hotel but only had contact with the receptionist, so we're working with that receptionist. Otherwise she didn't have any broad contact there.

"She stayed overnight on the Sunshine Coast, and then travelled through Brisbane to return home to the Northern Beaches, and she went into the Prince Charles Hospital [Chermside, Brisbane] and got tested for COVID because a friend of hers let her know from Sydney."

Dr Young has declared the Northern Beaches of Sydney a COVID-19 hotspot, and as of 1am tomorrow anyone arriving in the state who has been in the area since 11 December will need to enter hotel quarantine up until 14 days have passed since they were in the hotspot.

"Anyone in Queensland today, who has been in the Northern Beaches from 11th of December, onwards, any date, needs to immediately go into quarantine wherever they are, so in their home or a friend's home, a hotel or wherever they are in Queensland," she added.

"They need to organize to get themselves tested. That's very important. And they need to stay in that quarantine site, wherever they are, until it's 14 days since they left the Northern Beaches.

"Police will be working through to see how we can fine people, but essentially I'm relying on people to do the right thing, and we know from the start of the pandemic Queenslanders have overwhelmingly done the right thing, so I ask them that they continue to do that."

Updated at 11:06am AEST on 18 December 2020.

Sydney's Northern Beaches cluster grows, states impose border restrictions

Update (10.13pm AEDT Friday 18 December): NSW has recorded 10 new cases overnight and one positive case has travelled to Queensland)

Those living in Sydney's Northern Beaches have been asked to stay at home as much as possible after a cluster of COVID-19 grew to 17 confirmed cases yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile Queensland has mandated some new conditions ordering visitors from Sydney's hotspot into immediate hotel quarantine from Saturday, while Tasmania has banned entry to anyone who has visited the northern beaches since 11 December.

Western Australia has ordered that, from midnight last night, anyone entering the state from anywhere in NSW will be required to self-quarantine. The state has changed its classification of NSW from a "very low risk" state to a "low risk" state under WA's controlled interstate border.

To assist with contact tracing and reducing the spread of the virus, people in the Northern Beaches have been asked to stay home as much as possible over the next three days.

This includes working from home where possible, not visiting aged care facilities or hospitals unless essential, avoiding unnecessary gatherings and high-risk venues such as clubs, restaurants, places or worships and gyms, and avoiding unnecessary travel outside of the Northern Beaches area.

States and Territories impose border restrictions

Queensland

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region on or since 11 December and is already in Queensland should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region on or since 11 December and arrived in Queensland on a flight from Sydney from midnight on 17 December, must get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region on or since 11 December and arrives in Queensland on a flight from Sydney after 1am on 19 December must go into hotel quarantine at their own expense for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches, and get tested.

Western Australia

From midnight tonight, anyone arriving from New South Wales will now be required to self-quarantine in a suitable premise for 14 days. These arrivals will also be required to be tested for COVID-19 on day 11.

Anyone who has arrived from NSW from 11 December or was in NSW from that date and subsequently arrived in WA before 12.01am this morning (18 December) will be required to follow updated arrangements, which include:

• the requirement to self-quarantine in a suitable premise as soon as possible
• to present for a COVID-19 test as soon as possible
• return to self-quarantine until a negative test result is confirmed
• undertake a further test on day 11 after arrival in WA. 

Victoria

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region or other NSW exposure sites on or since 11 December and is already in Victoria should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region or other NSW exposure sites on or since 11 December and arrived in Victoria after midnight last night (17 December), must get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.

Anyone who was in the northern beaches region or other NSW exposure sites on or since 11 December and is already in Victoria should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the northern beaches.

Tasmania

Tasmania has put a ban on anyone who has been in the northern beaches area on or since 11 December from entering the state.

Anyone already in Tasmania who has been in the northern beaches area must immediately self-isolate and have a COVID-19 test.

South Australia

South Australia has expanded its hotspot zones to include the northern beaches of Sydney, which now requires anyone in the state who visited the area from the dates identified by NSW authorities to self-quarantine immediately for 14 days from the last day they were present on the site.

Anyone who visited these locations must get a COVID-19 test immediately and again on day 12 of the self-quarantine. Even if you return a negative test result, you must remain in quarantine for the full 14 days.

People who live with you and/or travelled with you also need to self-quarantine immediately until they receive further advice from SA Health.

NorthernTerritory

The Northern Territory has advised anyone intending to travel there from an identified hotspot to cancel their plans. The same applies to Territorians intending to travel to an active hotspot.

The Territory says anyone from the northern beaches area entering the NT must quarantine for 14 days.

Public health alerts issued

People who have visited the following Northern Beaches locations should get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result:

• Woolworths Mona Vale, 25/29 Park St, Mona Vale, 13 December, 12-12.30pm
• Aldi Mona Vale, 13 Bungan St, Mona Vale, 13 December, 12.45-1.30pm
• Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club, 13, 14 and 15 December, 9-9.30am
• Palm Beach Rockpool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, 14 December, 9:30-10:30am
• Woolworths Avalon, 74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 14 December 5-5.30pm
• Chemist Warehouse, 4/74 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach, 14 December 5.205.25pm
• Commonwealth Bank, 47 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 12-12.15pm
• Mitre 10, 49 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 12-12.20pm
• Roof Racks World, 13/87 Reserve Rd, Artarmon, 15 December, 2-2:30pm
• HongFa BBQ Restaurant, Dee Why, 15 December 4.30-4.45pm
• Dee Why Fruit Market, 33 Oaks Avenue, Dee Why, 15 December, 4.45-4.55pm
• North Avalon Cellars, 4/3 N Avalon Rd, Avalon Beach, 15 December, 6-6.05pm
• Careel Bay Dog Park and Hitchcock Park, Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon, 16 December 77:30am
• Palm Beach Pool, LOT 1 Rock Bath Rd, Palm Beach, 16 December, 8am-9am
• Brot and Wurst, 1442 Pittwater Rd, North Narrabeen, 16 December, 2pm-2:05pm
• Avalon Beach Post Shop, 45 Avalon Parade, Avalon Beach, 16 December 3.30-3.50pm

A confirmed case also travelled between the following stations on 14 December at the following times. Other passengers are considered to be casual contacts, and should get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

• Roseville to Redfern, 6.50-7.40am
• Redfern to Milsons Point, 11.20am-11.45am
• Milsons Point to Roseville, 3.15-3.40pm

Updated at 9.23am AEDT on 18 December 2020.

Public health alerts issued after three new cases of COVID-19 detected in NSW

UPDATE (11.07am AEDT 17 December): Two new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed this morning on Sydney's northern beaches, bringing the total number of new cases in the last 24 hours to five.

Following the discovery of three new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in New South Wales yesterday officials have issued a variety of public health alerts.

The majority of the alerts are for Sydney's Northern Beaches where two new infections were recorded in a woman in her 60s and a man in his 70s.

The third case is a person who works as the driver of vans that take international and domestic air crew from the airport to hotels.

Health officials are currently conducting urgent genome sequencing to confirm when and where the infections were acquired.

Anyone who has attended the following additional venues is considered a close contact and should get tested and isolate for 14 days even if they receive a negative result:

• Hungry Ghost Café, 20 Avalon Parade, Avalon Sunday, 13 December, 9.30am-11am and Tuesday, 15 December 9.30-11am
• Sneaky Grind Café, Avalon Beach Monday, 14 December, 10.30-11am
• Barramee Thai Massage and Spa, 4/42-44 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach Monday, 14 December, 2-3.30pm
• Bangkok Sidewalk Restaurant, 1/21-23 Old Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach Monday, 14 December 7-8pm
• Avalon Bowlo (bowling club), 4 Bowling Green Ln, Avalon Beach Sunday, 13 December, 5-7pm and Tuesday, 15 December 3-5pm
• Palm Beach female change rooms Sunday, 13 December 9-9.15 am
• Coast Palm Beach Café, Palm Beach Sunday, 13 December 10-11am

People who have visited the following venues should get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result:

• Bing Lee, Gateway, 1 Mona Vale Rd, Mona Vale Monday, 14 December, 4.304.45pm
• Woolworths Avalon Beach, 74 Barrenjoey Rd, Avalon Beach Tuesday, 15 December, 12-12.30pm and Sunday, 13 December, 12-5pm
• Oliver's Pie, Careel Shopping Village, Avalon Beach Monday, 14 December, 9 9.15am

Everyone living in the Northern Beaches area should monitor for even the mildest of symptoms and come forward for testing immediately if they appear, then isolate until a negative result is received.

The driver of the airport vans lives in south-western Sydney and attended a sporting event while infectious. Anyone at the event at the times indicated is considered a casual contact:

• Forest Rangers FC, Little Rangers session at Gannons Park, Pindari Rd and Isaac Street, Peakhurst Friday, 11 December 2020, 4.30pm 5.30pm

Updated at 9.16am AEDT on 17 December 2020.

Trans-Tasman travel bubble slated for early 2021

New Zealand's Cabinet has agreed in principle to establish a Trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia in the first quarter of 2021, according to NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (pictured).

The bubble will only be established pending no further outbreaks of community transmission of COVID-19 in either Australia or New Zealand.

Once in place it would allow Australians and New Zealanders to travel between the two countries without needing to go into two weeks of quarantine on arrival.

"Pending confirmation from the Australian cabinet and no significant change in the circumstances of either country, officials have been working on a range of matters and good progress has been made," PM Ardern said.

"There has been some public focus on the requirement for 28 days free of community transmission, but that is just one of the criteria.

"As important is having clear plans in the event of community outbreak in either country that may see borders closed and potentially thousands of New Zealanders seeking to return who may need to go into isolation."

Ardern also said arrangements need to be made with airlines about the management of crew and the separation of Trans-Tasman flights from other services.

This will be done to ensure there is no potential cross-contamination between those transitioning from high-risk areas.

"It is our intention to name a date for the commencement of Trans-Tasman quarantine-free travel in the New Year once remaining details are locked down," Ardern said.

"I think for now, New Zealanders by and large appreciate the approach of the government to ensure that we are not taking on unnecessary risk as we're going into Summer."

Updated at 1.10pm AEDT on 14 December 2020.

CSL shares slip after dumping plans for new COVID-19 vaccine

Australia's largest biotechnology company CSL (ASX: CSL) has abandoned its collaboration with the University of Queensland to develop a promising COVID-19 vaccine after discovering it gives a false positive diagnosis for HIV.

While the move does not impact CSL's leading role in the fight against COVID-19 nationally, it wipes out 10 months' work by scientist from both camps to develop their own vaccine.

While CSL says the decision will not impact the company's FY21 profit guidance, shares in the company opened more than 2 per cent lower today.

The vaccine had proven effective during Phase 1 trials conducted in July without any serious adverse effects or safety concerns reported among the 216 participants in the trial. CSL says the vaccine had a robust response towards the virus.

However, tests were abandoned when it was discovered they gave participants a false diagnosis of HIV.

The CSL vaccine produced antibodies that were directed towards the "molecular clamp" component of the vaccine which caused the false HIV readings in some tests.

Follow-up testing showed HIV was not present in those trial participants and that the vaccine itself did not cause HIV.

"This outcome highlights the risk of failure associated with early vaccine development, and the rigorous assessment involved in making decisions as to what discoveries advance," says CSL's chief scientific officer Dr Andrew Nash.

"This project has only been made possible by the innovative science developed by world-class scientists at The University of Queensland and the strong collaboration between our organisations, and many others, over the last 10 months."

Nash says CSL through its Seqirus flu vaccine subsidiary it will continue its efforts to fight COVID-19 through other previously announced relationships, including its deal to produce the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.

"Manufacture of approximately 30 million doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine candidate is under way, with first doses planned for release to Australia early next year," Nash says.

"In addition, CSL has agreed at the request of the Australian Government to manufacture an additional 20 million doses."

A successful outcome from the UQ trials would have led to the large-scale manufacture of this additional vaccine.

While it is possible to re-engineer the vaccine, UQ vaccine co-lead Professor Paul Young says time is not on their side.

"Doing so would set back development by another 12 or so months, and while this is tough decision to take, the urgent need for a vaccine has to be everyone's priority," he says.

"I said at the start of vaccine development that there are no guarantees, but what is really encouraging is that the core technology approach we used has passed the major clinical test.

"It is a safe and well-tolerated vaccine, producing the strong virus neutralising effect that we were hoping to see."

Young says the team plans to undertake further work on the "molecular clamp" technology as a pathway to vaccines for future biosecurity threats.

Updated at 10.25am AEDT on 11 December 2020.

Queensland border reopening to New Zealanders from tomorrow

From 1am tomorrow, Saturday 12 December, Queensland's border will reopen to New Zealand, reuniting families in time for Christmas.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk made the announcement this morning on Nine's Today show, and said the decision was made following health advice.

"Visitors coming in from New Zealand from 1am tomorrow are welcome into Queensland ... and we are hoping that eventually New Zealand will not have to do that hotel quarantine upon return, and then there would be free-flowing movement between the two," she said.

"[Chief Health Officer] Dr Young advised me yesterday that she was more than happy to allow New Zealanders to come into Queensland," she told the Today show.

"It is a wonderful time of year to allow that to happen as well. All the stars are aligned at the moment."

The announcement comes a day after the state announced further easing of COVID-19 restrictions.

Because Queensland has gone 86 days without community transmission dancing indoors will be allowed at Queensland pubs, clubs, nightclubs and other venues from 12 noon on Monday 14 December.

Three new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Queensland yesterday, all returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.

Updated at 9.37am AEDT on 11 December 2020.

Starpharma surges as COVID nasal spray wafts into Europe

Shares in Starpharma (ASX: SPL) surged more than 17 per cent in morning trade after the company announced it was on track to bring its anti-COVID nasal spray to the market earlier than expected.

With an EU regulatory dossier 90 per cent complete, Starpharma says the product, to be marketed as VIRALEZE, will be ready to hit the shelves in the first quarter of next year.

VIRALEZE has been shown to inactivate more than 99.9 per cent of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It is also effective against other respiratory viruses such as influenza.

Starpharma says marketing of the product is well advanced and it is building inventory of components and raw material to support rapid roll-out. The company is preparing to launch in Europe as early as January.

While the upcoming registration approval is restricted to Europe, Starpharma plans to leverage off this to extend the roll-out into other markets including Australia.

The news sent Starpharma shares as high as $1.53 in early trading on the ASX today, up from yesterday's close of $1.30.

Starpharma CEO Dr Jackie Fairley says VIRALEZE has shown it can restore confidence and encourage people to resume daily work and leisure activities.

"Our market research also shows that the compelling features and convenience of VIRALEZE are highly appealing to consumers," she says.

"Even after a vaccine becomes widely available, social distancing, PPE and other measures will continue to be important and VIRALEZE complements other prevention strategies, including vaccines."

VIRALEZE is expected to be used in conjunction with other preventative measures such as COVID-19 vaccines to further reduce the risk of infection.

The World Health Organisation estimated in November that Europe's death rate from COVID-19 is tracking at one person every 17 seconds.

"It is with the greatest urgency that Starpharma is working to make this product ready for market as quickly as possible in 1Q CY21," says Fairley.

Starpharma research shows 60 per cent of people surveyed liked VIRALEZE, with 80 per cent of millennials showing intent to purchase.

Updated at 12.55pm AEDT on 10 December.

Restrictions to ease as SA reports no active cases

With no active cases of COVID-19 in South Australia as of today, a number of COVID-19 restrictions will be eased from next Monday 14 December.

The easing of restrictions will benefit hospitality operators, gyms owners and entertainment facilities, and will enable full family gatherings for the Christmas holiday period.

As such, from Monday 14 December the following restrictions will ease:

• Standing up while drinking at bars will be permitted
• Play gyms will be allowed to reopen
• Capacity limits on home gatherings will increase from 10 to 50 people
• Private functions will be able to see 200 people gather, up from 150 people
• Venues like cinemas and theatres will be able to host up to 70 per cent of capacity with patrons wearing masks indoors
• Gyms will be able to operate under the one person per two square metre rule
• Weddings and funerals will be able to have 200 people in attendance

Further, the recommendation to work from home where possible will be removed and masks will no longer be mandatory except for "high risk" individuals.

The use of the QR code check-in system will be expanded to retailers too.

SA chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said it was great for the state to report no new cases of COVID-19 today and no active cases of the virus.

"I really like zeros," she said.

"Well done, I'm really pleased about that."

The announcement comes after Queensland announced yesterday that travellers from SA would be able to enter the northern state from Saturday.

Updated at 3.22pm AEDT on 8 December 2020.

Queensland to open border to Adelaide from Saturday

Queensland will permit those living in Adelaide to travel unrestricted into the state from 1am on Saturday 12 December.

The reopening of the QLD border to Adelaide is conditional on the South Australian capital recording no new unlinked cases of COVID-19 before Saturday.

QLD health authorities say the reopening is possible because by Saturday it will have been 28 days since the first case was recorded in connection to the Parafield cluster in Adelaide.

With that outbreak now under control, Queensland it set to welcome those in SA back to the sunshine state for Christmas.

The news comes as Western Australia confirmed it will be reopening its border to residents from New South Wales and Victoria.

That reopening occurred overnight, with those in NSW and VIC now able to cross into WA without having to complete 14 days of self-quarantine on arrival.

It brings the two states in line with other jurisdictions already classified as "very low risk", including the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

Queensland reported three new cases of COVID-19 yesterday, all returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.

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Dancefloors open up, density limits drop as Victorian restrictions eased further

As of this morning capacity limits on Victorian businesses and hospitality venues have eased and masks are no longer mandatory in a variety of settings as the state moves towards a "COVIDSafe Summer".

Announced yesterday by Premier Daniel Andrews, these freshly eased restrictions will remain in place until at least the end of January, guiding the state through the summer months.

As of 11:59pm yesterday density limits in pubs, restaurants and cafes shifted to one person per two square metres for both indoors and outdoors.

The use of electronic record keeping with a QR code will be mandatory.

For smaller venues there are no density limits if the patron number is under 25.

Retail and beauty services have also moved to the one person per two square metre rule as long as electronic record keeping is introduced.

The cap for funerals and weddings has also been removed, subject to a new density limit of 1 person per 2sqm, and dancefloors at weddings are allowed for up to 50 people.

A dancefloor of 50 people is also allowed at nightclubs.

In gyms, the density limit has moved to one person per four square metres with exercise classes limited to 50 indoors and 100 outdoors.

Masks are only required in a limited number of places: on public transport, in rideshare vehicles and taxis, in some retail settings including indoor shopping centres, supermarkets, department stores and indoor markets.

The state will move to a 50 per cent return for office workers by 11 January, after considering public health advice at the time.

For the public service up to 25 per cent will be able to return to the office from 11 January, moving up to 50 per cent on 8 February.

"Until we have a vaccine and even then, until we have a widely distributed vaccine some aspects of these rules and restrictions must continue to be part of our reality," Premier Daniel Andrews said.

"Our new "COVIDSafe Summer" will be in place until at least the end of January, giving Victorians a bit more certainty about what the next couple of months will look like."

Victoria reported zero new cases of COVID-19 yesterday and zero new deaths while there are still no active cases of the virus in the state.

Updated at 9.36am AEDT on 7 December 2020.