Weekly COVID news at a glance

1  Make it back on track

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has signalled that Australia will move to using mass COVID vaccination clinics to distribute the vaccine. This move is expected later in the year in a bid to get the vaccine rollout back on track.

Mr Morrison had previously opposed the idea of the mass hubs but changed his position on Wednesday, saying the country needs to go to mass vaccination options and that it will be done in partnership with states and territories.

The federal government is still attempting to complete vaccinations for the most vulnerable people by the mid-year. Mr Morrison also confirmed that the national cabinet would meet twice a week until issues with the rollout are solved and “the program is back on track”.

2  Aged care homes low vaccination rates

COVID-19 vaccination rates in aged care homes across the country have been moving at slower rates than planned. But, as the ABC reported, one private aged care provider in Melbourne has managed to vaccinate almost all its staff and residents after taking matters into its own hands.

TLC Aged Care might become the first aged care provider to complete their vaccinations. As they had the capability to do so, they asked the government for permission to administer their own vaccine doses. But most aged care providers don’t have the facilities or expertise to take on the same job.

So far across the country, around one quarter of aged care home residents have been vaccinated, but many places have not even begun immunisations.

3  Sports grants to multicultural young people

The Victorian State Government has announced new grants to support multicultural young people in developing leadership skills by coming together through sport.

Minister for Youth Ros Spence announced 450 thousand dollars for sporting organisations that deliver mentoring and skill building activities for African and Muslim young people.

This includes 150 thousand dollars each for the Bachar Houli Foundation, Western Bulldogs Community Foundation and The Huddle, all organisations which run programs supporting and encouraging Muslim and African youth.

Minister Spence stated that “sport is a fantastic way to engage young people with their communities, build confidence and grow leadership skills”.

4  Skilled migrants impacts to AUS

Economists say skilled migrants are the answer to Australia’s economic recovery, as national job vacancies across the country remain high. 

The ABC reported that SEEK’s new report showed jobs posted on their website in March were the highest in their history. But applications for those jobs were at the lowest level since 2012. Economist Angela Jackson says one reason for the low level of applications is that the roles advertised require the skills migrants normally provide.

Due to Australia’s closed international borders, the number of migrants able to fill such roles has been dwindling. Dr Jackson says as long as low migrant numbers impact tourism and tertiary education, the jobs market and Australia’s economy will also suffer.

5  Face masks do matter

New research shows that mandatory masks during Victoria’s second wave of COVID in 2020 helped to “save thousands”. The study was conducted by epidemiologists and experts from both Monash and James Cook universities.

The researchers developed modelling that looked at the measures taken during Victoria’s second wave and found that mandatory mask wearing was the single biggest factor in driving down case numbers. The modelling found face coverings to have reduced transmission and infection risk by between 31 and 46 per cent and that the measures prevented Victoria’s hospitals from being overrun.

6  Ramadan on 2021

Muslims across the world began marking Ramadan with socially distanced communal prayers on 13th April Tuesday. This was a contrast to the empty mosques of a year ago when Islam’s holiest month coincided with the start of the pandemic.

Although Ramadan is an occasion marked by fasting, Indonesia’s top Muslim clerical body said Muslims eligible for vaccinations were not only allowed but “required” to get them during Ramadan.

While Muslims abstain from all food and drink in daylight hours during Ramadan, the vaccine enters muscle rather than the bloodstream and is not nutrition, so it does not invalidate fasting, according to the head of fatwas for the Indonesian Ulema Council.