Weekly COVID news at a glance

1  COVID Cases could rise after 10 days

Experts warn that New South Wales case numbers, infections and hospital admissions are expected to rise in the coming fortnight. An increase in cases following reopening has been seen in Denmark where restrictions dropped when the vaccination rate hit 70 per cent, and the UK, which opened with 53 per cent fully vaccinated.

The Australian Medical Association said the current reopening plan is moving too fast, too soon as NSW public hospitals who are currently running at or close to 100 per cent capacity will and struggle with an influx of COVID-19 cases. Regional New South Wales is also at risk as it has struggled to match Greater Sydney’s vaccination rate.

2 Booster for vulnerable Australians

More vulnerable Australians will get booster vaccines from November 8, should the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommend a third dose.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd revealed the key date Australia should begin rolling out more doses of a third COVID-19 booster shot.

Professor Kidd said it’s likely the vaccines will be made available to the immunocompromised and those in healthcare and aged-care homes first. Professor Kidd said the TGA and ATAGI are currently considering wider booster doses for all double-vaccinated citizens.

3  NSW unveils tourism campaign

The NSW government has unveiled a new tourism campaign to sell the state to domestic and international visitors as it reopens. Premier Dominic Perrottet and Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres on Sunday launched the advertising campaign, titled Feel New.

The campaign cost “a couple of million dollars” to produce and about $10 million has been allocated so far to promote it in TV, print and social media. A TV spot features some of NSW’s most treasured locations as well as a cover of Nina Simone’s 1965 classic Feeling Good by Northern Beaches artist Azure Ryder and Sydney-based producer duo Breathe.

Mr Ayres said the campaign was already in the works before the pandemic hit but it would help the industry get back on its feet as domestic and international borders reopen.

4  Campaign launched to boost Indigenous vaccination rates

The federal government is launching two new coronavirus campaigns – one aimed at vaccination stragglers and the other focused on Indigenous Australians.

Australia’s vaccine rollout co-ordinator John Frewen said the new campaign “Spread Freedom” is focused on that last 10 to 15 per cent of the nation who are yet to come forward and get vaccinated.

The second campaign, “For All Of Us”, is aimed at Australia’s Indigenous people. He said more than 60 per cent of First Nations people have received one vaccine dose and close to 50 per cent were fully vaccinated.

Parts of Australia now exceed 90 per cent in terms of single dose vaccinations, which former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth says should see COVID-19 lockdowns being a thing of the past.

5  Asylum seekers detained in Melbourne test positive

A Melbourne detention hotel has had a COVID-19 outbreak with 17 asylum seekers tested positive and one person hospitalised. The growing outbreak at Park Hotel has raised safety concerns and calls for asylum seekers to be relocated to safer accommodation.

Refugee advocates say the hotel is not an adequately set up  quarantine facility, with poor ventilation driving infection rates and residents feeling unsafe. The Australian Border Force said that all people have been offered the COVID-19 vaccine. Only 55 per cent of people in immigration detention are fully vaccinated. 

6  Doctors will continue to treat unvaccinated people

The Australian Medical Association has confirmed that doctors will continue to treat unvaccinated people who fall ill with COVID-19. The Australian Medical Association confirmed this after the president of its Victorian branch suggested COVID-19 deniers and those who refused to be vaccinated should opt out of receiving public healthcare if they became ill with the disease.

The clarification comes after these comments caused confusion as to whether COVID-19 deniers and those refusing vaccination would be able to access public healthcare if they caught COVID-19. Health authorities warn that unvaccinated people are most at risk of becoming unwell and putting the lives of others at risk, including the doctors and nurses who provide treatment for COVID-19. Health authorities urge everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated.