Weekly COVID news at a glance

These communities are still at risk

While life is returning to normal for many residents across the country, the rates of vaccine coverage among marginalised communities vary widely, with many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people living with disability still at risk.

As of 5 November, 79.6 per cent of participants on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 70.4 per cent were fully vaccinated, according to federal health department figures. However, those NDIS figures represent only a small portion of Australians living with disability, for whom the government has not provided statistics on how many have been vaccinated.

Population falls for the first time in 100 years

Australia’s population has fallen for the first time in 100 years due to border closures stalling migration. Between July and September 2020, the population fell 0.02 per cent as more people left the country than arrived. Before the pandemic, annual population growth was about 1.5 per cent, most of it coming from overseas arrivals. Australia last experienced population decline in December 1916, during World War I by 1.0 per cent. Fertility rates have also lowered, although not as significantly.

Australia relies on migrants for two-thirds of its population growth so the closed border will affect the national economy. Without skilled migrants, international students and backpackers, Australia is already experiencing student and workforce shortages in construction, education and agriculture. Despite the vaccine rollout, it’s unclear how long Australia’s border will remain closed and how long it will take for the country to recover from population decline. 

Victoria, NSW open border to ‘free travel’

Victoria has completely thrown open its border to NSW, even to those not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Premier Daniel Andrews and NSW counterpart Dominic Perrottet issued a joint statement on Thursday night announcing the states would open their borders to each other from Friday. 

Travel between the two states had already been unrestricted for the fully vaccinated from Monday. But from 11.59pm on Thursday, all remaining NSW and ACT orange zones were downgraded to green under Victoria’s travel permit system.

The change allows all travellers and workers to enter Victoria without any testing or quarantine requirements, including unvaccinated people, if they apply for a permit beforehand to verify they are not COVID-positive or a close contact.

Fully vaccinated Victorians can also freely travel into NSW unless they’ve been to a place of high concern, but those over 16 who are not double-dosed still cannot for recreation or a holiday.

‘Long-term impact’ of drop in international students 

 

The number of international students applying to study at Australian universities has more than halved while borders remained closed due to COVID-19, new data shows. 

Applications by international students to attend Australian universities have dropped 51 per cent since March this year, according to international student recruitment marketplace Adventus. 

Adventus chief executive officer Ryan Trainor said students who would have typically chosen Australia as a study destination are looking elsewhere.

“This may have a long-term impact on the country as we have lost nearly two years of students and the flow-on effect may have longer-term implications if the government does not create a united, every-state message to the students worldwide,” Mr Trainor said.

Midweek Melbourne money

A $44 million package has been unveiled to revitalise Melbourne’s CBD as workers and visitors return after the city’s sixth lockdown.

From November 15, diners will be able to claim 30 per cent off their bills – up to $150 – between Monday and Thursday each week. The more than 200,000 rebates will be up for grabs at restaurants, cafes and bars in the CBD, Lygon Street, North Melbourne, Southbank, South Wharf and Docklands.

The package also includes $10.4 million to help businesses trade outdoors and at night, $15.7 million to boost the city’s events calendar, $14 million to revitalise public areas and $3.6 million to provide an enhanced business concierge service.

Two positive cases at Melbourne Cup Day

A worker and patron who attended Melbourne Cup Day have tested positive to COVID-19, with a large contact tracing effort now underway.

A contractor who worked at Flemington Racecourse on Derby Day and Melbourne Cup Day, and a patron who attended Cup Day, have become infected with the virus, the Victoria Racing Club confirmed on Friday. Both individuals are fully vaccinated and the two cases are not linked, with Stakes Day on Saturday still scheduled to go ahead.

About 10,000 people attended Flemington on Tuesday, including 500 members of the general public, after Victoria’s public health restrictions were eased to allow events.