Two more deaths from AstraZeneca side effects

Original article by Matthew Denholm
The Australian – Page: 4 : 23-Jul-21

The Therapeutic Good Administration has advised that 87 cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome have been recorded nationwide since the COVID-19 vaccination rollout began. Five Australians have now died from the rare blood clotting disorder that has been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, with a 48-year-old Victorian woman and a 44-year-old Tasmanian man passing away in the last week. The death of a sixth person who had received their first dose of the AstraZeneca jab has been attributed to an even rarer condition known as immune thrombocytopenia, which involves a low platelet count.

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AUSTRALIA. THERAPEUTIC GOODS ADMINISTRATION

AstraZeneca blitz: PM says get the jab now

Original article by Olivia Caisley
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 23-Jul-21

Prime Scott Morrison says he is sorry that the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccination rollout has missed a series of targets. However, he says it is "totally focused" on turning this around. Morrison has also revealed plans to ramp up the number of pharmacies that are able to provide COVID-19 vaccinations, while he has urged younger Australians to get the AstraZeneca vaccine. Morrison contends that the emergence of the Delta variant in Australia means that the AstraZeneca vaccine should no longer be restricted to people over the age of 60, and notes that the Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved its use among people aged 18+. Meanwhile, the TGA is set to approve Pfizer’s application for its vaccine to be given to children aged 12-16.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, ASTRAZENECA PLC, AUSTRALIA. THERAPEUTIC GOODS ADMINISTRATION

Consider getting AstraZeneca if you are under 40: Berejiklian

Original article by Alexandra Smith, Lucy Carroll, Liam Mannix
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 23-Jul-21

New South Wales has recorded 124 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, including 48 people who were active in the community while they were infectious. There are 118 people across NSW in hospital with the coronavirus, including 15 who are under the age of 35. Premier Gladys Berejiklian says people under the age of 40 should get the AstraZeneca vaccine if their GP advises them to do so, rather than wait for the Pfizer jab. Meanwhile, Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid says lockdowns may not be enough to contain the Delta variant, so the AstraZeneca vaccine may be a good option for people under the age of 60.

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NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Pubs plan one-size-fits-all pay for full-timers

Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 6 : 21-Jul-21

The Australian Hotels Association has proposed the introduction of all-in pay rates for full-time workers in the hospitality sector. AHA CEO Stephen Ferguson says that no employee would be disadvantaged under the proposed loaded rates regime, which would provide workers with higher above-award pay rates in lieu of some penalty rates. He says many employees in the sector would benefit from a simplified pay system. The United Workers Union will consult with its members regarding the proposal, which has been put before the Fair Work Commission.

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AUSTRALIAN HOTELS ASSOCIATION, UNITED WORKERS UNION, AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION

Three NSW regional councils go into lockdown

Original article by Anna Caldwell
The Daily Telegraph – Page: 7 : 21-Jul-21

New South Wales has recorded 78 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, including 29 people who were active in the community while they were infectious. Meanwhile, three local government areas in regional NSW will be subject to stage one lockdown restrictions for at least seven days in order to contain the spread of the Delta variant. A pet food delivery driver from south-west Sydney is believed to have been highly infectious when he recently visited a number of exposure sites in the shires of Orange, Blayney and Cabonne. Residents will only be permitted to leave their home for four essential reasons, although schools will remain open.

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South Australia enters snap seven-day lockdown

Original article by Andrew Hough, Kara Jung, Katelin Nelligan, Gabriel Polychronis, Antimo Iannella
The Advertiser – Page: Online : 21-Jul-21

Premier Steven Marshall says South Australia is facing a "real and present threat" from the Delta variant of COVID-19. His government has imposed South Australia’s third lockdown since the pandemic began, after the cluster in the Adelaide suburb of Modbury rose to five people. Health authorities have identified more than 50 exposure sites that are linked to the oubreak. Residents of Adelaide, Gawler and the Adelaide Hills will be entitled to federal income support of up to $600 a week after Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly designated them as ‘hotspots’. The federal government is under growing pressure to reinstate the JobKeeper scheme, with more than 13 million Australians now subject to lockdowns.

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SOUTH AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF HEALTH

Andrews extends lockdown, tightens Sydney border rules

Original article by Michael Fowler, Aisha Dow, Melissa Cunningham
The Age – Page: Online : 21-Jul-21

Victoria has recorded 13 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, including one mystery case. Four of the new cases were active in the community while they were infectious. The state government has responded by extending the state-wide lockdown by another seven days; it is now slated to end at 11.59pm on 27 July, although health experts caution that this will depend on the case load at the time. The government has also closed its borders to all travellers from New South Wales and the ACT for two weeks, including Victorian residents who are not deemed to be authorised workers or qualify for an exemption on compassionate grounds.

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ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence plunges 5.7pts to 104.3 – its lowest since early November 2020 as lockdown extended in Sydney and Melbourne goes into fifth lockdown

Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 21-Jul-21

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence fell 5.7pts to 104.3 on July 17/18, after the Greater Sydney lockdown was extended until at least the end of July and Melbourne entered an unprecedented fifth lockdown late last week. Consumer Confidence is now sitting clearly below the 2021 weekly average of 110.9; however, it is still 13.6 points higher than the same week a year ago (90.7). Now 29% (up 2ppts) of Australians say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 28% (up 1ppt) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. In addition, 38% (down 1ppt) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, and 17% (up 3ppts) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. Some 15% (down 2ppts) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 24% (up 6ppts) expect ‘bad times’ (the highest figure for this indicator since late November 2020). Meanwhile, 36% (down 7ppts) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 30% (up 6ppts) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’ – an overall swing of 13ppts and the worst result for this question since early November 2020.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Victoria’s snap lockdown to be extended

Original article by Jade Gailberger, John Dagge, Miles Proust
Herald Sun – Page: 7 : 19-Jul-21

Victoria has recorded 16 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, while a Mildura man will be added to the case numbers for 19 July. He tested positive after returning home from Melbourne, where he attended an AFL match at the MCG; it is the regional city’s first COVID-19 in more than a year. Meanwhile, the Victorian government is expected to extend the state-wide lockdown until Friday at the earliest, amid concern about a number of potential ‘super-spreading’ exposure sites. Premier Daniel Andrews has ruled out any changes to lockdown restrictions in regional areas, saying the Mildura case shows how quickly the coronavirus can spread. There are currently 60 active locally-acquired cases in Victoria.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Beijing’s second spy ship surprise

Original article by Ben Packham
The Australian – Page: 6 : 19-Jul-21

China has sent two intelligence-gathering ships to monitor military exercises in Queensland involving Australian and US forces. Defence Minister Peter Dutton said that the federal government had expected China to send one ship, but that the second ship was a bit of a surprise. He said he expects the Chinese to conduct themselves in accordance with the international rules of law, while a Defence spokesperson has stated that all participants in the Talisman Sabre exercises have taken appropriate steps to safeguard their information security.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF DEFENCE