2020-

Wuhan doco a winner for Sky

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Original article by Sophie Elsworth
The Australian – Page: 3 : 22-Sep-21

Data from OzTAM shows that a Sky News documentary on the origins of COVID-19 attracted 160,000 viewers, making it the pay-TV channel’s highest-rating program so far in 2021. ‘What Really Happened in Wuhan’ was also watched by 100,000 regional viewers on the free-to-air Sky News Regional channel. Former US president Donald Trump and ex-secretary of state Mike Pompeo are among the people who were interviewed by investigative journalist Sharri Markson.

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SKY NEWS

Two NSW regions return to lockdown

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Original article by Mary Ward, Daniella White
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 17-Sep-21

New South Wales has recorded 1,351 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, while the state’s death toll from the current outbreak has risen by 12 for a second consecutive day. The latest fatalities ranged in age from their 40s to their 90s, and Health Minister Brad Hazzard has emphasised that 10 of these people had not been vaccinated. Meanwhile, the regional local government areas of Albury and Lismore will be placed in lockdown for at least seven days after reporting new COVID-19 cases; however, 12 regional LGAs have emerged from lockdown after case numbers stabilised.

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NEW SOUTH WALES. MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Australia on track to live with Covid from early 2022, leading epidemiologist says

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Original article by Melissa Davey
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 8-Sep-21

Deakin University epidemiologist Catherine Bennett believes that Australia will shortly move into a new phase of living with COVID-19. She expects the nation to have the coronavirus under control during the first quarter of 2022 as vaccination rates rise and the focus shifts to suppressing COVID-19. Professor Bennett expects the requirement to wear a face mask indoors and bans on large gatherings to be the last coronavirus restrictions to be scrapped in Australia.

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DEAKIN UNIVERSITY

Tough restrictions, vaccination have saved thousands of lives in Sydney, modelling shows

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Original article by Lucy Cormack, Alexandra Smith
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 8-Sep-21

New South Wales has recorded 1,220 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The state has also reported an additional eight deaths from the current outbreak. Meanwhile, new modelling from the Burnet Institute suggests that the current lockdown of Greater Sydney and the vaccination program may have prevented nearly 5,000 deaths and almost 500,000 infections across the metropolitan area. The modelling also shows that these measures may have averted 5,808 deaths and 580,000 new infections in the 12 local government areas at the centre of the current outbreak.

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THE MACFARLANE BURNET INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH LIMITED

NSW hospitals prepare emergency plans for ICU operations to reach overwhelming status

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Original article by Alexandra Smith, Lucy Cormack, Mary Ward
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 7-Sep-21

New South Wales has recorded 1,281 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases and six additional deaths in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, modelling undertaken by the Burnet Institute on behalf of the state government suggest that case numbers in the 12 local government areas at the epicentre of the current outbreak could soon top 2,000 per day. The modelling also forecasts that the number of people in NSW in intensive care will rise to 947 in October, including 560 cases that are directly attributable to COVID-19. Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been criticised for only realising the modelling that relates to the LGAs of most concern. There are 177 people with COVID-19 in intensive care statewide, including four children under the age of 12.

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NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, THE MACFARLANE BURNET INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH LIMITED

Sky News Australia denies broadcasting Covid misinformation, saying YouTube is totalitarian

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Original article by Amanda Meade
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 7-Sep-21

Sky News Australia CEO Paul Whittaker says he does not accept the suggestion that it "directly or indirectly" promoted misinformation about COVID-19. Whittaker was appearing before the Senate’s media diversity inquiry, and was responding to a question by Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Commenting on the decision by YouTube to remove 23 Sky News videos on the grounds that they breached its medical misinformation policies, Whittaker accused YouTube of being "totalitarian".

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SKY NEWS, YOUTUBE INCORPORATED

NSW Covid hospital numbers surge 42 per cent in a week, but worst to come in October

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Original article by Lucy Carroll, Lucy Cormack, Mary Ward
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 2-Sep-21

New South Wales has recorded 1,116 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, while the state’s toll from the current outbreak has risen to 100 after another four deaths; none of them were vaccinated and they all had underlying health conditions. Some 917 people are in hospital with COVID-19 across NSW, including 150 in intensive care. The hospitalisation rate has surged in the last week, but Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned that this is likely to peak in October. However, she has reiterated that lockdown restrictions will be eased when 70 per cent of the state’s eligible population is fully vaccinated; this target is expected to be reached in mid-October.

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NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Virgin to reward the fully vaxxed

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Original article by Robyn Ironside
The Australian – Page: 15 : 2-Sep-21

Virgin Australia will offer incentives for both staff and customers to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Virgin wants all of its frontline staff to be fully vaccinated by 15 November, and they will be given the opportunity to win prizes such as business-class flights and a holiday on Hamilton Island, as well as extra annual leave. Virgin customers will in turn be offered rewards such as business-class flights and Velocity frequent-flyer points. Winners must have proof of vaccination to claim a prize.

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VIRGIN AUSTRALIA HOLDINGS LIMITED

Andrews abandons zero hopes as cases soar

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Original article by Mitch Clarke, Kieran Rooney
Herald Sun – Page: 9 : 2-Sep-21

Victoria has recorded 120 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours; only 20 were self-isolating for the entire period in which they were infectious, while there are 56 new mystery cases. The state government has formally abandoned its ‘Covid-zero’ strategy, and Premier Daniel Andrews says the focus has shifted to reducing the spread of COVID-19 until vaccination targets are reached. This means lockdown restrictions in Melbourne will not be eased until about 23 September, when 70 per cent of eligible Victorians are expected to have had at least one vaccine dose. Andrews adds that some form of lockdown will remain in place until at least the end of October, when the proportion of Victorians who are fully vaccinated is slated to reach 70 per cent. However, he has flagged an easing of lockdown restrictions in most regional areas in the next week.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

Home quarantine should be widespread once vaccination target is hit, PM says

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Original article by David Crowe, Rachel Clun
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 1-Sep-21

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is continuing to urge the states and territories to support the national plan for reopening the economy when the COVID-19 vaccination target has been reached. He contends that Australians who are returning from overseas should be allowed to quarantine at home rather than in a hotel once 70-80 per cent of eligible adults have been vaccinated. However, he has conceded that internal border closures are a matter for the states; Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan is maintaining a tough stance on border closures.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET