QLD has recorded 14914 cases of COVID-19, 6 deaths, with 556 in hospital and 26 in ICU.

The 6 people who have lost their lives to COVID were aged between 70 and 90 all of which had significant underlying health conditions.  

Leaders from the states today will be discussing the reopening of schools and the expansion of the list of services that are considered “essential” and should be covered by new isolation exemption rules similar to rules already established in QLD which allow workers to return to work if they do not have COVID-19 symptoms and are fully vaccinated.

QLD health workers are reportedly struggling with workforce shortages that have been felt across the health network; from General practices to hospitals and aged care as the Omicron Variant continues to spread across the state.

With the peak of the current wave not expected for another 2-3 weeks, concerns are mounting as GP surgeries across the South East have been hit particularly hard by staffing shortages.

New data shows that more than 40 teachers in QLD schools had their registration suspended, cancelled or prohibited for a period or were permanently barred from the profession last year.

The Queensland College Of Teacher’s data indicates that this number represents fewer than 0.05% of teachers in the state, however, QCT director Deanne Fishburn stated that ‘even one teacher crossing a professional boundary is one too many. ‘ 

NSW has recorded 92264 cases of COVID-19 and today as the state begins it’s mandated recording of Rapid Antigen Test Results. 

22 people have died of the disease in the latest reporting period making it the deadliest day in the state since the start of the pandemic. 

50,000 of the state’s cases were recorded over the past 7 days but have been included in the latest reporting period.

Tensions remain high after multiple rounds of diplomatic talks between NATO and Russia have failed to force Moscow to move the more than 100,000 troops positioned at the Ukrainian border.

Russia’s demands in exchange for de-escalation are far-reaching; including a commitment from nato to halt any further eastward expansion, and withdrawing troops from nations that border Russia. Both of these demands have been rejected by the US and NATO.

Calls for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to resign are growing after the leader admitted and apologised for attending a 10 Downing Street garden party in May of 2020 as the government was telling people to stay at home.

Johnson, who had previously denied that he had attended the event acknowledged the offence that his attendance had caused the public while insisting that at the time, he believed the event was an extension of work, and thus permissible.