QLD records 6 COVID-19 deaths and 14914 Cases
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 reportedly struggling with work shortages as Omicron spreads
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.
40 of QLD's teachers reprimanded for unacceptable behaviour last year, new data finds
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 records 92264 cases of COVID-19, as state mandates recording of positive Rapid Antigen Tests
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 high as NATO/Russia talks stall over Russian troops at Ukrainian Border
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.
Boris Johnson admits to attending 2020 party during height of COVID lockdown
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.
THURSDAY 13/1/2022 9AM ZEDLINES
Your Thursday Zedlines with Wes.
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Nurses Union calls for mandatory Rapid Antigen Tests for essential workers
The Secretary of the QLD Nurses and midwife’s union has called for daily Rapid Antigen Tests to be made mandatory for all essential workers, as the state recorded 22,069 Covid cases yesterday.
Secretary Beth Mohle stated that it was ‘an incredibly stressful time for everyone with thousands of nurses unable to work due to contracting or being exposed to COVID-19.
The union’s call has come as QLD has struggled to keep up with demand for Rapid Antigen Tests as the Omicron variant continues to spread rapidly throughout the community.
Member for Moggil calls for more bridges over the Brisbane River to be built to ease congestion.
Opposition education and arts spokesman and member for Moggil Christian Rowan has called for more bridges to be built spanning the Brisbane River, in order to alleviate congestion and improve road safety.
Specifically, Rowan has called for a full traffic road bridge that would connect Bellbowrie and River Hills and connect with the centenary highway, stating that traffic planning in the area was ‘just madness and piecemeal’
New report finds proposed gas development in QLD's Lake Eyre Basin would increase national carbon emissions by 60%
A new report has found that a proposed gas development in the Lake Eyre Basin in QLD could increase national carbon emissions by 60%.
The proposed gas development in the environmentally fragile Basin Area has been done so without the consultation of local traditional owners and experts have said that if just 25% of the gas was recovered, that would be ‘incompatible’ with QLD’s emission reduction targets.