Gastro outbreaks have hit childcare centers in Victoria as case numbers are four times higher than the average. So far this year at least 389 outbreaks have affected childcare centers. A warning issued by the Department of Health says teaching children hand hygiene is key to stopping further outbreaks. Hand sanitiser is not sufficient for preventing gastro as authorities say hand washing and cleaning tables and kitchen tops is the best way to handle the infection.

The Cuban Communist Party has elected Miguel Diaz-Canel to the country’s most powerful position, party first secretary, marking the end of brothers Fidel and Raul Castro’s 62 year rule over the country. Diaz-Canel was appointed president in 2018 and was Raul Castro’s first pick for the position, meaning it is highly unlikely the leadership change will mark a move away from Cuba’s one-party communist system. Fidel and Raul Castro came to power when they overthrew the US-backed government in a 1959 revolution and Cuba has since become an international pariah state, suffering due to Western sa

The Moreton Bay region will welcome back the annual Abbey Medieval Festival from 2-4 July 2021, after the festival was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. 

Festival management have assured festival-goers they are dedicated to recreating an experience of medieval life in a COVID safe way.

Moreton Bay City Councillor Brooke Savige says she’s excited for the event to return to the region, saying it “provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about our rich history and diverse cultures in a fun, engaging and unique way.”

Residents in Ipswich have renewed complaints of contaminated water flowing from a dump west of Brisbane into nearby Six Mile Creek, which then flows into the Bremer and Brisbane rivers.

The Cleanaway New Chum Solid Waste Landfill facility has been fined twice in the past for breaching water flow restrictions, with penalties totalling just over $26,500.

Ipswich Residents Against Toxic Environments secretary Geoff Yarham told the ABC that the penalties were a slap on the wrist for a company of that size.

The MELT: Festival of Queer Arts and Culture will return to Brisbane Powerhouse for it’s sixth year, running from 20-30 May 2021.

The festival is designed to celebrate LGBTIQ+ arts and culture to promote visibility and inclusivity among the queer community.

Events will include cabaret, theatre, visual arts, craft workshops and live music and details can be found at the Brisbane Powerhouse website.

A new book by Epidemiologist Shanna Swan has warned human sperm counts may decline to levels below those considered adequate for fertility within a few generations, as well as increased rates of miscarriages and developmental abnormalities in humans.

Ms Swan reports that lifestyle changes along with chemical exposure is contributing to the higher rates of infertility and is calling for stronger public pressure to regulate chemical usage in her book.

A national survey has been launched to better understand patterns of domestic cannabis growing in order to inform government policy.

The survey is being run by Researchers at Curtin University’s National Drug Research Institute, and is part of a larger international campaign running across 20 other countries.

Participants of the Australian survey can answer anonymously, and will be asked questions about their experiences, motivations and views on cannabis policy.

The Tokyo Olympics may still be cancelled less than one hundred days out from it’s scheduled start, says Toshiro Nikai, Secretary General of Japan’s ruling party.

The country is facing their fourth wave of the pandemic, with 4,300 new daily cases reported last Wednesday. This comes as less than 1 percent of the population have received the vaccination.

Both the Japanese and international Olympic committees have been firm about pushing through lockdown measures to host the games, despite over 75% of respondents in polls nationwide have expressed against it.