COVID19 News (as of 29th September)

AUSTRALIA

Another case of COVID-19 has been linked to recent anti-lockdown and anti-mandatory vaccination protests in Melbourne. Victoria’s Department of Health last week confirmed that a person who attended the protests in the CBD on Wednesday, September 22 was in hospital with the virus. Protest action in Melbourne has been minimal this week, with a planned rally fizzling on Monday and only 15 people fined on Tuesday for breaching the Chief Health Officer’s directions as part of a truck drivers’ protest.

Queensland’s mystery cases mean there are likely COVID infections that have been spreading undetected in the community, with an infectious disease expert warning there will be more cases discovered in the coming days. Melbourne epidemiologist Professor Nancy Baxter told ABC’s News Breakfast that contact tracers will be looking at how many people have been infected by the known cases and also how those mystery contracted the virus.

COVID-19 disaster payments offering lockdown-affected workers up to $750 a week will start phasing down from October as soon as each state hits 80 per cent double dosed vaccination rates and will be scrapped from November. Under the plan outlined, the automatic renewal of the payments will now end when a state hit 70 per cent double dosed adults. In NSW & Victoria the states are expected to hit the 70 per cent double dosed target in mid- October.

Area	NSW	QLD	VIC
​Numbers / Cases	863 (15 deaths)	1	950 (7 deaths)
​Restriction/s	​Parts of regional NSW deemed 'low risk' will be allowed to leave home and enjoy shopping, pubs, clubs and events.	No restrictions on leaving home. No restrictions on outdoor events,	Travel up to 15km from home in metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas in lockdown.
*Face mask is still compulsory	Anyone entering an LGA of concern for the purposes of work must carry a worker permit issued by Service NSW.	Businesses and venues are now allowed to reopen with one person per 4 sq metres, or 50% capacity when seated.	Mitchell Shire will remain in lockdown.
	​Authorized workers from the LGAs of concern are required to carry a permit from Service NSW.	There are no travel restrictions, however reconsider the need to travel outside regional Queensland.	Real estate inspections will resume by appointment only. Essential workers who can’t work from home need to get a permit to go to work.

MALAYSIA (SARAWAK)

KPJ Healthcare will vaccinate more than 1,600 students in Kuching under its Covid-19 school vaccination programme in a bid to continue reaching out to another segment of society. The drive also commences the largest private healthcare services in Malaysia in collaborations with Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education (MOE) and State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC). KPJ Kuching Specialist Hospital (KcSH) has been identified as one of private hospitals in the state capital to be a PPV (vaccination centres) and it has been given the task to assist MOE in providing vaccinations to students at selected schools in state capital.

Restrictions in Kuching (Sarawak)	Cases / Numbers
All business sectors operate from 5am to 10pm (80% of employees are allowed present at a time)	657
No public gathering / loitering after 10pm.
Movement between cities and sub-districts is allowed.
No travelling without permit.
Only those fully vaccinated are allowed inside government complexes, malls, and shops.
Non-contact sports / activities are allowed.