- From today Monday 21 February Australian borders are open to double vaccinated visitors, restarting international tourism after more than 700 days of closure.
- Western Australia will be subject from today Monday 21 February to revised restrictions, reintroducing limits to private gatherings at home (30 people) and outdoors (200 people) in most regions.
- Capacity limits following a 2sqm rule will be reintroduced in most regions for Western Australian hospitality, fitness, entertainment and cultural venues, places of worship, hairdressers, beauty services and nightclubs.
- Only four visitors per day will be allowed for hospital patients and residents at disability and aged care facilities in most regions of Western Australia.
- An indoor mask mandate will now be extended to the entire state of Western Australia.
- Victoria launched a 200 million dollar business stimulus program to support the hospitality and entertainment industry to recover from what the Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula called "a tougher summer than we would have anticipated" due to the Omicron wave.
- A 25 per cent rebate will be offered at Victorian dining venues on bills between 40 and 500 dollars. Vouchers will also be offered for entertainment venues and travel. Seniors will get priority access by registering before the public release.
- Queen Elizabeth II has been diagnosed with COVID-19. Buckingham palace says she's experiencing mild, cold-like symptoms and she's expected to continue light duties at her Windsor residence.
- Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath says statewide suspension of elective surgeries will stay in place till the end of the month.
COVID-19 Australian Stats
New South Wales reported 1,288 patients hospitalised with 74 in intensive care. There were 7 deaths, and 4,916 new cases of COVID-19.
In Victoria, 361 people are in hospital with 49 in ICU and 11 on ventilators. There were 3 deaths and 5,611 new infections.
In Queensland, there were 4,114 new COVID-19 cases and 6 deaths. In the public hospital system there are 384 patients with COVID-19, in addition to 17 patients in private hospitals, with a total number of 37 patients in intensive care.
Tasmania has recorded no deaths with 569 new COVID-19 cases. 10 people are in hospital with COVID-19, two of them in ICU.
In the ACT 37 people are now in hospital with COVID-19, with 1 patient in intensive care. One death has been reported with 458 new cases.
In Western Australia 224 new COVID-19 cases have been reported.
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