- There were 2,501 new cases of COVID-19 in NSW and no deaths over the past 24 hours, a drop of 65 cases on the previous day's record high of 2,566.
- NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he was confident the state could "open up safely" and resisted calls to reinstate mask mandates.
- Dan Suan, an immunologist at Westmead Hospital, says the new Omicron variant is so contagious urgent action is required.
- The Northern Territory’s peak Aboriginal health group says the housing crisis could exacerbate coronavirus case numbers, as borders reopened to the rest of Australia on Monday.
- Australia's population growth is forecast to amount to just 0.3 per cent in 2021/22 before rising to 1.4 per cent by 2024/25.
- Australia's total population is also projected to be 1.5 million people smaller after 10 years, compared with pre-pandemic estimates.
- Queensland's Chief Health Officer says COVID cases in the state are doubling roughly every 48 hours and are expected to "increase significantly" into January.
COVID-19 STATS:
NSW recorded 2,501 locally acquired cases and no deaths.
Victoria recorded 1,302 new community cases and no death.
Queensland recorded 59 cases, the ACT 13, Tasmania and the Northern Territory at three.
Quarantine and restrictions state by state:
Travel
Financial help
There are changes to the COVID-19 Disaster Payment once states reach 70 and 80 per cent fully vaccinated:
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