COVID-19 Update: Four million Victorians fully vaccinated, NSW announces community sport is back

This is your update on the Coronavirus in Australia for 23 October 2021.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has announced a $25m boost for community sport. Source: AAP

Four million Victorians are now fully vaccinated
The NSW Premier has described the skills and labour shortage as 'a real challenge'
Qantas says sales of international flights have exceeded domestic ones

Victoria

Victoria has reported 1,750 new coronavirus cases and nine deaths, as residents wake up to their first weekend out of the state's sixth lockdown.

Of 770 patients in hospital, 144 are in intensive care and 90 are on ventilators.

Authorities have warned daily cases are expected to reach record highs in the coming weeks.

Victoria’s COVID-19 Commander, Jeroen Weimar, said over four million Victorians are now fully vaccinated which puts the state in a strong position to continue easing of restrictions.

NSW

New South Wales has recorded 332 new local COVID-19 cases and two deaths.

Late on Friday authorities announced that

several

schools had been closed with immediate effect ahead of deep-cleaning and contact tracing.

Premier Dominic Perrottet addressed the skills and labour shortage in regional areas and especially the hospitality sector which he described as "a real challenge". He said trade was up 200 per cent and staff down 50 per cent.

The state has announced a $25 million support package to boost community sport.

The past 24 hours around Australia

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce says the airline had seen a "phenomenal reaction" and "massive" demand in light of its decision to move forward flights. A large number of flights sold out in a few hours, and international sales have been exceeding domestic ones, he said.
ACT records 24 cases, Queensland records no cases.

Quarantine, travel, testing clinics and pandemic disaster payment

Quarantine and testing requirements are managed and enforced by state and territory governments:

NSW

and

VIC

and

ACT

and

and

QLD

and

and

TAS

and

and

If you want to travel overseas, you may be able to apply online for an exemption.

Click here

for more information about the conditions to leave Australia. There are temporary measures for international flights that are regularly reviewed by the government and updated on the

Smart Traveller

website.