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NSW COVID-19 statistics
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NSW recorded two new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Another person, a man in Baulkham Hills, has tested positive but NSW Health is investigating further to determine if the result is a false positive (based on the low viral load). There was one new case in returning overseas travellers, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,440. In the 24 hours to 8pm last night, NSW Health administered 16,425 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine bringing the total number of doses administered in the state since 22 February 2021 to more than 1.7 million. More information here.
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NSW venues of concern
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NSW Health has released a list of venues attended by the local cases whilst potentially infectious. These include a number of venues in Bondi, Vaucluse, North Ryde, Redfern and Zetland. The full list of venues, dates and times of concern and instructions for those who were also there is available here. NSW Health will continue to update the list as more venues of concern emerge. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has asked Eastern Suburbs residents to remain extra vigilant, telling a press conference today (June 17) “if you're in the eastern suburbs, unless you absolutely have to attend a large gathering, unless you absolutely have to engage in activities of a social nature in the next few days, we ask everybody to refrain from that.”
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AstraZeneca vaccine advice updated
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The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has updated its advice regarding the AstraZeneca vaccine, now recommending it be administered to those aged 60 and above. This is a change from the previous advice that the AstraZeneca vaccine be given to people aged 50 and above. Read more here.
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Victorian restrictions continue to ease
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From 11.59pm Thursday 17 June, the 25km travel limit will be removed and travel between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria will resume. Masks will continue to be required indoors but they are no longer required outdoors. In the 24 hours to midnight last night, Victoria recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19. Read more about the eased restrictions here.
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Unemployment rate falls
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The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 5.1 per cent in May 2021, with employment increasing by 115,000 people from April to May, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). May was the seventh consecutive monthly fall in the unemployment rate. More here.
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New Australia UK free trade agreement
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a new free trade agreement with the UK will deliver more Australian jobs and business opportunities for exporters. The Prime Minister and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson have agreed on the broad outlines of an Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Working Holiday Visa makers in the UK will get expanded rights and will now be able to stay for three years with an increased cut off age of 35. Professionals will also benefit from provisions to support mutual recognition of qualifications and greater certainty for skilled professionals entering the UK labour market. More details here.
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