Australia news LIVE: Experts say COVID-19 cases in NSW, Victoria may have peaked; concession card holders now eligible for free rapid antigen tests

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Key posts

  • Pharmacists struggling to meet demand for free COVID test kits
  • We’re on the downward slope of the Omicron wave: experts
  • This morning’s headlines at a glance

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Pharmacists struggling to meet demand for free COVID test kits

Chemists across the country say they do not have enough rapid antigen tests to start handing out free kits to pensioners when the federal scheme begins today, with the Pharmacy Guild criticising the government for failing to regulate the kits’ sale.

Pharmacists are preparing for a rush on rapid antigen tests on day one of the program to supply up to 10 free tests to 6.6 million concession cardholders. While the big chain stores such as Chemist Warehouse will have plenty of kits, thousands of smaller chemists have struggled to find stock.

Collingwood pharmacist Wan Lim says she has not been able to source rapid tests cheaply enough to make it worth participating in the scheme.Credit:Chris Hopkins

“It’s just gone all Hunger Games on us,” Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey said.

Out of almost 5500 pharmacies not associated with Chemist Warehouse, just 700 had rapid antigen tests available for the pensioner scheme as of yesterday morning.

Read the full story here.

We’re on the downward slope of the Omicron wave: experts

Experts say the Omicron wave has probably reached its peak, with COVID-19 case numbers in Victoria and NSW now likely to be on the downward slope, even with an expected surge as schools reopen.

Three epidemiologists who have analysed average case number and hospitalisation patterns in Victoria and NSW forecast that COVID-19 hospital admissions will soon reach a peak, followed by deaths, but will eventually follow the decline in overall case numbers, most likely sometime in February.

That view is shared by Victoria’s top health official, with Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton declaring yesterday that a peak in Victoria’s cases was “likely behind us”.

NSW’s seven-day average for case numbers reached a peak of over 47,000 on December 17, which has now dropped to below 28,000.

Victoria peaked at around 40,000 cases on January 14, which has lowered to around 19,000.

More on the coronavirus numbers here.

This morning’s headlines at a glance

Good morning and thanks for your company.

It’s Monday, January 24. I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.

Here’s what you need to know before we get started.

  • Experts say the Omicron coronavirus wave has probably reached its peak. As Timna Jacks reports, daily case numbers in Victoria and NSW are on a downwards trend. It comes as NSW and Victoria unveil their return-to-school plans (which involve twice-weekly rapid antigen tests for the first four weeks of term one). Yesterday, NSW reported 20,324 cases of COVID-19 and 34 deaths. Meanwhile, Victoria recorded 13,091 cases and 14 deaths.
  • More than 6.6 million Australians are now eligible for free rapid antigen tests. But as Dana Daniel writes, chemists across the country say they do not have enough tests for concession card holders (who are entitled to 10 free tests).
  • Queensland has overhauled some of its coronavirus rules for the workplace. From today, “critically essential” workers (such as disability and aged care staff and telecommunications workers) may continue to complete shifts even if they’re deemed a close contact. Yesterday, Queensland recorded 11,947 new cases of COVID-19 and 10 deaths.

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