Good morning everyone, Mostafa Rachwani with you today, and I’ll be guiding you through the news (and the inevitable press conference overlap).
We start in Melbourne, which entered a snap seven-day lockdown yesterday after recording eight new cases. This is the sixth lockdown the city has faced since the pandemic began last year.
Frustrations spilled on to the street, with hundreds of people attending an anti-lockdown protest near Flinders Street station at around 7pm last night.
Flares were lit as the crowds chanted “freedom†and “no more lockdowns.†Here’s hoping it doesn’t lead to an extension of the lockdown.
New South Wales yesterday recorded its worst day of this outbreak, with 262 new infections, a majority of which were under the age of 40, and five deaths.
Queensland continues its lockdown, which is officially due to be lifted on Sunday, although with 16 cases recorded yesterday there is a sense it will be extended.
Finally, Australia is on the verge of recording its greatest ever gold medal tally at the Olympics. We’ve currently equalled our record tally, set in Athens, and one more gold would top us up. Here’s hoping for some good news today.