Get up to speed with all the coronavirus news from across Australia.
Look back to see how the day's news unfolded.
Key events
Live updates
By Jacqueline Howard
Cases, hospitalisations and deaths
If you don't see your state or territory yet, don't worry - these numbers are updated throughout the day.
For a detailed breakdown of cases across the country, check out Charting the Spread.
NSW: 13,354 new cases, 2,693 people in hospital, 186 in ICU, 49 deaths.
VIC: 12,250 new cases, 953 people in hospital, 114 in ICU, 31 deaths.
TAS: 683 new cases, 17 people in hospital.
SA: 1,740 new cases, 283 people in hospital, 29 in ICU, five deaths.
ACT: 620 new cases, 61 people in hospital, five in ICU.
QLD: 10,391 new cases, 833 people in hospital, 53 in ICU, 12 deaths.
NT: 828 new cases, 111 people in hospital, 5 in ICU.
WA: 23 new cases,1 person in hospital.
By Dan Nancarrow
That's all folks
Thanks for reading the blog today. We will be back tomorrow. In the meantime you can keep up to date with the latest news on the pandemic at the Coronavirus section of our site.
By Dan Nancarrow
'Club Bootylicious' attendees told to isolate
WA Health said on Friday that transmission had been confirmed at the Library nightclub and urged anyone who had attended the club — including the "Club Bootylicious" event — to be tested immediately and isolate until receiving a negative result.
The "Club Bootylicious" event was held between 9:30pm on Saturday, January 22, and 5am on Sunday, January 23.
By Dan Nancarrow
Joni Mitchell to join Neil Young in removing songs from Spotify
Singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell says she will remove her catalogue from Spotify in solidarity with fellow Canadian musical artist Neil Young's stance against COVID "misinformation" on the streaming service.
Mitchell cited Young's stance as a motivating factor behind her decision, as well as a letter from 270 scientific and medical experts calling for Spotify to implement a misinformation policy in response to contentious claims aired by Dr Robert Malone on an episode of the Joe Rogan Experience.
"I've decided to remove all my music from Spotify," Mitchell's statement said.
"Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives. I stand in solidarity with Neil Young and the global scientific and medical communities on this issue."
As of Saturday afternoon, Mitchell's music was still available on the streaming platform in Australia.
Mitchell's announcement comes after Young's music was removed from Spotify in response to a letter the musician addressed to his manager and record label demanding the streaming service no longer carry his music because, he said, Rogan had spread misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.
By Dan Nancarrow
Western Australia records 22 new local COVID-19 cases
Of the 22 new cases, 14 are linked to the Library Nightclub Cluster in Perth, one is likely linked to the greater Bunbury cluster, and six are household contacts from clusters in the South West, Safety Bay, Rockingham, Willagee and Wheatbelt.
One case is under investigation, with no link to any known clusters.
Some of today's cases have been infectious while in the community.
One new case relating to interstate travel has also been reported.
By Jacqueline Howard
That's it from me
I'll hand you over to Daniel Nancarrow who will be keeping an ear on the ground for numbers coming out of WA.
By Jacqueline Howard
Outdoor mask mandate for Northern Territory
The NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles says because of the increase in cases a Territory-wide outdoor mask mandate will be put in place.
From 6:00pm today, the Northern Territory will be placed under a seven-day mask mandate for outdoors.
It applies to anyone in the Territory over 12 years of age and cannot physically distance. If you are exercising or can keep a physical distance, you do not need to be wearing a mask.
At this stage, after seven days, the mask mandate will be reverted to indoors only.
Gunyangara (Ski Beach) in East Arnhem , Wurrumiyanga on the Tiwi Islands and Utopia will all leave lockdown as scheduled today at 2:00pm.
By Jacqueline Howard
Northern Territory records 828 cases
The Northern Territory has recorded 828 cases in the latest reporting period. 648 of those results came from rapid tests, 180 from PCR tests.
Yesterday's case numbers revised up to 1,006 due to some extra RATs being uploaded.
It brings the total number of active cases to 4,650. More than half of these are in the top end, and a quarter in Central Australia.
There are currently 111 territorians in hospitals across the state. Ten of those are on oxygen and five are in ICUs.
By Jacqueline Howard
The Northern Territory is live
Tune in here:
By Jacqueline Howard
BBC investigation raises doubts over timing of Novak Djokovic's positive COVID test
The date of a positive COVID test Novak Djokovic used to enter Australia has been called into question by a BBC investigation which analysed the serial numbers of test results he submitted to the Federal Court.
The world number one tennis player was deported earlier this month after the Federal Court rejected his bid to overturn a federal government decision to cancel his visa.
Djokovic's initial medical exemption was granted on the basis he tested positive on December 16, 2021.
Among documents Djokovic's lawyers filed to the Federal Court were two COVID-19 tests — one which indicated he had tested positive on December 16, 2021, and one which showed he had tested negative on December 22, 2021.
The documents submitted to the Federal Court included a confirmation from the acting director of Serbia's health body confirming the accuracy of the dates on the certificates.
However, the BBC investigation found Djokovic's two tests were out of sequence, as the serial number for the later test (7320919) was lower than the earlier test (7371999).
Examining 56 COVID-19 tests they had gathered from Serbia, the BBC found that all the codes fit in the same chronological order, except for Djokovic's December 16 positive test.
According to their analysis, the serial number of Djokovic's positive test fit chronologically in between tests dated December 25 and December 28. The BBC said this suggested his positive test result may have actually occurred sometime between these two dates.
By Jacqueline Howard
People who have had COVID recently are not immune
If someone has recovered from COVID, do they need to wear a mask, or indeed undertake any restrictions, given that they can't transmit or be or get reinfected for at least 3 months?
-Dr Matt
Dr Matt, someone who has had recovered recently has a lowered, not zero, chance of catching COVID again.
As a result, they do need to follow the same health directions as others in the state, such as wearing a mask and social distancing.
By Jacqueline Howard
New Zealand records 97 new cases
New Zealand has recorded 97 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total number of active cases to 1,405.
There are seven people being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals across the nation.
By Jacqueline Howard
If I've had COVID, how long do I wait before I get my booster?
Can the Vic press conf provide if you've had Covid in the new year and were vaccinated late October when is a safe time frame to get the third booster after getting over Covid symptoms??
There are no RATs anywhere, Drs saying that best to leave booster to at least 3 months following infection.
Who is telling the truth and advising safely what is the best safe tine after infection?
-Aeva
The current ATAGI advice* is that you can have your booster once you have recovered from the acute infection, however you may choose to wait least three months after you're well to get your booster dose. A COVID infection stimulates the immune system like a vaccine, meaning you will produce antibodies that help increase your protection against COVID.
*The blog sometimes glitches when we post external links, so if you'd like to read the ATAGI advice, head to:
health [dot] gov [dot] au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/advice-for-providers/clinical-guidance/additional-considerations
By Jacqueline Howard
If this is the first you've heard about the Omicron BA.2 variant, here's what we know
A new coronavirus subvariant that descended from Omicron has been detected in Australia and health experts are monitoring it closely.
The BA.2 subvariant, which some have nicknamed the "stealth" variant, has been reported in more than 50 countries and in some places, has started to grow faster than the original Omicron, suggesting that it could be more infectious.
But it's early days, and so far experts say there's no evidence to suggest that it's more severe or more likely to evade vaccines.
BA.2 got the "stealthy" nickname because it lacks a signature deletion mutation present in BA.1, which PCR tests could use to figure out if a sample was Omicron or not.
Initially, PCR tests that relied on spotting this deletion missed classifying BA.2 as Omicron, so the nickname stuck.
A very early analysis of cases in Denmark suggests there is no difference in the hospitalisation rates between BA.1 and BA.2.
Early research from the UK also suggests that vaccines provide similar protection against BA.2 as they do against the original BA.1 variant.
By Jacqueline Howard
Evidence of Omicron sub-variant in Victoria
Mr Weimar is asked about the presence of the Omicron BA.2 COVID variant in Victoria.
He said there is a small number of cases in the state, which are being closely monitored:
"So, we are obviously following the international developments on the BA.2 sub-variant of Omicron closely. It is early days in understanding how that is moving around. I understand there is a small, small number of cases detected in Victoria. This is an Omicron variant - as far as the clinical teams are aware it is not a new variant, it doesn't behave differently. As more information comes in we will adjust our strategy if we need to."
By Jacqueline Howard
Just under 2 million boosters have been administered in Victoria
That is 37 per cent of all of those Victorians aged over 18.
COVID Commander Jeroen Weimar said it was "particularly encouraging" tthat over half of over 60s have had their booster dose, and 62 per cent of those aged over 70.
By Jacqueline Howard
Victoria is live now
Jeroen was just making sure we all have our cuppas ready and is live now.
