• NSW cases leap by 70 per cent to 21,000
• Victoria’s daily cases approach 6000
• Testing sites close as New Year’s Eve heat rises
• SA businesses call for COVID financial support
• Labor calls for free rapid antigen tests
• HK journalists charged with sedition
• China bans national soccer player tattoos

NSW cases leap by 70 per cent to 21,000

New South Wales case numbers have jumped by more than 70 per cent overnight to 21,151.

Six new deaths were also announced on New Year’s Eve. There are now 763 people in hospital with the virus, including 69 in intensive care. The NSW Government says most are unvaccinated.

The new cases were from 148,410 tests, with results delayed after surges in the number of people seeking tests in the week before Christmas.

NSW is awaiting the arrival of 50 million rapid antigen tests that have been ordered.

Victoria’s daily cases approach 6000

Victoria has recorded 5919 new COVID-19 cases and seven more deaths overnight.

428 COVID-19 patients are in hospital, with 54 in intensive care including 21 on ventilators.

More than 66,700 tests were processed on Thursday, with sites buckling under the demand and having to close early in the day when reaching capacity.

Testing sites close as New Year’s Eve heat rises

A host of COVID-19 testing sites across Adelaide and the state have closed today amid forecast temperatures set to hit 41 degrees in some regions – but will reopen late afternoon.

SA Health says the following testing sites are now closed but will reopen at 5.30pm:

Victoria Park, RAH, Repat, Hampstead, Bedford Park, Ridgehaven, Port Adelaide, Elizabeth South, Aldinga, Bordertown, Mt Gambier and Port Augusta.

The high temperatures prompted a total fire ban to be declared for much of South Australia today.

The Bureau of Meteorology says Adelaide is heading for 39 degrees, Minlaton on the Yorke Peninsula is forecast to hit 40 degrees along with Waikerie, Karoonda and Naracoorte, with 41 forecast for Murray Bridge, Keith, Port Pirie and Port Augusta.

The CFS has declared Severe ratings for the following regions: Mt Lofty Ranges, Mid North, Yorke Peninsula, Murraylands, Upper South East and Lower South East.

The total fire ban in place until midnight tonight, with the CFS saying the declaration meant “very hazardous fire weather conditions” are predicted.

The CFS urged people to implement their bushfire survival plan and for landowners to follow their local harvest codes of practice.

SA businesses call for COVID financial support

Business SA has called for the Marshall Government to today announce a support package for venues and businesses hit by COVID-19 restrictions, while welcoming a change to close contact rules which previously forced many staff into quarantine.

While businesses had hoped for an easing of restrictions this week due to SA hitting the 90 per cent vaccination target, capacity restrictions have instead been toughened as the Omicron variant took hold and case numbers soared.

“The Premier has said that he and the Treasurer are on track to announcing financial support for the business community this week. There can be no delays to implementing this and no hoops to jump through for this support,” Business SA chair Nicki Govan said.

“This financial support should be part of their next plan for a 90% fully vaccinated South Australia.”

While employers understood that “the Omicron variant has been an unexpected curveball”, Govan said businesses need more certainty going into the New Year.

“While some of our Business SA members can direct their staff to work from home, there are considerable amounts in customer service or factory settings that cannot do this. Sending staff home means closing the business doors,” she said.

Govan welcomed the redefined definition of close contact announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Steven Marshall after yesterday’s national cabinet meeting, which meant many people previously forced to quarantine would no longer be required to.

“Someone who has spent four hours or more with a confirmed case in a household or household-like setting – these are the people who now require quarantine for seven days and to take a rapid antigen test on day six,” Govan said.

“Under the previous definitions of close and casual contacts, South Australian businesses were seeing vast numbers of their staff lost to quarantine. This new definition will keep more South Australians able to work and the doors of business open.

“We agree that you can’t just take people out of action for a week when they happen to be at a particular place at a specific time.

“The previous definition of a close contact caused a massive decline in turnover for South Australian businesses. They often had to close their doors because they had not had enough staff to cover those sent to isolation.”

Queueing for COVID-19 testing at Mile End. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily

Labor calls for free rapid antigen tests

Labor has called for the state government to make rapid antigen tests free for South Australians, saying Premier Steven Marshall should follow Victoria’s lead in doing so.

SA Health had banned the tests being sold here until community transmission rose, expected to be after Christmas Day. But a sudden leap in case numbers prompted a rapid policy about-face and sudden demand for the tests which were not yet widely available in shops and pharmacies.

Marshall also yesterday urged South Australians without COVID-19 symptoms not to go to testing centres for PCR tests and to instead use the rapid antigen tests, despite ongoing complaints about shortages and cost.

The Opposition said that Victoria’s health minister on Wednesday told a press conference that the tests should be free and the Victorian government would ensure they were.

But Labor health spokesman Chris Picton said Marshall told reporters yesterday following a meeting of national cabinet that the tests would not be free for South Australians.

“With lines for PCR tests up to 10 hours long and definitions of close contacts being wound back, rapid tests are more important than ever,” Picton said.

“Because of the bungled ban removal they are currently as rare as hen’s teeth and when you can find them they cost up to $90 for a five-pack, a huge cost for families.

“Making RAT’s free for South Australians will work towards curbing the COVID spread.”

Hong Kong journalists charged with sedition

Two former senior editors arrested in a Hong Kong police crackdown on a pro-democracy media organisation have been charged with sedition-related offences, national security authorities say.

About 200 police raided the office of the Stand News online publication on Wednesday, froze its assets and arrested seven current and former senior editors and former board members.

An editor of pro-democracy Stand News is taken by police. Photo: AP/Vincent Yu

The raid was the latest in a crackdown on the media and on dissent in general in the former British colony since China imposed a tough national security law in the city last year aimed at putting an end to months of pro-democracy protests.

The National Security Department of the police said in a statement on Thursday it had laid charges of “conspiracy to publish seditious publications” against two men, aged 34 and 52 respectively. Police did not identify the pair.

The same charge was extended to an online media company, it said, without identifying Stand News, in line with its practice.

“The other arrestees are being detained for further enquires,” the department said.

Police earlier said seven people had been arrested “conspiracy to publish seditious publications”.

Media said the seven were current and former senior editors and former board members of Stand News.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the promise that wide-ranging individual rights, including a free press, would be protected.

China bans national soccer player tattoos

Chinese authorities have banned footballers from getting tattoos and instructed national team players who have been inked to remove or cover them up to set a “good example for society”.

A growing number of high-profile Chinese players have been sporting tattoos, including international defender Zhang Linpeng, who has previously been told to cover up while appearing for both the national team and club side Guangzhou FC.

China’s Zhang Linpeng. National team players have been banned from getting tattoos, with those already inked ordered to cover up or remove them. Photo: AAP/Dave Hunt

The General Administration of Sport of China (GAS) said in a statement the Chinese Football Association would set out disciplinary requirements for national team players.

“National teams at all levels will strictly implement the relevant requirements of the management measures … (and) fully demonstrate the positive spirit of Chinese football players and set a good example for society,” it said.

“The national team and the U23 national team athletes are strictly prohibited from having new tattoos, and those who already have tattoos are advised to remove them themselves.

“If there are special circumstances agreed by the team, (players) must cover up the tattoos during training and matches.”

It also said for teams at U20 level and below the recruitment of players with tattoos was “strictly prohibited”.

GAS added national teams should organise “ideological and political education activities” that would “strengthen the patriotic education” of players.

Doing so would “enhance the sense of mission, responsibility and honour, and create a national team capable of conquering and fighting well and with excellent style of play”, it added.

-With AAP and Reuters