COVID-19 Updates
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Australia offers visa fee refund to lure international workers and students as Morrison defends handling of pandemic
Prime minister tells backpackers and students to ‘come on down’ as critical workforce shortages bite Follow our live blog for the latest updates Get our free news app; get our…
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Victoria urged to waive all Covid fines after reports some officers not correctly authorised
Legal groups which have been speaking out against fines since 2020 say it would be ‘unfair and heartless’ to pursue payment Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest…
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Risk of Covid-19 jumping back from animals to humans is low, says WHO as Hong Kong prepares for mass hamster cull
The risk of animals reinfecting humans with Covid-19 remains low, the World Health Organization has said, while asserting that it is “constantly looking” into pre-empting such a scenario.This comes as…
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Chronic staff shortages, 2am starts and extreme anxiety: inside a Coles supermarkets supply warehouse
Coles’ chief operations officer admits ‘the sheer scale and rate of impact of Omicron’ means contingency plans couldn’t cope Get the free Guardian app; get our morning email briefing A…
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More than 1,200 Oakland students pledge to stay home unless schools improve Covid safety
Students join wave of protests across the country calling for better masking and testing or a return to virtual learning More than 1,200 students in Oakland, California, have signed a…
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You’re on! The understudies who saved Christmas as Omicron raged
As Covid hit casts, understudies suddenly found themselves needed everywhere – with little warning. We meet these unsung heroes, including a Beanstalk Jack who took on three other last-minute roles…
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Meningitis B cases rising sharply among students in England, study finds
Exclusive: Cases are exceeding pre-pandemic levels, particularly in university students Meningitis B cases among students in England are rising sharply and exceeding pre-pandemic levels, according to a report by the…
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Hong Kong quarantine: health chief pledges improvements at Penny’s Bay amid grilling by lawmakers
Hong Kong’s health minister has pledged to improve the management of the government’s quarantine facility at Penny’s Bay and to make better use of new technologies to streamline procedures and…
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The ‘Omicron wave’ was the catastrophic dumper that closed our Sunshine Coast restaurant forever | Teresa Russell
Poor planning by governments has defeated our beloved business. The economy collapses when citizens are too afraid to leave their homes As owners of Ocean Ended, a beautiful restaurant located…
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Mild Covid-19 can still cause attention and memory issues, UK study finds
People with mild Covid-19 who do not suffer any other traditional “long Covid” symptoms can still exhibit deteriorated attention and memory six to nine months after infection, a study by…