NSW COVID cases grow, Victoria COVID cases grow, QLD COVID cases grow, Omicron variant hospitalisations, ICU admissions grow, Ashes 2021 second test continues

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has reiterated that Australia will not return to lockdowns as coronavirus infections rise across the country, insisting that “the time for that heavy-handedness is behind us”.

Speaking at a press conference in Queensland this morning, Mr Morrison said a “strong recommendation” to wear masks in indoor settings was “very sensible” but added that “Australians don’t have to be told by governments how to live”.

As we have reported today, Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Paul Kelly, and his state and territory counterparts have advised all jurisdictions that masks should be worn in more indoor settings.

Masks are already mandated in some indoor settings in Victoria and Queensland, including shops. As of today, masks are also mandatory in all indoor settings in Tasmania.

But masks are not required in most hospitality and retail settings in NSW, which is leading the nation in new coronavirus infections.

Mr Morrison said the states and territories had “total authority when it comes to public health orders”.

“The Commonwealth does not have the power to direct those state and territory governments,” he said.

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 was “moving substantially amongst the younger population”, he said, and he would “encourage them, particularly if they’re going to spend time at Christmas with older family members, you want to give that big night out a miss, particularly if you’re going to see one of your elderly relatives over Christmas or exercise greater precautions around them”.

He said that “we’re going to need to continue to calibrate how we manage this virus and how we live with this virus in the face of Omicron” but “we’re not going back to lockdowns”.

We’re not going back to shutting down peoples’ lives. We’re going forward to live with this virus with common sense and responsibility.

In my home state in NSW, people are already wearing masks. They’re not being fined if they don’t because Australians know what is a common sense responsible action to look after their own health and to look after the health of those around them.

As a country, we have got to get past the heavy hand of government and we have got to treat Australians like adults and we all have our own responsibility in our communities and for our own health.

People should get vaccinated. If you don’t get vaccinated, you’re more likely to get the virus, get very serious illness from the virus and to die from the virus. That is three very good reasons why you should get vaccinated.

Equally, it’s important that you practice other common sense behaviours, like washing your hands, keeping appropriate distances, but you don’t need to get the ruler out and you don’t need to get people to come around hitting you with fines.”

Mr Morrison appeared to be echoing comments made yesterday by NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, who said that “it is a time of personal responsibility for our state. We are treating the people of our state like adults.”