Australia Covid news live: NSW cases soar to 5,715 cases, one death; Victoria reports 2,005 cases and 10 deaths; Qld 369 cases | Australia news

And that’s it from Hunt. To recap:

Hunt said the public health measures discussed at national cabinet had started in some states and territories.

1.8 million Australians have received their booster shot.

And while Omicron is becoming the dominant strain, we are not seeing an increase in the seriousness of cases in ICU.

Hunt has pivoted from attacking Labor to thank Australians for getting boosters.

“Having said that, I want to thank Australians for coming forward to be vaccinated.

“Thank Australians for coming forward in record numbers to be boosted, 167,000 boosters yesterday, 54,000 of those in pharmacies. The states have indicated they’ll be stepping up and restoring the capacity, which understandably was wound down when the first and second doses were being completed.

“We can do this. We know how to do this as a country. We have done this before. We’ll do it again, no change in ventilation numbers on the latest advice I have, we’ll keep Australians safe, but Australians are doing their part as well. Thank you very much.”

Hunt has been asked about remarks Anthony Albanese made this morning about testing sites.

This is what Albanese said: “Overwhelmingly, people are waiting in queues because the governments haven’t prepared. The federal government shut down a whole lot of the testing areas.”

Hunt has said this is false.

“For Mr Albanese to make a false, untrue, incorrect, inaccurate statement, either without thinking or deliberate knowing it was a lie, is the act of someone who is not fit to be prime minister,” Hunt said.

Hunt was asked if Vic was prudent to implement mask mandate indoors.

“It’s entirely a matter for Victoria.”

Hunt has been asked about Vicotria mandating masks:

“We’re encouraging people, as a result of the advice to national cabinet, to use masks in indoor settings.

“It’s a matter for states and territories. But states and territories with their public health orders, whether it’s the QR codes in New South Wales, the masks in Victoria, have responded well.”

“I think that it’s very important to show that national cabinet is delivering safer outcomes, but without constraining people’s lives. Across the board, I welcome the actions of the different states.”

Hunt is asked about why we are seeing private health providers delay their premiums.

“In terms of private health providers – one of the things that we have done is encourage them to have as low a premium as possible, and where they can give people no change for longer, then that’s even better.

“And I’m pleased that they’ve responded. The lowest change in 21 years and if some of them have deferred that change, that means people are paying lower premiums for longer.

“And so, I think that that is a really good outcome.”

Hunt has been asked about how many aged care residents have had their boosters.

“We’ve had over 1,500 aged care facilities receive their boosters.

“Every aged care facility that has been able and willing to receive, because they were eligible and they were ready, has had their deliveries done so far.

“Those that are still to be done are on the basis of their own timing. And so, we’re well ahead of schedule. We’re about 300 facilities ahead of where we’d anticipated and expected to have been.”

Hunt is asked if we are equipped to deal with any change to the booster timeline and if hospitals can deal with Omicron.

“I have requested that Atagi plans and focuses on continuous review about the booster program. They’ve already shortened it from six months to five months.

“There’s the eligibility period. And in that time, what we’ve seen is 1.15 million doses in a 10-day period delivered with regard to boosters. And that’s now tracking at over 160,000 a day.”

On Omicron:

“But ventilation a week ago was 54 patients with Covid around Australia. As of yesterday, there were still 54 patients on ventilation with Covid.

“So despite the increase in case numbers, there had been zero increase in ventilated patients numbers. ICU – what we see is that a week ago, there were 109 patients in ICU.

“As of yesterday, the figures provided at midday today by the National Incident Centre, there were 112. So an increase of only three patients in a week. So the two things that we know – the hospital system is well equipped …

“The second thing is, despite an increase in case numbers, we’re not seeing an increase in the serious cases of ICU or ventilation in any significant way, with no increase in ventilation on the latest numbers that I have.

“Now, these things can change. There can be a lag. So we’re fully prepared and I don’t want to make false promises on that.”

And Hunt says public health measures discussed at national cabinet yesterday have started in some states and territories.

“The states and territories have begun to implement the measures discussed yesterday at national cabinet.

“There are measures in relation to QR codes in New South Wales and masks in some states and territories.

“In terms of vaccination clinics in Victoria. That’s matched with the additional $10 for vaccinations by GPs and pharmacists under the commonwealth system which is being paid immediately as of today.

“So, I want to thank all of those people for coming forward. They’re helping themselves. They’re helping their friends, their family and they’re helping to protect the country.”

Hunt says there’s been a 2.7% increase in private health insurance – which is the lowest in 21 years.

“At the same time, I’m really pleased that we’ve just achieved the lowest change in private health insurance fees in 21 years.

“A 2.7% increase. We’ve had progressively the lowest change during my time in 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and now 21 years.

“And so, the lowest change in private health insurance in 21 years. That’s good for families. That’s good for private health insurance and what we’ve seen as a result is five successive quarters of an increase in private health insurance uptake.

“It takes the pressure off the public hospitals. It shares the load across the system and it means that the Australian model of public and private – it’s not as reliant on the public as the UK system.

“It’s not as reliant on the private as the US system. It means that the Australian model is not just being sustained, but it’s strengthening.”

Greg Hunt is speaking in Melbourne now – he says the rates of bulk billing are up and that’s a good thing.

“We have had bulk billing increase to 89.6% in the July-to-September quarter.

“So the last quarter is up 0.7% in terms of bulk billing. And what does bulk-billing mean?

“It means that now almost nine in ten visits to the doctor are completely free for people. And that’s a really extraordinary national achievement.

“Again, thank you to our GPs and our clinicians right across the country. This is approximately 7.9% higher than for the same period immediately prior to the Coalition coming into government. So a nearly 8% increase in bulk-billing over the life of the Coalition.

“It just means more services, more people, more people able to access the doctor without having to dip into their pocket.”

With that, I will pass you on to Cait Kelly, who will keep you company for the rest of the afternoon.

We are still waiting to hear from Greg Hunt, who was due to front the media at 12.30pm.

Over in the ACT, testing numbers have eased at Nicholls but Mitchell’s drive through testing centre is still at capacity.

As of 12pm:

• Mitchell drive through testing clinic (open 8am to 10pm): at capacity
• Garran testing clinic (open 7.30am to 9pm): 3 hours 30 minutes+
• Kambah drive through testing clinic (open 8am to 6pm*): 2 hours+
• Nicholls testing clinic (open 8am to 6pm*): 15 minutes+

Still at the Victorian press conference, Foley says fines for mask wearing will vary between $500 and $1,000.

There has been no confirmation as to whether he accepted all the advice of the chief health officer but this will eventually be tabled in parliament under the pandemic legislation.

The ABC is reporting two positive cases have been identified in Alice Springs.