COVID-19 Update: Nurses strike in NSW as Novavax bookings become available

This is your update on the Coronavirus in Australia for February 15.

Nurses protesting against understaffing and difficult work conditions outside NSW Parliament House in Sydney on 15 February 2022. Source: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

• In New South Wales, nurses are striking to demand higher nurse-to-patient ratios and better pay. The industrial action began at 7am and will continue for 24 hours.
• The protests are taking place in Sydney in front of Parliament House.
• The NSW health minister called the union's decision to proceed with the strike action "disappointing" after the Industrial Relations Commission ordered for it to be called off.
• During the strikes, life-preserving services will be maintained in all public hospitals and health services.
  
• The protein-based vaccine manufactured by Novavax is now available at GP clinics, pharmacies and state-run vaccination hubs.
  
• The vaccine has been approved for people over 18 for their first and second doses. It is not currently available to people under 18 and for booster shots.
  
• Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt hopes the vaccine will give a "new choice" to "those who have either waited or been unable to take the other vaccines".
  
• The Vaccine Clinic Finder website now offers the option to search for Novavax availability throughout Australia.
  
• Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy has been fined $100 for not wearing a face mask in the State Parliament. Four other Victorian MPs have also been fined.
• The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalised in Victoria is the lowest since the beginning of the year.
• The Australian Defence Force will assist in three Tasmanian aged care facilities hit with a COVID-19 outbreak, Deputy Premier and Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff says.

Covid-19 Stats

New South Wales reported 1,583 patients hospitalised with 96 in intensive care. There were 16 deaths, and 8,201 new cases of COVID-19.

In Victoria, 441 people are in hospital with 67 in ICU and 14 on ventilators. There were 20 deaths and 8,162 new infections.

In Queensland, there were 5,286 new COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths. 462 patients are in hospital with 35 in intensive care and 16 requiring ventilation.

Tasmania has recorded no deaths with 513 new COVID-19 cases. 10 people are in hospital with COVID-19, one of them in ICU.

In South Australia 1,138 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported, with 219 people in hospital, 18 in intensive care with 5 requiring ventilation.

For measures currently in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in your language, visit here.

---

A number of states have set up RAT registration forms.

• Victoria
• NSW
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory
• ACT

Quarantine and restrictions state by state

Find out what you can and can't do in your state or territory

Travel

Information for international travellers and Covid-19 and travel information in language

Financial help

There are changes to the COVID-19 Disaster Payment once states reach 70 and 80 per cent fully vaccinated:  Getting help during Covid-19 from Services Australia in language

---

 

---

• News and information over 60 languages at sbs.com.au/coronavirus
• Relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania.  
• Information about the COVID-19 vaccine in your language.

---

Visit the translated resources published by NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service

COVID-19 Vaccination Glossary

Appointment Reminder Tool.

---

Testing clinics in each state and territory

NSW 

Victoria 

Queensland 

South Australia 

ACT 

Western Australia 

Tasmania

Northern Territory