Australia news LIVE: QR codes, masks back in NSW as state records 5715 new COVID cases; Victoria extends indoor mask mandate as daily infections rise above 2000

• NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said that “pulling together multiple pieces of evidence from overseas countries such as South Africa and the UK, and using some of our own emerging data ... indicates that infection with Omicron is likely to be milder than infection with [the] Delta [variant], with the risk of hospitalisation being around 60 per cent to 80 per cent less than for Delta”. But she said “the issue is the increased transmissibility, leading to high case numbers, and the impact this is having on vulnerable settings, vulnerable people and critical workforces.” She also warned that being young didn’t necessarily mean you would experience milder disease. “You can be hit hard. Please get vaccinated. Get your first vaccine, get your second and get your booster.”

• QR code check-ins will also be compulsory in NSW, including in hospitality and retail settings. This reverses changes made on December 15, when QR codes were scrapped. The state government said in a media release that it was also “asking people to reduce mingling where they can including when eating and drinking, work from home where possible and hold events outside”.
• NSW’s new transport minister, David Elliott, said there will be no further easing of capacity limits on public transport services in the state until late January. Transport services will operate at 75 per cent capacity.
• NSW is also procuring rapid antigen tests to be used by residents in cases where a “gold standard” PCR test is not necessary. Rapid antigen tests should not be used by symptomatic people in lieu of a PCR test or by people who have come into contact with a confirmed COVID case.

• The mask rules are slightly tighter in Victoria. From 11.59pm tonight, all Victorians aged 8 and up are required to wear a mask in all non-residential indoor settings. Masks must also be worn while moving around at major events attracting at least 30,000 people, but can be taken off by patrons while sitting down.

• Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said authorities were also recommending to hospitality venues that they stick to seated service where possible, and that dance floors stay in outdoor, well-ventilated areas. “These changes will help us protect the most vulnerable people in the community while more Victorians go and get their third dose,” Mr Foley said.

• Western Australia has also mandated masks in all non-residential indoor settings, after the state recorded one new case of COVID-19 in the community. The case, a 25-year-old unvaccinated traveller, entered the state lawfully from Queensland on December 12 without needing to get tested for the virus. This was the day before WA reintroduced a hard border with Queensland. From 6pm tonight until at least 6am on Tuesday, December 28, masks will be mandatory in all public indoor settings including workplaces, shopping centres, hospitality venues and public transport in Perth and Peel. WA Premier Mark McGowan said the man attended a range of venues while infectious, including nightclubs, shops and museums.

• “The mask mandate will not apply to the home and will not apply people doing vigorous indoor exercise. We are recommending masks be worn outside when you cannot physically distance,” Mr McGowan said. “High-risk, large public events like music festivals will be cancelled during this period and all nightclubs closed. All dancing [is] banned except for weddings. In addition, the mask rules will apply to anyone who has been in Perth or Peel since Thursday, 16 December and are now located in a different part of the state. I know this is not the news we wanted to hear two days before Christmas, but unfortunately this is the reality of COVID-19. No matter how hard our border controls, the border can sneak into Western Australia. We now need to face the potential of community transmission in Perth and Peel.”

• Queensland has recorded 369 new cases of COVID-19, up from 186 cases yesterday, as the premier warned that case numbers were going to escalate and the virus was “right throughout our community”. It is another daily record for the state. As of 5am today, masks are required to be worn in Queensland in theatres and cinemas and by hospitality staff, in addition to in supermarkets and shops, on public transport and ride-shares.
• “I thank Queenslanders for masking up,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said this morning. “I want everyone to stay safe over the Christmas and New Year period but we will see an escalation in cases like we’re seeing in other states. “This virus is here. It is right throughout our community. We are living with this virus. This is the next stage of the pandemic. Everyone wants to get on with their lives but we are going to see a big impact on those who are unvaccinated.”
• As a result of today’s changes, masks are now mandatory in all indoor settings outside the home in NSW, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, and in many indoor settings in Queensland. Masks are also required in all of those jurisdictions on public transport and ride-shares, and when on planes.

This is Michaela Whitbourn signing off on the live blog for 2021. My colleagues will have the latest updates for you online tomorrow and throughout the holiday period.

Deputy Premier and Police Minister Paul Toole said “police will have a strong presence at our busiest testing clinics, ready to deal with anyone taking out their frustrations on people trying to care for our community”.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said “anyone caught behaving in an offensive manner, or abusing/assaulting NSW Health staff, will be arrested and dealt with appropriately”.

Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon, Metropolitan Field Operations, added that “the majority of the community continues to be respectful and patient and that is appreciated”.

“Police stand ready to respond to any anti-social behaviour targeting NSW Health staff and disrupting the operations of testing sites,” Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said.

“In addition, the mask rules will apply to anyone who has been in Perth or Peel since Thursday, 16 December and are now located in a different part of the state.

“I know this is not the news we wanted to hear two days before Christmas, but unfortunately this is the reality of COVID-19. No matter how hard our border controls, the border can sneak into Western Australia. We now need to face the potential of community transmission in Perth and Peel.”

Read more on the new rules from Peter de Kruijff here.

“We have a COVID-safe plan that’s been approved by the government,” Tiley said.

“It’s gold standard. We will manage the crowd accordingly. It’s going to be a safe place to be.

“If there’s a position where we’ve got to limit the numbers, we’ll manage that accordingly.

“The good thing is there won’t be any zones. You’re going to be able to move across the entire precinct.”

The Victorian government announced today that patrons attending major events attracting at least 30,000 people will need to wear a mask while moving around, but can remove their mask while seated.

“You have been identified via the SafeWA app as having been at Geisha Bar when a COVID-19 case was present,” a message to a Geisha Bar patron read.

Perth Mess Hall staff are isolating for 14 days and the venue is waiting for further information from WA Health.

WAtoday has contacted WA Health, the Premier’s office and WA Police but no government agencies would comment.

Read the full story here.