1000 Covid deaths: Australia passes grim milestone as NSW cases hit record 1290
Australia has recorded more than 1000 coronavirus deaths during the pandemic as another record for new daily cases was smashed.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant (left) and Premier Gladys Berejiklian announcing the state's latest Covid infections. (AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi)
The four latest deaths in NSW took the national toll to 1003, while the state also reported 1290 new local infections on Monday.
There were 73 new cases in Victoria which has been unable to stamp out an outbreak despite an extended lockdown.
Business leaders are being urged to pressure state governments over nationally agreed reopening targets despite surging case numbers.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg wants influential figures to join the government’s push to open state borders and reduce lockdowns when vaccination coverage reaches 70 and 80 per cent.
But Labor has accused the coalition of using debate over the reopening plan as a distraction from the current crisis.
Frydenberg said state and territory governments would not receive the same levels of lockdown support when the thresholds were met.
“You could have the ridiculous situation where somebody in New South Wales could travel to Canada before they could go to Cairns,” he told the Seven Network.
“Somebody in Victoria could travel to Singapore and Bali before they could go to Perth. That would be ridiculous.”
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said the focus on the reopening agreement was a distraction from problems with the vaccine rollout and quarantine.
“This government has not looked at where the mistakes have been and set about correcting them,” he told ABC radio.
“They’ve been too busy with their spin and marketing to worry about that.”
Albanese said WA Premier Mark McGowan’s pursuit of eliminating coronavirus cases was not in conflict with the national plan, which allows highly targeted lockdowns.
“It does allow for premiers to make decisions. It’s silent when it comes to border closures, but it speaks about minimising baseline restrictions,” he said.
Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said state governments needed to change strategy and loosen some restrictions while vaccination rates rise.
“These are desperate, desperate times for business. We’re probably at crunch point now,” he told Nine.
Australia has fully vaccinated 34.16 per cent of its population aged 16 and over, while 54.47 have received one jab.
