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23:56
Australia’s strict border closures turned the topic of worldwide criticism all through the pandemic.
Findings from a nationwide audit workplace report now reveals Australian households separated by worldwide border closures in the course of the pandemic have been annoyed by inconsistencies from authorities determination makers on journey exemptions.
The division of residence affairs additionally failed to provide candidates particular causes about why functions for journey exemptions have been refused. Nor did the division have an enough evaluate course of in place.
An audit of Australia’s worldwide journey restrictions between March 2020 and June 2021 discovered the division’s administration of these restrictions in the course of the Covid-19 pandemic had “been largely efficient”.
However it discovered choices on exemptions made by residence affairs officers weren’t in line with the division’s personal insurance policies.
A pattern of 71 inward journey exemption instances finalised between August 2020 and March this 12 months confirmed 12 choices (17%) weren’t in line with coverage necessities.
The auditors discovered:
Choices about inward journey exemptions haven’t constantly been managed in accordance with insurance policies and procedures.”
Residence Affairs spent $2.85m on an internet journey exemption portal for potential arrivals to offer related documentation to assist their case.
But, the audit workplace discovered the decision-making framework nonetheless allowed officers “appreciable discretion” when assessing functions.
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23:07
23:03
Omicron spreads to 57 nations however too early to inform if extra infectious, WHO says
The Omicron variant of Covid-19 has now been reported in 57 nations and continues to unfold quickly in South Africa, the World Well being Group (WHO) says.
However the newest epidemiological report from WHO says given the Delta variant stays dominant, significantly in Europe and the US, it’s nonetheless too early to attract any conclusions concerning the international impression of Omicron.
The European Centre for Illness Prevention and Management has predicted that the Omicron variant may turn into the dominant variant in Europe inside months.
For now, although, the Delta variant continues to dominate instances, and extra information is required to find out Omicron’s infectiousness and severity, WHO says.
“Whereas there appears to be proof that the Omicron variant could have a development benefit over different circulating variants, it’s unknown whether or not this may translate into elevated transmissibility,” the WHO report stated.
Learn the absolutely story right here.
22:21
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