A record 319 new local infections and five deaths were recorded in NSW in the 24 hours to Friday evening as more than 16 million Australians are under stay-at-home restrictions across three states.
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Of the locally acquired cases, 125 are linked to a known case or cluster while 108 are household contacts and 17 are close contacts.
Staying with NSW, a Mid North Coast doctor has made dire predictions about Covid.
Dr Simon Holliday, who runs the Taree Respiratory Clinic, said unfortunately "we're all going to get COVID".
"Every one of us, whether we're vaccinated or unvaccinated," he said.
Meanwhile, the University of Newcastle has announced two students living on the Callaghan campus in NSW's Hunter Valley have tested positive for Covid.
Vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky issued a statement to staff about 8.20am on Saturday saying the the students had been transferred into care.
Victoria recorded 29 new locally acquired cases, all of them linked to current outbreaks but not in quarantine while infectious.
There is more encouraging news in Queensland as the state recorded 13 new locally acquired cases, with all but one isolating during their infectious periods.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said all of the new cases are linked to the current Indooroopilly cluster.
With Dying to Know Day approaching on August 8, research shows that despite the growing threat of the pandemic, most Australians still shy away from talking about the inevitable.
In the northern parts of Australia, two soldiers mauled by a crocodile in the sea off Queensland have a survival tale of epic proportions after a marathon rescue involving a dinghy, a helicopter and a light plane.
Paramedics say the Army personnel were attacked while fishing about a kilometre off remote Portland Road, towards the tip of Cape York Peninsula, about 4pm on Friday.
In better news, millions of dollars in compensation have been paid as part of a final distribution for uninsured losses suffered by victims of the the devastating 2018 St Patrick's Day bushfires in Victoria's west.
Turning to day 15 of the Olympic Games, sailing gold medallist Mat Belcher is set to carry the flag at the closing ceremony, while the Boomers are eyeing a medal.
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*This edition of The Informer was written by Canberra Times reporter Toby Vue. If you'd like to show your support for the team behind The Informer, why not forward us to a friend?
THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- 319 COVID-19 cases recorded in NSW, five deaths
- Victoria records 29 new locally acquired cases
- Simone had no idea a ticking time bomb was in her brain
- Belcher to carry flag at closing ceremony
- Army personnel stable after croc attack
- Early signs Delta virus transmission level similar, jab or no jab
- Covid brings couples closer, survey finds
- Canberran Kelsey-Lee Barber wins Olympic javelin bronze