Vaccinations surge as case numbers rise
Australians are turning up in large numbers to be vaccinated as COVID-19 continues to spread in NSW and Victoria.
Some 226,059 people bared their arms on Friday, after 240,039 people were jabbed on Thursday - numbers well above the average daily rate being reported even a week ago.
By Friday, 43.60 per cent of Australians aged over 16 had received at least one dose of the vaccine and 21.95 per cent were fully vaccinated.
Australia's leaders have approved of a series of phases, starting with a 70 per cent full vaccination rate, to put the country on a path to "live with" the virus.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg reiterated on Saturday that the 70 per cent target is a a "key threshold" in returning to freedom.
"At this point ... lockdowns become less likely and the transmissibility of the virus reduces, as does the chance of serious illness for those who are vaccinated," he wrote in the Herald Sun.
In the ACT and Tasmania, more than half the population has already received a first dose.
Vaccinations are surging in NSW, where nearly 90,000 people received the jab on Friday. Some 93,626 came forward to receive the jab the day before.
While the state has now reached 45.46 per cent first-dose coverage, its case numbers continue to rise.
NSW recorded 319 new local COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm Friday, a new record. Five people died from the virus in that period, including three who were infected while being treated at Liverpool Hospital.
Case numbers were up in newly locked-down Victoria as well, with 29 people testing positive to the virus on Friday. While all the cases were connected to the outbreak, none were in isolation during their infectious periods.
Queensland reported 13 new cases on Friday, of which 12 were isolating. An announcement on whether southeast Queensland's lockdown will be lifted is expected on Sunday morning.
More than 16 million Australians living in Victoria, Greater Sydney, regional NSW and southeast Queensland are subject to stay-at-home orders.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that Australia will develop a vaccine certification program with its Pacific neighbours, to allow international travel in the region as soon as possible.
Australia will also double the number of Pacific workers it accepts under the Pacific Labour Scheme and Seasonal Worker Programme in the next seven months.
The increase means Australia will host another 12,500 workers.
"This will provide increased economic opportunities to the Pacific and benefit Australian businesses who have a huge appreciation for Pacific workers," Mr Morrison said in a statement.
