COVID-19 Update: NSW schools welcome children again, as Melbourne schools prepare to reopen

This is your update on the Coronavirus in Australia for 18 October 2021.

Staff welcome students back to school after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, at Glebe Public School in Sydney. Source: AAP/Bianca De Marchi

Victoria announces economic package for outdoor businesses
Schools reopen in NSW
Tasmania to exit lockdown as planned

Victoria

Victoria has recorded 1,903 new locally acquired cases and seven deaths.

Employment Minister Jaala Pulford has announced an economy package worth $54 million for businesses and organisations in outdoor settings like gyms, outdoor retail, beauty and personal businesses.

Over 89.2 per cent of Victoria's over-16 population have had one vaccine dose and 66.5 percent both.

Lockdown in Melbourne will be lifted at midnight on Thursday, 21 October, when Year One and Two students return to school. All other students will join them on Friday, 22 October.

Click to book your vaccine appointment today.

New South Wales

New South Wales recorded 265 new locally acquired cases and five deaths.

Ninety-two percent of people aged 16 and over have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and 80.3 percent have had two.

Students in Year 12 and Year One and kindergarten kids returned to classrooms today, ahead of other grades who will return next week.

Find a vaccination centre near you.

ACT

ACT recorded 17 new cases, 11 of which are linked to the current outbreak.

Out of the 17 people hospitalised, 9 are in intensive care.

Click to book your vaccine appointment today.

Last 24 hours around Australia

Queensland recorded no cases of COVID-19.
Southern Tasmania, including the state's capital Hobart, will exit its COVID-19 lockdown as planned at 6pm tonight.

Quarantine, travel, testing clinics and pandemic disaster payment

Quarantine and testing requirements are managed and enforced by state and territory governments:

NSW Travel & transport and Quarantine

VIC Travel permit, Overseas travellers and Quarantine

ACT Transport and Quarantine

NT Travel and Quarantine

QLD Travel and Quarantine

SA Travel and Quarantine

TAS Travel and Quarantine

WA Travel and Quarantine

If you want to travel overseas, you may be able to apply online for an exemption. Click here for more information about the conditions to leave Australia. There are temporary measures for international flights that are regularly reviewed by the government and updated on the Smart Traveller website.