Sydney cluster now a "national emergency" and everything you need to know today, Friday July 23.

Sydney cluster now considered a 'national emergency' with 136 new cases recorded.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has declared that the COVID-19 cluster that currently exists in her state is now being regarded as a "national emergency."

A 'micro-plan' is being put into action in an effort to 'refocus our national vaccination strategy' with the NSW government focused on getting more doses of Pfizer and AstraZeneca into arms in southwest and western Sydney where the majority of cases are currently spreading.

To 8pm last night, NSW recorded 136 new cases, with 53 of those cases infectious in the community. 

#LIVE: New South Wales health authorities are providing a #COVID19 update. #9News https://t.co/HL2Q1lO590

— 9News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) July 23, 2021

An 89-year-old man has become the sixth fatality linked to this current outbreak.

"There is no doubt that the numbers are not going in the direction we were hoping they would at this stage. It is fairly apparent that we will not be close to zero by next Friday," said Ms Berejiklian. 

The Premier has confirmed that, "it's become apparent during the last few weeks that those who do have two doses of the vaccine are avoiding serous illness."

"The vaccines are working, that is excellent news," she told Friday's 11am press conference. "We need to get more of them into arms, even if it is a first jab, because we know that reduces transmission and can protect someone up to 30 per cent."

Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant says she has recommended to the Federal Government that under 40s in Sydney's west - who have not been eligible for Pfizer, their age group's preferred vaccine - be prioritised. 

"I have recommended to government that we urgently do mass vaccination of workers [in that area] to stem the transmission risk," she said. 

Premier Berejiklian said of the future of the state: "The New South Wales government, based on the advice of Dr Chant, will be working hard over the weekend and early next week to provide a road map for the people of New South Wales. Our challenge is, as I said yesterday, to live as freely and as safely as possible until we get enough vaccines in arms. That means that we need to live as freely and as safely as possible during August, September, and October.

"According to the federal vaccination rollout, by the end of October we will have much more of the population vaccinated, and we will be able to live much more freely beyond that point."

Details on vaccine rollout to be revealed, as TGA approves Pfizer for children.

Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has been approved for children aged 12 to 15 by Australia's medical regulator.

Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed the news on Seven this morning. 

In January the TGA approved the Pfizer vaccine for those over 16, but were then asked to look into whether the vaccine was safer for even younger Australians. 

The ABC reports though there has been approval for this younger age group, they won't be included in the rollout for some time.

#BREAKING: Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says the medical regulator has approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 https://t.co/G5DDzYpYyM

— ABC News (@abcnews) July 22, 2021

Australians will get a clearer picture about vaccine availability over the rest of the year - a pointer to the easing of restrictions - after national cabinet meets on Friday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders are expected to be briefed on the latest elements of the vaccine strategy including future supply and a massive expansion of the use of pharmacies to provide jabs.

Doctors are warning the continuing spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, especially in Sydney and Melbourne, could demand tougher restrictions. However, senior federal government figures warn a further toughening could adversely affect the economy and the income that pays for health services needed to deal with the pandemic.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said there was sense of frustration in the community over lockdowns.

"People want their liberty and their freedom of movement back," he told the ABC.

"And businesses will fall flat on their face and the government will run out of money - you have to balance this."

He was confident restrictions could be lifted at the end of the year when there were ample supplies of vaccines to cover those who wanted a jab, but there would need to be an "honest conversation" with Australians about living alongside COVID-19.

"People will get sick and tragically some people will die. The alternative is a continuous lockdown and our problem is we'll go broke."

Meanwhile, Mr Morrison has apologised for the vaccine rollout not meeting its targets after repeatedly refusing to say sorry. He insists some of the issues were out of his control.

#BREAKING: With half the country in lockdown, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he is “sorry” Australia’s vaccine rollout has been slow. FULL STORY: https://t.co/EXLofH78UZ pic.twitter.com/y6ztzwk2UN

— The Daily Telegraph (@dailytelegraph) July 22, 2021

A Senate committee on Friday will hear from senior health and medical officials on the pandemic response.

Of particular interest will be evidence from the advisory body ATAGI, which continues to be cautious on the use of AstraZeneca for under-60s because of its links to extremely rare but potentially fatal blood clots.

Vic hospital staff isolate over COVID case.

41 workers at a Melbourne hospital have been temporarily stood down after a fellow staffer worked a shift while infectious with COVID-19.

The employee of Casey Hospital, a 229-bed facility in the city's outer southeast, returned a positive test on Tuesday.

Monash Health, the public health service that manages the hospital, confirmed the case on Thursday night.

The staffer worked one shift during their infectious period, forcing 41 hospital employees to be furloughed as they await test results.

A resident at Mecwacare Centre has tested negative after a COVID scare – while a COVID positive worker from Casey hospital has sent more than 40 staff into isolation. @IzaStaskowski #9News pic.twitter.com/7FzOsWFLUs

— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) July 22, 2021

But the worker wore PPE during the shift, doesn't have a front-facing role, and is not thought to have had any interaction with patients.

Acting Chief Health Officer Ben Cowie said it was too early to say whether Victoria's lookdown would end as planned at 11:59pm on July 27, but he is confident authorities have a handle on the outbreak.

Exposure sites mount in SA virus cluster.

South Australia's list of COVID-19 exposure sites continues to grow, raising fears of more virus cases as authorities grapple with the latest outbreak.

The number of sites of concern is heading towards 100 with the Seppeltsfield Winery in the Barossa Valley and a TAFE college in Adelaide among the latest to join the list.

The growing number of locations has meant thousands of people are now in home quarantine with requirements to have three virus tests as the state heads into the third full day of its week-long lockdown.

SA Premier Steven Marshall said lockdowns bring a heavy toll but he’s hopeful of stopping the delta strain ‘dead in its tracks’. https://t.co/ucRhXq9U2l

— Financial Review (@FinancialReview) July 22, 2021

The so-called Modbury cluster stands at 14 confirmed infections after two more were reported on Thursday.

But Premier Steven Marshall says he remains very grateful the state moved into lockdown on Tuesday as waiting any longer could have been catastrophic.

"I'm still extraordinarily hopeful we can stop the spread of this disease over the seven-day lockdown period," he said.

Australia awaits UNESCO reef vote.

The federal government is awaiting a decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee that could label the Great Barrier Reef an endangered natural site.

The committee, which is meeting both virtually and in the Chinese city of Fuzhou, is expected to vote on the draft decision on Friday night AEST.

Australian politicians have publicly campaigned against the reef being classified as being "in danger," fearing it would hurt the image of the economically important natural wonder, and suggested that the decision could be influenced by tensions with the Chinese government.

It's hard to care about other catastrophes when we're already fighting one. But COVID-19 will one day be behind us. Environmental ruin, however, is not something we can fix with a vaccine. #auspol https://t.co/8VMb6wmD4k

— Gemma Bath (@gembath) July 21, 2021

The director and the president of the 44th session, China's vice minister of education Tian Xuejun, has rejected speculation that the move was related to politics.

"Australia, as a member state of the World Heritage Committee, should... attach importance to the opinions of the advisory bodies and earnestly fulfil the duty of World Heritage protection instead of making groundless accusations against other states," he said on Sunday.

The draft decision says Australia's long-term plan for the reef "requires stronger and clearer commitments, in particular towards urgently countering the effects of climate change".

Australia may still be able to delay the vote to a later session in 2023 after its delegation submitted an amendment to the proposed text suggesting this, an idea that was backed by a majority of committee member countries.

Olympics axing plunges Games into more drama.

On the eve of the Tokyo Games, organisers have fired the director of the opening ceremony over comments he made about the Holocaust as part of a comedy act in 1998.

Media also reported former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a memorable advocate for the Tokyo Games, would skip the showpiece event.

The news is the latest in a series of embarrassments for Tokyo organisers that have sparked outrage at home and abroad, and comes just days after a well known musician was forced to step down as composer for the ceremony after old reports of his bullying and abusive behaviour surfaced.

The director of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony has been dismissed after local media reported on anti-Semitic comments he made about the Holocausthttps://t.co/hOqymx3wFY

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 22, 2021

These are just the latest in a series of setbacks, including the exit of Yoshiro Mori, the former head of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee, who resigned after making sexist remarks.

That was soon followed by the resignation of Tokyo Olympics creative head Hiroshi Sasaki after he made derogatory comments about a popular Japanese female entertainer.

The opening ceremony on Friday, which normally stands as a major showcase of the host nation, is set to be a subdued with Japanese media reporting that less than 950 people - including only around 15 global leaders - are set to attend.

Australians can watch the opening ceremony from 8:30pm AEST on Channel 7.

After setbacks and delays, the #Tokyo2020 Olympics are finally here! We're LIVE with everything you need to know ahead of tonight's Opening Ceremony 🙌🏻 @7Olympics pic.twitter.com/KH3UbDS4qn

— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) July 22, 2021

Anger mounts over Aust/NZ World Cup exit.

Anger is continuing to mount in Britain over the decision by Australia and New Zealand to pull out of the 2021 rugby league World Cup, with the southern hemisphere giants being accused of "cowardly" and "selfish" behaviour.

Officials from the two countries say they made the call because of the worsening COVID-19 situation in the UK which made it "simply too unsafe to send teams and staff over".

“Without Australia and New Zealand, this is catastrophic”

RFL president Clare Balding says it’s ‘odd timing’ for Australia and New Zealand to pull out of the Rugby League World Cup.https://t.co/K2RHF58FIJ pic.twitter.com/UomHC52jBz

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) July 22, 2021

The issue was even addressed in the British Parliament by Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg, who mocked Australia for being "scared" to defend their crown.

Rugby Football League chairman Simon Johnson said: "The World Cup organisers have bent over backwards and turned double somersaults to meet every single requirement that was asked of them, by the Australians particularly.

"To have those assurances completely dismissed, I am angry about this. This is a selfish, parochial and cowardly decision which has been taken by the Australian and New Zealand leadership."

Around the world.

- A five-year-old boy in the United States has died from complications caused by the coronavirus, as the Delta variant continues to spread across the country.

Cases are rising in all 50 states, and have tripled in the past month. Of those in hospital with the virus, 97 per cent are unvaccinated. Of those who have died recently, 95 per cent were unvaccinated.

- Russia managed to disconnect itself from the global internet during tests in June and July, the RBC daily reports. 

- Authorities in Northern Ireland have been directed by the UK government to make abortion services available by the end of March 2022.

- NBA superstar LeBron James has become the first active NBA player to reach the 'sporting billionaires' club'.

- With AAP

Feature image:  Jenny Evans/Lisa Maree Williams/Michael Kappeler/Getty.