Auslan Update - 17 September, 2021

Victoria has recorded 510 new local COVID-19 cases and one death

There were 43,993 vaccines administered at Victorian hubs on Thursday.
70 per cent of the 16+ population has now had at least one dose, Victoria will move to slightly eased restrictions from 11:59pm tonight.
In Melbourne and Ballarat, the 5-kilometre radius will be lifted to 10kms, outdoor exercise equipment will reopen and residents will be allowed outside for up to four hours during exercise or recreation.
Small picnics will be allowed with strict caps in place — five fully vaccinated people from two households can meet, but only two people can gather if both parties do not have both doses.
For more information about new rules and restrictions, please check to DHHS website.

Tasmania to begin home quarantine trial for return travellers from regional NSW

Tasmania will begin a 30-day home quarantine trial for residents returning home from regional New South Wales next week.
Travellers will also be required to return a negative test and complete 14 days of quarantine, and also must have a suitable house to quarantine in with no other residents in the property.
Tasmania will open up Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to over 60s from today.
Premier Peter Gutwein has set targets of an 80 per cent full vaccination rate by November 2, and 90 per cent by 1 December.
The Pfizer vaccine will be available through GP clinics, and the Moderna vaccine will be provided at the state's pharmacies for people aged 12 and over.
Australia's first shipment of Moderna vaccines will arrive tonight, with one million doses expected by the end of the weekend.

Weekend vaccination blitz kicks off in Queensland

The government's "super vaccination weekend" was set to begin today in Mackay at the NRL semi-final between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Sydney Roosters, with vaccinations being offered at the Stadium Mackay.
This weekend, community vaccination hubs will be accepting walk-ins and people over 60 will be able to access the Pfizer vaccine instead of the AstraZeneca.

Fossil found by schoolkids in New Zealand is new species of extinct giant penguin

A large fossil was discovered on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island in 2006 when a group of school children went on a fossil-hunting trip with an archaeologist.
Fifteen years later, it turns out the fossil was a new species of giant penguin that stood about 1.4 metres tall and lived about 30 million years ago.
The researchers worked out what it was by using 3D scanning to get details of all bones and compared this against a digital library of other penguins fossils, and also skeletons of living penguins, to see where it fit in the family tree.
Kairuku waewaeroa was given name to the extinct giant penguin “waewaeroa” which is Māori for “long legs.”

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