Morrison says 70% vaccination target needed to ease restrictions – as it happened

NSW will vaccinate 20,000 year 12 students over five days, as state records 170 local Covid-19 cases overnight; three local cases recorded in Victoria. This blog is now closed

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10.08am BST

With that, we’ll be closing the blog. What a day.

Thanks to Matilda Boseley for running the blog earlier today.

10.00am BST

The WA premier, Mark McGowan, was speaking earlier, and responded to Scott Morrison’s announcement that a 70% vaccination target would be required to move to the next stage of Australia’s exist from Covid.

He says that WA, and all the states and territories, agreed to the plan.

“Lockdowns are still possible … Under the 70% rule, lockdowns are still possible … we all agree on that.

“Lockdowns, really, until we are all vaccinated, are the only thing that works”

When we hit the 80% target, it would only be for unusual circumstances in specific locations.

We still reserve the right to lockdown in specific locations … a country town, a local government area.”

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