Australia Covid live: NSW records 1,262 cases, seven deaths; Victoria to receive ‘surge’ of Pfizer, Moderna vaccine doses as 392 cases recorded

Scott Morrison announces Australia has secured 1m more doses of Moderna vaccine; Victoria to be targeted in ‘vaccination blitz’; Man in his 20s dies in NSW as state records 1,262 new cases; ACT records 15 new Covid cases. New Zealand reports 20 new infections

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• Vaccine rollout tracker; get our free news app; get our morning email briefing

5.50am BST

I think most takes miss the point re the photos of people at the beach. Sure, it’s allowed, whatever, ultimately, the outrage is about solidarity. This is a city divided, by wealth, opportunity, access. No one in the West can lounge on a beach, let alone leave their homes.

5.48am BST

We touched on it before during the press conference but there has been a lot of discussion in NSW about the crowds of people gathering on Bondi beach over this this gloriously sunny weekend.

When asked to respond to images of people flocking to Sydney’s eastern sands, NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said it caused her “some concern” but said the reality was outdoor environments were “probably the safest” if people were social distancing.

I realise that many people who are living in south-western Sydney and western Sydney don’t have access to that because of the restrictions. So for me, it causes me some concern because clearly, I’m asking a lot of the people of south-western Sydney and western Sydney.

However, we do have to understand…in reality outdoor environments, if people are keeping away from each other, are probably the safest environments.

Dr Kerry Chant on crowds at Bondi beach: “For me, it causes me some concern because, clearly, I’m asking a lot of the people of south-western Sydney and western Sydney…However, in reality, outdoor environments… are probably the safest environments.” pic.twitter.com/KheOPJETQ8

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