• NSW yesterday recorded 283 new local cases and one new death. Adding to the lockdown of regional centres, Tamworth and Byron Bay joined Armidale and the Hunter regions. And there are concerns of possible infections in Dubbo in the state’s Central West. Premier Gladys Berejiklian dismissed suggestions some postcodes in locked-down areas could have restrictions eased, saying the last few weeks have shown that “we’re all connected as a nation, let alone a state.”

• Victoria has lifted the lockdown for regional residents. The state recorded 11 new cases yesterday, but health authorities are worried that there are more cases in Melbourne’s northwest haven’t surfaced yet.

• And the Moderna vaccine has been granted provisional approval by the medicines regulator. There are 25 million doses on order, with 10 million due before the end of the year. PM Scott Morrison said the vaccine was “another important tool” in the fight against COVID as Labor leader Anthony Albanese continued to apply pressure over the pace of the vaccine rollout.