Australia news live update: Nine deaths, 1,750 Covid cases in Vic as Melbourne emerges from lockdown; 332 cases, two deaths in NSW | Australia news

This was actually my first time on the blog and I want to thank you for spending the time with me.

Let’s do a quick recap of the big stories we saw today:

• The world’s lockdown capital, Melbourne, opened up after its very last city-wide lockdown. It was wet and wild, the bars filled up and friends enjoyed long hugs.

• The ease in restrictions came as Victoria recorded 1,750 new cases and nine deaths. Covid Commander Jeroen Weimar warned increased movement and socialisation brings with it an increased risk of encountering the virus.

• In NSW the trend of daily caseloads in the low hundreds continued with 332 new cases and two deaths. That’s slightly lower than the 345 cases recorded on Friday.

• Former New South Wales Labor power broker Eddie Obeid began his three years and ten months sentence on Saturday morning after being found guilty of conspiring over a coal licence for his family farm in the Bylong Valley.

• Chief medical officer Michael Kidd congratulated Australians for their hard work in the pandemic and said booster shots are available now for these immunocompromised.

I had a great day going through the news with you – but must admit, I’m very excited to meet my girlfriend for a real drink in a real bar now.

Go well, team Guardian.

Zena Chamas

Forensic officers are scouring the outside of missing four-year-old Cleo Smith’s mother’s house for fingerprints in attempts to find any new evidence in the ongoing investigation.

A Western Australia Police spokesperson told the Guardian that officers are focusing their investigation on the exterior of the house to see if any suspects had been lurking at the vicinity in the days leading up to her disappearance.

Earlier, WA premier Mark McGowan urged those with any information on the case to come forward as a special task force set up to find the young girl continues their investigation.

“There’s over a hundred police personele on this case, plus volunteers, plus army reserves who are out there searching in the efforts to find Cleo.

I just urge anyone who has any knowledge of the location of Cleo, please provide that information to police and assure that we can provide some certainty and information to Cleo’s loved ones and hopefully bring Cleo back safe and sound,” McGowan said.

Cleo was reported missing in the early hours of the morning last Saturday after her parents discovered her sleeping bag was unzipped and empty at the Blowholes campground site where they had been camping.

Police have spent the last seven days searching the rugged terrain near the remote campsite for the young girl.

Some time between 1.30am and 6am police believe a person unzipped the large family tent and plucked out a sleeping Cleo, still in her sleeping bag, then fled.

The Blowholes campground site is an isolated one, 30 minutes off the North West Coastal Highway with only one sealed road in and out for tourists, fishers, and the handful of shack-dwellers who make their way here.

It was a really big week for the Wiggles but how well do you know them?

My colleague Andrew P Street put together this quiz to test your Wiggles knowledge. I got 4/10 which is actually just embarrassing. I do not the Wiggles, obviously.

We’ve got zero new cases in South Australia.

On Saturday 4,556 tests were conducted, and of the population aged 16+, 78.6% have had their first dose and 61.8% have had their second.

There’s been a development in the search for Cleo Smith.

Police are currently gathering evidence at the family’s property and told the ABC they are looking for signs of a break-in.

Annastacia Palaszczuk wants QLD to get moving on vaccaintions.

We’ve got some more photos from Melbourne’s re-opening.

As Melbourne opened up last night some people got wild, while others struggled to find an open bar.

Everyone, I think, worried about their conversational skills. Read about it here:

Kidd says Australians should take the extra shot when they can get it:

“If boosters become available, present for a booster dose when it’s your time.”

Kidd says there is a risk of breakthrough infections if the levels of antibodies fall in the community.

He also flags that in the future Australians may be able to take different vaccines.

Australia’s booster program can now start for those over 12 who are immunocompromised.

It will then target high-risk groups such as healthcare workers.

Kidd says the government has no idea when Novavax will become available as “we are still waiting for it to get assessed.”

He says people should not wait, and we know there will be more community transmission as lockdowns are lifted.

“Pease do not wait for other vaccines, please get vaccinated now.”