NSW relaxes one small rule in LGAs of concern, as national cabinet prepares to meet. Follow today’s updates

• Restrictions: NSW; Vic; Qld; borders
• Hotspots: NSW; Vic; Qld
• Vaccine rollout tracker; get our free news app; get our morning email briefing

2.49am BST

The ACT has recorded 18 new cases today, with 13 linked to previous cases and 5 under investigation.

Only 3 of the cases were in quarantine for their full infectious period.

2.44am BST

So contact tracing feels like the theme of todays NSW press conference, with the premier saying the system will move to a “self-monitoring” system.

The premier was asked about the long delays that some had seen in getting responses from health authorities, and Berejiklian said NSW Health had moved to a text message system to ease some of the strain:

Without giving away anybody’s private circumstances, some people who are very sick aren’t getting a test until right at the last minute,” the Premier said, adding “the job of our contact tracers is made easier if people get tested as soon as they think they may have been exposed.

But I want to make sure every citizen knows we will account for every type of circumstance. We don’t want anyone to feel excluded, quite the opposite. Our plans are based on inclusiveness to make sure everyone feel safe and part of the system. Of course we will also make adjustments for people who may not have access to technology in the way that others do.

Obviously there will be a transition.

We have already started transitioning as Doctor Chant and Dr Gale have spoken about, we are advising people by text message to make sure they get the message as soon as possible if they test positive so we are using technology in an efficient way to make sure people get the message as quickly as possible.