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Sydneysiders have been forced to place their New Year's Eve plans on hold as they anxiously await a decision on social distancing measures.  Tough restrictions were reintroduced last week after the Northern Beaches coronavirus cluster continued to grow. NSW Premier Gladys Berijiklian gave a temporary reprieve for residents for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.  Those rules will be scrapped at 12.01am on December 27 with Ms Berijiklian to  announce rules for New Year's Eve and the beginning of January in the coming days. Christmas rules for the Northern Beaches will be scrapped from December 27 as health authorities debate what the restrictions will be for New Year's Eve (pictured, testing clinic in November) The NSW government is yet to announce restrictions for New Year's Eve (Fireworks display pictured in 2020) 'Everybody should assume they're watching the fireworks from home this year,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald.  Sydneysiders are alre

A desperate search is underway for a woman who escaped hotel quarantine in Perth.  Jenny Maree D'Ubios, 49, was only a few days into her mandatory hotel stay after arriving in Western Australia from overseas when she escaped on Saturday. She has not been cleared of having the coronavirus.  She was last seen wearing a black dress, walking on Adelaide Terrace in Perth at 10:20am on Saturday. Jenny Maree D'Ubios, 49, was only a few days into her mandatory hotel stay after arriving in Western Australia from overseas when she escaped on Saturday Police have asked for the public to keep an eye out for her as she is 'deemed a risk'.  'She arrived in Western Australia from overseas and has not yet completed her 14-days quarantine or COVID testing requirements,' a spokeswoman said.  'Police are now asking the community to assist in locating her. Members of the public are advised not to approach Jenny but contact police immediately on 131 444.' She has been descri

The highly infectious mutant strain of coronavirus found in Kent could be more likely to affect children, scientists have warned. Modellers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found the new virus strain is 56 per cent per cent more infectious.  Even if another national lockdown was implemented, it would be 'unlikely' to reduce the R to below one unless schools and universities were also closed, their study found. But researchers do not believe the new strain is more deadly or causes any more severe disease in either adults or children.  The new coronavirus strain may be 'particularly marked' in children, scientists have warned. Pictured: Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine modelled an increased susceptibility among children to the new strain compared to the original strain Researchers said there is 'some evidence that the increase may be particularly marked in children'.  The new variant will lead to a wave of cor

Forensic officers are investigating today after a man was killed in a hit-and-run before 6am this morning. The 28-year-old man was found in Coton Road, Erdington, with serious head injuries but died a short time later. Detectives believe he was hit in a deliberate act by a driver who sped away. An investigation is now underway to fully understand what happened. The 28-year-old man was found in Coton Road, Erdington, with serious head injuries but died a short time later. A forensic tent has been set up Photographs show a blue tent on Erdington High Street, as officers investigate the events that led to the death. A police cordon has also been erected.  Detective Sergeant Nick Barnes, from West Midland Police's homicide team, said: 'My thoughts are with the family of the man who tragically died this morning. Photographs show a blue tent on Erdington High Street, as officers investigate the events that led to the death. A police cordon has also been erected Detectives believe he

A 1,246-page document today shed light on the makeup of the new Joint Partnership Council - which will resolve any disputes between the UK and EU.  The council will be co-chaired by a UK minister and an EU representative but it is still unknown how membership of the mediation body will be selected.   The mysterious body will be set up on January 1 to act as a port of call for any issues between Britain and EU member states.  Members of the council will have the power to vote on amendments to the Brexit deal in the future, impose tariffs, make sure the trade agreement is adhered to and establish a list of individuals to join an arbitration tribunal. The mediation body will be set up on January 1 to act as a point of call for any issues between Britain and EU member states. Pictured, Boris Johnson speaking to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen from his desk at Number 10 The council will sit at least once a year alternately in Brussels and the UK. It will have t

China will overtake the United States to become the world's biggest economy in 2028, five years earlier than previously estimated due to the contrasting recoveries of the two countries from the COVID-19 pandemic, a think tank said. 'For some time, an overarching theme of global economics has been the economic and soft power struggle between the United States and China,' the Centre for Economics and Business Research said in an annual report published on Saturday. It added that the Covid-19 pandemic and the corresponding economic fallout had tipped the rivalry with the US 'in China's favour'.  Although the coronavirus outbreak is believed to have originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the CEBR said China's 'skilful management of the pandemic' - which saw it impose a strict lockdown - meant its economic performance relative to the West had improved.    China will overtake the United States to become the world's biggest economy in 2028, five year

Some 18 care home residents have now died from coronavirus after an infected Santa Claus came to visit in Belgium. Sinterklaas and his helpers in black face known as Zwarte Piet ('Black Pete') infected 121 residents and 36 staff at the Hemelrijck care home in Mol, Antwerp, earlier this month. Pictures of the man dressed as St Nicholas emerged to two weeks ago and the 'superspreader' has been blamed for the home's rising death toll since.   Five more elderly residents died over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and at least one was treated with oxygen.  The Father Christmas fell ill and tested positive for Covid-19 three days after visiting, prompting health officials to start testing at the home. The volunteer dressed as Sinterklaas was welcomed in to spread Christmas cheer among the 150 residents of the Hemelrijck care home in Mol, Antwerp (pictured: residents enjoying mulled wine and oranges as Santa and his Zwarte Piet ('Black Pete') helpers visit the home)