The new COVID case has thrown the McGowan government’s plans of a ‘normal Christmas’ into disarray but when you consider the reopening date was just six weeks away, it isn’t all bad news for them.

The week in photos from the award-winning Sydney Morning Herald and Financial review photographers.

About 34,000 people have contracted the virus in NSW in the past two weeks - almost twice the total number of cases reported during Victoria’s second wave - upending Christmas plans and forcing tens of thousands into isolation.

Ben Falconer is one of about 30 officers and other WA Police staff who have challenged the vaccine mandate in the Supreme Court since being issued with a stand down notice.

Charities will be out and about on Christmas day providing meals and company to those struggling.

With her bright copper hair, coral-pink lipstick and hand-sewn velvet winter coat, passers-by would mistake her for a homeless person.

As they prepare to host services on Saturday, four Christian leaders reflect on the end of a second year of living with COVID-19.

Gold Coast City Council are dealing with the animal involved.

Both patients were pulled from the water and rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

Today on Please Explain, executive editor Tory Maguire joins Nathanael Cooper to talk about the impact of our journalism.

The day after a community COVID-19 case was recorded in WA and five more people have tested positive to the virus and a new restriction announced for hospitality venues.

Not every word of health advice was followed by the Victorian government yesterday. That’s exactly how the process should work.

Got some Christmas cash or vouchers burning a hole in your pocket? Or perhaps you just love grabbing a bargain. Either way, let us help you plan for the Boxing Day sales.

Almost 50 flights through Brisbane Airport have been cancelled, as aviation staff isolating due to COVID-19 caused stress in interstate terminals.

The detection of a COVID-19 case in the WA community has led to new rules for everyday life to stop the spread. From 6pm on Thursday night these include the reintroduction of masks.

The direction from regulator NOPSEMA means Prelude, the biggest floating vessel ever built, will be shut down until Shell can convince them there will be no repeat of the recent dangerous episode.

NSW hospitals are currently treating 382 people for COVID-19, up from 347 on Thursday, with 53 cases in intensive care.

There was even more sadness at the Christmas Eve funeral of 12-year-old Jye Sheehan in Devonport, as news emerged of the serious injuries the boy’s father had sustained in a separate accident.

Telstra and some of the nation’s biggest banks have been targeted by alleged fraudsters.

Police raided Daniel Greenfield’s home on the Kingsway on Friday morning, arresting him as he left his house.

Emergency services were notified about 8am of the crash at Ball Bay, about 50 kilometres north of Mackay.

“Danny’s home visit is the most perfect gift we could ask for and all the proof we need that Christmas miracles do happen,” the family said.

Thirty-two of Queensland’s 77 local council areas had cases of COVID-19 within their communities.

Asked if the case would impact WA’s scheduled reopening date, Mark McGowan said if community spread had taken hold, the outbreak would make the reopening date redundant.

Seven COVID-19 cases have been traced back to a choir and orchestra rehearsal at St Paul’s Cathedral.

On the second Christmas Eve after the end of WWII, Sydney shoppers splurged and record crowds left Sydney by rail, road and air for the holidays.

As the year ends, 30-year-old pastor Patrick Donohoe singles out one ‘cool’ part of COVID: ‘you can’t avoid the hard conversations that Australians love to avoid’.

The NSW president of the Australian Medical Association writes that it would be unethical to countenance the NSW Health Minister’s suggestion.

Big fines and even jail terms are being imposed for the worst breaches of COVID public virus orders, but these penalties are not protecting us.

After going three years without seeing their US-based father and grandfather, the Hackathorn family had a knock on their door on Wednesday.

NSW hospitals are facing looming staff shortages as the Omicron surge forces the state government to reintroduce compulsory masks and density limits.

The property industry has called on returned NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts to immediately review his predecessor’s legacy urban-reform policy amid an outcry from developers it will worsen housing affordability.

We became richer faster than ever before this year, despite the pandemic. Here are six big reasons to be cheerful - for now.

A quarter of a century and $US10 billion later, planet Earth’s best set of eyes on the universe are about to be launched. There’s much at stake.

If you’re looking for last-minute Christmas gifts, forgotten to get the strawberries for the pavlova, the prawns for New Year’s barbeque or hunting a bargain, here’s a guide to what’s open.

Late on Thursday contact tracers published 13 new potential exposure sites.

If you think that masks don’t matter, social distancing is a nonsense and QR codes are a relic of the past, think again.

The state of the South Coast healthcare system is set to become a key focus of the looming Bega by-election, with Labor leader Chris Minns backing a Moruya obstetrician to wrestle the regional seat off the Coalition.

Christian leaders will preach a message of hope at Christmas as parishioners face a third year of the pandemic.

The challenge of Christmas, model planes, and how to stay alive.

Trivia buffs: test your knowledge with today’s interactive superquiz and target.

The risk of major bushfire has eased this summer, but rising regional populations are posing new challenges for fire authorities.

Reinforcements on standby.

In February, the state government announced a youth crime crackdown, which included tougher anti-hooning laws.

Every day, on average, more than 200 children are in custody in Queensland and some are staying longer than judges deem necessary.

Science says children are learning important lessons and helping their brain development by believing in Santa.

Queensland faces a hard road ahead as it deals with rising cases, but it will be smoother than it could have been thanks to measures already in place.

Education officials will not have final numbers on how many state school teachers are vaccinated until after January 7.

Victoria has introduced the country’s toughest mask rules – covering children as young as eight – but turned down health advice that it should bring back density limits in hospitality venues.

Holiday makers at a Victorian beach are doing double-takes, and having a laugh, at the sight of a hen going surfing.