Sydney’s lockdown is set to be extended after an alarming increase in daily recorded cases, with some health experts tipping it could go on for another four weeks. The NSW and federal governments will announce support payments to businesses struggling to survive in lockdown. The situation is deteriorating rapidly, with more than 60 patients in hospital, and growing numbers in ICU, many of whom are young people. 
 
South West Sydney is being targeted by the NSW government and police, as the area records the most new cases, but many locals say the focus is unfair and discriminatory. 

Victoria is also on high alert after three positive cases were identified in a family returning from NSW. Separately, two removalists from Sydney have also tested positive, sending an apartment block in Melbourne’s north-west into immediate quarantine. Meanwhile Queenslanders and Territorians in NSW are being advised to go home as soon as possible.  
 
In a major change to the vaccine rollout in NSW, Astra Zeneca will now be offered to anyone aged over 40, and the Government has released a dramatic new ad depicting a young woman with COVID, on a ventilator struggling to breathe, in an effort to encourage people to get vaccinated. 
 
Meanwhile, Former PM Kevin Rudd says he contacted the Pfizer boss in America, to ramp up arrival of vaccine supplies, and while the Government disagrees, there is growing frustration with their problematic vaccine procurement strategy.
 
Joining Virginia on the panel:
 
Marylouise McLaws, Epidemiologist
Steve Price, Radio broadcaster
Mukesh Haikerwal, GP and former President of the AMA
Meshel Laurie, Podcaster and author
Alison Pennington, Economist with The Centre for Future Work

Please submit a question via our website by 9am Thursday for the chance to ask the panel.

Scroll down to watch Thursday's toughest question asked by Karen Tam, who wanted know why Sydney isn’t facing tougher lockdown restrictions in the face of growing COVID cases. 👇

Watch Q+A Thursday at 8.30pm on ABC TV, streamed live 8.30pm AEST on ABC iview or on our website.