Morning mail: 200,000 daily cases ‘worst-case scenario’, children’s jabs scarce, holiday shopping etiquette

Wednesday: National cabinet to discuss Doherty modelling, Omicron and vaccine boosters. Plus: why you should be extra kind to retail staff this silly season

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Australia could have 200,000 new Covid cases a day by late January without low-to-medium restrictions under a worst-case scenario", according to Doherty Institute modelling. That scenario would only be reached if we do nothing" and is based on people not altering their behaviour, no change to the booster schedule and only basic public health restrictions being in place, according to a senior source. The modelling will be discussed in national cabinet today, along with the spike in Omicron cases and the vaccine booster program. Meanwhile, families could miss out on seeing loved ones in aged care over Christmas as inconsistent restrictions are causing confusion. Advocates are pushing for coherent guidelines and calling for a balance to be struck so residents are protected but not isolated.