Chief medical officer to brief national cabinet on Covid wave as calls for pandemic leave payment grow

Snap national cabinet meeting is shaping as Anthony Albanese's first major domestic test since taking office

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Australia's chief medical officer will give an emergency briefing to national cabinet on Saturday as the Albanese government grapples with the surging Covid crisis.

The prime minister tweeted late Friday night that he had received a briefing from the chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, who would report to state and territory leaders on Saturday morning.