Coronavirus NSW live updates: Returned travellers to be quarantined in hotels
Scott Morrison has announced further quarantining actions for those who arrive in Australia. It comes as NSW Health confirmed 41 new cases of COVID-19 from the Ruby Princess cruise ship and seven attendees of a Bali wedding tested positive. LIVE COVERAGE
The Prime Minister has today announced further restrictions on Australians returning from overseas in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19.
Scott Morrison said arrivals will now been quarantined in hotels across the country for two weeks of self-isolation.
“Two thirds of cases we currently have are from an Australian who has come home from overseas, that is very different to what we’re seeing in rest of the world," Mr Morrison said.
Australian Defence Force members will assist authorities and support compliance with the new arrangements.
The new actions come after NSW Health confirmed 41 new cases of coronavirus from the Ruby Princess cruise ship, a total of 162 in the state.
The Ovation of the Seas cruise ship has 41 confirmed cases.
Seven attendees at a Bali wedding on March 21st have also tested positive, with two NSW cases.
The state tally topped 1405 on Thursday night, a rise of 186 cases.
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Updates
Barangaroo metal roofing contractor in self isolation
Jo Seymour
A Crown spokeswoman tonight said the Barangaroo construction worker who has been diagnosed with coronavirus was a metal roofing subcontractor who was now in self-isolation and receiving medical attention.
"Lendlease will continue to monitor the employee's health and wellbeing," she said.
"As a result of the COVID protocols and site segregation initiatives, the employee came into limited contact with other personnel on the construction site and worked within a contained work zone." Other workers who came into contact with the man have been asked to self isolate.
The Crown Sydney site will be closed for cleaning on Saturday and the man's work zone won't be reopened until after a full bio clean, Crown confirmed.
Crown Towers construction shut down after confirmed case
Jessica McSweeney
Construction of Crown Towers at Barangaroo has ground to a halt after a confirmed case of COVID-19.
It is understood the work site was shut down this afternoon after a contractor for Lendlease, which is building the $2.2 billion casino and hotel development, revealed he had tested positive for the virus.
Lendlease and Crown have been contacted for comment.
It has been previously reported that up to 1000 workers are at the site on any given day.
-Ava Benny-Morrison
Darren Prendergast
The child care industry says its 200,000 workers will be out of a job within a fortnight, decimating Scott Morrison’s plans to “resuscitate” the economy once the coronavirus crisis passes. While the Prime Minister yesterday declared the sector was a “high priority”, Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) vice president Nesha Hutchinson said action was needed immediately. “We’ve got 200,000 childcare workers. If the government doesn’t help now they will be hitting Centrelink – 100,000 next week," Ms Hutchinson told The Saturday Telegraph. "The next week, the entire sector would be done.”
If centres close permanently it won’t be possible for parents to go back to work as soon as the COVID-19 “hibernation” ends, she said. The ACA wants the government to waive gap fees. That would stop parents whose kids are at home from pulling out of care altogether. Centres would then continue to receive the taxpayer-funded childcare subsidy and avoid collapse. Mr Morrison said childcare was a “very sensitive” area and an “essential part of keeping the economy running.” He said “arrangements” were being made but hadn’t been finalised.
-John Rolfe
200,000 child care workers to be out of jobs within fortnight
The child care industry says its 200,000 workers will be out of a job within a fortnight, decimating Scott Morrison’s plans to “resuscitate” the economy once the coronavirus crisis passes. While the Prime Minister yesterday declared the sector was a “high priority”, Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) vice president Nesha Hutchinson said action was needed immediately. “We’ve got 200,000 childcare workers. If the government doesn’t help now they will be hitting Centrelink – 100,000 next week," Ms Hutchinson told The Saturday Telegraph. "The next week, the entire sector would be done.”
If centres close permanently it won’t be possible for parents to go back to work as soon as the COVID-19 “hibernation” ends, she said. The ACA wants the government to waive gap fees. That would stop parents whose kids are at home from pulling out of care altogether. Centres would then continue to receive the taxpayer-funded childcare subsidy and avoid collapse. Mr Morrison said childcare was a “very sensitive” area and an “essential part of keeping the economy running.” He said “arrangements” were being made but hadn’t been finalised.
-John Rolfe
Just Cuts closes all stores
Jessica McSweeney
Massive Australian hairdressing chain Just Cuts has temporarily closed all its stores, despite the Prime Minister lifting the 30 minute limit on hair cuts.
CEO Denis McFadden today announced stores will close for four weeks, citing dwindling customer numbers and employee health concerns.
"We had hoped that common sense would finally kick in and the State, Federal and Territory Governments would act on the medical advice that safe distancing is critical," Mr McFadden said.
"National Cabinet has today failed to act on our pleas to add hairdressing to the list of non-essential services," he said.
Just Cuts employs 2,500 hair stylists.
"Our stylists are scared. Our customers are scared. How can we ask them to continue when everything and all the medical experts says the risks are too high?
"So, we have today taken the decision to shut our doors for at least the next 4 weeks and are recommending to our independently owned and operated franchisees that they do the same.
"Our two company owned salons in Western Australia will close as of 5pm, Saturday 28 March 2020 and we anticipate that our franchisees will shut down within a similar timeframe. Please note, this is a temporary closure."
Darren Prendergast
Australian border officials will crack down on people trying to profiteer from the coronavirus crisis by sending desperately needed medical supplies overseas.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagged a ruthless penalities for wrongdoers amid reports of some companies sending bulk medical supplies to China in the early months of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Mr Morrison said yesterday regulations to stop critical supplies such as masks, gowns, disinfectants and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from leaving the country while there is a shortage in Australia were “coming into place” imminently.
“My hope is that will ensure through the (Australian Border Force) and all those authorities that they’re able to crack down on this,” he said.
“It is very disappointing, to say the least, and there will be some people who just don’t get it and do these sorts of things, and we have toughened up the laws to make sure that they get it.”
The Daily Telegraph understands the ABF already has broad powers to seize items at the border, but as the demand for medical supplies has skyrocketed, specific framework is being developed to prevent domestic supplies ending up overseas.
It is believed the new measures could be formalised within days, after Mr Morrison first flagged the issue earlier in the week.
“We’re putting in place arrangements that will make it an offence and we’ll be able to seize at the border those who’ve engaged in profiteering by bringing together and making large purposes of various supplies in Australia and seeking to export them overseas,” Mr Morrison said.
“Now, it doesn’t relate to normal commercial legal activities, but we have been able to seize at the border … quantities of materials that were seeking to be sent overseas and that is not helping Australia.”
The new measures would include penalties and enable border official to seize the equipment for it to be redeployed for use in Australia instead.
It comes amid a report that staff from the Sydney office of the Chinese government-backed property company Greenland Group were instructed to source bulk supplies of medical items to send back to China.
The company posted photos of pallets filled with supplies ready to be shipped on social media in February.
Charles Sturt University public ethics Professor Clive Hamilton said it was “shocking” that China wanted to help out their home country but Australia received no thanks for the supplies.
“Now Beijing is ‘magnanimously’ sending supplies abroad expecting gratitude and using it to gain political influence,” he said.
“These were not spontaneous gestures by Chinese companies abroad.
“They appear to have been instructed to vacuum up medical supplies from other countries.”
Border force to crack down on profiteering
Clare Armstrong
Australian border officials will crack down on people trying to profiteer from the coronavirus crisis by sending desperately needed medical supplies overseas.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison flagged a ruthless penalities for wrongdoers amid reports of some companies sending bulk medical supplies to China in the early months of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Mr Morrison said yesterday regulations to stop critical supplies such as masks, gowns, disinfectants and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from leaving the country while there is a shortage in Australia were “coming into place” imminently.
“My hope is that will ensure through the (Australian Border Force) and all those authorities that they’re able to crack down on this,” he said.
“It is very disappointing, to say the least, and there will be some people who just don’t get it and do these sorts of things, and we have toughened up the laws to make sure that they get it.”
The Daily Telegraph understands the ABF already has broad powers to seize items at the border, but as the demand for medical supplies has skyrocketed, specific framework is being developed to prevent domestic supplies ending up overseas.
It is believed the new measures could be formalised within days, after Mr Morrison first flagged the issue earlier in the week.
“We’re putting in place arrangements that will make it an offence and we’ll be able to seize at the border those who’ve engaged in profiteering by bringing together and making large purposes of various supplies in Australia and seeking to export them overseas,” Mr Morrison said.
“Now, it doesn’t relate to normal commercial legal activities, but we have been able to seize at the border … quantities of materials that were seeking to be sent overseas and that is not helping Australia.”
The new measures would include penalties and enable border official to seize the equipment for it to be redeployed for use in Australia instead.
It comes amid a report that staff from the Sydney office of the Chinese government-backed property company Greenland Group were instructed to source bulk supplies of medical items to send back to China.
The company posted photos of pallets filled with supplies ready to be shipped on social media in February.
Charles Sturt University public ethics Professor Clive Hamilton said it was “shocking” that China wanted to help out their home country but Australia received no thanks for the supplies.
“Now Beijing is ‘magnanimously’ sending supplies abroad expecting gratitude and using it to gain political influence,” he said.
“These were not spontaneous gestures by Chinese companies abroad.
“They appear to have been instructed to vacuum up medical supplies from other countries.”
Darren Prendergast
Every Australian returning from overseas will be placed into quarantine in a designated hotel for two weeks under strict new rules being enforced by the military. From midnight Saturday at the latest, all travellers arriving in Sydney by plane or cruise ship will be made to quarantine in specific accommodation before they are able to go home, even if they live interstate. National Cabinet agreed to the tough new measures on Friday, with NSW and Victoria expected to pick up the bulk of the cost because they receive the majority of international travellers. The Australian Defence Force has been brought in to support the new rules and help local police monitor people in mandatory quarantine at home. Personnel will door knock homes where Australians are supposed to be in isolation and will report back to police if people are not complying.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the number of international arrivals had dropped enough, states and territories believed it was now “practically” possible to implement the new restrictions. There were 7,120 arrivals in international airports on Thursday, compared to 48,725 at the same time last year. “That coincides with the risk that is increasingly presented by arrivals at this stage, as the virus has spread more broadly around the world, that obviously has increased the risk to those who have been overseas for longer,” he said. “For those who are seeking to make their way back, know these arrangements will be in place and they are mandatory.” NSW would likely also bare the brunt of the federal government’s “mercy flights” rescuing stranded Australians overseas, with the latest – a flight from Peru with 260 people – expected within days. Tourism Accommodation Australia chief executive Michael Johnson said hotels had been working closely with the state government to put arrangements in place to “immediately accomodate” incoming arrivals for quarantining. “Many hotel operators have expressed an interest in facilitating guests in their properties for quarantining purposes and this will greatly assist an industry which has faced unprecedented challenges in recent months,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said the “most important thing” Australia could do was “completely stop the capacity for any returning traveller transmitting the virus”. “We would look after them when they get the virus, as some will do, as they continue to come home,” he said. “(People are) coming from countries now that have large outbreaks, so the risk is getting higher and higher as the number of flights reduce.” Prof Murphy said doctors were also worried about community transmission. ”That is the single most important concern for the health experts,” he said. “There is small amounts of community transmission in some pockets in Sydney, which is probably the most significant in the country, but tiny pockets in other states.” Prof Murphy said experts were “pretty confident” with Australia’s testing rate, which is one of the highest per capita in the world, but social distancing remained critical. “We’re not kidding ourselves – if community transmission becomes significant, that is the real serious concern,” he said. “So we have to have sustainable measures that every single citizen complies with every minute of the day.” Prof Murphy urged Australians to work from home where possible, only go out for necessities, not mingle with friends in a shopping centre or park and practice good hygiene.
Today's new quarantine measures explained
Clare Armstrong
Every Australian returning from overseas will be placed into quarantine in a designated hotel for two weeks under strict new rules being enforced by the military. From midnight Saturday at the latest, all travellers arriving in Sydney by plane or cruise ship will be made to quarantine in specific accommodation before they are able to go home, even if they live interstate. National Cabinet agreed to the tough new measures on Friday, with NSW and Victoria expected to pick up the bulk of the cost because they receive the majority of international travellers. The Australian Defence Force has been brought in to support the new rules and help local police monitor people in mandatory quarantine at home. Personnel will door knock homes where Australians are supposed to be in isolation and will report back to police if people are not complying.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the number of international arrivals had dropped enough, states and territories believed it was now “practically” possible to implement the new restrictions. There were 7,120 arrivals in international airports on Thursday, compared to 48,725 at the same time last year. “That coincides with the risk that is increasingly presented by arrivals at this stage, as the virus has spread more broadly around the world, that obviously has increased the risk to those who have been overseas for longer,” he said. “For those who are seeking to make their way back, know these arrangements will be in place and they are mandatory.” NSW would likely also bare the brunt of the federal government’s “mercy flights” rescuing stranded Australians overseas, with the latest – a flight from Peru with 260 people – expected within days. Tourism Accommodation Australia chief executive Michael Johnson said hotels had been working closely with the state government to put arrangements in place to “immediately accomodate” incoming arrivals for quarantining. “Many hotel operators have expressed an interest in facilitating guests in their properties for quarantining purposes and this will greatly assist an industry which has faced unprecedented challenges in recent months,” he said.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said the “most important thing” Australia could do was “completely stop the capacity for any returning traveller transmitting the virus”. “We would look after them when they get the virus, as some will do, as they continue to come home,” he said. “(People are) coming from countries now that have large outbreaks, so the risk is getting higher and higher as the number of flights reduce.” Prof Murphy said doctors were also worried about community transmission. ”That is the single most important concern for the health experts,” he said. “There is small amounts of community transmission in some pockets in Sydney, which is probably the most significant in the country, but tiny pockets in other states.” Prof Murphy said experts were “pretty confident” with Australia’s testing rate, which is one of the highest per capita in the world, but social distancing remained critical. “We’re not kidding ourselves – if community transmission becomes significant, that is the real serious concern,” he said. “So we have to have sustainable measures that every single citizen complies with every minute of the day.” Prof Murphy urged Australians to work from home where possible, only go out for necessities, not mingle with friends in a shopping centre or park and practice good hygiene.
Government urged to wipe robodebts in light of coronavirus crisis
Jessica McSweeney
Australia’s peak welfare body is calling on the government to wipe all controversial welfare robodebts and pay people back. The government has reportedly admitted it will have to pay back about $550 million worth of wrongly issued welfare recovery debts to more than 400,000 Australians. The government also expects to lose the class action lawsuit being levelled against the scheme and plans to settle, The Guardian reported on Friday. The Federal Court last year found the scheme was unlawful, prompting the government to water it down. The automated system matches tax office and Centrelink data to claw back overpaid welfare payments. The Australian Council of Social Service says the government’s payback figure amounts to about 70 per cent of the $785 million it received from people by August. ACOSS chief Cassandra Goldie says the government must repay what it owes. “Many of these people are applying for income support or were already receiving income support,” she said. “They are in desperate circumstances and should never have been charged with a false debt.”
Labor’s government services spokesman Bill Shorten said staff working on robodebts should be redirected to help Centrelink handle the thousands of Australians applying for welfare during the pandemic. “For Stuart Robert, sorry seems to be the hardest word,” Mr Shorten said on Friday. “He should immediately front the Australian public and apologise to the multitude of robodebt victims who have suffered so much because of this scandal.”
