A school and a childcare centre in Blacktown were forced to close after staff and students tested positive to COVID-19, and NSW cruise ship cases rise. LIVE COVERAGE
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NSW Health has announced the smallest increase of cases in some time, at 127 new cases, however there are still some concerning developments.
Tyndale Christian School in Blacktown has been shut down after two students and a staff member tested positive to coronavirus.
The Rose of Sharon childcare centre, also in Blacktown, has recorded coronavirus in a worker and two children. All children at the centre have been isolated as close contacts.
Meanwhile the number of confirmed cases in cruise ship passengers has risen yet again.
There are now 189 NSW cases from the Ruby Princess, 66 cases from the Ovation of the Seas, 26 cases from the Voyager of the Seas and four from the Celebrity Solstice.
Chicken take away Red Rooster has partnered with Foodbank Australia to support those in financial strife or without food security because of teh coronavirus crisis.
For every delivery meal customers buy through the Red Rooster website, the company will donate the cost of a meal to Foodbank.
Chicken take away Red Rooster has partnered with Foodbank Australia to support those in financial strife or without food security because of teh coronavirus crisis.
For every delivery meal customers buy through the Red Rooster website, the company will donate the cost of a meal to Foodbank.
Hairdressing and barber shop supplier SalonOnline sent an email to customers encouraging them to set up at home on the same day the industry was pleading with the government to shut it down.
The email, sent to customers on Thursday, boasted the supplier had “over 4000 products!” and “over 150 brands!” which would be “everything you need to set up your home salon”.
It came on the same day, last Thursday, that the Australian Hairdressing Council wrote to the national Chief Medical Officer making the “strong recommendation that the hairdressing and barbering industries be closed”.
Read the full story via Richard Noone here.
As the coronavirus crisis deepens and terrifying images from overseas flood our feeds, its hard to believe this isn't a science fiction movie – and the WA police are taking that feeling to the next level by deploying drones to the streets.
Drones will be used by the police to enforce social distancing in public areas like beaches and cafes by broadcasting messages to go home.
The drones will be fitted with lights and sirens to mimic a police vehicle, and will be able to broadcast up to 1km.
After the Prime Minister announced a $130b package to keep Aussies in jobs, the Australian stock exchange closed with its best day ever.
A record $102b of value was added to the market after a surge from the PM's announcement.
The S&P/ASX200 benchmark rose by 7 per cent – by 339 points – to 5181.4, the highest in two weeks.
All Ords was also up – by 6.56 per cent, or 319.8 points.
Deputy Chief Medical Expert Prof Kelly said modelling used to inform social distancing and shut down decisions would soon be made public in an effort to increase transparency around the decisions taken by the experts currently advising federal and state governments.
"I think transparency is very important," he said.
"I think the modelling component is one of those things that is changing very rapidly … as of today, I have asked my staff to organise a meeting later this week where the modelling and the epidemiology and the public health response will be unlocked, and people will be able to ask questions about that."
Prof Kelly said he believed experts had been "quite open" with "components" of the modelling, but he respected there are a large number of ways data can be assessed, which required further transparency.
The government has released some handy fact sheets on who is eligible for the $1500 JobKeeper payment, including for businesses and employees.
The payments will be through the ATO, and will be for full time, part time, and casual workers (who have been with the employer for more than 12 months).
On the business end, the company must have had a 30% reduction in revenue, or 50% reduction for businesses with over $1b in turnover.
You can read the full information for employers here, employees here, and a general fact sheet here.
A Sydney drug trial has been aborted after an alleged smuggler’s elderly lawyer withdrew over fears his client could have COVID-19.
East Hills man Michael Kahil and his co-accused Tony Haddad have pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of drug precursors into Australia from China.
Their joint Downing Centre District Court trial began in early March but had already been delayed by sick jurors when three Supreme Court of Criminal Appeal judges discharged the jury in Kahil’s trial on Monday.
It came after judge Michael King refused to vacate the trial despite an application from Kahil’s 69-year-old barrister, who also wanted to withdraw due to coronavirus concerns and was supported by the Crown.
Last Monday the defence barrister told the court he wanted to self-isolate because of his age, his compromised immune system and his recent proximity to Kahil whom he described as “fluey”, according to the CCA judgment.
“He told the court that over the preceding weekend, (Kahil) tried to get tested for the COVID-19 virus at Bankstown Hospital but had been turned away on the basis that he did not qualify for a test,” NSW Supreme Court Justice Christine Adamson said.
The Crown prosecutor backed the defence barrister’s application to abort Kahil’s trial, stating there was a potential devastating risk to the man’s health, but judge Michael King dismissed it.
“I am not prepared to stop this trial simply because of the possibility that (Kahil’s barrister) may have been exposed, or may be exposed to COVID-19 because of his presence in this courtroom,” he said.
“Like anyone else, I am concerned for members of the public and members of the profession who might be exposed to a virus which clearly can have significantly adverse effects.”
When the defence barrister withdrew anyway, Judge King questioned Kahil’s instructing solicitor – who also had flu like symptoms – about his experience “and learned that this was his first jury trial and that he did not appear in criminal matters.”
On Monday Justice Adamson ruled it was unfair for Kahil to be forced on unrepresented.
“It was plain that his solicitor could not reasonably be expected to step into the shoes of his trial counsel and continue the trial,” she said.
“Thus, the withdrawal of his counsel left the applicant, through no fault of his own, without adequate representation.”
Kahil and Haddad’s matter has been adjourned to October.
-Lucy Hughes-Jones
As the coronavirus crisis deepens and terrifying images from overseas flood our feeds, its hard to believe this isn't a science fiction movie – and the WA police are taking that feeling to the next level by deploying drones to the streets.
Drones will be used by the police to enforce social distancing in public areas like beaches and cafes by broadcasting messages to go home.
The drones will be fitted with lights and sirens to mimic a police vehicle, and will be able to broadcast up to 1km.
Those in the approximately a million foreign workers on temporary visas will not be eligible for the government's new job keeper payment.
The only non-Australians eligible for the $1500 per fortnight wage subsidy will be New Zealanders on the 444 visa.
Farmers are expected to be hit by this decision, with many sponsoring temporary visa workers in fruit picking jobs.
Temporary visa workers are also not eligible for the job seeker payment if they have lost work.