Coronavirus Sydney: COVID-19 quarantine orders to be policed

LIVE: Chief Medical Officer says we are in good shape compared to other countries

Billy Freeman

Justin Hemmes, boss of Sydney restaurant and venue giant Merivale, has sent out a statement to customers saying he is working hard behind the scenes to get ready for reopening at some point.

"It is a particularly devastating time for the hospitality industry, but nothing is more important than health. We wholeheartedly support government efforts to protect our country and will happily play our part to help stop the spread," Mr Hemmes said
"Now that this decision has been made for community health and safety, my absolute top priority is supporting our staff. Merivale is what it is today because of its people, and I am simply in awe of our team's passion and strength, especially over the last few weeks," he said.

"I am completely heartbroken that this is happening but remain focused on the light at the end of the tunnel. Together we will get through this and I can't wait to personally welcome you all back into our venues as soon as it is safe."

Merivale boss Justin Hemmes 'heartbroken' by closed doors

Jessica McSweeney

Justin Hemmes, boss of Sydney restaurant and venue giant Merivale, has sent out a statement to customers saying he is working hard behind the scenes to get ready for reopening at some point.

"It is a particularly devastating time for the hospitality industry, but nothing is more important than health. We wholeheartedly support government efforts to protect our country and will happily play our part to help stop the spread," Mr Hemmes said
"Now that this decision has been made for community health and safety, my absolute top priority is supporting our staff. Merivale is what it is today because of its people, and I am simply in awe of our team's passion and strength, especially over the last few weeks," he said.

"I am completely heartbroken that this is happening but remain focused on the light at the end of the tunnel. Together we will get through this and I can't wait to personally welcome you all back into our venues as soon as it is safe."

Second UTS confirmed case

Clare Armstrong

University of Technology Sydney has moved to teaching most of its courses online as a second student tests positive for coronavirus.

UTS confirmed the second-year student in the Faculty of Health had COVID-19 in an email to all university staff and students on Tuesday.

"The affected student was on campus on Wednesday 11 March and Thursday 12 March," the university said.

"Staff and students identified as having come into close contact with the affected student are being contacted and will be supported to self-isolate for 14 days."

UTS said the affected student was "reasonably well and recovering at home in isolation".

Previously another UTS student who was also a second year in the Faculty of Health tested positive for COVID-19, but there was no evidence the cases are linked.

National cabinet meeting to crack down on house parties

Clare Armstrong

New rules cracking down on people trying to sidestep the closure of pubs and clubs by hosting large house parties will be set out by governments in a bid to end confusion around social distancing.
National leaders will meet on Tuesday from 6.30pm to clarify exactly what the public is allowed to do following days of mixed messages after the shut down of non-essential businesses such as night clubs, restaurants, cafes, cinemas and gyms.
The stage one measures announced on Sunday night remain the priority of governments, with measures for the second phase still under discussion with health experts.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the second phase of measures would not include a full lock down of businesses and homes as has been implemented in other countries.
“There are a series of gradations here, which is about progressive social isolation, where we believe that is required,” he said.
"But above all else, people don’t need to wait.
“What we’re doing here is making sure that the message of the Chief Medical Officer, the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer and of the Government is: if you can take steps to spend time at home, do that.”
Mr Hunt said all social distancing measures would follow health advice.
“Health professionals … have guided our actions, which have meant that we have been able to prevent the onset and the spread in Australia far longer than many others,” he said.
“I will allow them to do their work.”
Further measures for the aged care sector, including widespread testing of workers to ensure they don’t transmit coronavirus to vulnerable elderly people, will also be a key focus of the meeting.
The issue of cruise ships is also on the agenda, while states are expected to take their proposals for supporting renters to the meeting.

New debt deferral request every 12 seconds at NAB

Jessica McSweeney

NAB customers are making online applications for debt deferrals every 12 seconds.

Since offering to pause repayments for up to six months, the nation's largest business bank has also seen a 110 per cent increase in call volumes from desperate borrowers.

"We've had an overwhelming response," a NAB spokeswoman said.

CBA's retail division has reportedly experienced a call increase of more than 200 per cent.

On Friday, the banking sector said it would freeze loans for up to half a year to help customers who had lost income due to the coronavirus.

-John Rolfe

Georgia Clark

Telstra is urgently trying to increase the number of calls its mobile network can handle at one time after thousands of people dialling government help lines overloaded the system.

The telecom giant confirmed there was an "issue with some voice calls connecting due to congestion" on Tuesday afternoon.

"When trying to place a call on our network, you may have heard a message about congestion," a Telstra statement said.

"Due to the growing number of people working from home, we’re seeing congestion impacting 3 to 4 per cent of calls on our mobile network."

Telstra said "most of the congestion" was being driven by the high number of calls to government 13 and 1800 numbers.

"Working with Optus, we're trying to fast track upgrades on our interconnection points as quickly as we can, which are contributing to this congestion.

"Yesterday we made good progress to improve things in the short term, which has allowed us to manage the higher call volumes.

Telstra confirmed data usage had not been impacted "at this stage".

"We know this is frustrating," the company said.

"Thanks for your patience in what is a challenging time for us all."

NZ minister in strife for breaking lockdown rules

Billy Freeman

THE NSW government’s $2.3 billion coronavirus stimulus package has passed state parliament.

The bill, which will now become law, includes $700 million to bolster the state’s health system.

The government will also spend $250 million to boost cleaning of public assets like schools, trains, and buses.

Most of the stimulus package will be spent on delivering tax cuts for business, including a three-month payroll tax waiver for businesses with a payroll of up to $10 million.

“We estimate that this change will deliver savings of $15,000 dollars on average to 30,000 NSW businesses,” Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said.

Workers will also be given more flexibility to take long service leave on short notice, if the employer and employee agree.

The government has already flagged further measures will be needed to cushion the economic blow of COVID-19.

“The situation is changing from week to week, from day to day. We need to move fast – and that may come at the expense of the perfect,” Dominic Perrottet said.

“As gaps appear, we will attend to them and put our people first.”

The Opposition supported the cash injection, but said it does not go far enough.

“We are in new territory. We need bold and courageous plans,” Shadow Treasurer Walt Secord said.

“This is a time for unprecedented and bold plans to protect NSW jobs, families and keep our social infrastructure from collapsing.”

-James O'Doherty

Billy Freeman

MILLIONS of extra face masks for GPs, a widespread testing regimen and texting health warnings directly to people’s phones are among the arsenal of weapons Australia will deploy in its fight against coronavirus.
Health authorities are preparing to dramatically step up coronavirus testing to capture all health workers, particularly people in aged care, and securing extra masks, test kits and ventilators to cope with the expected increase in COVID-19 cases in Australia.
Meanwhile retired nurses will be coaxed back into the workforce and many given extra training to be able to work in intensive care units in crack teams led by more experienced medics.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan said health officials were working to bring in more nurses to be trained and expand Australia’s intensive care capacity.
“We’re looking at also bringing back intensive care nurses who may have moved on to other
things, people who may have retired or chosen to take a different path,” she said.
“So we are looking for every opportunity to expand the capacity of our intensive care workforce.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt said more than 30 million face masks were due to arrive in Australia within two weeks, of which five million will go straight to general practice doctors.
“There is mask production being developed in Australia and … we are expecting 54 million masks by the end of April,” he said.
Mr Hunt said there were 97,000 COVID-19 test kits already on their way to Australia, with an order for another 100,000 secured after that.
“This boosts our (test) capacity and then in addition to that, and this is very important to our doctors … we have ordered 1.5 million point-of-care tests and they will be provided as is appropriate as they arrive,” he said.
Mr Hunt confirmed the second stage of the government’s public information campaign would include sending text messages with health information directly to people’s mobile phones.
The government has also expanded its telehealth offerings to the entire population by Monday, meaning any Australian can access their bulk-billed GP, specialist or mental health professional by video or phone.
“That is an extremely important development which is proceeding now at a faster pace than we had previously believed possible,” Mr Hunt said.

Millions of extra face masks and retired nurses called back to ICU

Clare Armstrong

MILLIONS of extra face masks for GPs, a widespread testing regimen and texting health warnings directly to people’s phones are among the arsenal of weapons Australia will deploy in its fight against coronavirus.
Health authorities are preparing to dramatically step up coronavirus testing to capture all health workers, particularly people in aged care, and securing extra masks, test kits and ventilators to cope with the expected increase in COVID-19 cases in Australia.
Meanwhile retired nurses will be coaxed back into the workforce and many given extra training to be able to work in intensive care units in crack teams led by more experienced medics.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Alison McMillan said health officials were working to bring in more nurses to be trained and expand Australia’s intensive care capacity.
“We’re looking at also bringing back intensive care nurses who may have moved on to other
things, people who may have retired or chosen to take a different path,” she said.
“So we are looking for every opportunity to expand the capacity of our intensive care workforce.”
Health Minister Greg Hunt said more than 30 million face masks were due to arrive in Australia within two weeks, of which five million will go straight to general practice doctors.
“There is mask production being developed in Australia and … we are expecting 54 million masks by the end of April,” he said.

Mr Hunt said there were 97,000 COVID-19 test kits already on their way to Australia, with an order for another 100,000 secured after that.
“This boosts our (test) capacity and then in addition to that, and this is very important to our doctors … we have ordered 1.5 million point-of-care tests and they will be provided as is appropriate as they arrive,” he said.
Mr Hunt confirmed the second stage of the government’s public information campaign would include sending text messages with health information directly to people’s mobile phones.
The government has also expanded its telehealth offerings to the entire population by Monday, meaning any Australian can access their bulk-billed GP, specialist or mental health professional by video or phone.
“That is an extremely important development which is proceeding now at a faster pace than we had previously believed possible,” Mr Hunt said.

$2.3b NSW stimulus packages passes parliament

THE NSW government’s $2.3 billion coronavirus stimulus package has passed state parliament.

The bill, which will now become law, includes $700 million to bolster the state’s health system.

The government will also spend $250 million to boost cleaning of public assets like schools, trains, and buses.

Most of the stimulus package will be spent on delivering tax cuts for business, including a three-month payroll tax waiver for businesses with a payroll of up to $10 million.