‘Base, loopy politics’: Brad Hazzard slams Qld border policy
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has slammed the Queensland Premier over border closures, accusing her of engaging in “base, loopy politics” over the matter. Meanwhile, a club in the eastern suburbs is the newest hotspot.
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NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has slammed the Queensland Premier over border closures, accusing her of engaging in “base, loopy politics” over the matter.
Mr Hazzard said he is “appalled” at the hard border which has created problems for those seeking medical treatment or attempting to travel into Queensland on compassionate grounds.
“I can only express my anger — my supreme anger — at the Queensand Premier’s decision,” he said, in the strongest condemnation of Annastacia Palaszczuk’s border policies to date.
“I’m appalled by what’s going on up there,” he said.
In contrast, the Queensland Health Minister said he was “doing all I can” to assist in individual cases.
Mr Hazzard pledged to contact Steven Miles in relation to reports a terminally ill father of four was unable to have all his children travel across the border to see him because of Queensland’s policies.
EASTERN SUBURBS CLUB NEW HOTSPOT
NSW Health are asking anyone who visited the Eastern Suburbs Legion Club at Waverley between 5pm and 6:30pm on Friday August 28 to immediately seek testing, after two confirmed COVID-19 cases attended the venue while infectious.
The cases were also present at the club while infectious on the following dates:
- Tuesday, September 1
- Friday, September 4
- Saturday, September 5
- Sunday, September 6
Anyone who attended the club during the above times should monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they develop.
After testing, they must remain in isolation until a negative test result is received.
NSW Health is working with the club to contact and assess the exposure risk to
members and guests.
VICTORIAN PAIR AT NSW PUB FINED FOR NOT ISOLATING
A Victorian man and woman have been fined for failing to isolate after entering NSW with a valid permit.
On Tuesday, police were called to a hotel on Dean St, Albury, after reports that an altercation had taken place.
When officers arrived, they found there had been an argument between a group of people, believed to be family members.
Police checks revealed that although one pair both had a permit to be in NSW, it required them to minimise contact with others for two weeks.
They were fined $1000 each.
The licensee of a hotel on Montefiores St, Wellington, was also fined $1000 on Tuesday after police found the venue was overcrowded, patrons were not seated, and minimal social distancing was taking place.
The venue had prior warnings.
‘MYSTERY’ CASE AMONG 9 NSW INFECTIONS, NEW COVID ALERTS
NSW has recorded nine new cases of coronavirus including one mystery infection in southeast Sydney and one in hotel quarantine.
Seven of the new cases are linked to a known case or cluster including five people linked to an outbreak at Concord Hospital – two healthcare workers, one patient and two household contacts of the patient.
The workers were “potentially infectious” while working at the hospital, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.
Another new case attended the City Tattersall’s gym and one is a household contact of a previous case linked to the CBD cluster.
Concord Hospital will be closed to all visitors from today until Friday as the hospital deep cleans all wards following three new cases recorded yesterday – one visitor and two staff.
The hospital will close from 8am today and will reopen 10am on Friday.
All staff on the aged care wards at the hospital are taking extra precautions by wearing full personal protective equipment including gowns, gloves, masks and goggles.
A statement from the Sydney Local Health District said there was no ongoing risk to the hospital and patients are safe to attend the hospital for treatment.
“We know this is a worrying time, but we thank our staff, patients and community for their
understanding. We will make arrangements for patients and visitors to be able to connect with loved ones by phone or video calls,” the statement said.
Cases attended the following venues while infectious. Anyone who attended at the following times is considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days:
– Albion Hotel, Parramatta Beer Garden and Pavilion, on Saturday September 5 between 8.15pm and 11.15pm for at least an hour.
– The Crocodile Farm Hotel, Ashfield on Friday September 4 between 5.30pm and 6.30pm for at least an hour.
– The New Shanghai Night restaurant, Ashfield on Friday September 4 between 6.30pm and 8pm for at least an hour.
Anyone who attended the following venues or travelled on these trains is considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms:
– Macquarie Shopping Centre, including Food Court, Coco Tea, Myer, Time Zone and Tommy Gun’s Barbershop, on Saturday September 5 between 2:00pm and 5:00pm.
– The Railway Hotel, Liverpool on Friday September 4 between 10:00pm and 11:30pm.
– T1/T9 North Shore Line on September 7 between 9:17 and 9:29am from Milson’s Point to St Leonards
– T1/T9 North Shore Line on September 7 between 9:53 and 10:14am from St Leonard’s to Milsons Point
ASTRAZENECA VACCINE ON HOLD AFTER ‘ADVERSE REACTION’
A late stage trial of the world’s most promising coronavirus vaccine has been paused
Drug company AstraZeneca has described the decision to halt a phase three trial of the Oxford University COVID-19 vaccine as a “routine” action taken when there is a potentially unexplained illness among participants.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth has confirmed it is standard practice to pause trials if there is any illness.
“It certainly does not mean that the Oxford vaccine is in any way dead just because of one adverse reaction,” Dr Coatsworth told Nine’s Today show.
“But it is a serious adverse reaction and it needs to be investigated. And what’s encouraging here is that despite the accelerated vaccine development, the processes are exactly the same.”
Dr Coatsworth said he was “actually taking a lot of reassurance” out of the early breaking news as if highlighted the trial’s focus and commitment to safety.
“I’m going to wait to see exactly what the adverse reaction was and whether they do in fact attribute it to the vaccine,” he said.
11 DEATHS and 76 CASES IN VICTORIA
Daily coronavirus infections have risen again in Victoria with 76 new cases reported overnight.
The case figure is higher than Tuesday’s 55 and Monday’s 41 cases – the lowest daily increase in two months since 41 cases were reported on June 28.
Eleven more people have died from the virus, taking the state’s death toll since the start of the pandemic to 694.
The total number of coronavirus cases recorded in Victoria since the start of the pandemic is about 19,650.
NEW COVID ALERTS FOR SYDNEY VENUES
NSW Health issued new COVID-19 alerts for several Sydney venues on Tuesday night including a golf club, gym, shopping centre and pub.
Anyone who attended the following venues is considered a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days:
– Oatlands Golf Club, 94 Bettington Rd Oatlands, on Friday, September 4 between 6:30-8:45pm.
– Paperboy Café, 18 Tennyson Rd Concord, Sunday September 6 between 10am-12pm
Anyone who attended the following venues is considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms:
– Stanhope Village Shopping Centre, including Kmart on Monday September 7 between 8.30am-9.30am
– Clovelly Hotel on Saturday September 5 between 12:45-1:45pm
– Rouse Hill Town Centre, including Target on Saturday September 5 between 12.30pm-1.30pm
– Fitness First Maroubra on Saturday September 5 between 8am‑12pm
Woolloomooloo institution China Doll temporarily closed as a precaution after a suspected case of COVID-19 dined there last week.
“We’re doing a precautionary deep clean tonight (Tuesday) because there was a suspected case and we didn’t want to wait around, we just wanted to get it cleaned straight away,” Owner Steve Anastasiou said.
“We’re concerned about the area with what happened at Potts Point, so we’re taking precautions to ensure all our customers are safe and for the safety of our staff as well.
“We’ve actually already gotten two (deep cleans) done and this one is a new product that’s meant to last for 90 days.”
SCHOOL BOARDERS WON’T HAVE TO QUARANTINE
NSW students boarding at QLD schools will now be able to return back to the sunshine state after their holidays without having to quarantine for two weeks.
The new exemption only applies to students whose family live in remote properties in LGAs in NSW and the ACT with no active cases.
Students and any adults travelling with them will have to remain at their property and travel directly to and from the school by road to qualify for the quarantine exemption.
Students must also take a COVID test on entry into QLD.
“The change allows students to quarantine on their parents’ remote properties and return to school,” a Queensland Health spokesperson said.
Students travelling home to Victoria, to built up areas in NSW and areas with active cases, and students travelling to QLD by plane will all still have to isolate for two weeks either at the school or in hotel quarantine.
LEGENDARY BALMAIN PUB CLOSED OVER BREACHES
A pub in the Inner West has become the first venue to be shut down in a week for coronavirus safety breaches after police found a large group of patrons dancing and mingling together in a contravention of guidelines.
The prohibited party at Unity Hall Hotel in Balmain happened just a day after the venue was issued with a fine for earlier COVID breaches.
The Unity Hall Hotel will be closed for a week from Wednesday, in addition to copping a total of $10,000 in fines for multiple breaches.
The party involved a group of patrons dancing and mingling together in a private function room at the Balmain pub on August 8.
The regulator said the venue was not enforcing social distancing, and was allowing guests to drink while standing and walking around.
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Police fined the venue $5000 for failing to follow the rules, and referred the matter to Liquor & Gaming NSW.
The Unity Hall Hotel had earlier copped a fine of $5,000 after failing an inspection on August 5.
In a statement, hotel licensee Geoff Roddy apologised “unreservedly” over the breach.
“I acknowledge that I did not fully understand every aspect of the ever-changing regulations and I should have,” he said.
Mr Roddy said health authorities require “very high” standards.
“But I recognise that the consequences of this virus are severe and are not to be taken lightly,” he said.
NSW REGIONS WANT RULES RELAXED
Deputy Premier John Barilaro will present cabinet colleagues with a plan this week proposing the removal of COVID-19 restrictions in the regions.
It can be revealed Mr Barilaro flagged this intention with the government’s leadership team last week and will present the official proposal as soon as Wednesday.
His pitch is to remove the four-square-metre rule so that pubs, restaurants and cafes can welcome more patrons and remove the caps on weddings, funerals, churches, regional sport, outdoor events and gyms.
“In my mind it’s simple, the community was behind us when we thought there was a crisis but we’re losing the community now because they can’t see the rationale,” Mr Barilaro said last night.
“Without a single case for 120 days north of Newcastle, and the majority of regional areas never ever having an outbreak, isn’t it time that we get back to some normality? I believe we should.
Mr Barilaro said regional towns were being unfairly penalised for small pockets of COVID-19 in the city.
“Businesses in Sydney were not forced to shut up shop during the worst days of the drought so why should our regional businesses suffer while the pandemic is contained to the city?”
He said it was clear NSW was capable of dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, containing it and continuing to keep the economy open.
The proposal will be put to chief health officer Kerry Chant for consideration.
TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL CANCELLED
The Tamworth Country Music Festival 2021 has officially been cancelled over safety concerns after it was put to a council vote on Tuesday evening.
“Tamworth Region Councillors tonight voted to suspend all Tamworth Regional Council run events for the 2021 Toyota Country Music Festival, Tamworth,” event organisers wrote in a statement.
“With the current public health orders in place, which include the prohibition of music festivals and mass gatherings, coupled with travel restrictions and venue capacity challenges, Councillors could not in good conscience vote to proceed with the event.”
Festival Manager, Barry Harley said: “Today is a sad day, not only for Tamworth, but for the artists, and the country music industry.”
“Unfortunately, like so many others in our situation, we have had to surrender to the challenges COVID has placed on us and make the difficult decision to suspend TCMF2021.”
Tamworth Region Mayor, Col Murray said: “It is hard to believe that we have had to make this decision, still, the impacts of introducing COVID-19 to our community far outweigh the impacts cancelling the Festival would have on our community.”
TOP SCIENTIST COMES TO NSW TO SEE GOLD STANDARD
Australia’s chief scientist will lead an investigative excursion to NSW to study the state’s “gold standard” coronavirus contact tracing system and teach Victoria how to copy it.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked Dr Alan Finkel and Commodore Mark Hill, who is heading up the Australian Defence Force’s COVID-19 support in Victoria, to travel to NSW to study the contact tracing unit.
The high-level officials will work in partnership with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services to map the key elements of NSW Health’s unit and use the knowledge to boost the southern state’s ailing system.
Mr Morrison has discussed the plan with Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who has been fully supportive of the action and made her team available to support Dr Finkel and Commodore Hill.
It is understood the plan is for all members of the visit to be on the ground in NSW by the end of this week.
It follows a call from Mr Morrison earlier this week questioning the “assumptions” underpinning Victoria’s road map out of lockdown, including those about the “efficacy” of contact tracing.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth yesterday said effective contact tracing essentially came down to a “timing issue”. “When we say gold standard, what we’re really referring to is the time … between a person getting symptoms and the whole contact tracing process being wound up,” he said. “What we have seen in Victoria is a recognition that when the outbreak gets to a certain level, those times started to stretch out.
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