Coronavirus NSW: Elderly warned to be cautious with visitors as restrictions ease this weekend
Older Australians must be cautious about visitors at home despite COVID-19 restrictions being eased in some states and territories this weekend, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has warned adding that those over 70 were still at greater risk.
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Older Australians have been told to be cautious about having people to their homes despite COVID-19 restrictions being eased in some states and territories this weekend.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said people over 70 remain at greater risk of the virus.
“For people over the age of 70 I just would say be cautious over these next couple of weeks, even if things are opening up and people are gathering in shops and cafes,” Prof Kelly said.
“I would just urge caution about your own health and consider … having people over to your house.”
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Speaking ahead of Mother’s Day, Prof Kelly also warned elderly mums to continue to keep 1.5 metres away from loved ones.
“If you’re feeling well and you really want to see your mum, I’m sure that’s fine but for the elderly mums just to be a little bit cautious and probably keep that 1.5 meters distance.”
“I know it’s hard and we will want to cuddle our mums on Mother’s Day … but let’s just wait a little bit longer.”
Prof Kelly said Australia’s “new normal” may not be the same as life before the pandemic hinting that overseas travel and mass gatherings are “too far in the future” for the National Cabinet to consider.
“The third step is not quite back to normal as it was before COVID-19, and I think we’ve been quite open about this from the beginning that the new normal, the COVID safe normal for Australia, may not be the normal that we’re used to prior to January of this year.”
“For example, the opening of the borders to international travel, that’s so far into the future we aren’t really sure how that might actually happen yet.” He also said he was “doubtful” football fans would pack sporting ground in September for football finals.
TRIBUTES FOR GREAT GRAN WHO DIED AFTER BEATING COVID-19
A 17th resident of Sydney’s Newmarch House previously diagnosed with COVID-19 has died, taking the state toll to 47 and the national toll to 98.
It came as NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard revealed there had been five new cases of the virus reported in the past 24 hours.
Great grandmother Fay Rendoth, 92, died on Friday, her family said in a statement.
Anglicare Sydney said in a statement: “Tragically a resident of Newmarch House passed away last night. The family and all relevant authorities have been contacted.
“We are devastated at the passing and extend our deepest sympathies to the family as they grieve the loss of their loved one.”
The western Sydney nursing home is to appoint an independent adviser after it was put on notice by the aged care watchdog following the fatal outbreak at the facility.
Mr Hazzard urged those travelling to see their mums to celebrate Mother’s Day tomorrow to continue practising social distancing measures to protect their loved ones.
“Tomorrow keep your mum safe, when you go to visit your mum, do what we have asked you to do which is keep that social distancing,” he said. “I know it’s tough, it’s really tough to not be able to hug your mum kiss your mum, but it would be the wisest course do not do that.”
NSW residents have come out in massive numbers to be tested for coronavirus, with the five latest positive cases found from almost 14,000 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
The huge spike in tests means 294,949 people have now been tested across the state with the total number of positive results rising to 3051.
PM’s PLAN TO REVIVE 850,000 JOBS – BUT NSW STILL SHUT
While Australia is on the road to freedom with hopes even pubs will be open by July, NSW remains locked up with Gladys Berejiklian failing to outline any new exit strategy for the state.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday unveiled a detailed three-phase plan to revitalise the economy and bring the country back to life, promising 850,000 jobs would be “restored” by July — 280,000 of them in NSW.
Other state and territory leaders immediately seized on this to outline how they would tackle the ambitious task of rebooting their states.
The NSW Premier provided zero insights although it is understood the state may move as early as next week on stage one restriction relaxations — but regional travel is likely to be excluded.
Residents in other states were given clear insights into how their future would look with Canberrans told that 10 people can gather in the ACT from today, Queenslanders assured they can travel 150km for recreation next week and Victorians promised a full plan on Monday.
Following national Cabinet on Friday, a cautious Ms Berejiklian released a brief statement repeating her earlier remarks that there would be “no further changes to restrictions in NSW this week”.
“NSW will continue to keep our citizens updated on our path forward,” the statement said.
Ms Berejiklian wants to closely examine the data showing the virus impact of earlier decisions including the May 1 move to allow home visits before finalising the timing of our next move, it is understood.
However the Premier may move next week and she is likely to come under pressure from fellow MPs and even cabinet colleagues who believe the state must keep up with the rest of the country to arrest the economic decline.
Before Friday’s meeting, Ms Berejiklian had wanted to wait until June to begin the next stage of lifting restrictions. But while other states had clear detail, in NSW on Friday night there was none.
Labor shadow health minister Ryan Park slammed the government’s lack of transparency.
“It’s making it very difficult for the community and business to understand what the hell is going on,” he said.
Ms Berejiklian claimed on Friday NSW had already eased a “number” of restrictions in the first stage of the plan — but the majority of the measures listed by the federal government as being the first frontier to tackle are still prohibited. These include five visitors to homes, and libraries and playgrounds reopening.
It is understood the Prime Minister’s office hoped all state leaders would stand up to provide further clarity and specific rollout plans after the framework agreed to in the mid-morning national Cabinet meeting had been announced.
In Queensland, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk released a detailed timeline for lifting restrictions down to the minutiae of outdoor gyms, nail salons and personal training sessions.
The federal government’s goal is to have Australia reach stage three by July, but with at least three weeks needed to review each step NSW could fall well behind if it does not start opening back up soon.
Economists said the Prime Minister’s bullish jobs target, produced by Treasury, was in line with a new “faster recovery” scenario published separately by the Reserve Bank of Australia on Friday.
Mr Morrison was so optimistic about the outlook on Friday he declined to rule out winding down the JobKeeper wage subsidy and the super-sized JobSeeker payment ahead of the current September schedule.
“People don’t want to be on JobKeeper and JobSeeker,” he said. “They want to be in a job that’s paying them. And that’s … what this plan is about.”
Under stage one of the national plan, skateparks, playgrounds and outdoor gyms will be reopened but limited to 10 people, and cafes and restaurants will be permitted to have up to 10 seated inside. The majority of people will continue to work from home.
Stage two will allow larger gatherings up to 20 people, including in settings such as cinemas, galleries, gyms and beauty parlours. Organised community sport will also restart.
Stage three allows gatherings of up to 100 people with most people expected to be back in the workplace and interstate travel to resume. Pubs, clubs and possibly gaming venues will be considered for restricted reopening.
Mr Morrison said while the July completion date was an “aspiration” the pace would be “totally up to the states and territories”.
“They’ll be responsible for setting their own timetable and communicating that to their citizens and residents in their own states and territories,” he said.
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