Melbourne family’s unthinkable reality after beloved grandfather’s coronavirus death
When beloved Hillside grandfather Giuseppe Franzoni took his final breath after a battle with COVID-19, his family were forced to watch on FaceTime. Now, they face an even more agonising decision.
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A Melbourne family were forced to watch their beloved father take his final breaths on Facetime as he succumbed to COVID-19.
Hillside grandfather Giuseppe Franzoni, 84, died on Friday at Sunshine hospital after a fortnight fighting the deadly virus.
His family have begged for Australians to take social distancing seriously as they say he was “fit as a fiddle” before contracting coronavirus.
“We watched him pass away over a phone,” daughter-in-law Patricia Franzoni said.
“We weren’t allowed to see him in hospital, it was confronting.
“We haven’t touched him, we haven’t seen him. We have a photo of him passing away.”
Mr Franzoni was instead surrounded by two nurses who were with him as he took his final breaths.
“It was horrible, it was the most traumatic moment not being there,” Mrs Franzoni said.
“It will be something we will have to live with for the rest of our lives. It is not something he would’ve wanted, he wanted his children there as he died.
“Now we are organising a funeral for Giuseppe and there can only be ten of us, but there’s 12 in our family.”
Mr Franzoni was said to be in “excellent health” and took great care of himself by walking daily but had pre-existing health conditions of asthma and high blood pressure.
It is understood the father-of-three contracted the virus via community transmission, which is being investigated by the health department.
He became unwell with shortness of breath and coughing and was taken to hospital by ambulance on April 4.
He was placed on a ventilator and his health deteriorated quite rapidly, causing him to become “unrecognisable” to family.
But, he is being remembered as someone who “loved life” and “loved his family” deeply.
“He loved his cards, his soccer, he went to the Italian club seven days a week,” Mrs Franzoni said.
He had recently become an Australian citizen, which family said was a proud moment.
His grieving family continue to be shocked when watching reports of people continuing to disobey stay at home directives.
“It is crazy to think you are going to risk your life to have a party,” Mrs Franzoni said.
“My father-in-law died on his grandson’s birthday, don’t you think we wanted to celebrate that? I can’t believe the amount of people who are so complacent.”
She said what happened to her father-in-law could “happen to anybody” and she urged Australians to be cautious to protect the most vulnerable.
“This is real,” she said.
“If you think it can’t touch you, you’re mistaken.”
Mr Franzoni’s son Frank said his father was “so giving”.
“If I was half the man and father he was, I’d be a very happy man.”
– Brianna Travers
VICTORIA'S DEATH TOLL REACHES 15
Another person has died from coronavirus in Victoria, taking the total number of virus-related deaths in the state to 15.
While speaking on Sky News, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed a man in his 80s had died in hospital.
There are now 1328 cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, which is nine more than yesterday.
Three the nine new cases are people who have recently travelled overseas and are currently in mandatory hotel quarantine.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton today echoed the Premier, saying the number of positive cases across the weekend was to be expected as the state widened its testing criteria.
“Victoria is increasing its testing for COVID-19. More testing means we get a clearer picture of how the virus is spreading and are able to take better steps to contain transmission,” Prof Sutton said.
“We thank those Victorians who overwhelmingly are doing the right thing by staying at home, but we must keep at it to save lives.”
Mr Andrews described the number of recent cases of coronavirus in Victoria as “fragile but very, very encouraging”.
He said that while the state government’s stance on schools is to keep kids learning at home for all of term two, he wouldn’t rule out a change to that directive if the number of new cases continued to decrease and stabilise.
“If we continue to see this progress we’re making then of course we reserve the right to look at those [school] arrangements, like all arrangements,” Mr Andrews said.
However, he said easing restrictions on bars, cafes and restaurants would be “very challenging”.
“National cabinet has had a discussion about easing off some of the social restrictions. Some of the ones that do the biggest economic challenge will be very challenging – bars restaurants, cafes, those sorts of things.
“But there may be, in four weeks time, an important opportunity to ease some restrictions where there is a low risk of transmission of the virus but a high reward in economic terms or simply to say thank you to Australians and Vicrotians for the amazing job they’ve done.”
There has been a “big increase” in the number of tests conducted each day in Victoria since the state government broadened the testing criteria.
“We are looking more, we are finding cases and that gives us confidence that we are being very successful in terms of suppressing this virus,” Mr Andrews said.
There were 3522 people tested for COVID-19 on Friday.
Minister Health, Jenny Mikakos, said there were now 134 confirmed cases of community transmission.
Currently, 29 people are in hospital.
Ten of those are in ICU.
There have been 1188 people recovered from the virus and more than 82,000 people in Victoria have been tested.
Ms Mikakos said her “thoughts are with” the family of the man who died on Saturday.
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DELTA JOINS LADY GAGA’S STAR-STUDDED GLOBAL CONCERT
VICTORIANS STILL FOUTING RULES
Another 65 fines have been issued to Victorians disobeying strict stay-at-home orders.
In one case, an 18-year-old boy was arrested after he was caught flouting the law on five occasions in the Caroline Springs area.
He was charged with one count of reckless conduct endangering life and five counts of persistent contravention of stage three COVID-19 directions under the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations Act.
He has been remanded in custody to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
Another six people were caught at a private residence and a trio were caught committing an aggravated burglary.
Police conducted 535 spot checks across the state as part of Operation Sentinel in the last 24 hours.
PREMIER STANDS FIRM ON SCHOOLS AND GOLF
When asked why the Victorian government has steered away from federal advice to keep schools open, Premier Daniel Andrews said he stood by the advice of the state’s Chief Health Officer, Prof Brett Sutton.
“I don’t think that having a million students across three sectors moving around the community everyday, plus their parents doing drop offs and pick-ups and full staff, is either consistent with our message to stay at home and protect our health system, nor does it achieve anything other than spreading this virus,” Mr Andrews said.
“I’m not finding fault with that but the Victorian Chief Health Officer has a very firm view and I follow the advice that he provides to me, which is that this is inconsistent.
The premier also responded to controversy over the ban on golf, saying that “no one needs to play golf”.
He said that the idea that people can continue as normal “is simply wrong” and lifting the golf ban would “undermine the integrity of the overall set of rules”.
“We’ve taken the view that there are simply a lot of activities that you don’t need to do. You’d like to do it. some people, myself included, would love to be doing it,” Mr Andrews said
“It is frustrating but I don’t need to play golf – no one needs to play golf. I want to but me playing golf just isn’t worth someone’s life.”
He added: “If you have 500 exemptions then you don’t have a rule book.
“If you do things like letting people go back and play golf, which they don’t need to do, then you’re hardly sending a message to Victorians that we need to stay the course and we need to see it through. It can turn very quickly.”
VOLUNTEERS THE NEXT CORONAVIRUS DRAFTEES
Lifesavers and volunteer paramedics may be drafted in to support Ambulance Victoria if the state is overrun with coronavirus cases.
Emergency plans drawn up to cope with a potential second peak of COVID-19 outbreaks call for Life Saving Victoria, St John’s Ambulance Victoria and non-emergency patient transport providers to step up as a reserve workforce alongside paramedics.
Details of the first aid reserve force emerged after 17 new cases were confirmed in Victoria on Saturday as Health Minister Jenny Mikakos warned against complacency.
Australia is looking at expanding its testing to include random checks on people living or working in high-risk areas like supermarkets who may not have symptoms.
Life Saving Victoria this week called for expressions of interest from its volunteers, informing them they may be called on to drive ambulances or help manage patients in hospital overflow centres.
While Victoria’s COVID-19 cases have flattened, Ambulance Victoria executive director of clinical operations Associate Professor Mick Stephenson said the paramedic service was preparing for all scenarios so it could respond to COVID-19.
“This includes expanding our own services and leveraging other frontline agencies where possible and appropriate to ensure we can continue to deliver care to all Victorians,” he said. “Our own paramedics, nurses and doctors will continue to provide all patient care (while) our partners like Life Saving Victoria would be used to help us to keep ambulances on the road.
“We’ve already moved to bolster our own workforce with the fast-tracking of 120 additional paramedics who will hit the ground from May.
“We’re grateful for the community’s continued focus on reducing the spread of COVID-19, which reduces the likelihood of us needing to respond to extreme demand.
“We will, though, be here to serve the community no matter how great the need.”
Under the first aid reserve force plan, volunteers could pair up with a paramedic in an emergency ambulance.
While the paramedic would give clinical care, the reserve would bring patient management and drive the ambulance in non-emergency situations.
State Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said COVID-19 cases would keep fluctuating.
After just one new case on Friday, the 17 infections yesterday included nine in hotel quarantine, seven from the Greg Mortimer cruise ship.
Police on Friday issued 88 fines for breaches of lockdown rules, including 12 people gathered at a house party.
“It’s really important that Victorians understand that the battle against coronavirus is not over,” Ms Mikakos said.
“I don’t think anyone can assume there will come a time where we can flick the switch, and we can remove all of the restrictions in one go.
“We have to remove those restrictions in a very thoughtful, careful way.”
JOB LOSSES CREATE PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS
The devastation of job losses caused by COVID-19 is already creating a health and financial catastrophe for many Australians.
Research reveals rates of serious psychological distress are eight times higher with those whose jobs are lost or badly affected by COVID-19 than among other Australian adults.
As well as a huge financial burden, initial findings of Monash University’s ongoing COVID-19 Work and Health Study have raised concerns about long-term mental health impacts of the pandemic.
While planning on easing restrictions begins, Professor Alex Collie from Monash’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine said priority needed to be given to measures that ease health issues, as well as economic.
He warned COVID-19 job losses had created a “perfect storm” for severe mental health conditions, which were already being detected.
“It’s off the charts,” Prof Collie said. “There is no doubt this is different to what happens when you lose your job in a normal economy.
“We have hundreds of thousands, or millions of people losing their job. Industries aren’t open so they cannot find another one, and we are imposing all these other restrictions on people’s lives, which mean they don’t have access to normal social networks that would be supportive.
“It seems strange to say it in the environment we are in at the moment, where we are thinking about people becoming really sick and dying from the virus, but losing your job can also make you really unwell and it does kill people.
“Just as we have seen modelling and tracking of the virus and its impacts, we need that same information on the consequences of job losses and unemployment.”
Anyone interested in finding out more or contributing to the COVID-19 Work and Health Study can visit www.covidstudy.net
CONSTRUCTION BLUEPRINT FOR GETTING BACK TO BUSINESS
Business leaders across Victoria are studying the construction industry as they plan a way out of our current coronavirus restrictions that will allow them to operate safely.
Regular testing, phased openings and strict social distancing and hygiene measures are being explored amid hope some parts of the state’s lockdown can be eased after May 11.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra says work is already underway to plot a path for businesses.
“The closer to May 12 that the road out begins, the better,” he said.
“We want to make sure the community stays safe and we want to make sure Victorian businesses are the first to bounce back.”
Mr Guerra said he had been encouraged by the efforts of the construction industry to keep building and would work with the government to get the private sector up and running.
“There needs to be an agreed testing regimen and a clear strategy on how we manage if there is an outbreak,” he said.
“We are also discussing the possibility of a phased approach to opening, whether that is based on geography or demography.
“On top of that you have to figure out policies that allow businesses to be open while still obeying rules such as social distancing.
“Supermarkets and other parts of retail are doing that. There’s evidence of things currently in place that offer us a way back.”
Mr Guerra said businesses should start planning now about ways they could open and operate safely.
“Let’s use this time to get ready for the green light, whenever that may be,” he said.
State Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said yesterday the government was looking at a staged easing of restrictions.
“We will be guided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and our public health experts,” she said.
Ms Mikakos said it was unclear if concerts or large gatherings would be able to return by the end of the year.
“There’s no playbook here,” she said.
“At this point you can safely assume those big, mass-gathering events … are not likely to be coming back this year.”
CORONAVIRUS TO DELIVER MULTIMILLION DOLLAR HIT TO COUNCILS
Councils are feeling the pinch of coronavirus as one Melbourne mayor reveals the pandemic will cost her municipality some $40 million.
Port Phillip mayor Bernadene Voss said the significant financial fallout became evident when preparing the proposed 2020-21 budget.
Ms Voss estimated the impact to be $40 million, saying it would be an “immense challenge” considering the council’s total financial-year budget was $230 million.
She said parking revenue would be more than $15 million down in the next 15 months. while income from property leases and rent would decrease by at least $7 million.
The state’s 79 councils are busily working on their draft budgets as they are set to release them for public consultation. Budgets are usually adopted by June 30, but local government minister Adem Somyurek extended the deadline by two months to August due to COVID-19.
Many 2019-20 budgets have blown out, with councils offering relief on rates — their number one source of revenue — to ease the financial burden of the virus on businesses and residents.
Port Phillip Council announced a $2.5 million emergency package to help support its community and local economy, with Ms Voss saying they were looking to further relief packages for ratepayers.
In the City of Yarra, a $7.4 million support package was introduced to help businesses and residents.
Melbourne City Council has offered rates and parking relief, as well as $5 million in business grants.
– Rebekah Cavanagh
BACKPACKER’S DREAM HOLIDAY REVIVED BY GENEROUS FAMILY
Backpacker Tanya Poujois found herself in lockdown and unable to find work after landing in Melbourne for a dream holiday.
But the 24-year-old from Madagascar now has a stylish home on wheels thanks to a generous Aussie family.
George and Alyce Gorgievski, along with children Kim, 5, and Mae, 7, have “adopted” Ms Poujois through the Adopt a Backpacker Facebook group.
The family, who run campervan rental business Hire A Kombi on the Bellarine Peninsula, invited Ms Poujois to stay in an out-of-use van from their fleet of 40 vintage Volkswagens. In return, Ms Poujois helps out weeding and has planted lawn.
“If I don’t pay rent I will have enough money to live with food and everything for many months, but if I pay rent I would go broke quickly,” she said.
Mr Gorgievski said Ms Poujois often spent hours playing with his kids.
“It’s sort of like she’s here to help us and we’re here to help her, as long as we’re both feeling that mutual love,” he said.
– Rhiannon Down
MORE FLU SHOTS ON THE WAY
Three million extra doses of seasonal flu vaccine are heading to Australia after a record uptake led to GPs and pharmacists running out of shots in some areas.
There have been about 592,000 extra flu shots administered in Victoria compared with the same period last year.
But some clinics in the country and Melbourne’s west are facing a shortage of the vaccine for patients aged over 65.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said an extra order would be available through GPs and community pharmacies over this month, May and June.
There is a record 8.6 million vaccines available for free of charge on the National Immunisation Program, including more than four million doses of Fluad Quad, which is recommended for people aged 65 and over.
“This is enough to provide vaccines for free through the NIP to almost 100 per cent of people aged 65 and over,” Mr Hunt said.
While all eyes have been on COVID-19, influenza poses a significant threat to the elderly and the very young and kills hundreds every year.
There have already been 19,270 confirmed cases of influenza in Australia this year, but numbers dropped off in March because social distancing measures to combat coronavirus have slowed the spread of flu as well.
A State Government spokeswoman said it was responsible for distributing the vaccine for patients eligible under the NIP, including people aged over 65.
“We’ve already distributed more than 1.6 million doses, despite the added challenges of high demand for all vaccines,” she said.
– with Jane Hansen