‘Strategy is working’: Victorian COVID-19 cases drop to lowest since June as report claims United States had cases ‘last year’
Victoria has had 37 new COVID-19 infections in the past 24 hours, with NSW recording six, as a bombshell new report claims the deadly disease hit the United States much earlier than first thought.
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Victoria has recorded 37 new coronavirus infections in the past 24 hours, signalling the third straight day of reduced numbers in the troubled state.
This was the lowest daily increase since 30 cases were reported on June 26. Saturday’s figure is also lower than Friday’s (43), which had fallen from 51 the day before.
But six more people died from COVID-19 in the past day, taking Victoria’s death toll since the start of the pandemic to 716. All new deaths recorded in the past 24 hours were in aged care, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed today.
Speaking in Melbourne, he revealed the latest fatalities included two women and a man in their 80s, and two women and a man in their 90s.
“It was only five weeks ago that we had 725 cases in a single day,” Mr Andrews said. “To now be down to 37 cases (shows) the strategy is working. It is challenging out there and I know it is difficult but the strategy is working.”
Mr Andrews indicated that the falling infection numbers meant regional Victoria was now on track to begin easing restrictions next week.
“Nothing is certain but regional Victoria remains on track to be open, and to take not one but two steps in the middle of next week,” Mr Andrews said.
The state’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said “we absolutely need to get to Monday” before a final call is made on regional restrictions.
The Victorian State Government also announced two key changes to lockdown rules in Melbourne – most notably, involving the personal care industry.
Beauty services will join hairdressers in reopening in the “third step” of the plan to ease restrictions. Before this, beauty and personal services would have been among the last businesses allowed to reopen. But now beauty and personal services, and hairdressers, will be allowed to open from October 26.
However, the change only applies to services where a mask can be worn. “This means that facials, face tattoos, face piercings cannot occur,” Mr Andrews said. “But other services will be able to open.
Contactless pet grooming will also be allowed to reopen in the “second step” of the road map to recovery from September 28.
The announcements came as the total number of coronavirus cases recorded in Victoria since the start of the pandemic is about 19,800.
The average daily case number for metropolitan Melbourne has fallen this week and sat at 65.3 on Friday, down from the high 80s earlier this week. In regional Victoria it was 4.7.
The daily average case number is calculated by averaging out the number of new cases over the past 14 days.
The 14-day rolling average for mystery cases from an unknown source is 134 for metropolitan Melbourne and seven for regional Victoria.
Metropolitan Melbourne must reach an average daily case rate of between 30 and 50 cases over the preceding fortnight to trigger an easing of restrictions from September 28.
The latest Victorian figures came as New South Wales recorded six new COVID-19 cases over the 24 hours – four of those were linked to Concord Hospital.
VIRUS HIT UNITED STATES ‘LAST YEAR’
Scientists have found the coronavirus began infecting the US before last Christmas, raising concerns about a possible cover up.
Researchers at the University of California found a “significant increase” in patient admissions carrying coronavirus symptoms months before the disease was reported to have hit the United States.
Between December and February, figures show there was a 50 per cent rise in respiratory cases compared to the previous five years – with doctors suspecting COVID-19 was to blame.
It was previously thought the first COVID-19 death happened in Washington State, after a man – who had no travel history to China – died on February 28.
President Donald Trump declared a national emergency on March 13. China has officially said coronavirus was first recorded in Wuhan just before Christmas in 2019, but has been accused of covering it up.
The lead author of the new study – which appears in the Journal of Medical internet Research – said the new findings could help in the identification of future epidemics.
Dr Joann Elmore said “We may never truly know if these excess patients represented early and undetected COVID-19 cases in our area.
“But the lessons learned from this pandemic, paired with health care analytics that enable real-time surveillance of disease and symptoms, can potentially help us identify and track emerging outbreaks and future epidemics.”
The news comes after the daughter of a UK Covid victim who fell ill last December says he and many more could still be alive if Beijing had not covered up the outbreak.
Jane Buckland told The Sun: “If China hadn’t lied to the rest of the world and kept this hidden for so long, it could have saved countless lives.”
At first, the virus was thought to have originated from bats being sold at a Wet market in Wuhan.
But scientists and politicians, including President Donald Trump, accused China of attempting to cover up that the virus.
Meanwhile, a Chinese virologist who fled to the US after claiming China covered up the coronavirus outbreak has vowed to publish proof the virus was made in a lab.
Dr Li Meng-Yan has previously backed claims Beijing tried to silence anyone who attempted to raise the alarm when the virus first broke out in Wuhan last year.
Dr Li travelled to the US in late April before speaking out, saying she had to leave Hong Kong because she “knows how [China] treat whistleblowers”.
From the early stages of the pandemic, reports emerged of doctors being detained after trying to warn others about the virus on social media.
Journalists also had their equipment confiscated after trying to report on the issue.
Dr Li, formerly a specialist at Hong Kong’s School of Public Health, has said her supervisor first asked her to investigate a new “SARS-like” virus in Wuhan on December 31 – but that her efforts were later stifled.
She said she reported back that cases appeared to be rising exponentially but was told to “keep silent and be careful”.
“’We will get in trouble and we’ll be disappeared’,” her supervisor reportedly said.
She has also backed claims that the virus came not from a meat market in Wuhan, and is widely thought, but from a virology institute in the city.
QUEENSLAND REFUSES TO BACK DOWN
Queensland’s premier has choked up as she described the plights of Sarah Caisip and Mark Keans as “heartbreaking and gut wrenching” but is adamant her Chief Health Officer is making the right decision over the state’s borders.
Visibly deflated, Annastacia Palaszczuk is not backing down on her state’s strict border measures, saying it isn’t her decision to grant border exemptions.
“It is absolutely heartbreaking … we’re all human, but let me make this clear – I don’t make these decisions,” Ms Palaszczuk said on Friday morning.
“I said to the Prime Minister I would refer this case (Sarah Caisip) to the CHO (Dr Jeannette Young) and I did that … It’s her decision, under the act.
“It is absolutely tragic … heartbreaking … families are not together at the moment. There are people all around the world waiting to come home. It is absolutely heartbreaking and gut wrenching.
“It’s happening around the world.
“My job is to keep five million Queenslanders safe.”
Holding back tears, Ms Palaszczuk said she understand how difficult it was for families who have lost loved ones, saying she had been in the same situation.
In response to a question from a journalist who said Mathias Cormann had described the premier as “cold hearted and nasty”, Ms Palaszczuk said “these are difficult decisions and they are heartbreaking”.
“I am human just like everybody else,” she said.
“These issues hurt me deeply, because during this pandemic I’ve lost loved ones as well, so I know exactly what people are going through.”
It comes as the state records two new COVID-19 cases on Friday, both already in quarantine. In the last 24 hours, more than 9000 tests have been carried out across the state.
Speaking earlier on Friday morning, Ms Palaszczuk said the measures the state had in place were “keeping families safe”.
“You can’t have a strong economy unless you have a the right health response.”
Ms Palaszczuk yesterday hit back at Prime Minister Scott Morrison for “bullying” after he became involved in Ms Caisip’s plight to leave Brisbane quarantine to attend her father’s funeral.
The case caught national attention, and prompted Mr Morrison to make a private and public plea to Ms Palaszczuk to be compassionate.
In response, Ms Palaszczuk said the political divisiveness was “disgusting and disgraceful” and remained firm in her strict border measures as mandated by the Chief Health Officer.
Ms Palaszczuk has copped widespread criticism in the past weeks over her strict stance on borders, with Today show host Sam Armytage this morning saying she “can’t believe this is happening in Australia”.
It’s also sparked questions about why the ACT is deemed a hotspot, as there has been no new COVID-19 cases recorded in Canberra since July.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said both cases had already been in quarantine and weren’t deemed a risk to the community.
One of the new cases confirmed on Friday is the seventh member of one family to test positive, linked to the Queensland Corrective Services Academy cluster. The other is a confirmed community contact of a case linked to the Ipswich Hospital cluster.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Sonya Bennett addressed Mr Keans case, saying “there’s a reason restrictions are in place.”
She said there was a tough balancing act between ensuring compassionate grounds for exemption were granted, and protecting the community from COVID-19 transmission.
“I think there’s many more cases, similar stories that are heartbreaking that the department are addressing,” she said.
‘HE’S STRUGGLING’
More than $200,000 has been raised for the family of terminally ill man Mark Keans after his family were denied an exemption to Queensland’s strict border laws to visit him.
Sky News After hearing of Mr Keans’ battle to see his four children before he passes away, Australians reached into their pockets and raised more than $200,000 on the family’s GoFundMe page live on Sky News.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also donated $1000 to help the family pay for the quarantine costs in case the Queensland Government caves to mounting public pressure.
Speaking during an emotional interview with Sky News host Paul Murray, Mr Keans’ sister Tam Langborne spoke of the pain behind Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s strict border bans which have left the prime minister “mystified”.
“He’s struggling, his major wish when he got diagnosed was that he just wanted his kids since the day he got diagnosed we’ve been fighting and fighting … it didn’t look like anything was going to happen it was the impossible but we’re starting to get a voice,” she said.
“It means so much to our family that people are coming to fight for us.”
In just 20 minutes after first hearing their story, the Sky News Australia audience raised over $110,000 and that figure had passed $200,000 by the end of the night.
According to a report in The Australian , Queensland officials have rejected dozens of requests from the Commonwealth and Mr Morrison to help distressed NSW families, including denying a distressing plea to allow a mother and father to visit their dying son’s bedside while his life support was turned off.
An emotional Mr Morrison revealed late on Thursday he had raised more than 40 cases with state and territory leaders regarding travel exemptions on compassionate grounds, after the Palaszczuk government refused to allow a 26-year-old woman from COVID-free ACT, Sarah Caisip, to leave hotel quarantine in Brisbane to attend her father’s funeral.
Mr Morrison called the Queensland Premier to ask for an exemption to allow Sarah Caisip to join her family at her father Bernard’s memorial service in Brisbane.
Despite Mr Morrison’s input, Ms Caisip was denied the chance to join her grieving family and instead had a private viewing on her own after the funeral.
The decision was slammed particularly after the Queensland government allowed AFL officials and wives of players into a Queensland bubble and celebrities such as actor Tom Hanks to self-quarantine in a resort as he returns to the Gold Coast to complete a film. with Australian director, Baz Luhrmann.
Mr Morrison said it “must have been the most horrible of days” for Ms Caisip. He revealed Ms Palaszczuk’s decision “fills my heart with sadness”.
“I’ve dealt with the Queensland Premier on other issues,” Mr Morrison told Sky News.
“Sadly, today I didn’t have the influence that I would have hoped to have.”
Mr Morrison, his office and Health Minister Greg Hunt have appealed unsuccessfully on dozens of emergency medical cases to the Palaszczuk government on behalf of families seeking to be with loved ones across the border.
QANTAS CALLS ON STATES TO REOPEN
Qantas has called on 20,000 of its stood-down staff to sign a petition, asking the states and territories to reopen and decide what a COVID-19 “hot spot” is.
In a letter, Qantas stated COVID-19 and Queensland border restrictions have contributed to an 82 per cent drop in the domestic tourism.
It also stated “significant pent up demand from customers who wish to visit family and friends or holiday in Queensland”.
“Now is the time for Australians to visit Australia,” the airline stated.
“Arbitrary border restrictions are having a profound economic and social cost to communities, businesses, supply chains and jobs in Queensland.”
Andrew Parker, Qantas Group Executive said domestic border restrictions will have a “devastating impact on Queensland’s tourism sector and the local jobs and livelihoods that depend on it.”
It comes as Woolworths boss Brad Banducci has told the Victorian government that the state runs the risk of running out of some food staples for Christmas.
The Australian reports a heated phone call occurred between business figures and government representatives including job Minister Martin Pakula, deputy chief health officer Allen Cheng and Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions secretary Simon Phemister on Wednesday night.
In a statement provided to The Australian on Thursday, Mr Banducci said: “We recognise Victoria is facing a unique challenge and value the open dialogue we’ve had with the Victorian Government over many months.”
“We’ve been working to support the government’s overarching health objective of reducing community movements to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. As part of this, we’ve shared data-driven insights on anticipated shopping behaviour in the lead up to the busy Christmas season to help inform policy making as it relates to our supply chains.
“We remain committed to working closely with the Government to help reduce community movement wherever possible, while also ensuring Victorians have access to their essential needs in a COVIDSafe environment this Christmas.”
GOVERNMENT SHOCKED BY VIC’S HARSH RULES
On Thursday, the government was “shocked” to learn a number of Victoria’s harsh stage 4 lockdown rules were introduced outside of the Chief Health Officer’s recommendations.
“We were somewhat surprised to learn that not all of the restrictions were based on medical advice,” federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
“Against that background, I think they should continue to review those restriction which is are not based on medical advice. I think that is very important,” Mr Hunt said.
Earlier this week, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Professor Brett Sutton, said the implementation of a daily curfew between 8pm and 5am had not been a suggestion put forward by his office, and was a decision made by the state government.
But during his daily press briefing, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews defended the controversial curfew saying, “If a curfew was removed tonight the only change would be potentially that can you could jog at 11:00 last night.”
“The term “curfew” is rather loaded but, at the end of the day, it is effective, just as all of these rules – as regrettable as they are – they are effective in reducing movement. And if you don’t reduce movement and the number of people that you come in contact with, then of course you don’t reduce the risk of this virus spreading. And of course, while ever you have a high risk of the virus spreading, then the rules stay on for longer. And you can’t open up. That’s the basic logic of this,” Mr Andrews said.
The Premier also said that while Victoria “won’t need a curfew forever” the orders will remain in place “for so long as it serves a useful purpose in helping police to enforce rules that are making it more likely that we can open and stay open.”
“I know some people, many people, myself included, would like all of those rules to go away as soon as possible. Tomorrow, the next day, but that would not be … That would neither be steady or safe or the responsible thing to did do,” Mr Andrews said.
“The only things, apart from those two, apart from those two examples, the only thing the curfew makes almost impossible is illegal activity – leaving your home for reasons you are not lawfully allowed to do so,” Mr Andrews said.
OXFORD VACCINE ‘STILL ON TRACK’
Health Minister Greg Hunt says the Oxford vaccine is still on track to be rolled out as early as the end of this year, despite the phase 3 trial being paused after a participant reported experiencing an adverse health event.
“The advice that I have, as of that time, is that the patient who had an adverse event is recovering, and recovering quickly, and is likely to be discharged from hospital within the next 24 hours,” Mr Hunt said, adding that both AstraZeneca Australia and Oxford University believe the illness to be unrelated to the vaccine at this stage.
A medical expert panel will consider the patient’s case and assess the safety of continuing the trial in the coming days.
“This is part of the highest and most rigorous of safety oversight programs imaginable,” Mr Hunt said.
“In particular, the advice that I had from the head of AstraZeneca Australia is that there is no change to the timetable for the delivery of the vaccine in Australia and they have no belief that it will be changed in terms of its nature, form or delivery. But they are always subject to the medical advice and in this case it’s what is known as an independent medical expert panel,” Mr Hunt said.