Coronavirus Australia live coverage: PM to OK gatherings from Friday, reports

Friday's national cabinet meeting is expected to deliver the news Australia has been waiting to hear, including that gatherings of 10 people are allowed.

less than 2 min read

May 6, 2020 - 1:42AM

Live with Scott Morrison: When will things return to normal?

Australians could be allowed to gather in the family home with up to 10 people under a national easing of restrictions, according to a new report.

The national cabinet meets again on Friday to discuss a range of issues including Australia's rate of infection and the easing of social distancing restrictions.

But 7 News reports Scott Morrison will push to allow gatherings in the family home of up to 10 people.

Though each state and territory is effectively in charge of when it eases restrictions, the PM reportedly wants BBQs and family gatherings back as soon as possible.

A number of states, including South Australia and Western Australia, have gone more than a week with a single new recorded infection.

RELATED: Follow more coronavirus news

Australia has now recorded nearly 6900 cases of COVID-19, with 3044 in New South Wales, 1440 in Victoria, 1043 in Queensland, 438 in South Australia, 551 in Western Australia, 223 in Tasmania, 107 in the Australian Capital Territory and 30 in the Northern Territory.

The death toll stands at 97.

Our live coverage for Wednesday has ended.

Updates

Melbourne meat cluster reaches aged care home

The Victorian abattoir coronavirus cluster that has 49 cases linked to the facility has now spread to a Melbourne nursing home.

A worker at Doutta Galla Aged Care in Footscray is among Victoria’s new coronavirus cases and has been identified as a close contact of one of the Cedar Meats workers who have tested positive.

Doutta Galla Aged Services said in a statement the staff member has no symptoms and remains isolated at home.

“The staff member last worked at the home on April 26 and has not worked since that date,” the statement says.

“There is not an outbreak nor a COVID-19 cluster, and no resident or staff are showing signs of infection.”

Health Minister Jenny Mikakos on Wednesday said residents and staff at Doutta Galla are being tested, and claimed the government had managed the meatworks outbreak “perfectly”.

The positive at Doutta Galla has put the facility in lockdown until May 11.

Another aged care centre northwest of Melbourne also is in quarantine. A worker at Grant Lodge aged care in Bacchus Marsh was tested for COVID-19 on Saturday and it has come back positive.

The worker was tested as part of a Victoria’s ongoing screening program, despite being asymptomatic, Djerriwarrh Health Services confirmed.

“All Grant Lodge staff members who have interacted with the infected staff member are being tested, and sent home for isolation, and the Lodge is in lockdown,” they said in a statement.
– AAP

Wednesday's biggest stories

A quick wrap of today's biggest stories.

There are four more new cases linked to a cluster at Melbourne's Cedar Meats, taking the total number of coronavirus infections to 49.
The regulator has warned Anglicare it could lost its operating license as investigations continue into the deaths of 16 residents at the Newmarch House aged care centre.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state leaders will meet Friday to discuss easing social restrictions amid reports gatherings of 10 people will be allowed by Mother's Day.
An Australian man living and working in Thailand died from coronavirus. Australia's death toll is 97.
Western Australia recorded zero new cases of COVID-19 for seven days in a row. South Australia recorded zero cases for 14 straight days.

Principal returns after COVID-19 scandal

Western Australia’s education department has reinstated a school principal who was stood down after asking parents to keep their kids home amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Halls Head College principal Bronwyn White sent the letter last month, contradicting the department by saying only the children of essential workers or those unable to stay at home should attend school for the first week of term two.
She cited concerns about cleaning supplies and the ability to apply physical distancing requirements but later issued a retraction.
Her suspension prompted a backlash with more than 4500 people signing an online petition calling on Premier Mark McGowan to intervene and have Ms White reinstated.
The Department of Education said Ms White will return to her role on Thursday.

“A performance issue was identified which prompted the department to ask Bronwyn White to explain the letter she sent to her school community on April 24,” executive director Damien Stewart said.
– with AAP

PM on aged care clusters

The PM told news.com.au Australians should keep the cluster at an aged care home in Sydney's west "in perspective".

Sixteen people have died from coronavirus at Newmarch House near Penrith. The operator, Anglicare, has been warned by the regulator its operating license could be revoked.

Morrison told Samantha Maiden that of the thousands of aged care homes around Australia only a handful have reported cases.

He said interest in the aged care clusters is so significant that "the Queen asked about that" when they spoke earlier this week.

PM addresses "complex" schools issue

Morrison told news.com.au this evening his kids "will be back at school on Monday".

He admitted there has been "some confusion" around the issue of children returning to face-to-face learning, but experts have always said it's safe.

"It always has been the medical advice, children are far less susceptible to this than they are to the normal flu," Morrison said.

"Children have always been at a much lower level of risk."

PM chatting live with news.com.au

The Prime Minister Scott Morrison is joining news.com.au's Political Editor Samantha Maiden one-on-one tonight.

Head to our Facebook page to tune in right now.

Health officials back easing restrictions

Top health officials are confident coronavirus restrictions can be safely lifted despite outbreaks in Australia’s two biggest cities.

Deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly said dealing with outbreaks at an aged care home in Sydney and a meat works in Melbourne are key.

He told reporters handling those situations will put Australia in a strong position to ease rules on Friday.

“This will be gradual. Some things will open, others will not,” he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
“It will be scaled so that risk of increasing the number of cases is minimised while giving the maximum benefit to the economy and to normalisation of society.”

He said there was strong global knowledge about the virus, arming officials with responses.
“These are now strengthening our resolve in terms of our general principles as to how we are going to look at reopening society, reopening the economy in a COVID-safe way,” he said.
– with AAP

PM to announce gatherings allowed

The Prime Minister is expected to allow gatherings of up to 10 people in the family home in time for Mother's Day, 7News reports.

7NEWS can reveal the ban on group gatherings could be eased as early as this week. National Cabinet is set to trial a lifting of restrictions on get-togethers, but not without conditions. https://t.co/box3jqs4sN @Riley7News #auspol #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/EvP6aSOhRy
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) May 6, 2020

The national cabinet meets again on Friday to discuss a range of issues including Australia's rate of infection and the easing of social distancing restrictions.

The Prime Minister told news.com.au's Samantha Maiden on Wednesday night that restrictions will be eased gradually but "every one of those states is in charge of what happens in their state, ultimately".

Australia's death toll is 97 and there have been almost 6900 cases of coronavirus since January.

But a number of states, including South Australia and Western Australia, have gone more than a week with a single new recorded infection.

Anglicare issues statement after scathing report

The operator of Sydney's Newmarch House aged care centre has issued a statement in the last few minutes after another case of coronavirus was linked to the facility.

Sixteen people at the virus-hit aged care home near Penrith have died following an outbreak there.

Thirty-seven of the 100-odd residents at the centre have been infected with the virus.

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is considering revoking Newmarch House's license.

Responding to the regulator, Anglicare Sydney wrote in a statement: "We acknowledge the commission have this afternoon taken regulatory action, including appointing an independent adviser to provide additional support to Newmarch House.

"Since the outbreak, we have had generous support of providers in the Aged Care sector including Commonwealth and New South Wales governments and various agencies, while the outbreak has proved very challenging for all involved, the situation has substantially improved.

"We will continue to collaborate with key stakeholders as we work through the continuing challenges in the coming weeks. Our primary concern remains the health, wellbeing and safety of residents, their families and our staff."

Falls Festival makes big announcement

Falls Festival plans to go ahead with an all-Australian line-up as coronavirus continues to impact international travel.
The festival, which is typically held between December 28 and January 5 in Lorne, Byron Bay, Marion Bay and Fremantle, looked to be in doubt this year, but organisers have found a way forward.
“Australia is home to some of the most exciting acts in the world and we see this special ‘homegrown edition’ as the perfect opportunity to give back to the Australian music industry who have been doing it tough through this COVID vortex,” a statement from Falls Festival said on Wednesday.

Falls, which is run by touring company Secret Sounds, said it was listening to official health advice as it prepared for the December event.

“Health and safety is always our No.1 priority, so as the recovery process begins and more information becomes available, we will continue working with and taking direction from the health authorities,” they added.
International travel bans have affected most Australian festivals, including Splendour in the Grass, usually held in Byron Bay each July. It is now postponed until October.
– AAP