Coronavirus Australia live: Hunt admits outbreak more significant than expected

Heath Minister Greg Hunt has admitted the scale of Melbourne's coronavirus outbreak has taken authorities by surprise.

Sarah McPhee, Ben Graham and Ally Foster

less than 2 min read

July 7, 2020 - 7:00PM

Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt has admitted the size and scale of Melbourne's coronavirus outbreak is "more significant than anybody had anticipated".

Speaking to Tracy Grimshaw on A Current Affair on Tuesday evening, Mr Hunt said "the extent of the breach, the scope of the breach from hotel quarantine, and the impact has had a profound effect on Victorians."

"What we are facing now, the response we had planned for, unfortunately, is on a scale that is greater than was expected".

On Tuesday Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced stage three restrictions will be introduced for greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire from midnight Wednesday. This came after the state recorded 191 new coronavirus cases, its highest daily number since the outbreak began.

The NSW-Victoria border will close from 12.01am on Wednesday, July 8.

Australia has recorded a total 8566 cases of COVID-19, with 3244 in New South Wales, 2824 in Victoria, 1068 in Queensland, 443 in South Australia, 621 in Western Australia, 228 in Tasmania, 108 in the Australian Capital Territory and 30 in the Northern Territory.

Australia’s coronavirus death toll is 106.

Our live coverage has ended for the evening, here's how the day unfolded.

Updates

Where is 'Metropolitan Melbourne'?

The announcement that Metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire will go back into lockdown has sparked a slew of queries as to what areas this entails.

The area is home to five million people across nearly 10,000 square kilometres and stretches from Sunbury in the north to the Yarra Ranges in the east and parts of Melton in the west.

It includes 31 local government areas (LGAs), with a total of 32 when Mitchell Shire is added to the list. Here is the full list of LGAs that will be subject to restrictions, from the Victorian Health Department website.

Banyule

Bayside

Boroondara

Brimbank

Cardinia

Casey

Darebin

Frankston

Glen Eira

Greater Dandenong

Hobsons Bay

Hume

Kingston

Knox

Manningham

Maribyrnong

Maroondah

Melbourne

Melton

Mitchell Shire

Monash

Moonee Valley

Moreland

Mornington Peninsula

Nillumbik

Port Phillip

Stonnington

Whitehorse

Whittlesea

Wyndham

Yarra

Yarra Ranges

Victorian outbreak 'more significant' than anticipated

Health Minister Greg Hunt has admitted the size and scale of Melbourne's coronavirus outbreak is "more significant than anybody had anticipated".

"What we are facing now, the response we had planned for, unfortunately, is on a scale that is greater than was expected".

Victoria recorded 191 new COVID-19 infections on Tuesday in a new high-point for cases in the state. The Victorian-NSW border will be shut from midnight and parts of the southern state will return to stage three restrictions.

Grimshaw asked if the country was "kidding ourselves" in thinking a border closure would be effective given the virus could already be incubating in NSW.

"This is one of the most dramatic public health decisions in 100 years. It is the first closure of the border in 100 years," Mr Hunt said.

"The first stage occurred last night for those who have been in Melbourne. A second stage for all Victorians is occurring tonight. That is rapid speed and it has occurred at the time the health advice indicates that we have moved from an unacceptable closure to an acceptable closure because the risk has grown."

Melbourne hospital workers and staff to wear masks

Staff and visitors to some of Melbourne's busiest hospitals will have to wear face masks at all times after a record 191 coronavirus cases were recorded on Tuesday.

The Age reported new advice for the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Parkville, Northern Hospital in Epping, the Austin Hospital in Heidelberg and The Alfred in Melbourne now includes wearing PPE inside the venue.

At Western Health's main hospitals, staff will be required to wear masks and a face shield even if they don't face patients in their work.

A spokesman for Victoria's health department told the newspaper the increased risk of local transmission had led to all staff being “strongly encouraged to use appropriate PPE to maximise protection".

“It is also expected that patients wear face coverings in this environment,” the spokesman said.

“We supply protective equipment to all our hospitals and have plenty of PPE arriving at our warehouse regularly – ready to be distributed to frontline health care workers.”

NSW border entry permit site goes live

The website to apply for a border entry permit from Victoria to NSW has gone live, hours before residents without an exemption are shut out.

The COVID-19 NSW border entry permit application via Service NSW is available here.

According to the state's public health order relating to the NSW-Victoria border, "no one can enter NSW from Victoria, unless they can meet exemption criteria" from 12.01am on Wednesday, July 8.

"Fines apply to those who breach Public Health Orders, or who falsify information when applying for exemptions," NSW Police said in a statement on Tuesday night.

"A large-scale police operation will be in place to ensure compliance with the Public Health Order, with officers assisted by personnel from the Australian Defence Force, and other government agencies.

"As those with exemptions begin to pass through checkpoints, police are asking people to come prepared and ready to produce relevant documents and identification information; such as drivers’ licences, and medical certificates. Those without exemptions will be turned back.

"It is anticipated that the first 72 hours will be challenging while the process is in its infancy. Police are asking those who don’t need to cross the border to avoid doing so."

Childcare fees waived for people in lockdown

The government will allow childcare services in Victoria's lockdown areas to waive part gap fees.

Federal education minister Dan Tehan said the fees will be able to be waived from July 13 if the child is not attending care for COVID-19 related reasons.

"This means that if a child is absent from care for COVID-related reasons, the child care service can waive their gap fee which means more money in the family’s pocket. It also provides certainty to families that they will retain their enrolment at the child care service," he said in a statement.

"Waiving the parents’ gap fees will also ensure child care services maintain their enrolments and continue to be paid the CCS, even if a child is absent for a COVID-related reason.

"Our Government wants to ensure that child care services remain open for workers and vulnerable families who need those services.

"From Monday, services can access the $708 million Transition Payment to support the return to the CCS."

Mr Tehan announced the government would also the activity test until 4 October to support eligible families whose employment has been impacted as a result of COVID-19.

"These families will receive up to 100 hours per fortnight of subsidised care during this period. This will assist families to return to the level of work, study or training they were undertaking before COVID-19," he said.

Paramedics diagnosed with COVID-19

Two Victorian paramedics have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Since the pandemic began four Victorian paramedics have tested positive for the virus.

The two most recent cases are in isolation and contact tracing is underway.

Ambulance Victoria’s Chief Executive Tony Walker detailed the precautions taken to protect paramedics and patients.

“We take every precaution to minimise the rate of infection amongst our frontline workforce and we remind the community of their vital role in stopping the spread of COVID-19," he said.

"This means staying at home, getting tested if you’re unwell, washing your hands, and if you must go out, keeping a safe 1.5m distance from others.

“We are all in this together, and I ask all Victorians to stay united in our efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.”

Victorians rush to enter NSW ahead of closure

Victorians are reportedly rushing to get into NSW ahead of the border closure at midnight tonight.

Nine News reporter James Wilson said plenty of Victorian holidaymakers were still crossing the border into NSW, with just hours to go before the restrictions kick in.

Still plenty of Victorian holidaymakers heading North into NSW – one tourist just asked me where the ‘Welcome to Victoria’ sign was so he could take a photo and then come back into NSW pic.twitter.com/WUGk3GiMdo
— James Wilson (@WesternWilson9) July 7, 2020

Hundreds of NSW Police officers have been deployed to different border towns to monitor anyone attempting to cross into NSW after midnight.

Do Victorians need to return home?

With just hours to go before NSW closes the border with Victoria, residents from the Garden State on holiday in Sydney and beyond are confused about whether they should be returning home.

The NSW-Victoria border is shutting from midnight tonight, meaning getting through the blockade will depend on what you do and where you live.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Chief Police Minister Mick Fuller have urged NSW residents to return home, and said only under extreme circumstances should residents travel south for the foreseeable future.

It is understood the closure will be similar to what was in place between Queensland and NSW three months ago, with only permit holders, emergency services workers, freight drivers and returning travellers able to cross into NSW from Victoria.

Victorians who are currently in NSW for holidays are being encouraged to return home, however Victorian residents will be able to return home even after the border is closed. Authorities have warned Victorians in NSW will likely face lengthy delays, with airlines reducing the frequency of routes from Wednesday.

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Everything that will change from tomorrow night

Here is a breakdown of everything that will change from 11.59pm tomorrow when Victoria's new lockdown restrictions for metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire come into effect.

Residents:

– Residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for shopping for food and essentials, work/study, exercise and care or caregiving.

– People must reside in this principal place of residence.

– The three reasons people can cross the border of these lockdown areas are for shopping for food and essentials, care and caregiving and work and study.

– No visitors allowed.

– Up to two people allowed in public together or household members only.

Businesses:

– Restaurants and cafes will return to takeaway and delivery services only.

– Beauty services, spas, tattoo parlours and massage parlours will close.

– Pubs, bars and clubs will be closed. They can offer takeaway or home delivery of food and alcohol.

– Bottle shops will remain open.

– Zoos, wildlife parks, petting zoos, aquariums and animal farms will be closed.

– Outdoor amusement parks and outdoor arcades will be closed.

– Indoor cinemas, drive-in cinemas, concert venues, theatres and auditoriums will be closed.

Venues and services:

– Entertainment and cultural venues will close.

– Community sport will stop.

– Galleries, museums, national institutions and historic sites will be closed.

– Libraries and community venues will be closed but essential public support services can remain.

– Swimming pools will be closed.

– Playgrounds and play centres will be closed.

Weddings and funerals:

– Funerals will be restricted to 10 people plus those conducting the service.

– Weddings will be restricted to five people (the couple, two witnesses and the celebrant)

School:

– School holidays will be extended for the majority of students by one week.

– Year 11 and 12 students will return to school as planned.

– Specialist schools will also reopen for Term 3.

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Opposition leader blasts lockdown decision

Victorian opposition leader, Michael O’Brien, has blasted new lockdown measures, just minutes after the press conference to announce the restrictions ended.

"You have been let down by a Government that has not done the right thing by you. This failure, this lockdown, is as a result of problems in hotel quarantine. Daniel Andrews let the COVID-19 genie out of the bottle with hotel quarantine bungles and now everyone’s paying the price for it," he said.

"This is going to be devastating for so many family, so many small businesses, so many jobs that just may not be there in six weeks’ time. The Premier’s tone today was really disappointing.

"He was looking to blame Victorian, point the finger at Victorians instead of looking at the mirror and accepting responsibility for his Government’s mistakes that have led to where we are today. We need to get on top of this virus."

A message from me on Victoria's return to lockdown #springst pic.twitter.com/xjAyxk5gCK
— Michael O'Brien (@michaelobrienmp) July 7, 2020

Mr O'Brien said Mr Andrews needs to "admit" where he got things wrong and ask for help in dealing with the situation.

"Clearly the Premier is under pressure. He is looking stressed. He is looking rattled," he said.

"He needs help, he needs help from the Federal Government and frankly I think it is time for the Premier to invite other parties around Victoria to work with him and the Government to fix this mess.

"While I’m disappointed that the Premier has got us to this position I’m willing to extend an offer of bipartisan support for trying to fix the problems that we are now in because I think that’s what Victorians want to see."

Mr O'Brien said his heart went out to people affected by the lockdown.

"We will do the best we can to get through this but we need to work together and frankly the Premier needs to accept responsibility for the mistakes that have been made that have led to where we are today," he said.

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