Coronavirus Australia live: NSW police officer told 'I'm going to go after you'

Video has emerged of a NSW couple arguing with a police officer during an isolation compliance check as the state battles growing outbreaks of coronavirus. 

Footage has emerged of a couple arguing with a NSW police officer during a coronavirus isolation check in Kiama Heights, south of Sydney on Tuesday.

 

The vision shows a man and woman  filming a police officer through their screen door and demanding he share his "insurance policy" to the couple.

When the officer questions why he would need to provide that, the man replies: "We're going to go after you for trespassing on our lot."

The police officer then tells them that they can make a complaint to their local station, but the male says: "I don't want to complain to the police station, I want to complain to you."

It comes as Victoria Police have revealed some of the outlandish excuses Victorians in lockdown areas have given for not wearing a mask in public. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews today confirmed a record number of coronavirus-linked deaths in the last 24 hours, with seven fatalities and 300 new COVID-19 cases. 

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

Updates

8:47 pm July 24, 2020

Aged care staff told to make their own masks, not enough PPE: Union

Staff in Melbourne aged care homes are reportedly being told to make their own masks amid allegations of personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages.

A Current Affair reports that nursing home staff in Victoria have been asked to make their own cloth masks, despite the fact that those types of face coverings are not considered sufficient protection when working in healthcare settings.

"Immediate action needs to take place with Work Safe and the police, they need to visit every single small provider and ensure that the PPE is worn," Health Workers Union secretary Diana Asmar told the program.

Victoria has recorded more than 400 cases linked to 35 different aged care homes and Ms Asmar claimed promised government supplies of protective equipment were still yet to reach some centres.

8:10 pm July 24, 2020

'Going to go after you': NSW police officer told

Footage has emerged of a couple arguing with a NSW police officer during a coronavirus isolation check in Kiama Heights, south of Sydney on Tuesday.

Footage aired by Channel 9 shows a male and female filming a police officer through their screen door and demanding he share his "insurance policy" to the couple.

When the officer questions why he would need to provide that, the man replies: "We're going to go after you for trespassing on our lot."

The police officer then tells them that they can make a complaint to their local station, but the male says: "I don't want to complain to the police station, I want to complain to you."

"The complaint is against you," the female occupant adds.

The male occupant then tells the police officer: "I'm going to go after you personally. Not the NSW Police".

NSW Police said the officer had been acting as "part of proactive compliance operations" to check the occupants were fulfilling "self-isolation requirements".

"The officer announced his office to the occupants of the home – a 36-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman – who refused to provide details or respond to COVID-compliance questions," a NSW Police spokeswoman said.

"After numerous failed attempts to obtain basic information, the officer left the home and reported the incident to his supervisor.

"Police will continue to conduct proactive visits to homes and businesses throughout the Illawarra – and across the state – to ensure compliance with all orders under the Public Health Act."

6:35 pm July 24, 2020 Highlight

NSW pub hit with $5000 fine

A Sydney pub has been hit with a $5000 fine for for COVID-19 safety breaches.

Uniformed inspectors visited the Royal Hotel in Ryde on Thursday afternoon and found the venue was breaching a number of safety directives.

The inspectors were reportedly allowed to enter the premises without signing in and staff were unable to produce the pub's COVID-19 Safety Plan.

The inspectors also observed groups of patrons milling about and standing drinking their beverages, and when asked, staff admitted that they were aware patrons had to be seated to consume food or drinks.

Liquor & Gaming NSW Director of Compliance, Dimitri Argeres, said the pub knew what it was supposed to do but failed to enforce the measures.

"When the licensee arrived, we were able to get a copy of their safety plan, but it wasn’t made visible or available and the plan itself wasn’t being implemented,” Mr Argeres said.

“In addition, some of the systems were simply not COVID safe – for example, gaming machines were not spaced apart and instead staff stated that reserved signs were placed on adjacent machines only after patrons had chosen to play a particular one.

“Inspectors did not observe these signs on the machines during their visit, and the staff present were not sufficiently supervising the area in any case.

“Overall there was little attempt to manage physical distancing inside the venue. Inspectors observed that customers could go in and out as they pleased, undermining the ability for authorities to conduct effective contact tracing.”

4:29 pm July 24, 2020 Highlight

Three NSW schools close after virus cases

Three schools in Western Sydney have been forced to close after students tested positive for COVID-19.

All four of the cases are associated with the Thai Rock cluster, with two linked to the Our Lady of Lebanon church.

Two of the cases attended Cerdon College in Merrylands, one case attended Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary School in Bossley Park and one case attended Freeman Catholic College at Bonnyrigg Heights.

All three schools will remain closed while cleaning and contact tracing is underway.

"Close contacts of all the cases are being notified to undertake 14 day self-isolation after their last contact with the case and undertake testing for COVID19 if they develop symptoms," NSW health said in a statement.

"All other children, staff, and families of those who attend or work at these schools are encouraged to seek testing."

4:04 pm July 24, 2020 Highlight

Seven COVID-19 deaths in Victoria

Victoria's Health Department has just announced that seven people have now died from COVID-19 since yesterday.

The deaths include two men and two women in their 80s and two men and one woman in their 90s.

Five of the deaths are linked to aged care facilities.

It was previously reported by Premier Daniel Andrews that six people had died overnight.

The revised number brings the death toll in Victoria to 56.

There are now 3734 active COVID-19 cases in the state, with 1181 resulting from community transmission.

There are 206 people in hospital, including 41 in intensive care.

Of the total cases, 6825 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 424 are from regional Victoria.

There have been 300 new cases of #coronavirus (#COVID19) detected in the past 24 hours. For more information: https://t.co/3UiY3qQ7gX #COVID19Vic pic.twitter.com/ZNbpJOA9dz

— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) July 24, 2020

3:43 pm July 24, 2020 Highlight

Tasmania announces travel bubble

Tasmania has announced a "safe travel bubble" with South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

From August 7 travellers from these areas will be able to visit Tasmania after Premier Peter Gutwein declared the territory and two states as "equally" safe as Tasmania.

Passengers arriving in Tasmania will have to undergo a mandatory health check and anyone with COVID-19 symptoms will have to take a mandatory test and quarantine until they receive the results.

Anyone who refuses the test will either undergo mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days or be sent back home.

Before arriving in Tasmania, travellers will have to declare they haven't travelled outside the "safe bubble" for at least 14 days.

There will be fines of up to $1800 ot six months in jail for people who provide false information.

"Tasmania overall appears to be cautiously confident in terms of where we stand at the moment," Mr Gutwein said.

Picture: Luke Bowden

3:13 pm July 24, 2020 Highlight

Cops reveal crazy excuses from anti-maskers

Victoria Police have revealed some of the outlandish excuses Victorians in lockdown areas have given for not wearing a mask in public.

New restrictions kicked in at 11.59pm on Wednesday requiring people in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire to wear a face covering when leaving the house.

In the past 24 hours police issued 101 fines, 16 of which were for not wearing a face covering without an approved reason.

Police can issue on the spot fines of $200 for failing to wear a mask.

One man in Wyndham was fined after he was caught not wearing a mask and refusing to wear one even after being provided with one by police.

Another man who refused to wear a mask claimed he would not wear one as "the rules don't apply to him", Victoria Police revealed in a statement.

Police spoke with another man who wasn't wearing a mask because he believed COVID-19 was a conspiracy theory.

Picture: David Crosling/NCA NewsWire

People must wear a mask when leaving home unless they are aged 12 or under, alone in the car or with someone from their household, doing strenuous physical exercise or for a medical reason.

Police Commissioner Shane Patton said officers would "not hesitate" to issue fines to people blatantly ignoring the rules.

"The vast majority of Victorians are trying to do the right thing and our exercise of discretion will reflect that," he said.

"That said, we do expect people to follow the Chief Health Officer's directions and will not hesitate to issue fines to people who are obviously and blatantly showing a disregard for community safety by failing to wear a mask."

2:52 pm July 24, 2020 Highlight

SA announces more restrictions

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall has announced tough border rules and more restrictions on gatherings.

From midnight on Tuesday wedding and funerals will be limited to 100 people and family gatherings will be capped at 50 people.

Border restrictions have been strengthened to stop South Australians returning home from Victoria unless they have a permit.

"As of midnight on Tuesday night, we will be extending that ban on Victorians coming across the border to all citizens, including South Australians," Mr Marshall said.

South Australians can still enter the state if they come from the NSW/ACT borders but they will have to self-isolate for two weeks.

"New South Wales are doing a huge amount of work to get on top of these clusters, their contact tracing is going well, but we are concerned that there has been further seeding of these clusters," he said.

"Therefore, we have made the decision that we will we not be lifting the restrictions in NSW and the ACT at this point, and we still do not have a date when that will be lifted."

2:23 pm July 24, 2020 Highlight

'It's really hard': Baby hospitalised with COVID-19

A Melbourne mum has spoken about the moment her baby was diagnosed with COVID-19, issuing a stark warning to people who aren't taking the virus seriously.

In an emotional Facebook post, Nikki Jane, revealed her six-month-old daughter, Stevie, had been diagnosed with coronavirus after her partner came into contact with a confirmed case.

"This week has been one of the scariest times of my life," she wrote.

"She has spent the past two nights in emergency and the Pediatrics ward at Casey Hospital. Stevie was the very first positive COVID -19 case in the Pediatrics ward that Casey have dealt with and the staff there were AMAZING!

"Although she is home, safe now in her own bed, we are not out of the woods yet. She still needs to be closely monitored over the next few days."

Nikki said the combination of seeing her child so sick, being separated from her other young son and being isolated at the hospital alone was very "mentally challenging".

"It was also one of the hardest things to see the look on Josh’s face when he could not be by his daughters side to protect or comfort her while he said goodbye to her and watched the ambulance drive away," she wrote.

"This s**t is real people and it’s really hard."

Nikki said the Facebook post was directed at people who weren't taking restrictions seriously.

"For those of you who don’t think that wearing masks or social distancing is important and that COVID-19 isn’t serious or it won’t happen to you, this post is especially for you,' she wrote.

****COVID-19 Awareness post*****For those of you who don’t think that wearing masks or social distancing is important…

Posted by Nikki Jane on Thursday, 23 July 2020

1:34 pm July 24, 2020 Highlight

Australia's lowest population growth since 1917

Mr Frydenberg says Australia is facing an uphill battle in trying to boost the economy because of a loss of overseas migration.

He says this is a crucial difference between this downturn and the global financial crisis.

"Due to lower net overseas migration, annual population growth is assumed to slow to just 0.6 per cent in 2021 – the lowest rate since 1916-1917,"he said.

"This time, while we will continue to provide fiscal support through the crisis, sustainable growth will only come from creating the most dynamic and the most flexible economy we possibly can."