It may be the quickest way for life to return to normal for Aussies, but the Government says the cost of one virus approach would be "unacceptable".
Deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd says herd immunity is not something the Australian Government is considering in its fight against COVID-19.
The approach would involve allowing people to slowly get infected until about 60 per cent of the population had the coronavirus, at which point there would be "herd immunity". It's likely the quickest way for Aussies to return to normal life.
But, speaking on ABC News Radio this evening, Professor Kidd said, "If we attempt herd immunity we would end up with a very large number of people severely unwell and a very large number of people would die so we're not going down a herd immunity approach in Australia."
It comes as chief medical officer Brendan Murphy says there is still a "huge risk" in lifting restrictions, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says "the worst is yet to come" and "we can't pretend it's over", while Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews acknowledges "it is very frustrating that we cannot give people an end date" but says the measures are saving lives.
And in Tasmania, two hospitals in the state's north-west have been closed and businesses shut for the next 14 days, in a desperate attempt to get a grip on the virus outbreak.
There are more than 6300 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Australia, with 2854 in New South Wales, 1268 in Victoria, 983 in Queensland, 429 in South Australia, 517 in Western Australia, 144 in Tasmania, 102 in the Australian Capital Territory and 28 in the Northern Territory.
The death toll now stands at 59.
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Kids might be 'key' to getting out of lockdown
An infectious diseases modeller in Melbourne says one method of relaxing Australia's COVID-19 restrictions could see the infection deliberately spread in low-risk groups, like school children, to build immunity.
In a segment on tonight's episode of 60 Minutes, Professor Emma McBryde told reporter Liam Bartlett the option is one way to get at least part of society functioning again without causing a widespread health disaster.
"Young children may be the key to getting out of lockdown," Prof McBryde said.
Professor Emma McBryde is an infectious diseases modeller and says one option we have is carefully allowing the infection to spread in select low risk groups, so we can get at least part of our society functioning properly again. #60Minspic.twitter.com/Xvf8F2ZgLH
"One of the answers could be in the fact that COVID-19 behaves differently in different age groups. It appears that children are not only less vulnerable to severe disease, they also may well be less infectious and less likely to become symptomatic."
Australia not missing many cases under testing scheme
Federal deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd says he doesn't believe health authorities are missing many cases of coronavirus under the current testing regime.
Speaking to ABC News Radio this afternoon, Professor Kidd said testing is "increased in situations where people may be affected by coronavirus".
More than 353,000 tests have been conducted around the nation as of this afternoon, the latest figures show.
There have been just over 6300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 59 deaths.
Pope offers Easter prayer for those infected with coronavirus
Pope Francis offered an Easter Sunday prayer for those killed and suffering from the novel coronavirus that has killed more than 100,000 people worldwide.
“Today my thoughts turn in the first place to the many who have been directly affected by the coronavirus: the sick, those who have died and family members who mourn the loss of their loved ones, to whom, in some cases, they were unable even to bid a final farewell,” the pope said in a live-streamed message from an empty Saint Peter’s Basilica.
Pope Francis during the Easter Sunday Mass inside an empty St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Picture: Andreas Solaro/AP
– AFP
11 new virus cases confirmed in Tasmania
Tasmania has confirmed 11 new cases of coronavirus, bringing the state's total to 144.
Eight are healthcare workers, one an inpatient, and two close contacts of a previous case of infection.
All of the cases are from the North-West, where earlier today Premier Peter Gutwein announced two hospitals would close and all but essential businesses would shut their doors for the next fortnight in a bid to stem the state's outbreak.
"We're sorry that we've needed to do this but at the end of the day we need to get on top of this," Mr Gutwein told media this afternoon.
"We need to ensure that we can crush this virus at its source and with this outbreak we need to take these steps."
'You should all be wearing masks'
The debate over whether or not every Australian should be donning a face mask when they leave the house continues.
TV medico Dr Zac Turner has rejected Australia's deputy chief medical officer's advice, saying face masks should be mandatory for all people if they visit enclosed public spaces – especially supermarkets.
"One of the things I've been doing from home while I've been really bored is trying to find ways I can help out and stop the spread and flatten the curve of coronavirus," Dr Turner said in a recent video.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B96HrvJDS-8
"The countries that have been doing this the best have been mandatorily wearing face masks."
He then filmed himself making a face mask using a square of fabric and rubber bands.
Deputy chief medical officer Michael Kidd says herd immunity is not something the Australian Government is considering in its fight against COVID-19.
The approach would involve allowing people to slowly get infected until about 60 per cent of the population had the coronavirus, at which point there would be "herd immunity". It's likely the quickest way for Aussies to return to normal life.
But, speaking on ABC News Radio this evening, Professor Kidd said, "If we attempt herd immunity we would end up with a very large number of people severely unwell and a very large number of people would die so we're not going down a herd immunity approach in Australia."
By having no restrictions on the population, millions would catch COVID-19, many would die and eventually there would be herd immunity in the population. Other exposure limiting approaches wouldn't allow that to occur.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann repeated the notion, saying it would bring with it an "unacceptable" level of loss of life.
In an interview with Sky News, Mr Cormann said the nation's virus restrictions are working, with new cases at around one per cent.
Mr Cormann said that, despite coming with great cost and "great inconvenience", medical advice at the moment is for measures to stay as they are.
Similar to WA Premier Mark McGowan's message earlier this afternoon, Mr Cormann said the national cabinet is thinking about what comes next because Australia can't stay cut off from the rest of the world forever.
"In the end we will have to find a pathway forward where we normalise things," Mr Cormann said, adding there has to be way to live a normal life with the virus still in other parts of the world.
You can watch Sky News rolling COVID-19 coverage here.
111 fines issued by NSW Police
NSW Police continue to enforce social distancing and isolation regulations, charging five people with breaching lockdown laws and issuing 111 fines.
A 14-year-old boy is among those charged with breaching the regulations after allegedly stealing a food delivery rider's bike in George Street in Sydney's centre at around midday yesterday. When stopped at Central Station, the boy allegedly resisted an arrest and assaulted the police officer.
Another man charged on Saturday allegedly claimed to police he was unaware of any COVID-19 restrictions.
And a woman was fined for breaching restrictions after allegedly "mooning" Newcastle's light rail and spitting at two paramedics.
She was taken to hospital for assessment and faces a $5000 infringement notice.
Aussies risk shortage of basic grocery items
Despite supermarket shelves looking a little healthier after being stripped bare by panicked shoppers, experts are predicting a shortage of basic grocery items.
With the daily number of confirmed coronavirus cases in decline, Australians are eagerly looking towards a future where social distancing and toilet paper shortages are a distant memory.
While most industries will look vastly different post-pandemic, experts are now concerned Australia’s food security could be threatened.
Empty shelves in the rice and pasta aisle at your local Coles may soon be the reality, if Australia’s water management isn’t revised. Picture: Facebook
According to water and irrigation experts, Australia risks a shortage of rice and other staples as a direct result of mismanagement of water in the Murray Darling Basin.
"Rice is definitely a big risk because we haven't been using the water we've got to grow rice, and we've been importing around 95 per cent of our rice over the last two years," Maryanne Slattery, director of water consultancy firm Slaterry and Johnson, tells 60 Minutes tonight.
About 750 Qantas staff working at Adelaide Airport have been asked to self-quarantine for two weeks amid concerns over a cluster of coronavirus cases that has spread from baggage handlers to other airline staff.
The move comes as South Australia recorded no new virus cases on Sunday but also confirmed a fourth death from the disease.
The airline cluster stands at 34, including 18 baggage handlers, 13 of their close contacts and three other Qantas staff.
And while no new cases were added to that tally, SA’s Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said those recently included indicated a spread to other areas of the airline’s operations.
She said there were now concerns for people who worked as airport duty managers, pilot and cabin crew managers and for people who used an area where the airline’s engineers were located.
About 750 Qantas staff at Adelaide Airport will go into self-isolation. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images
“For this reason, we’ll be requesting approximately 750 Qantas staff who have worked in those three areas since the 18th of March to self-isolate and be in quarantine immediately,” Prof Spurrier said.
Qantas has sent an email to all staff and SA Health is also accessing mobile phone numbers to contact each person.
The concern is specific to the Qantas operations and does not extend to public areas of the airport.
However, a general call remains in place for anyone who attended the airport in recent weeks and who develops respiratory systems to get tested.
Sunday’s good news on infections was the first time SA had no new cases since March 10, leaving the state’s total at 429. Of those 14 remain in hospital with six in intensive care.
Prof Spurrier said 239 people had now recovered.
SA Health also confirmed the death of a 74-year-old man succumbed to the virus in the Royal Adelaide Hospital overnight. He contracted COVID-19 as a passenger on the Ruby Princess cruise ship.
Prof Spurrier said the lower number of new cases in SA in recent days was a good sign.
“I suspect that we are in this very, very fortunate position in South Australia….that we are really getting on top of this,” she said.
“It’s important though to realise this is a new virus and we don’t know everything about this disease.”
She said restrictions put in place to halt the spread of the virus should be maintained, something echoed by Premier Steven Marshall.
“If we go back four weeks, nobody would expect that we would have fewer than 200 active cases in South Australia,” Mr Marshall said.
“By putting our strong borders in place, by putting these strong social distancing restrictions in place, South Australia has done extraordinarily well.
“But, we can’t take our foot off the brake. We need a lot more data before we can even talk about lifting any of the restrictions.”
– Tim Dornin, AAP
Huge crowds at Melbourne market
A picture of shoppers crowded into Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market has caused a stir, with questions being raised about why social distancing wasn't enforced.
Pictures taken on Saturday morning showed shoppers shoulder-to-shoulder, appearing to ignore social distancing rules despite Australians being urged to stay home this Easter long weekend.
seriously..wtf is wrong with these people?? Crowds at Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market on Saturday morning in the city's CBD appear to ignore instructions on signs advising people keep 1.5 metres apart. pic.twitter.com/eTnMiltqe6
The popular market was heaving yesterday morning, with CEO Stan Liacos acknowledging the venue had received "steady visitation" on Easter Saturday.
"At times, this meant we had to ask some customers to wait in our designated queuing areas for a short time before they could enter," Mr Liacos told news.com.au.
