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Coronavirus Australia live updates: Scott Morrison's plan could shut down WHO

An ambitious plan by Scott Morrison to overhaul global health emergency capabilities could spell an end to the embattled World Health Organisation.

Sam Clench and Alle McMahon with Shannon Molloy
less than 2 min read
April 22, 2020 - 9:50PM
Scott Morrison's emotional interview

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has spent recent days in discussions with a number of world leaders to push for major reforms of the WHO.

Australia is reportedly open to the notion of an entirely new global health response body being established, with sweeping powers to enter a country without invitation to investigate disease outbreaks.

READ MORE: Follow the latest coronavirus news here

Australia has recorded 74 deaths from COVID-19 so far, with 6655 confirmed cases. They include 2974 in New South Wales, 1336 in Victoria, 1024 in Queensland, 438 in South Australia, 546 in Western Australia, 205 in Tasmania, 104 in the Australian Capital Territory and 28 in the Northern Territory.

Here's how Wednesday unfolded.

Updates

Scott Morrison fights back tears

Scott Morrison has become emotional during a television interview while speaking about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on Australians.

The Prime Minister was speaking on the Paul Murray Live program on Sky News tonight when he was asked about which social distancing restrictions were the toughest to impose.

"There have been so many hard things,” Mr Morrison said.

“That one that really tears me up is how many people have had to deal with loved ones who’ve passed away and go through funerals with so few people there.”

Current restrictions designed to slow the spread of coronavirus prevent more than 10 people from attending a funeral.

Mr Morrison fought back tears while speaking about the human toll of such a drastic measure, describing the scenario as “just horrible”.

“We need… Let’s look forward to good days, mate. They’re going to come. They’re going to come.”

The PM also spoke about his keenness to see kids back at school properly as soon as possible.

While the Chief Medical Officer maintains sending children to school is safe, many states and territories have advised parents to keep them home if possible.

“I think when we can achieve that, classrooms full and kids learning again… that’s what I’m most keen to see. It’s something I’m very much looking forward to.”

Speaking about restrictions more broadly, which have impacted just about all aspects of everyday life, Mr Morrison is cautiously optimistic that Australia can wind some back sooner rather than later.

“I don’t want to keep a restriction in place a second longer than we have to,” he said.

Mr Morrison said Australia has already reached its turning point and that “we’re already on the way back” to a more normal existence.

“We got to where we are quicker than I thought we would. I hope we get to where we want to be quicker.”

However, he stressed that “we can’t get impatient” and rush the process.

“Impatience on these things could lead to a worse situation where we have to lockdown again. The economic pain of that would be worse – that’s what I’m trying to avoid.

“This thing can move like rapid fire. It writes its own rules. We don’t get to tell it what to do. We have to be able to manage it and stay on top of it.”

And once restrictions have been eased, the PM warned that there will continue to be outbreaks.

“And we will get more cases – it just means we have to be careful… to not let it run away from us.”

Gold Coast cafe's wild antics

In lighter news, a Gold Coast cafe that's been impacted by coronavirus is making the best of a bad situation with a healthy dose of humour.

Custard Canteen is operating on a drive-through and takeaway basis like many other food businesses.

But it's bringing a daily dose of laughs while doing so, inspired by the bonkers Netflix doco series Tiger King.

Cafe manager Dan is dressing up as Joe Exotic each day and his dog Chook is even getting into character as a tiger.

Four new cases in Tasmania

Health authorities in Tasmania have confirmed four new cases of coronavirus in the past day.

It brings the state's total number to 205.

Another vaccine trial to begin

Germany has authorised its first clinical test of a vaccine for coronavirus, the country’s regulatory body just announced.

The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut said the trial – only the fourth to have been authorised worldwide – is a “significant step” in making a vaccine “available as soon as possible”.

It said that approval is the “result of a careful assessment of the potential risk/benefit profile of the vaccine candidate”.

The trials involve “200 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 55 years”, while the second phase could see the inclusion of volunteers who belonged to high-risk groups.

AFP

Corona-riddled nursing home short of staff

The Federal Government has activated a response plan to deal with a Sydney nursing home, where a cluster outbreak of coronavirus has so far killed three residents.

Newmarch House in Caddens in the city’s southwest is struggling to cope with the outbreak, which began when an employee came to work for six days while infected with COVID-19.

More than 40 residents and staff have since tested positive.

Yesterday, a 92-year-old woman died. At the weekend, two men aged 93 and 94 passed away.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck today activated a surge workforce to support the home’s operator Anglicare, which is experiencing a staff shortage.

An emergency response team will be deployed to the facility and the government is facilitating a roster of GPs to help provide care.

“The government has provided and is fast-tracking access to personal protective equipment to ensure the safety of residents and staff,” Mr Colbeck said.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly earlier today said the government have provided “unlimited workforce support”.

“That is dealing with the difficult situation of having a large number of patients of residents with COVID-19, but also a number of staff that have had to absent themselves from work because they have been close contacts with someone with COVID-19,” Professor Kelly said.

The current conditions of residents with coronavirus is varied, Professor Kelly said.

“Some people are quite sick and others, either mildly affected or, indeed, having no symptoms at all but positive for the swab tests.”

PM’s plan could shut down WHO

An ambitious plan by Scott Morrison to overhaul global health emergency capabilities could spell an end to the embattled World Health Organisation.

The Prime Minister has spent recent days lobbying world leaders to support his push for major reform of the agency, part of the United Nations, in the wake of its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

If successful, those sweeping changes could spell the end of the WHO altogether.

Mr Morrison wants WHO – or a new global body – to have the same powers as weapons inspectors, to enter countries without invitation to investigate disease outbreaks.

He is working to establish an international coalition to drive change to ensure lessons are learnt from the coronavirus pandemic.

The ABC reports that the government believes overhauling the WHO is too tricky a task and so establishing a brand new body is a more realistic approach.

Mr Morrison held calls with United States President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

According to the ABC, the three leaders are supportive of Mr Morrison’s plan.

The PM also spoke to billionaire Microsoft founder turned philanthropist Bill Gates, whose foundation is the largest private financial support of WHO.

The body’s conduct in recent months was raised during that conversation, it's understood.

Australia is unhappy with the way WHO has handled the coronavirus outbreak, which has so far infected 2.5 million people globally and caused more than 177,000 deaths.

WHO has been criticised for responding too slowly to the emergency and for accepting without question China’s downplaying of the outbreak in Wuhan and the subsequent rapid spread.

China’s influence over the organisation has also been criticised.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has separately called for a global inquiry into how the pandemic originated and the handling of the pandemic.

That suggestion has sparked anger from Beijing and it has vowed to fight any effort to investigate its response.

The US pays for about 20 per cent of the WHO operating budget and last week suspended its funding.

Shocks at Ruby Princess inquiry

The doctor on board the Ruby Princess told authorities there was no risk of coronavirus infection on the ill-fated cruise ship when it arrived in Sydney, an inquiry has heard.

The special commission of inquiry into the debacle heard today that Dr Ilse Von Watzdorf had marked “no” in response to a question on a Maritime Arrivals Reporting System form about whether there was the potential spread of infection or disease from the ship.

Another question on the form about difficulty breathing and persistent coughing symptoms had been left blank as the ship, which has so far been linked to 21 COVID-19 deaths and up to 600 infections, docked in Sydney on March 19.

When asked by commissioner Bret Walker SC why she responded “no” to the question when 24 passengers had reported high temperatures, Dr Von Watzdorf said she felt “disadvantaged” because she did not have access to the form during questioning.

But she suggested she would not have wanted at the time to convey there were no passengers showing COVID-19 symptoms on board.

Dr Von Watzdorf, responding to questions via video link from the ship where she remains with hundreds of crew docked in Port Kembla, also told the inquiry’s opening day she was surprised the ship was allowed to unload its 2700 passengers before coronavirus test results were in.

“If it was my decision I would’ve perhaps waited like the previous time,” she said.

She confirmed illness on board the ship increased later in the trip and said a questionnaire was sent out to all passengers after acute respiratory and febrile conditions began to flare about March 15.

Mr Walker asked Dr Von Watzdorf if it was correct to say there were no passengers showing COVID-19 symptoms late on March 18 and early on March 19 to which the doctor replied no.

When asked about the signs of COVID-19 on the ship during the same time period, Dr Von Watzdorf said she did not have a one-word answer for the commissioner and said context was needed.

The inquiry is running parallel to a police probe that is expected to deliver its findings by September.

AAP

MP slams China: "Make them pay"

Liberal MP Andrew Laming has called for China to pay “billions of dollars” in health aid to countries that have been significantly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Queensland backbencher also described the World Health Organisation as being “completely conflicted by China’s involvement”.

Speaking to the ABC, Mr Laming said the country’s “laggard approach” to the pandemic means it should help cover the cost of the health and economic consequences felt by many nations.

“This is a mistake made by one country and it has to help other countries to cope with that mistake,” Mr Laming said.

“I’m talking about pretty large, populous countries not as wealthy as China. This is reparation for what happened in January.”

China’s slow and secretive response to the pandemic early on has been criticised by a number of nations.

The WHO has also been under fire, accused by some – including US President Donald Trump – of being a puppet of Beijing.

Mr Laming invoked that sentiment in his sensational remarks, declaring that China has “a puppet running the WHO”.

Myer shops to remain closed

Myer has released an update to the Australian Stock Exchange today, revealing that it will extend the closure of all physical stores until May 11.

The closure of its stores amid the coronavirus crisis has seen the entire workforce stood down, and those workers will now remain in limbo for a while longer.

“The decision to extent the period of temporary closure of all physical stores was extremely tough, but it’s reflective of our continuing focus on operating our business in a timely manner that protects the health and wellbeing of customers and team members,” Myer boss John King said.

In some good news, the company also said its online operations had “performed strongly” during the past few weeks, leading to 20 per cent of the workforce being returned to help fulfil orders.

“The strong growth in the online business during the past few weeks has been particularly encouraging,” Mr King said.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/coronavirus-australia-live-updates/live-coverage/71327e14e9d36d515440e14ec416ef63