Coronavirus Australia: New Zealand announces toughest border measures; Super Rugby to be halted
Victoria suspends new jury trials over COVID-19 as NZ’s tough new border controls reverberate through sport.
- Apple to close stores worldwide
- Victoria stops new juries
- NZ enacts ‘world’s toughest border controls’
- Dutton feeling guilty ‘but better’
- Dutton quarantine decision ‘gobsmacking’
- Christchurch memorial cancelled
- Ivanka Trump takes precautions after meeting with Peter Dutton
- New shopping limits to stop panic-buying
- Trump declares national emergency
- When did Peter Dutton get infected?
- Pope, Italian PM in rare standoff
- Trump ‘doesn’t need to be tested’
The implications of the spreading coronavirus infections grew Saturday, with Victoria suspending new jury trials, some sporting matches to be suspended, cruise lines halting operations and another celebrity, Tom Hanks’ director Baz Luhrmann, in isolation. How the day unfolded:
12.28am Sunday: More sport in doubt after NZ virus action
Professional sport in New Zealand is in a state of turmoil and their teams’ involvement in Australian competitions is precarious after the unveiling of border restrictions to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
The NRL, A-League and Super Rugby seasons might all be forced into shutdowns after the NZ Government’s announcement that every person arriving in the country must be isolated for a fortnight.
New Zealanders have also been advised to avoid all non-essential travel, with the drastic measures to stay in place for at least the next 16 days. The first victims were the Black Caps cricket team, whose players rushed home before the restrictions kicked in at midnight (NZT) Sunday.
The Kiwis trailed the three-match Chappell-Hadlee series 1-0 after losing the first match on Friday at an empty SCG.
A trans-Tasman Twenty20 series, scheduled for later this month in New Zealand, has also been scrapped.
The Warriors, in Newcastle after Saturday’s opening-round NRL loss to the Knights, are on tenterhooks.
NRL and ARL Commission officials will make an announcement on Sunday morning after another meeting to reveal latest developments on the fate of the competition.
AAP understands a proposition has been made for the Warriors to stay on and play all of their games in Australia until the border restrictions are loosened.
It is believed players’ opinions have been canvassed. Many of them have young families in Auckland and might be reluctant to stay offshore indefinitely.
The Warriors were to host Canberra next Saturday at Eden Park, as part of a dual-code double-header, alongside a Blues-Brumbies Super Rugby match.
Blues chief executive Andrew Hore told journalists the event was highly unlikely to go ahead and that Super Rugby faced an uncertain short-term future across all countries because of its travel-heavy component.
“People are having to take stock. We’ve looked at all the permutations that could occur and we have to do the right thing and make sure we set an example for the nation,” Hore said.
The Dunedin-based Highlanders are in Buenos Aires preparing for Sunday morning’s game with the Jaguares and will not be back in time to avoid the mandatory self- isolation.
In the A-League, Wellington issued a short statement saying it would be “impossible” to host A-League games beyond Sunday’s match against Melbourne Victory, which would go ahead as scheduled.
All people who arrive in New Zealand from Sunday night – including returning Kiwis – will need to adhere to the measures.
The NZ move came a day after the Australian Formula One Grand Prix was cancelled when a McLaren team member tested positive for coronavirus.
The AFL season is scheduled to start on Thursday night at the MCG without fans attending – the same scenario for the AFLW.
The NBL’s grand final series between Sydney and Perth will continue, with game three on Sunday to be held without spectators.
Major sports around the world, including the NBA and EPL, have already postponed their seasons because of coronavirus.
AAP
Wayne Smith 11.05pm: Super Rugby adopts self-suspension
Super Rugby will be put on hold after this weekend’s matches in the wake of New Zealand announcing that travellers entering the country must self-isolate for 14 days due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak.
SANZAAR, who run the competition, said on Saturday it “has no option but to suspend the 2020 Super Rugby tournament” for the foreseeable future after the ACT Brumbies host the NSW Waratahs on Sunday.
SANZAAR said in a statement that following the decree from the NZ government, it would not be feasible to carry on with the competition, with five teams from the country participating.
“The safety and welfare of the public, our players and other stakeholders is paramount and as previously stated we were always going to abide by government and health authority instructions on the issue of COVID-19 containment,” chief executive Andy Marinos said.
“We are extremely disappointed for the players, our fans, broadcasters and partners but given the complexity of our competition structure, and the multiple geographies that we cover, we have no other option but to align with such directives.
“We also believe it is time for all those players currently overseas to return home and to be with their families.”
The directive from NZ effectively left the competition hamstrung after only seven completed rounds following this weekend.
“Our priority is, therefore, to ensure our players are within their home territories from the end of this weekend,” Marinos said.
with AAP
8.50pm: Baz Luhrmann says he is in isolation
Film director Baz Luhrmann has revealed he is in isolation after the US star of his preproduction Elvis film on the Gold Coast, Tom Hanks, came down with coronavirus.
— Baz Luhrmann (@bazluhrmann) March 14, 2020
He tweeted on Saturday night that he was in isolation for the next 10 days.
But he said he and his family were “healthy and well’’.
Rosemary Neill reports on the virus hit to the cultural industry
8.15pm: Victoria stops new juries, Geelong Grammar ending term early
Victoria’s Supreme Court and County Court have taken the unprecedented step of suspending all new jury trials indefinitely amid the spread of coronavirus.
Geelong Grammar School in the state has also decided to end the first term of the school year early at its four campuses in the state despite being infection-free.
The developments come as another 13 people have been infected with COVID-19 in Victoria, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 49.
Victorian Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Ferguson announced the suspension of new jury trials in a statement on Saturday.
It will halt the empanelment process, in which hundreds of potential jurors gather at court.
“This precautionary decision was made after consideration of the latest expert health and government advice and recognises that members of the community may hold concerns about attending court in large groups,” she said.
The suspension doesn’t apply to trials where the jury has already been empanelled, and all Victorian courts and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal will continue to hear other matters as usual.
Geelong Grammar School principal Rebecca Cody, in a message to families and friends on Saturday, said the school would be ending term one early.
The decision took into account the school’s status as Australia’s largest co-educational boarding school, with 900 students from each state and territory, and 16 foreign countries.
All classrooms and boarding residences will close by Wednesday.
“Given we currently remain an infection-free site, this decision gives families time to prepare calmly for collection of their children,” Ms Cody said.
The latest 13 cases of the virus in Victoria include 11 men and two women aged between 20 and 69.
AAP
7.50pm: Apple to close stores worldwide
Apple says it will close all its retail stores, except those in Greater China, for the next two weeks to minimise the risk of coronavirus transmission.
“We will be closing all of our retail stores outside of Greater China until March 27,” Apple chief executive Tim Cook wrote in a letter posted on the company’s website.
“In all of our offices, we are moving to flexible work arrangements worldwide outside of Greater China,” he said.
“That means team members should work remotely if their job allows.”
Apple reopened all 42 of its branded stores in China on Friday.
The company’s donations to the global coronavirus response, to help treat those who are sick and to help lessen the economic and community impacts, reached $US15m ($24m) on Friday, Mr Cook wrote in the letter.
AAP
Peter van Onselen 7.45pm: PM ‘rejected’ advice on Italy travel ban
As the Prime Minister comes under increasing criticism for following the advice of the chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, delaying the banning of mass gatherings of over 500 people until Monday, The Weekend Australian can reveal Scott Morrison rejected the advice of Dr Murphy when it came to the travel ban for flights from Italy.
That ban came into effect on Wednesday, March 11, at 6pm, following a cabinet meeting the previous day and a national security committee meeting that morning.
On Friday I spoke to Dr Murphy and he revealed that Mr Morrison acted contrary to his advice when it came to the travel ban on flights from Italy.
Dr Murphy didn’t believe it was necessary, however the Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton took a very different view, as did other members of cabinet, and the PM acted against the CMO’s advice.
It has since been revealed that Mr Dutton contracted coronavirus on a recent trip to the US and is now in a Queensland hospital.
While the PM may have been prepared to act against the advice of the CMO when it came to the ban on flights from Italy, he has relied on Dr Murphy’s advice to ward off criticism about his refusal to immediately institute a ban on mass public gatherings, instead waiting until Monday – on Dr Murphy’s advice – for that ban to take effect. Government MPs have told The Weekend Australian they disagree with that decision.
Wayne Smith 6.30pm: NZ puts Super Rugby into chaos
Super Rugby has been thrown into chaos by New Zealand’s decision to have all visitors arriving in the country isolate themselves for 14 days from midnight Sunday.
NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern today announced the draconian border control rules as part of the country’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, as NZ attempts to limit the spread of the coronavirus infection. The policy will be reviewed in 16 days.
Given that NZ has five teams, the impact of the self-isolation edict could be that the competition will have to be suspended, or radically changed on the run.
The ACT Brumbies will be the first foreign team affected. They are scheduled to play the Blues in Auckland next Saturday but it now seems impossible that they can honour that commitment.
SANZAAR, which runs Super Rugby, issued a statement earlier on Saturday acknowledging the NZ Government move. “SANZAAR is now reviewing the full impact on the Super Rugby tournament,’’ it said.
Emily Ritchie 5pm: Cruise lines suspend operations
Cruise lines Carnival and P&O are suspending their Australian operations for a month in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Carnival Cruise Line is pausing operations across it’s Australia-based fleet from Sunday and will resume them on April 13, whereas P&O’s suspension was enacted on Saturday and is expected to last until April 12.
P&O Cruises said its decision stemmed from the federal government’s advice that gatherings should be limited to no more than 500 people and Australians should reconsider their need to travel overseas.
P&O said it would protect travel agent commission on bookings for cancelled cruises that were paid in full and for the total amount of future cruise credits.
The liner’s decision will affect cruises on Pacific Explorer, Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria that were scheduled to depart from Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide respectively over the coming weeks.
Carnival Cruise Line said while it has not had a diagnosed case of COVID-19 on any of its cruises, it recognised the problem went beyond the cruise industry.
“We realise this situation is bigger than the cruise industry and we will continue to do our part to support public officials to manage and contain this unprecedented public health challenge,” Carnival said in a statement.
Both Carnival ships currently at sea will continue their voyages and return to Sydney as scheduled.
Emily Ritchie 4.40pm: NSW cases surge to 112
A further 20 cases of the COVID-19 virus have been confirmed in NSW, taking the state’s total to 112.
NSW Health said that since midday on Friday 20 new cases had been confirmed, including a 41-year-old female healthcare worker.
Of the new cases 11 are male and 9 are female, the eldest a 69-year-old male who recently travelled from Italy and the youngest a 24-year-old woman. Seven of the new cases are people who recently returned from travel overseas (to places including Italy, the US, Finland and the UK), and for the other 13 cases it is yet unclear where they contracted the coronavirus.
Of the state’s 112 cases, 51 were acquired overseas, 32 came into contact with another confirmed case, 18 are under investigation and for 11 cases the source is unknown.
NSW Health said it was following up close contacts of a previously confirmed case, a woman in her 60s in Hunter New England who has not travelled internationally.
“The woman is a patient of Newcastle Mater’s radiation oncology service and the source of infection is still being investigated,” NSW Health said.
Together with the three new cases confirmed in Western Australia on Saturday, there are now 223 infected Australians.
4.30pm: Cruise captain bars passengers from Hobart
More than 1000 passengers and staff are stuck on a cruise ship docked at Hobart over coronavirus fears.
About 1400 passengers and staff abroad the MCS Magnifica, which arrived in Tasmania on Saturday, have been barred from disembarking.
No one on the ship has the illness but the captain has made the call as a precaution to protect passengers’ health.
The ship left Italy in early January before the coronavirus became a global concern.
More than 200 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed across Australia, including five in Tasmania.
But authorities there stress there has been no local transmission on the island state.
The most recent case is a man aged in his 60s who became unwell after arriving in Tasmania following a trip to Canada and the US.
He was not infectious on the flight, and is isolated and in a stable condition at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
– AAP
4pm: St Patrick’s Day parade cancelled
Sydney’s St Patrick’s Day parade is the latest event to be cancelled as the number of COVID-19 infections in NSW creeps towards 100 and state authorities scramble to slow its spread.
The festival, due to be held in the Rocks on Sunday, was on Saturday afternoon cancelled after “further reflection” by the event organisers. “While the government restrictions on large events don’t come into play until Monday, on further reflection and on listening to our supporters and community, we have decided to cancel the event,” Sydney St Patrick’s Day president Karen Murphy said on Facebook.
“It has been a difficult decision for our voluntary committee, but we believe it is in the best interest of the community at this time.” It follows the federal government’s announcement on Friday that non-essential mass gatherings of 500 people or more should not be held from Monday. The number of coronavirus cases in NSW reached 92 on Friday after another 14 cases were confirmed, including a man who flew into Sydney Airport while sick. A further 2000 cases are under investigation, NSW Health said in a statement, while almost 15,000 people have been tested and cleared.
– AAP
Paul Maley 3.20pm: Jacinda Ardern announces ‘toughest border restrictions in the world’
New Zealand has announced that anyone entering the country will be required to self-isolate for 14 days in what the government is calling the strictest border controls anywhere in the world.
The unprecedented measure – which will apply to both foreign visitors and New Zealand citizens returning home – marks an astonishing turnaround for the New Zealand government, which as late as Friday was talking down the coronavirus crisis and planning a mass memorial service to commemorate the Christchurch terror attacks.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Saturday said the COVID-19 pandemic now represented “unprecedented times’’.
“I make no apologies,’’ she said.
“New Zealand will have the widest-ranging and toughest border restrictions of anyone in the world.”
Those entering New Zealand will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. The rule does not apply to visitors from the Pacific. The edict will come into effect on at midnight Sunday.
Cruise ships have also been banned from New Zealand ports until at least June 30, a hammerblow to an industry already on its knees following a series of mass outbreaks aboard cruise liners.
The restrictions were signed off at a COVID-19 cabinet meeting on Saturday and will be reviewed in 16 days.
New Zealand has had just six confirmed cases of the virus, none of which have occurred via community transmission.
But Ms Ardern indicated that was all the more reason to act.
“We must go hard and fast,’’ she said.
“If you don’t need to travel overseas, then don’t. Enjoy your own backyard for a time. Stop handshakes, hugs and hongi,’’ Ms Ardern said, referring to the traditional Maori practice of touching noses.
Ms Ardern said the measures would not effect international freight cargo coming either by air or sea.
Peter Lalor 3.10pm: New Zealand abandons ODI series, flies home
New Zealand has abandoned the one day international series against Australia, flying home with two games remaining because of the escalating coronavirus pandemic.
The first game of the series was played with no crowd permitted access to the SCG, but a ruling by the visiting side’s government which insists on 14 days isolation for anybody returning from overseas has led to the decision to cancel the next two games in Sydney and Hobart.
The Kiwis were due to play another match at the SCG on Sunday before heading to Tasmania for the last match of the series. It was Hobart’s only international fixture of the summer.
Friday’s game began with Australian Kane Richardson in isolation and unable to play while he was being tested and finished with Kiwi bowler Lockie Ferguson, who played, subject to 24 hours isolation while he waits on test results after reporting flu symptoms at the end of the day nighter.
Richardson was cleared of the virus and returned to the SCG before yesterday’s game ended.
It was Australia’s first fan free sporting event and the move was made after a fan tested positive after the World Cup on Sunday. Cricket took the initiative and held firm despite the Prime Minister delaying a recommended ban on big sports events until Monday saying he would attend the rugby league on Saturday night.
The PM later changed his mind because of concerns about the way his actions could be interpreted and did not go to see his adopted league side in action.
The virus has disrupted cricket across the globe with series in Sri Lanka, India, South Africa all delayed or cancelled in the past 48 hours.
The New Zealand players will fly home tonight in order to beat the isolation requirements but the move means the three T20s against Australia scheduled for later in the month are also cancelled because the Australians would be subject to the same.
The following is a statement from the New Zealand side:
“At 4.30pm NZT this afternoon, the New Zealand Government tightened its
border restrictions and included Australia on the list of countries from which those entering New Zealand would be subjected to a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period.
This new border restriction is to come into effect tomorrow at midnight (10pm Sydney time).
A consequence of this is that we need to get our team back to New Zealand before the restriction is imposed, meaning it will not be able to participate in the two remaining Chappell-Hadlee fixtures. Arrangements are at this moment being made to fly the bulk of the
squad home this evening. This development also means the three-match T20I series scheduled for New Zealand cannot proceed as the mandatory self-isolation period would also apply to the Australian squad as soon as it crossed the border into New Zealand.
NZC believes both these series can be replayed in their entirety at a later and more appropriate date.
NZC understands and supports the government’s position. This is a time of unprecedented risk and peril, and the personal health and well-being of our players is paramount.”
Emily Ritchie 2.45pm: Casual workers exposed: Labor
Casual workers in the arts, entertainment and hospitality industries will be adversely affected by the shutdown of events due to coronavirus in coming weeks but the federal government does not have adequate planning in place to assist them, says Opposition Leader of the House Tony Burke.
On Friday Scott Morrison recommended any unnecessary events of more than 500 people to be cancelled to contain the coronavirus outbreak, and major events including Sydney’s Royal Easter Show have since been cancelled.
While the federal government announced a $1 billion fund to assist states in paying for the health crisis, Mr Burke said there were no specific measures to give casual workers peace of mind as they face months without work.
“There is a problem that arises for people who do not get sick leave that has still not been resolved by the government,” Mr Burke told reporters in Sydney.
The government does not understand how casuals live, and people who are in the gig economy.
“People in these industries live gig to gig. And they live shift to shift, they live event to event. With every major event cancellation, the public attention goes straightaway to what does that mean for the people who were going to attend and making sure they get their money back. But what is happening now is a series of artists, of road crew, of people who run the food stalls, are watching the next few months where they had a line of income locked in, they are watching it disappear. And this government still has no plan for that sector.”
Thank you @Tony_Burke for saying what the government is not. A multi-billion dollar industry is being wiped out and not a word is being said about it. pic.twitter.com/AdleXFDExk
— Blake Erickson (@Blake_Erickson) March 14, 2020
He said the people who would be worst hit were the same people who only months ago were providing free benefits to raise money for bushfire victims.
“The government needs to have a plan to deal with the people whose employment relies on festivals, on gigs, on major events, on sporting events,” Mr Burke said.
“These are people who are always the first go to when we are asking people to work for free, to benefit in other good, charitable causes. The government must come up with a plan to deal with this section of the workforce.”
Paul Maley 2.30pm: NZ Minister in quarantine after Dutton meeting
A New Zealand minister who met Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton at a meeting of the Five Eyes intelligence partners last week has become the first cabinet member to self-isolate as she waits to see if she has been infected with the coronavirus.
New Zealand’s Internal Affairs Minister Tracey Martin confirmed she was waiting to see if she had contracted the disease after she met Mr Dutton in Washington on March 7.
Ms Martin sat beside Mr Dutton during the 90-minute meeting but said she did not recall shaking Mr Dutton’s hand, an effective mode of transmission for the virus.
Mr Dutton announced on Friday he had tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in a Brisbane hospital.
Mr Dutton was asymptomatic at the time of the meeting which according to medical experts means the risk of transmission is low.
However, the Home Affairs Minister’s diagnosis is creating a ripple effect among high office holders across the world.
Ivanka Trump, President Trump’s daughter, was also at the meeting and has announced she will work from home until she is cleared of any infection.
Ms Martin’s colleague, Housing Minister Megan Woods, confirmed Ms Martin had attended Cabinet meetings since returning from Washington, potentially exposing the most senior members of the New Zealand government to the disease.
“I’m not unduly worried but like everyone else I will need to be vigilant,’’ Ms Woods told reporters in Christchurch on Saturday.
Christine Kellett 1.45pm: Peter Dutton: ‘I’m feeling much better’
Peter Dutton has given an update on his condition from a Brisbane hospital.
The Home Affairs Minister was diagnosed with COVID-19 on Friday, after waking up with a sore throat and a fever.
“I feel much better this morning I’ve got to say. I’ve had excellent care at the Royal Brisbane Hospital,” Mr Dutton told radio station 2GB.
“Fever has gone this morning, temperature is down.
“My throat was pretty mild to start with but still a bit sore.
“I have had asthma since I was a child, so they were a bit worried about that, but they think my lungs are clear. So all pretty good at the moment.”
Mr Dutton said he had immediately suspected coronavirus when he began to feel ill because of the regular medical briefings he had been receiving from the National Security Committee.
“I woke up in the early hours of Friday morning with a fever and a sore throat and a slight shortness of breath, but as I say probably nothing more than I would have with a change in weather as an asthmatic,” he said.
“Everybody’s experience will be different, but that is mine.”
Queensland Health are now tracing Mr Dutton’s movements since March 11, when they believe he was infectious.
The Prime Minister’s Office on Friday announced there was no need for Mr Dutton’s federal colleagues to self isolate, despite spending several hours in a meeting with him on Tuesday, sparking a furious backlash from Labor on Saturday.
In the US, where Mr Dutton met with security ministers and Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka on March 5, Ms Trump said she would be working from home for a fortnight as a precaution. A New Zealand minister also at the meeting said she would also enter a period of quarantine.
But Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said Mr Dutton would only be considered infectious at the time he began to display symptoms.
“Their advice to me is they are concerned with people I have had close contact with from the morning of the 11th (of March),” Mr Dutton said of Queensland Health authorities.
“There is some speculation about my visits to the White House et cetera but all the medical advice is that there is no issue — or even with cabinet.”
The Home Affairs Minister also spoke of a “a sense of guilt” that he could have infected other people, though his wife, children and close friends have displayed no signs of infection so far.
“I hope and pray it continues,” he said.
He also said he would continue working from his hospital bed.
“I will probably be a better patient (in hospital) than if I was at home with my wife or children to be honest.”
Paul Kelly 1.35pm: Treasurer reveals how economic stimulus package was thrashed out
The key decisions on the size of the government’s fiscal stimulus package emerged from the 10-hour meeting on Monday March 9, when Josh Frydenberg was at the Treasury in Canberra and Treasury chief Steven Kennedy told him “you need a package close to 1 per cent of GDP”.
“We had a Turkish meal. It was myself, Steven Kennedy and the Treasury deputies,” the Treasurer told The Weekend Australian.
“We went through the proposed package and options line by line. The Treasury secretary’s advice to me that afternoon was the need to get close to 1 per cent of GDP. That’s where we landed.
“I was talking to the Prime Minister on multiple occasions during that day. He was involved at every stage and had a clear view of what was needed.”
The urgency was palpable, given the growing collapse of market confidence.
Mr Frydenberg said the foundations of the package were the principles that defined it. They were thrashed out over dinner at The Lodge eight days earlier on Sunday March 1, by Scott Morrison, Mr Frydenberg and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann — the “big three” ministers.
This was a vital meeting because it sorted how the government would change economic policy and bring down a stimulus package, while retaining fidelity to the economic values and principles it had espoused since 2013.
1.15pm: UK police get powers to detain virus victims, cremations, burials to be sped up
Police will be able to detain infected people and schools could be forced to stay open under a package of powers being announced next week to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
Emergency laws to help to limit the spread of the virus will be introduced after the number of people infected in Britain rose by 200 in 24 hours to 798. The measures, seen by The Times, will also let councils lower standards in care homes to deal with staff shortages.
The legislation, which ministers intend to push through parliament in two weeks, will equip the government to deal with the disease. Ministers believe that the virus will infect the majority of the population, and the laws will stay in place for two years.
The government will be given the power to halt “any vehicle, train, vessel or aircraft”. Ministers will be able to close ports if there are “insufficient resources” to retain border security through customs and immigration officers falling sick.
There are further measures to speed up cremations and burials. “In a reasonable worst-case scenario the death management industry will be rapidly overwhelmed,” the government said in a draft. “There is a significant gap in body storage requirements to ensure we are prepared for the reasonable worst-case scenario.”
– The Times
1pm: Virus gets a foothold in Africa
Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Guinea and Mauritania have all confirmed their first cases of the new coronavirus, giving the disease a foothold in 19 countries on the African continent.
Africa had until now largely been spared the rapid spread of COVID-19, which has infected at least 135,000 people and killed around 5,000 worldwide. Most of Africa’s reported cases were foreigners or people who had travelled abroad. Rapid testing and quarantines have been put in place to limit transmission.
But concerns are growing about the continent’s ability to handle the disease. Cases have been reported in Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Togo, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Sudan, Kenya and Ethiopia.
– Reuters
Brent Read 12.15pm: NRL players may pay price for COVID-19
Players may be forced to carry some of the financial burden for the coronavirus under an agreement with the NRL that allows the game to negotiate a reduction in the salary cap if COVID-19 has the devastating impact that has been widely predicted.
The Weekend Australian has obtained the term sheet that was negotiated between the NRL and the Rugby League Players Association in late-2017, the document eventually forming the basis for the collective bargaining agreement between the game and the players.
The agreement includes an adverse changes clause – otherwise known as an act of God clause – that comes into effect in the event of extraordinary circumstances that lead to a significant reduction in the revenue of the clubs or the game itself.
The game is bracing for financial devastation as games go into lockdown from Monday. ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has warned the financial damage could be measured in the tens of millions, which would potentially bring the act of God clause into effect.
The commission is considering a range of measures to mitigate the damage caused by the coronavirus, including the prospect of moving all the teams to one city and playing all games out of the venue.
The theory is that by housing the players in one place, you can cocoon them from the virus and potentially prevent a player falling foul of the disease.
Emily Ritchie 12pm: Dutton decision ‘gobsmacking’
Shadow health minister Chris Bowen has slammed the government for what he describes as hypocrisy over its self-isolation policies after Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton’s was diagnosed with coronavirus.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s office on Friday said cabinet ministers who met with Mr Dutton on Tuesday would not be required to self-isolate.
“The deputy Chief Medical Officer has reiterated that only people who had close contact with the minister in the preceding 24 hours before he became symptomatic need to self-isolate,” Mr Morrison’s office said.
Mr Bowen said he was “gobsmacked” the cabinet would not take the precautionary measure of self-isolating, saying it would potentially send a confusing message to Australians.
“I was gobsmacked at the lack of judgment for Scott Morrison to continue to go to the football, sending a terrible signal and message to the Australian people,” Mr Bowen said on Saturday.
“The published public advice and information, which is pretty clear, says nothing about 24 hours. We wish Peter Dutton the best, but this confusion and this apparent disconnect between what they are doing and what they are telling others is very concerning. It is not good enough for Mr Morrison to say “Do as I say, not as I do”, he must lead by example.”
But Australia’s chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy clarified on Saturday that people need only self-isolate if they have come into contact with someone within 24 hours of them becoming symptomatic.
Mr Dutton first displayed symptoms on Friday morning, three days after attending the cabinet meeting. Professor Murphy said the Prime Minister had been prepared to follow quarantine advice but it was not necessary in this case, based on current health guidelines.
Mr Bowen also critiqued the government for the lack of a nationally coordinated public health campaign.
“There needs to be much more public information and advertising much more quickly,” he said.
“The first Australian diagnosis was January 25, we have been dealing with this for weeks. Ads can be turned around and placed quickly. We are only now seeing a trickle of advertisements and public information. The fever and respiratory clinics are too slowly rolling out. Much more can and should be done. We support the government in what they do but we also call on them to do more.”
He confirmed that Shadow Minister for Education, Tanya Plibersek, had taken measures to self-isolate herself after attending a university conference where someone had tested positive for the virus.
She has since been tested and returned a negative result.
Paul Maley 11.40am: Christchurch memorial cancelled over virus fears
A memorial service expected to attract thousands of New Zealanders commemorating the one year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks has become the latest mass gathering to be cancelled amid fears it could become a vector for the coronavirus.
Although New Zealand has yet to record a single case of community transmission of the virus, New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs announced the decision a few minutes ago.
New Zealand has just five confirmed cases of the virus. Worldwide there are more than 135,000 confirmed cases.
Just yesterday authorities were bullish about the prospects for the ceremony, which was scheduled to take place Sunday afternoon – one year to the day since the Christchurch terror attacks which killed 51 people.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said cancelling the event was a precautionary measure.
“This is a pragmatic decision,’’ she said. “We’re very saddened to cancel, but in remembering such a terrible tragedy, we shouldn’t create the risk of further harm being done.’’
The service was due to be held in Christchurch’s Horncastle Arena, a medium sized arena which on Friday hosted a large Friday prayer service for the city’s Muslim community.
Ms Ardern said given the large number of people travelling from across New Zealand or from overseas, it would be difficult for health authorities to track the course of the virus, should an infection occur.
“March 15 now becomes an opportunity for every New Zealander to reflect in their own way on the events of a year ago,’’ Ms Ardern said.
The coronavirus has killed an estimated 5000 people worldwide. The rapid spread of the virus combined with its unusually contagious nature has forced authorities around the world to cancel public events, punching untold billions of dollars from international tourism.
On Friday the Melbourne Grand Prix was cancelled on the advice of health authorities.
11.25am: Singing, dancing Italians won’t be kept down by the virus
As the death toll from coronavirus soared to a record number in Italy overnight, Italians are trying their best to keep their spirits up.
Video has begun circulating on social media of Italian citizens locked down in apartment buildings dancing and singing together, and even performing the Macarena in unison from balconies.
ITALIANS DANCING TO MACARENA IN THEIR BALCONIES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO STAY AT HOME IM CRYINGGGG I LOVE MY PEOPLE pic.twitter.com/CEIN98Syzc
— dario (@imnewyorkcity) March 13, 2020
Italian civil protection authorities say the number of coronavirus infections has soared by more than 2,500 in the last 24 hours while virus-related deaths make largest single-day jump of 250.
That brings the total number of infected in Italy to 17,660 since the outbreak began on Feb. 21, and the number of related deaths to 1,266. Italy is the epicentre of the virus outbreak in Europe.
Emily Ritchie 10.30am: Trump, Barr take precautions after meeting with Dutton
US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and US Attorney-General William Barr are working from home a week after meeting with Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, who on Friday revealed he had tested positive for COVID-19.
The White House said that given Mr Dutton was not showing any symptoms during his US trip Ms Trump and Mr Barr did not need to self-quarantine, but they are working from home “out of an abundance of caution”.
“The Attorney-General is feeling great and not showing any symptoms,” a US Department of Justice spokeswoman told Nine newspapers.
Government offices in Sydney being cleaned by people in hazmat following Peter Dutton’s positive test. â¦@9NewsAUSâ© pic.twitter.com/bB25XMvj69
— Chris O'Keefe (@cokeefe9) March 14, 2020
“He is staying home today and has consulted with CDC (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention). CDC is not recommending he be tested at this point.”
Mr Dutton remains in a Brisbane hospital on Saturday after announcing he had tested positive for the virus on Friday.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s office said cabinet ministers who met with Mr Dutton on Tuesday would not be required to self-isolate.
“In advice provided to the Prime Minister this evening, the deputy Chief Medical Officer has reiterated that only people who had close contact with the minister in the preceding 24 hours before he became symptomatic need to self-isolate,” Mr Morrison’s office said.
“That does not include the Prime Minister or any other members of the cabinet.”
10am: Virus won’t stop Queensland elections
Queensland’s 3.2 million electors are still expected to cast votes in upcoming local elections despite advice against mass gatherings due to coronavirus. As Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton took the state’s coronavirus figure to 35 and cases started being recorded outside the southeast, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said there was “rapidly growing demand” for postal voting and early voting for upcoming polls.
Queensland’s 77 councils and two state seats will be up for election on March 28.
Mr Schrinner said he had asked Queensland’s local government minister Stirling Hinchliffe for “an urgent extension” to the postal vote applications cut-off – which takes effect at 7pm AEST on Monday.
“The good news is that it’s not too late to apply for a postal vote,” he said. The Electoral Commission of Queensland on Friday said it had carefully considered advice on coronavirus, including that organised non-essential mass gatherings of over 500 people be cancelled.
Early voting will be available from Monday, with details on booth opening times on the ECQ website.
The ECQ said it would monitor attendance at booths to prevent more than 500 voters at any one time and offer telephone voting to those aged care facilities and other “declared facilities”.
Electors can also bring their own pens and pencils to cast their vote, if they wish.
“The forthcoming Queensland elections are essential public events required to ensure the continuity of democratic representation and public administration across the state,” commissioner Pat Vidgen said in a statement. “It is extremely unlikely that more than 500 people would ever be in a polling booth at any one time, and electors generally only spend a short period of time in a booth.”
– AAP
9.30am: Trump may now submit to testing
President Donald Trump now says he will likely be tested for the novel coronavirus “fairly soon,” as questions swirled about why the president, his top aides and his family weren’t doing more to protect themselves and others against COVID-19.
Mr Trump spent time last weekend with a top Brazilian official who tested positive for the virus after returning from a weekend at the president’s private club in Florida. And late Friday, news broke that a second person who was at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend had tested positive, according to a Republican official who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private health matters. The second person had a attended Trump fundraising at the president’s Florida resort on Sunday.
In the face of repeat direct and indirect exposures, Mr Trump insisted he didn’t need to isolate himself because he wasn’t exhibiting symptoms. But he conceded he would “most likely” submit to testing after a top Brazilian official who spent time with him last weekend in Florida tested positive for the virus.
At the same time, Mr Trump continued to flout public health officials’ advice by publicly and repeatedly shaking hands during a Rose Garden address on efforts to combat the pandemic. The president, according to two people close to the White House, has resisted taking the test for fear it would project weakness or worry.
– AP
9am: Coronavirus has major impact on Victorian events
Organisers are scrambling to keep Victoria’s busy events calendar ticking over after advice to cancel non-essential big gatherings due to coronavirus fears.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Australians not to go ahead with non- essential, organised gatherings of more than 500 people starting from Monday. RSL Victoria vowed yesterday that Anzac Day services would go ahead but with some restrictions to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The AFL season will open next week, but fans will not be allowed to attend matches for the foreseeable future.
The NAB AFL Women’s and Toyota AFL Premiership season will continue, however no fans will be permitted to attend matches for the foreseeable future.
— AFL (@AFL) March 13, 2020
AFL Statement: https://t.co/xiKVN4vD06 pic.twitter.com/qO9uXCgG93
The Good Friday Appeal telethon is still expected to go ahead but it has canned fundraising events Run for the Kids on March 29 and the Kids Day Out on April 10.
Several events across Victoria have already been axed including the Australian Formula One Grand Prix, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Bendigo’s 150th Easter Fair.
After careful consideration of all current available information, the Good Friday Appeal has made the decision to cancel the Kids Day Out on 10 April. Channel 7's Good Friday Appeal Telethon will still go ahead. Full statement from our Chairman: https://t.co/nNxA3PwQAI pic.twitter.com/j6VEoHrkRh
— Good Friday Appeal (@GoodFriAppeal) March 13, 2020
AAP
8am: New shopping limits as panic-buying escalates
Supermarket giants have put new limits on purchases of food staples to prevent panic-buying sparked by the coronavirus.
Coles and Woolworths have introduced a limit on some goods to ensure there is enough for everyone, especially the elderly, by preventing people stockpiling. Coles customers will be limited to two packets of pasta, flour, dried rice, paper towels, paper tissues and hand sanitiser per transaction, it confirmed yesterday.
Coles Group chief executive officer Steve Cain said there were “some additional limits on certain items in each store” and had temporarily suspended change-of-mind refunds.
“From today we will be temporarily suspending our change-of-mind refund policy to discourage over-purchasing,” he said.
“If you have already purchased additional items you no longer want, please look at donating them to community organisations or neighbours who have been struggling to purchase them during this time.”
Earlier in the week, Coles reduced their toilet roll limit from four packs to one per transaction after shoppers stripped shelves amid fears of the spread of COVID-19.
Woolworths has dropped its toilet paper limit to one pack per customer transaction and restricted purchases of other basics.
Shoppers at Woolworths can grab two packs of both tissues and hand sanitiser, and one pack of rice, paper towels, serviettes and wipes per shop. The company has also canned change-of-mind refunds and exchanges on some products in higher demand than usual including toilet paper, tissues, rice and pasta.
Both companies are working to bring in more stock to keep up with panic-buying demand.
AAP
7.25am: Royal Easter Show cancelled, Anzac Day threatened
A string of major NSW events have been cancelled as the number of COVID-19 infections creeps towards 100 and state authorities scramble to slow its spread.
The Sydney Royal Easter Show has been canned while a meeting will be held on Monday to discuss what Anzac Day events should go ahead.
The federal government yesterday announced non-essential mass gatherings of 500 people or more should not be held from Monday.
The number of coronavirus cases in NSW reached 92 yesterday after another 14 cases were confirmed, including a man who flew into Sydney Airport while sick. A further 2000 cases are under investigation, NSW Health said in a statement, while almost 15,000 people have been tested and cleared.
An additional 14 cases of #COVID19 have been diagnosed since our last update bringing the total number of confirmed cases in NSW to 92.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 13, 2020
Confirmed cases: 92
Cases under investigation: 1,928
Cases tested and excluded: 14,665
Read the full media release: https://t.co/Xif1ntnnJ5 pic.twitter.com/gClq58Xcu3
RSL NSW, which will meet with the government on Monday, says the decision on mass gatherings “will obviously have an impact on planning for Anzac Day”.
Royal Agricultural Society of NSW chief executive Brock Gilmour says the decision to cancel the Easter show — scheduled to start in three weeks — was a “huge disappointment” that would cost the society tens of millions of dollars.
“We survived the 1919 Spanish flu pandemic, we survived the Great Depression and we survived World War II,” Mr Gilmour said. “We will survive coronavirus. The show will be as big, bold and exciting as ever in 2021.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday evening confirmed he would not attend the rugby league match between the Cronulla Sharks and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Sydney on Saturday night. Mr Morrison had earlier on Friday insisted he would go to the match.
In advice provided this evening, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer has reiterated only people who had close contact with the Minister in the preceding 24 hours before he became symptomatic need to self-isolate.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) March 13, 2020
That does not include myself or any other members of the Cabinet.
AAP
7am: Trump declares national emergency
US President Donald Trump has declared a national emergency over the fast-spreading coronavirus, opening the door to providing what he said was about $US50 billion ($A81 billion) in federal aid to fight the disease.
Mr Trump made the announcement at a Rose Garden news conference this morning (AEDT). He said he was declaring the national emergency in order to “unleash the full power of the federal government” and urged every state to set up emergency centres to help fight the virus.
LIVE: President @realDonaldTrump holds a news conference https://t.co/D975UkADhj
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 13, 2020
Mr Trump said he was also giving Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar emergency authorities to waive federal regulations and laws to give doctors and hospitals “flexibility” in treating patients.
He also announced a new public-private partnership to expand coronavirus testing capabilities, as his administration has come under fire for being too slow in making the test available. The partnership will include drive-through testing in some locations and an online portal to screen those seeking to get tested.
To this point, and because we have had a very strong border policy, we have had 40 deaths related to CoronaVirus. If we had weak or open borders, that number would be many times higher!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 13, 2020
Still, Trump said that officials don’t want people taking the test unless they have certain symptoms.
“It’s totally unnecessary,” Mr Trump said. He added, “This will pass.”
— REUTERS
6.55am: When did Peter Dutton become infected?
It is still not yet known when Peter Dutton contracted the coronavirus, with the Australian Home Affairs Minister in hospital as per medical guidelines in Queensland.
Mr Dutton was in the United States last week for a meeting with members of the FiveEyes intelligence alliance — Australia, the United States, Britain, Canada and New Zealand — that included US Attorney-General William Barr.
He also met with US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka on March 6.
“This morning I woke up with a temperature and sore throat,” Mr Dutton said in a statement.
“It is the policy of Queensland Health that anyone who tests positive is to be admitted into hospital and I have complied with their advice.”
— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) March 13, 2020
6.45am: Denmark, Poland closes borders — reports
The Australian’s Europe correspondent Jacquelin Magnay is reporting that both Denmark and Poland will close its borders over the coronavirus crisis, with Denmark to use its army to keep them secure.
Big developments in Europe. Denmark closes borders with army to patrol. Poland also closes borders. #coronavirus
— Jacquelin Magnay (@jacquelinmagnay) March 13, 2020
6.40am: Ireland bans kissing of the Blarney stone
For almost 600 years, nothing has stopped anyone so inclined from kissing Ireland’s Blarney stone to gain the gift of the gab. No longer.
The new coronavirus outbreak that caused the Irish government to strictly limit social interactions, including by shutting schools, universities and child day care centres, has interrupted one of the country’s most-cherished traditions.
“This is a necessary step in the current climate, and for the first time in its history, no one will be kissing the Blarney stone,” said Charles Colthurst, the owner of Blarney Castle, home of the famous block of limestone.
Legend has it that one of Colthurst’s 15th century predecessors had a speech impediment, said. Paul O’Sullivan, the castle’s marketing manager. According to the local lore, the castle proprietor saved a witch drowning in the lake on castle grounds. The witch told him that he would receive the gift of eloquence if he kissed the stone.
A ritual was born, practised and repeated without obstacle — until the virus.
For the first time in our history the kissing of the Blarney Stone has been postponed until further notice.
— Blarney Castle & Gardens (@Blarney_Castle) March 13, 2020
The castle & gardens are still open and we would like to reassure all our visitors that we are doing everything possible to provide a safe experience.
“For the first time in our history the kissing of the Blarney stone has been postponed until further notice,” read a tweet from the castle posted overnight.
6.25am: Pope, Italian PM in rare standoff
Some of Rome’s Catholic churches reopened overnight (AEDT) after Pope Francis voiced displeasure with the Italian authorities’ push to shut them because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The rare standoff between the 83-year-old pontiff and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s government came as Italy’s death toll surpassed 1,200.
The Mediterranean country has suffered more than half the COVID-19 fatalities reported outside China and has seen the toll grow by hundreds each day.
While shops and restaurants have been closed, churches have stayed open in the overwhelmingly Catholic country throughout what many now call Italy’s biggest crisis since World War II.
That changed when the vicar of Rome said yesterday he could no longer withstand government pressure and was closing all Catholic places of worship across the Italian capital.
The pope’s response was unusually swift and blunt.
“Drastic measures are not always good,” the Argentine-born pope said in livestreamed Friday morning prayer.
He prayed for “pastors to have the good judgment … not to leave the holy, faithful people of God alone.” The vicar of Rome then issued a statement explaining that he had had “a further meeting” with the pontiff in which it was decided to let at least some churches to reopen their doors.
Vicar Angelo De Donatis said he ultimately decided that closing churches “will sow confusion” among the faithful and see some “feel even more isolated”.
His decree explained that all of Rome’s churches would remain closed to tourists. But smaller houses of worship would open in some places specifically for the faithful.
6am: Trump ‘doesn’t need to be tested’
Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro has tested negative for coronavirus, after a scare over a trip on which at least one infected member of his staff rubbed shoulders with US President Donald Trump.
The far-right Brazilian president posted his test result to his Facebook page, along with a picture of himself flashing an obscene arm gesture.
“Don’t believe in the fake news media!” he wrote.
Media reports said earlier that Bolsonaro had tested positive for coronavirus and was awaiting the results of a second test to confirm.
Bolsonaro, who had previously called coronavirus fears “overblown,” was left in a delicate position yesterday by news that his communications chief, Fabio Wajngarten, had tested positive for COVID-19.
The test result came after a trip to the United States, during which Bolsonaro and Wajngarten met Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and a slate of top US officials at Trump’s Florida golf resort.
The episode means the new coronavirus likely been within breathing distance of the US president.
Wajngarten was photographed side-by-side with Trump last Saturday, both with hats reading: “Make Brazil Great Again.”
The aide later came down with symptoms of the disease, and the government announced he had tested positive — though he had earlier attacked the “putrid” media when reports about his health emerged, insisting he was “fine.”
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement that “exposures from the case are being assessed, which will dictate next steps.”
“Both the President and Vice President had almost no interactions with the individual who tested positive and do not require being tested at this time,” Grisham said.
AP
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