Coronavirus Australia live news: Second Melbourne Black Lives Matter protester tests positive
Victoria’s fresh outbreak sees two schools shut and another Black Lives Matter protester with virus.
- Deadly nursing home cleared of virus
- Schools shut, second protester has virus
- Inside minds of Aussies: ABS survey
- PM to expand COVID commission
- Qld relaxes funeral rules
- NSW, Victoria set to ease indoor limits
- Britain ‘winning battle against virus’
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis. Victoria faces fresh coronavirus outbreak with two schools closed and another Black Lives Matter protester diagnosed with COVID-19. Most Australians are itching to dine out at restaurants and cafes again but overwhelmingly still wary of large crowds and flying, according to the ABS’s latest household survey. Scott Morrison’s COVID-19 Coordination Commission is set to be expanded and play a bigger role in reshaping the post-coronavirus economy. Funeral guest limits will end in NSW today, with both Victoria and NSW also preparing to ease restrictions on pubs, cafes and restaurants. And Queensland has announced it will ease limits on funerals but weddings remain limited to 20 guests.
AFP 8.45pm: Norway suspends tracing app over privacy fears
Norway’s health authorities have suspended an app designed to help trace the spread of the coronavirus after the national data protection agency said it was too invasive of privacy.
Launched in April, the smartphone app Smittestopp (“Infection stop”) was set up to collect movement data to help authorities trace the spread of COVID-19, and inform users if they had been exposed to someone carrying the novel coronavirus.
On Friday, the data agency Datatilsynet issued a warning that it would stop the Norwegian Institute of Public Health from handling data collected via Smittestopp.
Datatilsynet said the limited spread of coronavirus in Norway, as well the app’s limited effectiveness due to the small number of people using it, meant the invasion of privacy resulting from its use was disproportionate.
Camilla Stoltenberg, the public health institute’s director, said she did not agree with that assessment, but the institute would now delete all the app’s data and suspend its work.
READ MORE: Elderly desperate for isolation update
Jacquelin Magnay 7.25pm: England’s shops back in business
In the first hours of trading after 83 days of coronavirus lockdown, English high streets were rammed with queues of people — mainly young women — waiting to go inside favourite shops.
The future of the British economy appears to rest on the wallets of teenagers and women in their 20s who thronged to stock up on the “non-essential essentials’’ on Monday.
While outdoor markets and car showrooms reopened on June 1, Monday saw the big return to business for retailers.
It only applies to England, with stores in Scotland and Wales waiting for guidance from their devolved administrations on when they can resume trading.
Light tops and dresses appeared to be popular, as this was the first chance in three months to buy summer clothes from retail outlets.
With many offering big discounts to shift stock, in Kingston Upon Thames stores like Primark, John Lewis, Zara and TK Maxx were busy, with lines hundreds-long weaving in and around pavements.
Others that had queues were the banks, and shoe stores — mainly parents with prams wanting footwear for their toddlers.
Some staff wore masks inside the stores, but it was not mandatory, unlike on public transport, and only a smattering of shoppers had their nose and mouth covered.
But some small clothing stores have decided not to open at all as the costs to staff and manage the current social distancing restrictions outweigh any profit.
The British government is considering reducing VAT to try and help businesses get back on their feet, but there are fears 20 per cent of retailers will close their doors for good.
Shopper Susanna Coulsen, of Tolworth, said in a queue outside Zara: “I just needed to get out of the house. Even queueing a little bit is OK, but if there is a long line I will go elsewhere.
“It is not as though it’s that pleasant an experience, is it? I can’t even go and sit down with a coffee.’’
The British fatality rate continues to fall. The 36 coronavirus deaths on Saturday was the lowest since lockdown began on March 23. Over the past three months Britain has endured 41,698 deaths attributed to coronavirus.
READ MORE: Falling death toll raises hope is weaker
AFP 6.30pm: Relief for Paris restaurants as lockdown ends
Restaurant and cafe owners in Paris cheered their chance to get back to business after the government said they could once again open their dining rooms, three months after being shut to blunt the coronavirus outbreak.
The sooner-than-expected reopening for the Paris region was announced by President Emmanuel Macron late on Sunday, local time, shortly before officials reported just nine COVID-19 deaths in the previous 24 hours — the lowest figure since March.
“The bulk of the epidemic is behind us,” Health Minister Olivier Veran said on Monday, though he cautioned that “this doesn’t mean we can stop fighting the virus”.
Until now, restaurants in and around the capital could only serve clients on outdoor terraces, even as eateries in the rest of the country opened fully earlier this month.
“It’s going to be a party,” said Stephane Manigold, owner of four Paris restaurants, including the two-starred Maison Rostang.
“We were waiting for the President’s speech. Our teams are ready, and they’re eager to get back to work.”
READ MORE: Too soon to change quarantine, says NSW premier
Associated Press 5.50pm: India to use train carriages as virus beds
India’s Home Minister has offered 500 railway carriages for use as makeshift coronavirus hospital wards as the capital, New Delhi, struggles to contain a spike in cases.
Amit Shah, India’s second-most-powerful politician, behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was set to convene a meeting on Monday with all major political parties represented on the deteriorating situation in the capital.
Delhi has about 9000 beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients among public and private hospitals, but a state government panel of experts has said the capital will need at least 15,000 beds by the end of this month.
The Health Ministry reported a jump of more than 11,000 new infections nationwide for a third-consecutive day, taking the total caseload to more than 332,000, including 9520 deaths.
India ranks fourth ij countries hardest-hit by the pandemic — after the US, Russia and Brazil.
In neighbouring Pakistan, the number of infected people neared 145,000 on Monday as leaders warned coronavirus could sweep through the population.
READ MORE: Beijing reinstates isolation
Imogen reid 4.30pm: Deadly Sydney nursing home declared COVID-free
A Sydney nursing home at the centre of Australia’s second largest cluster of coronavirus has been cleared from COVID-19 by NSW health.
A statement released by Anglicare Sydney declared the outbreak at Newmarch House in the western suburb of Caddens over after a total of 37 residents and 34 staff tested positive for COVID-19.
“The COVID-19 outbreak has brought with it significant grief and loss,” the statement read.
“Devastatingly, a total of 19 residents lost their life during the outbreak. All of these people who were much loved members of our community and their loss is felt not just by their immediate family, but also by other residents and our staff, many of whom are only now returning to work.”
The statement added that while the outbreak is now over, Anglicare will continue to be vigilant in screening and infection control at Newmarch, and across its other aged care homes.
“This extraordinary challenge also highlighted the compassion and dedication of our staff, some of whom had to self-isolate and others who continued to work in difficult and unprecedented circumstances to maintain the care of all our residents,” the statement read.
Earlier this month, Anglicare announced all remaining patients had been cleared of the virus, seven weeks after the outbreak began.
The virus spread through the home after a healthcare worker tested positive for COVID-19 at the Easter long weekend, having worked multiple shifts while unknowingly infectious.
READ MORE: Coroner to examine home care deaths
Brent Read 4.20pm: Rugby League relief: Game on as Bulldogs cleared
The NRL and Canterbury breathed a huge sigh of relief on Monday afternoon when all Bulldogs players and officials were cleared of COVID-1.
The players and officials were tested after teammate Aiden Tolman was forced into isolation and made to undergo a test after he was informed by NSW Health that a teacher at his daughter’s school had contracted coronavirus.
The Bulldogs took the precautionary step of testing every person inside their bubble, the results coming back to the club only hours before their game against the Sydney Roosters on Monday night.
That game was postponed for 24 hours due to the COVID-19 saga involving Tolman.
“All Bulldogs players and staff within the club ‘bubble’ have been given clearance after undergoing COVID-19 tests yesterday,” the Bulldogs said in a statement.
“The results of the tests were relayed to the club this afternoon. Aiden Tolman and his family were also cleared after tests and Aiden will now follow isolation protocols until being given permission by the NRL to train with the Bulldogs squad again.”
Tolman could be isolated for up to a fortnight, meaning he would miss as many as three games.
READ MORE: NRL postpones first game in 23 years
Max Maddison 3.55pm: Schools shut, second protester has virus
Victoria is facing a fresh coronavirus outbreak with two schools closed due to a family cluster and another Black Lives Matter protester diagnosed with COVID-19
Two Victorian schools closed after four students linked to one family tested positive to coronavirus.
The second Black Lives Matter protester, a young woman, was also among Victoria’s 12 new cases yesterday.
In a statement, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said 12 new cases had been reported since yesterday. Nine of the cases were linked to two separate outbreaks.
In addition to two new cases linked to a patient at Monash Health, seven fresh cases were linked to an extended family outbreak in Melbourne’s suburbs, bringing the total from this outbreak to 11.
Two of those 11 were students at St Dominic’s Primary School in Broadmeadows, who were likely infectious when they attended school on June 2 and June 3.
The extended family has had gatherings across different households in Coburg, Broadmeadows and Pakenham.
Pakenham Springs Primary School will be closed for at least one day from Monday.
St Dominic’s Primary School in Broadmeadows is also closed while testing of students and teachers that attended the school from May 26 to June 3 happens.
Despite initial fears, Victorian health authorities said there were no links from the infectious protester who attended the Black Lives Matter rally a fortnight ago.
Prof Sutton said the woman tested positive after attending the rally but argued it was very unlikely she would have been infected at the protest.
Prof Sutton said she had worn protective equipment and had mild symptoms, making it unlikely to have transmitted the virus. — with AAP
READ MORE: Passengers shun international flights
Paige Taylor 3.52pm: Just two virus cases still active in WA
Health authorities say there are just two known cases of coronavirus left in Western Australia after nine people who had the virus were found to be recovered at the weekend.
The nine recovered people included six crew from the livestock carrier Al Kuwait, which is stranded at Fremantle Port after arriving with workers onboard who were infected with coronavirus.
A total of 602 people have had the virus in WA and nine of them have died.
WA has allowed bars and restaurants to reopen for a maximum of 100 customers but the state’s borders remain closed. Even West Australians trying to get home can be turned away if they do not have compassionate grounds or another exemptions such as work commitments.
READ MORE: Mark McGowan’s riding high, for now
c M fires up at Albanese in testy question time
Scott Morrison has tried to tie Anthony Albanese to the Adem Somyurek scandal and question the Opposition Leader’s hold on the Labor leadership in a testy question time.
Nine’s 60 Minutes alleged that Mr Somyurek was trying to increase his influence in federal Labor and according to the program, he said “Who’ll protect Albo?” on one recording.
“The Leader of the Opposition is blaming everybody for his problems today. He’s blaming everybody for his problems today, Mr Speaker. It’s the New South Wales Labor branch’s fault, it’s the Victorian branch’s fault,” Mr Morrison told parliament.
“I note today we have ‘Who’s going to protect Albo?’ on the front page of The Age, Mr Speaker.
“Mr Speaker, the question is – who does he need to be protected from?
Mr Albanese said earlier today he did not know Mr Somyurek personally and fully backed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ move to have the ex-minister expelled from the ALP.
Labor kept its focus on attacking the government on the tight rules around accessing JobKeeper wage subsidies, and attacked Mr Morrison’s claim that they are equal to JobSeeker welfare payments.
“Isn’t that the case that JobKeeper recipients maintain the work relationship between worker and their employer whereas JobSeeker recipients do not?” Mr Albanese asked.
“Isn’t it true that a person is better off if they have a job?”
READ MORE: Internal war to smother Victorian ALP
Richard Ferguson 2.44pm: PM accuses Labor of undermining JobKeeper
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers asks Scott Morrison why less people than expected are on JobKeeper wage subsidies, while more people are on JobSeeker welfare benefits.
The Prime Minister says both JobKeeper and JobSeeker are working well, and accuses the Opposition of trying to undermine both schemes.
“Only the Labor Party would lament the fact that fewer people needed an economic support program than was estimated,” Mr Morrison says.
“I’m also very pleased that JobSeeker has been there for those who need it. Someone .6 million Australians who have needed that program because JobSeeker has been put in place.
“They (Labor) say they support these measures but from day one, they have sought to undermine them. And for that, they should be ashamed of themselves.”
READ MORE: JobSeeker numbers steady as crisis eases
Richard Ferguson 2.30pm: Shovels ‘in the ground’ on dam building: McCormack
Opposition environment spokeswoman Terri Butler asks Scott Morrison what he is doing to build more water dams.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack responds and says the government is starting works on dams, spending more than $1bn on projects.
“We talked last week in the parliament about Dunngowan dam. We talked about the $480 million. I see the member for New England nodding. $650 million for another project,” he says.
“We’re getting on with the job of business cases and actually putting shovels in the ground to build more dams.
“We will drought proof our nation. We will continue to do that. We’ll continue to do it through better water infrastructure”
READ MORE: No ‘herd immunity’ for drought
Richard Ferguson 2.17pm: Morrison attacks Albanese over Somyurek scandal
Scott Morrison has launched a spectacular attack on Anthony Albanese over the downfall of ALP powerbroker Adem Somyurek, questioning the Opposition Leader’s hold on his leadership.
Mr Albanese had asked the Prime Minister why he is now fast-tracking major infrastructure projects, given the Reserve Bank of Australia has called for the government to do it 11 times.
Mr Morrison used the opportunity to attack the Opposition over its recent scandals and questioned what role Mr Somyurek has in “protecting” Mr Albanese from leadership rumblings.
“The Leader of the Opposition is blaming everybody for his problems today. He’s blaming everybody for his problems today, Mr Speaker. It’s the New South Wales Labor branch’s fault, it’s the Victorian branch’s fault. Apparently it’s the New South Wales Liberal Party’s fault,” he says.
“I note today we have ‘Who’s going to protect Albo?’ on the front page of The Age, Mr Speaker.
Mr Albanese said earlier today he did not know Mr Somyurek personally and fully backed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ move to have the ex-minister expelled from the ALP.
READ MORE: Shanahan — Why Albanese swooped on Somyurek
Richard Ferguson 2.10pm: PM condemns Aussie’s death penalty in China
Scott Morrison has opened question time by condemning the death penalty imposed on Australian citizen Karm Gilespie over drug convictions in China.
Mr Gilespie – a former actor and entrepreneur – faces the death penalty after seven years in a Chinese jail.
The Prime Minister said the government would continue to advocate against the death penalty and raise Mr Gilespie’s case with Chinese authorities.
“The Foreign Minister and Australian officials have raised Mr Gilespie’s case within Chinese counterparts on a number of occasions. Australia’s opposition to the death penalty is
bipartisan, multipartisan, unanimous, principled, consistent and well-known,” Mr Morrison says.
“We advocate consistently for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide. By every diplomatic avenue available to us.
“We will continue to provide Mr Gilespie with consular assistance. Our thoughts are with him, his family and his loved ones.”
READ MORE: Aussie actor on death row in China
Rebecca Urban 12.44pm: Young protest attendee tests positive to virus
A second attendee at Melbourne’s Black Lives Matter protest – a young woman – has tested positive to COVID-19, as Victoria reports 12 new cases of the virus.
However, the state’s top health officer has downplayed any link with the June 6 protest, claiming the woman took “a great deal of care” while at the event.
“There are many other places this person could have acquired it,” said Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.
“I’m not convinced there’s necessarily been transmission at the protest.”
Dr Sutton also revealed that a decision on permitting live crowd attendance at sports matches could be some time away.
He said even if the state “were to have cases down to zero for a couple of weeks”, the government would want to be assured that behaviours, such as personal hygiene and social distancing, were “embedded in our lives”.
“I think it’s premature to make a call on sports stadiums,” he said.
Seven of the 12 new cases were linked to a Coburg family, while two, including a healthcare worker, were linked to a Monash Health patient.
Meanwhile, Pakenham Springs Primary School in Melbourne’s southeast has closed on Monday after two students tested positive to the virus.
Dr Sutton urged people to remain diligent and get tested if they show symptoms, including those who attended the protests.
“It’s really in that first week [of exposure] that people overwhelmingly develop symptoms,” he said.
“These cases should be out there now.”
READ MORE: Second Cook statue defaced
PATRICK COMMINS 11.55am: ABS survey finds Australians itching to eat out
Most Australians were itching to dine out at restaurants and cafes again but were overwhelmingly still wary of large crowds, according to the ABS’s latest household survey.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ latest survey on the impact of COVID-19 on Australian households was conducted over the final weekend of May at a time when states and territories were announcing plans to lift social distancing measures on eating establishments.
Three in five respondents told the ABS they were looking forward to dining out again, but three quarters were uncomfortable with the idea of attending a large public event.
ABS program manager for household surveys Michelle Marquardt said that the survey found “the level of comfort felt by Australians in returning to their usual activities following the easing of restrictions varied considerably depending on the type of activity”.
“The vast majority of working Australians, 86 per cent, were at least somewhat comfortable in resuming their usual attendance at the workplace and of those with children, 81 per cent were at least somewhat comfortable with sending their children back to school or childcare,” Ms Marquardt said.
But a majority of people were uncomfortable with returning to flying or travelling by public transport — 63 per cent and 59 per cent, respectively — the ABS said.
Even as restrictions eased, social distancing was being practised by 95 per cent of Australians, although the proportion of people avoiding public spaces had dropped to 74 per cent from 85 per cent in early May.
The ABS also released figures showing there were only 2200 short-term overseas visitor arrivals in April, a 99.7 per cent decrease from the 700,400 recorded in April 2019.
From 20 March 2020, all overseas travel was banned, with few exceptions.
READ MORE: Mobile homes of desire
MAX MADDISON 11.25am: NSW records three new cases in past 24 hours
NSW recorded three new cases of coronavirus in the past 24-hours, with the source of infection for one under investigation.
While two of the cases were returned travellers in quarantine, NSW Health said the third was a man from Illawarra in his early 20s, but it is currently unclear where the virus was contracted at this point.
Since 8pm last night, there have been 3 new cases of #COVID19 diagnosed, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 3,131.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 15, 2020
There were 7,201 tests carried out in the reporting period, compared with 13,951 in the previous 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/Qj7fXMIVpn
The news of possible community transmission comes as the State government plans to “aggressively” ease social distancing restrictions on July 1.
The additional cases bring the total in NSW to 3131. Only 42 cases of COVID-19 are currently being treated by NSW Health. None are in intensive care.
Health authorities’ mammoth testing regime continued over the weekend, with 7,201 tests carried out in the reporting period, compared to 13,591 in the preceding 24-hours. More than 641,000 COVID-19 tests have now been carried out in NSW.
READ MORE: Gottliebsen — Coronavirus, protests are symptoms and catalysts of change
Agencies 11.15am: PM: There is a mountain yet to climb
States and territories are continuing to ease coronavirus restrictions as the prime minister warns there’s still a mountain to climb.
Scott Morrison says Australians have shown incredible resilience in the face of both the health and economic crises.
“We have managed to do better than our fears and even our hopes,” he told a CEDA summit in Canberra on Monday.
Mr Morrison says the economic recovery ahead will be very hard. “There is a mountain yet to climb.”
The government has announced an extra $1.5 billion towards “shovel-ready” small priority projects around the country, including $500 million for road works. They include the inland rail project between Melbourne and Brisbane, the Marinus underwater power cable between Tasmania and Victoria and South Australia’s Olympic Dam extension.
Emergency town water projects in NSW and road, rail and iron ore projects in Western Australia are also on the list. In all, the projects are expected to generate 66,000 direct and indirect jobs. — AAP
READ MORE: Red-tape reduction puts nation on $72bn shortcut to recovery
GERARD COCKBURN 10.45am: Over 2 million request early access to super
More than two million Australians have requested early access to their superannuation, claiming financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Weekly figures released by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority shows $14.8bn has been leached from the country’s near $3 trillion retirement pool, with 1.98 million account holders already being paid out by funds.
As at June 7, 2.12 million applications have been lodged with the Australian Taxation Office for early withdrawals of retirement balances.
The federal government implemented the early release of super scheme as a measure to assist people who have become unemployed or experienced a reduction in working hours due to the pandemic.
Superannuation account holders are able to request up to $10,000 this current financial year and also in the coming 2021 financial year. Average payment requests lodged with the ATO are $7475, with withdrawals processed in approximately 3.3 business days.
95 per cent of applications are being paid within five business days, which is the recommended turnaround period set by APRA.
Australia’s superannuation sector is also taking a financial dent from the Morrison government’s JobKeeper payment scheme.
The 3.3 million workers on the wage subsidy scheme are not receiving superannuation guarantee contributions, costing the sector more than $200m in forgone benefits.
Industry funds continue to make up the largest proportion of payments made to account holders, with five major funds representing about $7.04bn of total withdrawals.
AustralianSuper continues to experience the largest number of applications, with the fund already paying out $1.98bn to 264,404 account holders.
READ MORE: JobKeeper scheme lowers superannuation payments
Richard Ferguson 10am: COVID commission to play bigger role in rebuild
Scott Morrison’s COVID-19 Coordination Commission is set to be expanded and play a bigger role in reshaping the post-coronavirus economy.
The Coordination Commission — led by former mining executive Nev Power — was set up a couple of months ago to fix food supply and employment issues which arose in the first days of the pandemic.
The Prime Minister said on Monday morning that he now wants to expand the commission’s membership and role going forward.
“It began as a tactical problem-solving group because we had problems with getting food to grocery stores that had to be fixed,” he told the CEDA conference in Canberra.
“Now they have been working closely with us on the very things we have been talking about … the broader industrialisation changes that we are working with people to achieve and it is
providing those opportunities and those platforms for people to come together.”
READ MORE: States must defend public health from mob rule
LACHLAN MOFFET GRAY 9.45am: Woolies ends all remaining purchase restrictions
Supermarket giant Woolworths has announced that all remaining purchase restrictions on items designed to stem COVID-19 panic buying will be removed from today.
It comes three weeks after competitor Coles did the same, meaning the majority of Australian supermarket consumers will be able to buy any item in any quantity for the first time since March.
The last of the remaining categories with restrictions being removed today are antibacterial wipes, hand wash and frozen fruit. Product limits that existed before the coronavirus pandemic, like those on baby formula, remain in place.
“We are pleased to lift all purchase limit restrictions today,” Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Claire Peters said on Monday. “This is a big milestone and a positive sign following months of hard work from our teams and significant support from our suppliers to ensure the replenishment of our shelves during a period of extraordinary demand.
“We are thankful to everyone for their patience with us over these last few months.”
READ MORE: Canberra and universities play the politics of risk and reward
David Rogers 9.40am: Aussie sharemarket faces more coronavirus jitters
The Australian sharemarket faces more coronavirus jitters which may generate a retest of the two week lows it reached on Friday. Friday night futures relative to fair value had suggested the S&P/ASX 200 would open down just 0.2pc after the S&P 500 rose 1.3pc.
But S&P 500 futures fell as much as 1.7pc this morning with COVID infection rates rising in 22 US states over the weekend and part of Beijing locked down after an outbreak in the city’s biggest food market.
White House economic aide, Larry Kudlow, said Friday that the US won’t shut down again and isn’t seeing a “second wave”, but NIAID head, Anthony Fauci, said US States should rethink reopening strategies if hospitalisations increase.
S&P 500 futures have pared the early fall to 1.2pc, but still suggest the S&P 500 will again probe its 200-day moving average support at 3014. Thus, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 may retest Friday’s low at 5756.5.
But with real time measures of S&P 500 futures sentiment remaining net bearish, central bank liquidity continuing to provide massive support, high-frequency economic data recovering and mass lockdowns likely over, shares remain a buy on dips.
Focus turns to China’s release of new home price data at 1130 AEST, followed by monthly economic activity data for May, due at 1200 AEST. Other events this week include, RBA Minutes, Senate testimony from Fed’s Powell, domestic employment data and BoE and BoJ meetings.
READ MORE: Follow the latest market moves in our Trading Day blog
Sarah Elks 9.25am: Palaszczuk restates Qld border to reopen on July 10
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says it is her “clear intention” for the state’s borders to reopen on July 10.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday said Queensland had finally locked in a date for the reopening, but Ms Palaszczuk said on Monday morning that Mr Morrison had simply realised Queensland had a printed roadmap that set July 10 as the probable date.
Monday, 15 June – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) June 14, 2020
• 0 new confirmed cases
• 5 active cases
• 1,065 total confirmed cases
• 251,322 tests conducted
Sadly, six Queenslanders with COVID-19 have died. 1,051 patients have recovered.#COVID_19 pic.twitter.com/Rm6DnxphAm
“I raised at national cabinet that Queensland has a very comprehensive roadmap and July 10 is listed there,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “I also mentioned that we will review at the end of the month but it is our clear intention that July 10 will be the (date for borders to reopen).”
Ms Palaszczuk said the rules around funerals would be relaxed to allow 100 mourners, but weddings will remain at 20 guests.
READ MORE: Winning Ichi Ban skipper Matt Allen to get back on water
Sarah Elks 9.15am: Qld has no new cases, relaxes funeral rules
Queensland has recorded zero new coronavirus cases, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk relaxing the rules about funerals to allow 100 mourners.
Ms Palaszczuk said a list of names of mourners would need to be kept in case a coronavirus case needed to be traced.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the funeral restrictions were “one of the hardest for us to implement”.
Ms Palaszczuk said the rules around funerals would be relaxed to allow 100 mourners, but weddings will remain at 20 guests.
Queensland’s coronavirus cases total stands at 1065.
Mr Miles said the state’s pathology services had passed a significant milestone: more than 250,000 tests conducted.
READ MORE: $250m pledge to clear elective surgery backlog
Agencies 9.05am: Ghana health minister contracts virus
Ghana’s president has announced that Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu has contracted COVID-19 and is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
In a state broadcast, President Nana Akufo-Addo said the health minister had “contracted the virus in his line of duty” leading the West African nation’s fight against COVID-19.
Ghana has one of highest number of confirmed cases in Africa because of its robust testing, with more than 11,400 cases. Health authorities have reported 51 deaths.
News of the health minister’s illness further fuelled worries as Ghana’s universities prepared to reopen Monday so students in their final year of study can take exams. — AP
READ MORE: Fresh China cluster raises fears
Richard Ferguson 8.55am: WATCH LIVE | PM’s speech to CEDA conference at 9.15am
In a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia at 9.15am, Scott Morrison will outline his plan to build the nation out of the COVID-19 recession. You can watch his address live in the video above.
READ MORE about the plan here.
Max Maddison 8.20am: No community transmission in NSW in ‘real terms’
The spread of community transmission in NSW has been stopped in “real terms”, says Deputy Premier John Barilaro, as he gets “aggressive” in returning the state to normality.
Mr Barilaro said NSW had recorded nine new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, eight of which were from travellers in quarantine.
New freedom is on the way for people in New South Wales and Victoria as further coronavirus restrictions are eased. NSW Deputy Premier @JohnBarilaroMP joined Sam to discuss. pic.twitter.com/HxjrnewQIz
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) June 14, 2020
“The community transmission rates are very, very low. They’re almost negligible,” Mr Barilaro told Sunrise.
“In real terms, we have stopped the spread and we’ve got to be able to reboot the economy to get businesses going again. That’s why we’ve gone quite aggressive in lifting the restrictions by July 1 right across the board,”
“Policing it will be quite a bit about trust. We’re trusting business owners and people to do the right thing.”
Mr Barilaro shot down suggestions that travellers should pay for their own quarantine, saying the federal government needed to take responsibility for keeping the “borders locked up and tight”.
READ MORE: Inquirer — Parents deserve better than industrialised aged care
Max Maddison 7.45am: Melbourne school closed after two students test positive
Another primary school has been shut down due to coronavirus, after two students from the same family tested positive.
Pakenham Spring Primary School in Melbourne’s southeast was preparing for deep cleaning on Monday, while health authorities have begun contact tracing.
Pakenham Springs Primary School will close for 24 hours after two students from the same family tested positive to Covid-19. @PakenhamGazette pic.twitter.com/YvFZ9ri5EO
— Mitch Clarke (@24mitchclarke) June 14, 2020
In a statement, Acting Principal Renee Cotterell said: “Students and staff who have attended the school are required to remain at home while contact tracing occurs.”
“I want to assure you we are following the public health advice of DHHS to ensure the safety of all staff and students.”
READ MORE: Australia Post boss Christine Holgate pleads to keep COVID relief
Max Maddison 7.15am: COVID-19 global death toll surges past 430,000
Global deaths from COVID-19 have passed 430,000, reports Johns Hopkins University, as the total number of recorded cases races towards 8 million.
The US still represents over a quarter of total cases and deaths, however, cases in Brazil continued to surge, with another 21,700 new cases recorded overnight.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the country was emerging from the pandemic with minimal losses, despite recording more than half a million cases and an official death toll of 6,948.
India’s 11,500 new infections, reported overnight, is the highest daily number on record. And Pakistan’s planning minister warned the number of cases could double by the end of June, before peaking a month later with more than a million infections.
READ MORE: Editorial — Taciturn China shuns dialogue
Max Maddison 6.50am: Greens MP’s response to Cook vandalism ‘appalling’
NSW Police Minister David Elliott has labelled Greens MP David Shoebridge’s response to the vandalism of Hyde Park’s Captain Cook statue as “appalling”.
Speaking about the vandalism of Hyde Park’s Captain Cook statue — allegedly by one of Mr Shoebridge’s staffers — Mr Elliott said Mr Shoebridge’s attempt to avoid accountability because it “happened outside work hours” was ridiculous, saying the incident occurred with “some planning over time”.
Two women - one of whom is a part-time employee of NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge - have been charged with allegedly spraying graffiti on a Captain Cook statue in Sydney’s Hyde Park.https://t.co/zFvaVe5nwO
— The Australian (@australian) June 14, 2020
“I’d love to know if the planning of the event took place during work hours,” Mr Elliott told Ben Fordham on Sydney radio 2GB.
“I can’t believe anybody wouldn’t just completely and utterly condemn the vandalism instead of just trying to make excuses.”
Mr Elliott said Mr Shoebridge’s behaviour throughout the rallies had been “appalling”, and hadn’t been in line with the behaviour the public expected from members of parliament.
“I think both her, the Greens and Mr Shoebridge should actually apologise and condemn acts of violence and vandalism,”
READ MORE: Greens staffer charged over Cook vandalism
Max Maddison 6.30am: 87 new virus cases linked to Beijing food market
A cluster of COVID-19 cases has sent Beijing into lockdown, as China reels from a fear of a second wave of infections.
On Saturday, the World Health Organisation confirmed in a statement that 87 cases had been reported — all 41 symptomatic cases were linked to the Xinfadi wholesale food market in the south of the city.
The first case, who attended the seafood and meat section of Xinfadi market on June 3, tested positive on Thursday. The market was shut down on Saturday morning.
Chinese health authorities tested 5,803 people working at the market on Saturday, all were negative for the coronavirus, while an additional 2,383 samples were taken from surfaces.
The fresh outbreak forced the closure of sporting events and tourism events across Beijing on Saturday, with restaurants discouraged from accepting large groups dining together.
READ MORE: Fresh China cluster raises fears for pandemic control
Kieran Gair 5.20am: NSW, Victoria prepare to ease indoor restrictions
The limit on the number of guests allowed at funerals in NSW will be scrapped from Monday and the indoor restriction of 50 people will also be dumped from next month in an overhaul of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Victoria will also ease a string of coronavirus-induced restrictions from next week after Premier Daniel Andrews said up to 50 people would be allowed inside pubs, cafes, cinemas and theatres from next Monday.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the plan to scrap the limit of 50 people at indoor venues in NSW, such as pubs, restaurants, and churches on July 1, would help kickstart the state’s post-virus economy.
Read the full story, by Kieran Gair and Tessa Akerman, here.
Jacquelin Magnay 5.15am: Britain ‘winning the battle against coronavirus’
British politicians believe the country is winning the battle against coronavirus after 36 people died on Saturday — the lowest daily death figure since March 21.
The drop in the death rate comes as retail shops prepare to re-open Monday, but social distancing rules are toughened with mask-wearing compulsory on public transport.
Health secretary Matt Hancock said: “We are winning the battle against this horrible disease.”
From this morning, those living alone & single parents can join a bubble with another household
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) June 13, 2020
I’m so pleased this is possible thanks to the tremendous national effort pic.twitter.com/JxBm9r3xZR
But the dreadful impacts on lockdown, particularly among youngsters not having educational structures — schools are largely closed to most age groups until at least September — was a factor in two large raves in Manchester that led to a drug death, the rape of an 18-year-old woman, three separate reported stabbings including an 18-year-old with life threatening injuries, police officers being attacked and a police car damaged.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes said the police were seeking further preventive measures to address community concerns during this pandemic.
“These raves were illegal and I condemn them taking place – they were clearly a breach of coronavirus legislation and guidelines, and have had tragic consequences,’’ he said.
I was delighted to meet those working at Westfield shopping centre, Stratford, where I saw adjustments being made to ensure customers can shop safely.
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 14, 2020
This week, as shops start reopening in England, remember to follow social distancing rules to protect yourself and others. pic.twitter.com/uAhZm7yxSt
On Monday, “COVID-19 secure” shops — which have restrictions on the number of people allowed inside, as well as plastic screens and contactless payments — will reopen. But restaurants, pubs, hairdressers and gyms remain shut until at least July.
To date, a total of 41,698 people have died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus. Statistics show that most transmission is occurring in the north of England and in care homes.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said fewer than one in 1,000 people now had coronavirus across the country, reducing the risks of coming in contact with an infected person, and there is now more margin in which to manoeuvre in regards to easing the current two metre social distancing regulations.
Today I visited Westfield shopping centre in east London, to meet some of the people who work there. They've been working very hard to get ready to reopen tomorrow when we're hoping people will return to the shops. pic.twitter.com/yx7QDKFm08
— Boris Johnson #StayAlert (@BorisJohnson) June 14, 2020
READ MORE: Fresh Beijing cluster raises fears for control
Tessa Akerman 5am: Tutoring blitz needed to help students catch up
A $1bn, six-month tutoring blitz is urgently needed to help one million disadvantaged school students recover learning lost during the COVID-19 lockdowns, the government has been told.
In a Grattan Institute report, authors Julie Sonnemann and Pete Goss estimate the equity gap between disadvantaged students and their peers grows at triple the rate during remote schooling.
“Even where remote schooling has worked well, our projections suggest that many disadvantaged students are likely to have learnt at about 50 per cent of their regular rate, losing four weeks compared to what they would normally learn over a two-month period,” they said.
A $1 billion tutoring blitz could help 1 million disadvantaged students catch-up after the COVID-19 lockdown. Read our new report by @SonnersJulie @peter_goss https://t.co/YDNvG1YpLp #schooled #auspol
— Grattan Institute (@GrattanInst) June 14, 2020
A survey of teachers in NSW supports the authors’ claims with only 35 per cent of teachers from high socio economic status (SES) schools saying they were confident their students were learning well remotely.
Read the full story here.
Simon Benson 4.45am: Morrison to fast-track major infrastructure projects
Almost $72bn in major infrastructure projects across the country will be fast-tracked under an agreement struck between the federal, state and territory governments that would slash approval times in half to create 66,000 jobs.
The new infrastructure deal comes ahead of the handing down of a review into the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, which is expected to recommend cutting green tape to speed up project approvals.
Talks about the environmental act and the potential streamlining of state and federal approval processes are believed to have been already held by the national cabinet, led by Scott Morrison. In a major deregulation agenda to drive the second wave of economic reform, the Prime Minister will today announce 15 national priority projects to be accelerated through state and federal planning and assessment laws, including metro rail, new dams, mines, electricity infrastructure and major roads.
Read the full story here.
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