Coronavirus Australia live news: Gladys Berejiklian attacks ‘economic chaos’ on border bans
As business accuses Daniel Andrews of a ‘scorched earth’ retail plan, the NSW Premier says border limits will cause economic chaos.
- Berejiklian lashes out on borders
- Andrews has ‘scorched earth’ plan for retail
- NSW has nine new cases
- Queensland records eight new cases
- Victoria records 76 cases, 11 deaths
Welcome to The Australian’s rolling coverage of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
As big business accuses Daniel Andrews of a ‘scorched earth plan’ for retail, the NSW Premier has berated every state but Victoria for their restrictions. Echoing Wesfarmer boss Robb Scott, former Myer chief Bernie Brookes says the Victorian government has not consulted the business community. AstraZeneca has reportedly put on hold a COVID-19 vaccine study due to a suspected serious adverse reaction in a participant in the UK. However DCMO Nick Coatsworth says the trial isn’t off the table and the move underlines that safety is at the fore in the rush to find a vaccine.
Victoria’s new cases have risen to 76, while Queensland has it’s largest total in weeks and NSW has nine new cases.
Adam Creighton 10.55pm: NZ lockdown ‘costing $8m per year of life saved’
New Zealand’s hard lockdown policy is thought to have prevented the deaths of 1000 people at a cost of $NZ8.5m ($7.8m) for each year of life saved, according to a new analysis casting doubt on the effectiveness of Victoria’s extended shutdown.
Rebecca Urban 10.25pm: Rules for ‘virus-safe’ HSC exams revealed
Schools across NSW will be required to adhere to strict rules to ensure that 75,000 students can safely sit exam rules without risking fresh outbreaks of the coronavirus.
Rosie Lewis 10pm: PM’s definition in a hotspot of bother
No state or territory has fully endorsed the federal government’s draft definition of a COVID-19 hotspot, setting a challenge for Scott Morrison.
Imogen Reid 9.25pm: Vaccine trials ‘often put on hold’
Vaccine trials are often put on hold to allow investigators to determine whether any adverse side effects are linked to the vaccine, an expert in infectious diseases says.
In large-scale studies, like AstraZeneca’s trial of two potential COVID-19 vaccines, “things happen to people all the time”, Professor Katie Flanagan told 7.30 on Wednesday night.
“It is very common, at some point, to have to do a pause,” she said.
“In a phase-three trail of this particular vaccine, there are 60,000 people going to be recruited into the trial. As of yesterday, they’d recruited around 17,000 people.
“So it’s not uncommon, when you’re going to be looking very carefully for any safety signals, to see something happen to somebody.”
She added: “So they pause the trial. Then they would do a thorough safety monitoring. There would be a safety investigation board that would investigate what is happening here, and if there is any possibility it is linked to the vaccine.”
The Australian government announced a deal on Sunday to purchase and manufacture millions of doses of a coronavirus vaccine using the AstraZeneca technology.
A company representative announced on Wednesday that a “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccine to allow review of safety data”.
It remains unclear what happened or when but the test subject is expected to recover.
READ MORE: PM’s definition in a hotspot of bother
Rachel Baxendale 8.55pm: Interview ‘refusal’ claims debunked
Daniel Andrews’s claim that ‘one or two’ coronavirus-positive people ‘on any given day’ have refused to be interviewed by contact tracers has been shown to be false.
Imogen Reid 8.25pm: Anti-lockdown protest planned for Saturday
Anti-lockdown protesters in Melbourne are preparing for another rally with more than 1000 people saying they will attend on the event’s Facebook page.
The “freedom walk’ is scheduled to take place on Saturday along the Tan Track in Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens.
“Come together, get healthy and talk about getting our freedoms back,” the organisers have said in the event’s description.
Victoria Police said they were aware of the march but warned fines would be handed out to those who break any coronavirus rules.
“It remains very clear that under stage-four restrictions, protest activity cannot occur, with any individual deliberately and blatantly breaching the chief health officer’s directives liable for a fine of $1652,” police said.
It comes after 180 fines were issued at last Saturday’s protest.
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Patrick Commins 8.05pm: Abattoir blames JobKeeper for 600 job losses
‘Competitive distortions’ created by JobKeeper mean 600 workers have to go at JBS’s largest abattoir in Queensland.
AFP 7.40pm: Tighter socialising rules in England after spike
The British government will set out tighter rules on social gatherings to curb the spread of the coronavirus, with concern mounting at rising infection rates among the young.
The law in England will change from next week to reduce the number of people who can gather socially from 30 to six, with some exemptions.
A new public information campaign was also launched to emphasise the importance of hand washing, the use of face coverings and maintaining social distancing.
“We need to act now to stop the virus spreading,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in comments before an expected news conference later on Wednesday.
More than 41,500 people confirmed to have coronavirus have died in Britain, the worst toll in Europe.
The death rate has now fallen to its lowest level since mid-March. But as in other parts of Europe, cases are increasing, with almost 3000 daily infections reported in recent days, and concern the outbreak is slipping out of control.
Mr Johnson’s office said medical and scientific advisers had agreed that “urgent action is needed”, while police had also asked for the rules to be simplified.
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Imogen Reid 7.10pm: Canberra marathon called off
The Canberra Marathon Festival has been postponed until next year over coronavirus concerns.
The event, originally rescheduled to early November,was cancelled a day after Tamworth’s annual country music festival was called off.
Entrants have been advised the marathon will take place in April next year, the same month the race is usually run.
“We have been working very closely with the ACT Health Department, NCA and Access Canberra and, as recently as last month, we felt optimistic that we’d be able to proceed with the November date,” the event’s organisers said in an email to participants.
“However, the restrictions have not eased sufficiently to allow for mass participation events to take place.
“While we are disappointed that we can’t take on Canberra with you in 2020, we are committed to forging ahead to put on events that inspire you to come together, lace up and go beyond.”
READ MORE: Abattoir blames JobKeeper for 600 job losses
AFP 6.40pm: Indian firm to make a billion syringes
India’s biggest syringe manufacturer is ramping up production to churn out a billion units, anticipating a surge in demand as the global race to find a coronavirus vaccine heats up.
While the focus on tackling the pandemic has mostly been on the development of vaccines, experts say medical essentials to administer them are also vital.
Hindustan Syringes — one of the world’s largest makers of the item — said it was increasing its output of auto-disable devices (which prevent re-use) from 700 million a year to one billion by 2021 to meet the expected demand.
“Even if 60 per cent of the world’s population is immunised, it would mean four to five billion syringes would be required,” Hindustan Syringes managing director Rajiv Nath said at a factory in northern Haryana state.
READ MORE: Uni exodus ‘will strip critical research’
Imogen Reid 6.10pm: Alert over club in Sydney’s east
NSW Health has issued a fresh alert to anyone who attended Eastern Suburbs Legion Club at Sydney’s Waverley after it was visited by two confirmed cases of COVID-19.
People who attended the club between 5pm and 6.30pm on Friday, August 28, have been directed to immediately get tested for coronavirus and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Health officials say the cases attended the club while infectious on the following nights:
● Tuesday, September 1
● Friday, September 4
● Saturday, September 5
● Sunday, September 6
NSW Health is working with the club to contact and assess the exposure risk to members and guests.
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Rosie Lewis 5.45pm: Business proposes state-federal rescue package
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has unveiled more than 20 state and federal government initiatives it wants as part of a rescue package, after Premier Daniel Andrews announced an extended lockdown.
The chamber wrote to the Andrews and Morrison governments on Wednesday, with the priorities including keeping JobKeeper payments at $1500 for Victorians until December 31 and a $500m emergency fund split between both governments.
VCCI also wants $5000-$10,000 one-off grants available to businesses under Victoria’s business support fund continued until November 23, when the state is due to enter its last step to recovery.
There was a heavy focus on apprentices in a bid to target the “unprecedented decline in apprenticeship and traineeships”.
VCCI suggested an immediate payroll tax exemption for these workers and subdising their wages 100 per cent, up from 50 per cent, under the federal government’s supporting apprentices and trainees program.
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Staff Reporters 5.30pm: Former Labor minister criticises health chief
Former federal Labor minister Stephen Conroy has blasted Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton as “starstruck” and a “clown” for describing Victoria’s coronavirus modelling as guesswork.
Mr Conroy – who served in the Rudd and Gillard ministries – told Sky News host Peta Credlin that Professor Sutton needed to get on and do his job out of the media spotlight.
“He needs to stop doing media appearances and start reading files on his desk, and he really does deserve to have an absolute caning behind the scenes for his loose talk,” Mr Conroy said.
“If I had been in the room when my chief medical officer had stood up and said, ‘Oh no we didn’t really do the modelling out six weeks, it was a bit of guesswork’, I mean this bloke needs more than a media adviser to help him at the moment, he is starstruck, loving the media spotlight.
“Well mate, get on and do your job, read your files and start getting to the nitty-gritty of the issues you’ve been supervising.”
READ MORE: Border bans need to be challenged
Rachel Baxendale 5.15pm: A breakdown of Victoria’s virus cases
Active confirmed cases of COVID-19 by LGA as of Wednesday, with net increase/decrease since Monday in brackets:
Brimbank (outer west): 204 (-1)
Wyndham (outer southwest): 209 (+6)
Melton (outer northwest): 105 (-6)
Moreland (north): 97 (-10)
Hume (outer north): 87 (-3)
Casey (outer southeast): 79 (-8)
Darebin (north): 79 (-11)
City of Melbourne: 74 (+2)
Hobsons Bay (inner southwest): 64
Whittlesea (outer north): 60 (-5)
Moonee Valley (northwest): 54 (+5)
Greater Dandenong: (outer southeast): 53 (+1)
Bayside (southeast): 52 (-4)
Maribyrnong (inner west): 46 (-4)
Kingston (southeast): 42 (-1)
Port Phillip (inner south): 33 (+3)
*Colac-Otway (western regional Vic): 30 (+5)
Monash (southeast): 30 (-6)
Yarra (inner northeast): 24
Glen Eira (southeast): 17 (+2)
Cardinia (outer southeast): 16 (-6)
Frankston (outer southeast): 15 (-1)
*Greater Geelong (southwest regional Vic): 15 (-1)
*Latrobe (eastern regional Vic): 14 (+1)
Stonnington (inner southeast): 11 (+2)
Boroondara (east): 9 (+1)
Mornington Peninsula (outer southeast): 10 (-6)
Whitehorse (east): 9 (+1)
Yarra Ranges (outer east) 9
Banyule (northeast): 8 (-3)
Manningham (east): 7 (-1)
*Moorabool (western regional Vic): 7 (-1)
Nillumbik (outer northeast): 6
Knox (outer east): 6 (-1)
Maroondah (outer east): 6 (-4)
*Horsham (western regional Vic): 3
*East Gippsland (eastern regional Vic): 2
*Greater Bendigo (central regional Vic): 2
*Baw Baw (eastern regional Vic): 1
*Corangamite (southwest regional Vic): 1
*Macedon Ranges (central regional Vic): 1
*Mansfield (northeast regional Vic): 1
*Pyrenees (western regional Vic): 1
*South Gippsland (southeastern regional Vic): 1
*Surf Coast (southwest regional Vic): 1
*Warrnambool (southwest regional Vic): 1
*Greater Shepparton (northern regional Vic): 1 (-1)
Interstate: 2
Unknown: 15 (-18)
Regional total: 82
TOTAL: 1622 (-74)
*Denotes regional Victorian LGAs
Source: Victorian Department of Health and Human Services
Imogen Reid 4.50pm: Quarantined health staff to be flown home
WA Health Minister Roger Cook says seven nurses quarantining in Victoria will be flown home on a chartered flight and will not have to undergo a second quarantine period.
Mr Cook said the state government will commission a “clean charter flight crewed by Western Australians who have been cleared by quarantine” to fly the health care workers to Perth where they will be able to return to their families.
The nurses have been in quarantine since one worker tested positive to COVID-19 after volunteering in Victoria to help the state’s health system cope with the second wave.
Their quarantine period is due to come to an end on September 20. The nurse who contracted coronavirus is expected to be able to return on that same date.
Mr Cook said the plan was put to the nurses on Wednesday and will “provide the safest and quickest way to get back home.”
Angie Raphael 4.30pm: WA looks to repatriate ‘hero’ infected nurse
A plan is being finalised to bring home a WA nurse who contracted coronavirus while volunteering to work in Victoria during its COVID-19 outbreak, with the premier describing the situation as “traumatic and concerning”.
The woman is among a team of seven who were working in aged care when she returned a positive test for coronavirus, forcing them all into hotel quarantine in Melbourne.
The Australian Nursing Federation has demanded they be flown home as soon as possible, saying it is unacceptable to expect them to complete two weeks in quarantine in Melbourne then face another fortnight in Perth.
WA Premier Mark McGowan said he was sympathetic to their situation and the Health Department was working with the nurses to finalise a plan for their return home.
“Obviously it’s very traumatic and concerning for the families and the individuals involved,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
“The nurses themselves have done the right thing by Australia, and by Victoria and by Western Australia.
“They have been heroic in what they’ve done, gone over to serve their fellow citizens in a difficult environment, and they deserve all of our thanks.
“We are currently working through with the nurses and their families exactly what can be done, what should be done and what is in their interests.”
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Chris Griffith 4pm: Opal cards a tracing success for NSW
NSW Health says Opal cards used on public transport confirmed a link between coronavirus cases on the same bus. Read more here
Rosie Lewis 3.30pm: Berejiklian lashes out on borders
Gladys Berejiklian has lashed every state except Victoria for putting restrictions on NSW, declaring coronavirus case numbers in her home state were manageable and long-term impacts of border closures would create “economic chaos”.
“New Zealand shut down their economy twice or three times and they’re still getting cases. New Zealand had as many cases as we had and yet we’re managing to keep our economy open,” the NSW Premier told Sky News.
“The Victorian situation is different and that’s exceptional, but I can’t understand why any other state is precluding doing business or allowing relatives from NSW to go into their state.
“To the PM’s credit he has tried to allow each state to demonstrate their own way of moving forward within the federation but I think there comes to a point where the national economy is starting to really hurt. It won’t affect citizens necessarily in three months or six months but can you imagine in a year’s time? If Queensland WA don’t open their borders, what will happen?”
Ms Berejiklian dismissed the prospect of federal intervention to force states to remove their border closures but said states had to look at what they were doing to their own citizens.
“Their citizens at this point in time might be led to believe having zero cases is fantastic and this is great but in six months’ time when jobs go, when businesses fold, when tourism operators can’t restart, when international flights are cancelled indefinitely, you’re looking down the prism of economic chaos for their citizens and I’m just asking people to take the medium and long-term view,” she said.
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Eli Greenblat 3pm: ‘No sign’ of Victoria retail reprieve: Zahra
Australian Retailers Association chief executive Paul Zahra said there were “no signs” that the Victorian government will review its tough and slow reopening of the state’s economy, and complained that its “consultation sessions” with business were more like “information sessions”.
In comments that echo other business leaders’ unhappiness over the extension of Victoria’s coronavirus lockdowns, Mr Zahra said there couldn‘t be an economic recovery without a retail recovery.
Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Mr Zahra said the Victorian government had adopted a “broad brush approach” to the entire retail sector, spanning hardware stores to hairdressers. A Bunnings store the size of a hangar was treated as the same as a small store in the CBD, he said.
Mr Zahra said there were no signs yet the Victorian government would change its speed and course out of stage four restrictions.
“There is no sign yet, we were called into what was classed a consultation session but were more like information sessions, unfortunately there was very little feedback that was taken on board at this point.
READ the full story here.
Olivia Caisley 2.20pm: Buildings evacuated, man in custody in Canberra incident
A man is in custody after police responded to an incident at a building on Constitution Avenue in the Canberra suburb of Campbell.
Police blocked access to parts of Constitution Avenue between Anzac Parade and Russell Offices for a couple of hours on Wednesday.
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) headquarters is located close by.
ACT Police said a man had been taken into custody and buildings had been evacuated as a precaution.
“There is no threat to the wider community. The public is asked to stay away from the closed-off area,” a spokeswoman said. — More to come
David Ross 2.00pm: Growing fears for health workers
The federal government is growing concerned with the spate of infections among health workers, which have topped 3300, and will set up a task force in response.
NSW today reported a continued expansion of the COVID cluster at its Liverpool and Concord Hospitals with eight cases among the 12 reported so far.
That’s in addition to serious outbreaks in Victorian aged care and healthcare and earlier outbreaks in Tasmania and other hospital settings.
Federal Health department deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth said the task force would “bring together our infection control experts with other senior clinicians” and look at whether recommendations, particularly around the use of respirators, would need to change.
“It’s incumbent on all of us to do what we can to understand more of that nature of infections so we can protect our healthcare workers during this pandemic,” he said.
Dr Coatsworth said the government was aware of the health issue reported in the media that caused the pause of the Oxford vaccine trials.
“It’s very hard for us to say with a single adverse event in a trial that we’re anywhere near the trial stopping,” he said.
“This is the vaccine that’s being trialled by one of the leading universities by some of the world’s leading vaccine tribalists and the fact we’re hearing about it and I’m talking about it is testament to the safety and transparency.”
He said the government was keeping its options open “to look at other potential candidates”.
“That doesn’t mean we’re not considering the alternative technologies,” he said.
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Olivia Caisley 1.55pm: Don’t bank on vaccine ‘silver bullet’, Bowen warns
Opposition health spokesman Chris Bowen says there is “no guarantee” the two vaccine deals secured by the Government will be the “silver bullet” to protect Australians against COVID-19 and has called on them to invest in other potential vaccines.
Labor backed the Morrison government’s continued involvement with the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, declaring the trial’s pause due to safety concerns on Wednesday was standard practice when testing vaccines.
“News today that AstraZeneca has ‘voluntarily paused vaccination to allow review of safety data by an independent committee’ is a process to be expected during clinical trials to ensure vaccine safety,” he said on Wednesday.
“ … We support comments by the Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth today on waiting “to see exactly what the adverse reaction was and whether they attribute it to the vaccine”.”
Mr Bowen said over six billion doses of vaccines through more than fifty agreements were secured by other countries before Australia secured its agreements with Oxford University/AstraZeneca and a separate vaccine through the University of Queensland/CSL.
“The Government also needs to plan now for how we will manufacture and distribute enough doses for all Australians in the event that it is a different vaccine candidate that is most effective,” he said.
“Labor repeats our call to the Government to engage and invest in vaccine development — at home, in our region and around the world.”
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OLIVIA CAISLEY 1.28pm: New measures to protect healthcare workers
The Morrison government will roll out new measures to protect healthcare workers from being infected from the coronavirus.
Three new measures will be introduced, including a new partnership to share information about infection control between the states and territories, an expansion of the national surveillance of healthcare worker infections and a new network of epidemiologists – or “disease detectives” to assist in tracing during outbreaks.
Health Minister Greg Hunt on Wednesday said the government was committed to assisting the states and territories to understand where workplace controls designed to protect healthcare workers can be further strengthened.
“It is important healthcare facilities continue to review their controls and strengthen these to ensure workers are better protected,” he said.
“The Australian government continues to support hospitals in their efforts to protect their workers from COVID-19. This includes the provision of vital personal protective equipment, drawn from the National Medical Stockpile.”
The new partnership between the Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) and the National COVID-19 Evidence Taskforce will review the latest evidence on infection prevention and control during COVID-19.
This group will provide consensus guidelines on specific infection control issues that have emerged during COVID-19.
The new ‘COVID-NET’ group of epidemiologists will be available on request by state and territory public health units to help investigate healthcare worker outbreaks.
They will also gather and analyse data on healthcare worker infection at a national level.
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OLIVIA CAISLEY 1.21pm: Vaccine to be stringently tested before release: Hunt
Health Minister Greg Hunt has assured Australians that the COVID-19 vaccine will be stringently tested before it is made public.
It comes after a trial for the Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine, which Australia had secured access to, was halted following an unexplained illness in a trial participant in the United Kingdom.
“Today, AstraZeneca have temporarily put on hold the Phase III study of the University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine following an unexplained illness in one trial participant in the United Kingdom,” Mr Hunt said on Wednesday.
Health Minister @GregHuntMP statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Development #auspol pic.twitter.com/7ciTTVa5rA
— Political Alert (@political_alert) September 9, 2020
“This is a voluntary and routine action that demonstrates the rigour and high standards of the clinical trial process and that safety is the primary focus of the clinical trials being undertaken.”
Mr Hunt said the Australian Government is pursuing a “diversified COVID-19 vaccine strategy” to ensure that Australia is well placed to access a successful vaccine.
He said the government was also considering potential investment in other promising vaccines.
“The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) rigorously assesses vaccines for safety, quality and effectiveness, before they can be legally supplied in Australia,” Mr Hunt said.
“The TGA is actively monitoring COVID-19 vaccine development, including safety information, both in Australia and around the world.”
READ MORE: Pharma bosses’ pledge on safe vaccine
REBECCA URBAN 1.09pm: How HSC will be made Covid-safe for students
Secondary schools across NSW will be required to set aside a designated space for final HSC exams and limit the interaction of participating students with other year levels under new COVID-19 protocols unveiled on Wednesday.
With written exams set to start in October, schools have also been asked to consider screening students to ensure they are not unwell, develop a strategy for rapid cleaning and pre-arranging an alternative exam venue in the event they are forced to close.
No more than 75 students will be permitted in each exam room to enable social distancing.
NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said students could be reassured that everything was being done to make sure they could sit their HSC without disruption.
“HSC trials were held without major incident and we are now working with schools to implement guidelines and procedures that reduce the risk of a COVID-19 disruption for our HSC students,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We are continuing to prioritise health advice as we support schools in planning for and operating the HSC exams. The safety of students and staff involved remains our priority.
“A COVID-safe plan is about minimising disruption to students if there is a confirmed case at their school.”
The guidelines, developed in consultation with NSW Health, have been issued to principals by the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), who are responsible for the HSC.
Their release follows an announcement earlier this week that Year 12 students across NSW would be able to celebrate finishing school with COVID-19 safe graduation ceremonies and formals being allowed to take place in Term 4.
Students who miss exams as a result of testing positive for COVID-19 or being required to self-isolate can submit a COVID-19 illness/misadventure application for a moderated assessment mark.
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ELI GREENBLAT 12.48pm: Andrews’ scorched earth approach to retail
Former Myer boss Bernie Brookes believes the Victorian government has displayed a lack of consultation with the business community stretching back to its first lockdown plans in July that risked the food supply chain, with the government now adopting a “scorched earth” approach to retail.
Mr Brookes, who before leading the nation’s biggest department store was also a senior executive with supermarkets group Woolworths, is the latest corporate leader to heavily criticise the Victorian government for its decision to extend the suffocating stage 4 restrictions that might not see retail open again until November.
Speaking to The Australian on Wednesday after it was announced he had bought from voluntary administration the failed women’s fashion accessories chain Colette by Colette Hayman, Mr Brookes said politicians were making the decisions but not engaging with business.
“There has not been a consultative environment and I think that is the biggest issue,’’ Mr Brookes told The Australian.
“I think from my point of view we have budgeted for a return from lockdown in Melbourne in late year and it might surprise us to be October because we have seen what is happening.”
“I think in a nutshell the lack of consultation has not been good for any business, retail or other form.”
Mr Brookes said this lack of consultation was also evident earlier in the year when Premier Daniel Andrews unveiled his stage 4 COVID-19 restrictions that clamped down on the number of workers allowed at one time at key sites such as warehouses, distribution centres and abattoirs. The highly restrictive rulings sent a shudder through the food manufacturing and retail
“I think it is very obvious that the lack of consultation in regard to supply chain, everything from fruit and vegetables, meat, the lack of consultation in opening and closing etc.
“I think it has been very much a scorched earth approach.”
Mr Brookes is the latest corporate leader to despair at the Victorian government’s planned exit from stage 4 restrictions, with Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott commenting this week that there had been a lack of meaningful engagement between state ministers and business community, and the Bunnings boss labelling the consultation as “one sided”.
READ the full story here
Wayne Smith 12.35pm: C’mon Jacinda, give Wallabies a break
The Wallabies will face a massive disadvantage in their build-up to playing the All Blacks if the two Bledisloe Cup Tests planned for southeast Queensland are switched to New Zealand next month to compensate for The Rugby Championship moving to Australia.
Friday is the day SANZAAR will decide the fate of The Rugby Championship. The present plan involves staging the tournament as a mini-World Cup in New Zealand in November-December involving South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia. But that could change dramatically if it becomes apparent that no crowds will be permitted at NZ grounds.
In that event, SANZAAR is expected to decide to relocate the Rugby Championship to Australia, primarily in NSW, although at least one Australia-NZ Test would be played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, as contracted. But if the tournament is moved, the October 10 and 17 Tests – currently scheduled for Suncorp – might be transferred across the Tasman to ensure NZ does not entirely miss out on international rugby.
It’s messy and ugly and it may be about to get even worse for the Wallabies.
If the opening two Bledisloes do take place in New Zealand, the Wallabies will be forced to go into quarantine for two weeks, after leaving the day after the September 19 Super Rugby AU final.
READ the full story here
OLIVIA CAISLEY 12.21pm: PM reacts to TikTok over ‘disgraceful video’
Scott Morrison has issued a stark warning to social media companies to clean up their sites after a “disgraceful” TikTok video showing a man taking his own life started circulating among Australian school students.
Schools across the nation contacted parents this week warning them to keep their children off TikTok to stop them stumbling across the graphic vision, which has also been embedded in videos of cats and puppies.
In a new video released on Facebook on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said the government would act if social media giants did not remove the video.
“Social media has become, like it or no, part of our modern life,’’ he said on Wednesday. “It gives us a bit of a laugh, people doing silly dances. Sometimes, they are taking the mickey out of me.
“But there is a serious concern and a serious side with what happens with social media and we saw that with that disgraceful video that was uploaded onto TikTok.”
Mr Morrison has urged TikTok to remove the suicide clip of American man Ronnie McNutt as soon as possible.
The video, which features gun violence, was originally live-streamed on Facebook on August 31, and from there spread quickly to other platforms including TikTok.
He warned social media users they would be held to the same standards that apply in the “real world”
“The rules in the real world, how you behave in the real world, how you talk to each other, the sort of personal actions that you put in place in the real world have to be the same in the social media world,” Mr Morrison said. “There’s not a special set of rules, you don’t get to misbehave and, and be horrible to people and, and and do things in that world that you would never put up with in the real world.”
“It’s a big job for governments to make sure that these social media companies do the right thing.”
Facebook was roundly criticised last year when it allowed Brenton Tarrant to livestream the Christchurch mosque terrorist attack to its platform.
Facebook had to remove 1.5 million copies of the video, and following the attacks the company said it would implement a ‘one-strike policy’ for those who ban Facebook Live rules.
Mr Morrison said it was a “big job” policing social media platforms but he would continue to hold these companies accountable for their content.
“Whether it’s making sure that the social media platforms don’t become a weapon in the hands of terrorists, but also through carelessness, and a failure to make sure that their algorithms and their other processes don’t weed out …
“You (social media giants) need to be accountable and you need to be responsible for making sure that your product does not harm Australians and my government will be making sure that we do everything to hold you account for that.”
READ MORE: TikTok tries to remove ‘hidden’ video
Hannah Moore 12.12pm: Victorians to put boots into Andrews
Victorians have signed up in the thousands to place a pair of boots outside their front doors on Sunday in protest of Premier Daniel Andrews.
After mass arrests at an anti-lockdown protest over the weekend, fringe political group Victoria Forward created a Facebook event on Wednesday called “Give Dan The Boot: Protest From Home”.
Within hours, 1800 people had said they would take part, while a further 5200 were “interested”.
“It‘s time to stand up to Daniel Andrews, and now you can do it from home,” the event description reads.
“Please place a pair of boots or shoes at your front gate or around your fence this Sunday, 13th of September and post a photo to this event or use the tag #GiveDanTheBoot.”
According to the event page, images of boots outside the homes of Victorians would “decisively convey that the Victorian people have no faith in the Premier”.
The recent and highly publicised arrests of protest organisers in recent weeks appear to have come into consideration, with a disclaimer at the end of the description noting the protest was “100 per cent compliant with COVID-19 guidelines, protecting participants from police involvement”.
An anti-lockdown protest in the Melbourne CBD on Saturday ended with 17 arrests, more than 160 fines, a police officer assaulted.
Police said on the weekend there would be further investigation in the hopes of finding offenders who were not arrested at the scene.
Last month, the pregnant organiser of a separate protest was arrested in her pyjamas at her home for incitement, with footage of the incident going viral on social media.
READ MORE: Chinese media links journalist ‘raids’ to Labor MP
David Ross 11.56am: School holidays opportunity for virus to spread again
Both NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chanthave issued warnings against the risk of spreading and seeding the coronavirus in the upcoming school holidays.
Ms Berejiklian said untrammelled moving around the state could spark a rise in mystery cases.
“Once the school holidays and the summer months are here people are going to be moving around,‘’ she told reporters today. “This will increase the incidence of cases in areas where we do not have any contacts.”
However, she said it was not a call for people to stay home.
“We do want to support jobs in the bush, the regions have been hit hard,” she said.
“The opportunity now is to see the best of NSW that also goes for people from the regions coming to Sydney.”
Dr Chant thanked the community for coming forward to get tested even when they had the most mild symptoms.
“I can’t thank the community enough for their willingness to come forward for testing,’’ she said. “We’ve seen how swiftly the virus can move around.
“The reality is people move around so that’s why it’s important why everyone no matter where you are considered the risk for COVID.
“The message is everyone needs to maintain their vigilance.”
Dr Chant highlighted the examples of the Crossroads hotel, Batemans Bay, and Sydney funeral clusters as examples where travel had caused the virus to seed in far flung communities.
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STEPHEN LUNN 11.37am: Melbourne cases behind on Andrews’ road map target
Melbourne’s rolling 14 day average of new COVID cases sits at 74.5, still well above the 30-50 range required for the easing of lockdown restrictions, Daniel Andrews said.
The average of five in the regions is at the level where the government can look to ease measures on September 28, the Premier said.
Mr Andrews said there had been 76 new cases in the last 24 hours, and 11 new deaths.
The total number of deaths in Victoria now sits at 694.
One woman in her 60s died, along with five people in their 80s and five in their 90s.
Nine of the 11 deaths were in aged care settings.
The total number of active cases in Victoria is 1622, which is continuing to fall, Mr Andrews said.
More than half, 829, are active cases in aged care settings.
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DAVID Ross 11.29am: NSW adds list of new venues affected by cases
Cases attended the following venues while infectious. Anyone who attended at the following times is considered to be a close contact and is being directed to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
They must stay isolated for the entire period, even if a negative test result is received:
– Albion Hotel, Parramatta Beer Garden and Pavilion, on Saturday 5 September between 8.15pm – 11.15pm for at least an hour.
– The Crocodile Farm Hotel, Ashfield on Friday 4 September between 5.30pm – 6.30pm for at least an hour.
– The New Shanghai Night restaurant, Ashfield on Friday 4 September between 6.30pm -8pm for at least an hour.
Anyone who attended the following venues or travelled on these trains at the following dates and times are considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they develop. After testing, they must remain in isolation until a negative test result is received:
– Macquarie Shopping Centre, including Food Court, Coco Tea, Myer, Time Zone and Tommy Gun’s Barbershop, on Saturday 5 September from 2:00pm – 5:00pm.
– The Railway Hotel, Liverpool on Friday 4 September from 10:00pm – 11:30pm.
– T1/T9 North Shore Line on 7 September between 9:17 – 9:29am from Milson’s Point to St Leonards
– T1/T9 North Shore Line on 7 September between 9:53 – 10:14am from St Leonard’s to Milsons Point
Meanwhile, the cluster at the Kincoppal Rose Bay has been pinned down with some of the occupants of the boarding house allowed to remain at the school after they were determined not to be close contacts.
However, more than 100 students will be sent home to self-isolate.
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JOE KELLY 11.23am: Morrison talks to ‘senior statesman’ Abe
Scott Morrison spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday night to wish him well with his health struggle and said he was widely acknowledged as the region’s “senior statesman.”
Mr Morrison said he regarded Mr Abe — who has announced his resignation due to a renewed bout of ulcerative colitis — as a mentor who had guided his understanding of the strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
Mr Morrison thanked Mr Abe for his deep friendship, leadership and vision, saying it had helped to elevate Australia-Japanese ties to new heights. He said this was embodied in the elevation of the bilateral relationship to a “Special Strategic Partnership.”
Mr Abe also said the wreath laying in Darwin with Mr Morrison in 2018 to commemorate those killed during the bombing of the city by the Japanese on February 19, 1942 was a moment that neither leader would ever forget.
Both men said they looked forward to the bilateral relationship continuing to strengthen no matter who became the next leader of Japan.
READ MORE: Journalists pawns in China’s bigger game
Hannah Moore 11.03am: NSW records nine new virus cases
There have been nine new cases of coronavirus in New South Wales, as a cluster linked to the emergency departments of two Sydney hospitals continues to grow.
Of those, only one was from hotel quarantine.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said new cases over the past few days which health authorities believe are linked to surfaces, rather than transmission through the air, were a reminder that masks were not a complete defence against the virus.
“Please be careful about surfaces, please be careful about what you’re touching,” she said.
“If you have a symptom you have to stay home, and isolate.”
Concord Hospital closed its doors to all visitors on Wednesday and will not reopen until 10am on Friday after multiple staff members tested positive to coronavirus.
Sydney Local Health District said in a statement all staff who had so far tested positive were in isolation, while those identified as contacts are being tested and also isolating at home for 14 days.
More than 100 staff are believed to be in isolation, and the hospital will undergo a deep clean while its doors are closed.
There are seven cases associated with the Concord and Liverpool hospitals, and health authorities believe the virus may have been spread through a surface, as staff were wearing masks.
A spokeswoman for Liverpool Hospital told NCA NewsWire there had been no change to visiting hours for their hospital. — NCA Newswire
READ MORE: WFH not all it’s cracked up to be
Heidi Han 10.39am: China news agency links journo ‘raids’ to Labor MP
A story from the Chinese Xinhua agency revealed more details of an alleged raid by Australian authorities on Chinese journalists.
According to the article, at dawn on June 26, Australian National Intelligence Agency officers, “without any valid ground or providing any evidence”, “raided” the residences of Chinese media reporters in Australia, interrogated the reporters for several hours, and seized their working computer, mobile phone, USB flash drives, text manuscript, etc. It also claimed that Australian intelligence personnel asked Chinese reporters to “keep the raids confidential”.
“May I ask the Australian side, if the raid is really right, why tell my reporters to “be silent”? Why do the Australian officials and the media remain mute about the search?” the author questioned.
The article also mentions raids on NSW Labor MP NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane’s office and residence.
“Australia claimed that these actions were not directed at China, which was actually a ‘targeted strike’, and it imposed selective and discriminatory enforcement on Chinese citizens and friends of China. “
Another Xinhua report revealed that four journalists from three Chinese media bureaus in Australia were subjects of the reported raids. It said the investigation results later proved that Chinese journalists “did not engage in activities that were incompatible with their identities”.
“The so-called ‘search’ by the Australian side seriously violated the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese journalists and seriously interfered with the normal reporting activities of Chinese media in Australia,” the report said.
“Chinese journalists stationed in Australia have been disturbed to varying degrees, and they have lingering fears about whether they will suffer similar nuisances in the future.”
READ MORE: Knock on the door that changed everything
OLIVIA CAISLEY 10.09am: Beijing accuses Australia of raiding Chinese journalists
Chinese media has fired back over the dramatic departure of Australian journalists Bill Birtles and Michael Smith from China, claiming Australian authorities recently raided the homes of Chinese journalists and seized computers and mobile phones.
Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece The Global Times has accused Australia of being a hypocrite over press freedoms and claims Canberra launched their own “brutal and barbaric acts” against Chinese journalists on Australian soil.
“Staff from the Australian intelligence agency recently raided the residences of Chinese journalists in Australia, and questioned them, seized their computers and smartphones, and asked them not to report the incident,” The Global Times says.
“Such behaviour severely infringed on the legitimate rights of Chinese journalists, and the incident exposed Australia’s hypocrisy in upholding so-called “freedom of the press.”
The China Daily warns that if Australia continues on its “wrong path of anti-China and does not step back, it would backfire.”
The dramatic exit from China of Birtles and Smith was triggered by the detainment of Beijing-based Australian journalist Cheng Lei, a popular television host on the state-controlled China Global Television Network.
But The Global Times article says Australia has “hyped” Cheng’s detention.
Birtles and Smith — who were the last journalists working for Australian media in mainland China — were evacuated as police and local authorities moved to detain them.
The article fails to mention how Chinese police knocked on Birtles’ door at midnight, a move the ABC journalist described on Tuesday as feeling “very, very political”.
Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg told Sky News on Wednesday it was “very troubling” to hear Australia no longer had any correspondents in China.
Senator Bragg said it was a “regrettable” situation but he looked forward “to the normalisation of relations over the medium term”.
“I don’t think it’s a very good look to have effectively expelled Australian journalists,” he said.
ASIO declined to comment on whether the report was true.
“As is longstanding practice, ASIO does not comment on intelligence matters,” the agency told The Australian. — With Ben Pakham
.
READ MORE: Aussies flee China as TV host charged
Rachel Baxendale 10.05am: Victoria reveals where most aged care deaths occurred
Just 11 Victorian aged-care facilities account for 36 per cent of Victoria’s coronavirus deaths, and 46 per cent of those deaths in aged care, according to leaked data confirmed by the state health department.
The 11 homes accounted for 245 of Victoria’s total 675 coronavirus deaths as of Monday (that number had risen to 683 on Tuesday), with a total of 528 deaths linked to aged care as of Monday (534 on Tuesday).
The confirmation comes after the federal government had repeatedly refused to release the information.
The Australian first asked the Andrews government for a breakdown of deaths by aged-care facility on July 24, and was told the information could not be released for privacy reasons.
READ the full story here
Sarah Elks 9.46am: Queensland records biggest spike of cases in weeks
Queensland has recorded eight new cases of coronavirus overnight, the largest daily total in weeks, but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the leap is not a cause for “alarm”.
Ms Palaszczuk said five of the cases are related to the corrective services training facility cluster and are members of the same family.
The remaining three cases are linked to the Ipswich hospital cluster: two are health workers already in quarantine, and the third is their child.
Queensland now has 29 active cases, after four people recovered and were discharged from hospital.
Ms Palaszczuk told parliament that although the number was “our highest daily tally for some time” seven of the eight had already been in quarantine when they were diagnosed.
“This is not a time for alarm, this is a time for thanks that our testing system is so professional,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
READ MORE: Stimulus ‘masking border damage’
David Ross 9.32am: Ipswich school closed as student tests positive
A Year 11 at St Edmund’s College in Ipswich, Queensland, has tested positive to COVID-19 and the school has been closed.
A Catholic Secondary College in Ipswich, west of Brisbane, has been closed after a student was diagnosed with COVID-19.https://t.co/cHt0xlKAmE
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) September 8, 2020
All parents have been contacted.
The Catholic boys’ school will be shut for at least 48 hours and contract tracing is now under way in what is an expansion of the growing COVID-19 cluster in the sunshine state.
More than 200 staff at Ipswich Hospital remain in isolation as cases of coronavirus continue to crop up in the area in an outbreak linked to the arrival of two girls who breached quarantine after travelling from Victoria.
There are now at least 85 cases of COVID-19 linked to the teens.
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David Ross 8.50am: Berejiklian lauds NSW contact tracing fight
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has lauded the integration of NSW’s emergency agencies as key for fighting the outbreak of COVID-19 across the state.
“Contact tracing only works when you have other agencies working together to support those efforts. Compliance is so important. The fact that Service New South Wales has had thousands of businesses reopen in a COVID safe way, unless you prepare society for a safe way of opening during COVID, the contact tracing is great but it doesn’t work,” she said on Seven’s Sunrise this morning.
Victorian contact tracers are arriving in NSW on Thursday to learn more about the success of the NSW model.
Ms Berejiklian said NSW’s success in fighting the virus boosted the need to reopen state borders with Queensland.
“NSW has shown that you can have open borders. We don’t mind, we’ve got Queenslanders coming in we open our borders to everybody,” Ms Berejiklian told Nine’s Today show.
“If you are confident in your health system, if you are confident that you can do things, if we had high case numbers like Victoria, of course I would support them closing the borders. But when the case numbers are so low at this stage and yes it’s a daily battle, why would you close your borders?”
READ MORE: PVO — Premier’s move really very, very late
David Ross 8.43am: England tightens social gathering restrictions
Anti-COVID restrictions have been tightened in the UK, with social gathering limits slashed to six people amid viral case numbers not seen since May.
The new rules come into effect on Monday 14 September, but will not apply to schools, workplaces or Covid-secure weddings, funerals and organised team sports.
Anyone caught breaching the orders risks a £100 fine, and they fail to comply with police, doubling up to a maximum of £3200.
The new rule applies to private homes, indoors and outdoors, and places such as bars and cafes
The change applies to England only, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all setting their own similar restrictions.
British authorities have been concerned in recent days as cases have hovered around 3000 a day, with the arrival of cooler weather in Autumn and Winter widely expected to accelerate the pandemic.
READ MORE: Margin Call — No Cex please, we’re regional
Stephen Lunn 8.30am: Victoria records 76 new cases, 11 deaths
Victoria reported 76 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours and 11 deaths.
It was a second successive day of case increases, after 41 were reported on Monday and 55 on Tuesday.
Melbourne is looking to achieve a 14 day average case rate of below 50 by September 28 in order to move to the next phase of the Andrews government’s road map and remove some of the current restrictions including allowing up to five people to gather from two households.
#COVID19VicData for 9 September, 2020.
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) September 8, 2020
Yesterday there were 76 new cases reported and we are sad to report 11 lives lost. Our condolences to all those affected. More information will be available later today. pic.twitter.com/ikKiuRV4ZW
READ MORE: Victoria to lose 350,000 jobs in $6bn hit
David Ross 8.17am: AstraZeneca pause ‘reinforces trial safety’
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth has played down the news that the frontrunning AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has been paused, saying it “reinforces” that despite the accelerated nature of vaccine developments safety is at the forefront of everyone’s mind.”
He said it was unclear at this point whether the adverse reaction that sparked the pause was attributable to the vaccine or not, noting it was “standard process”.
“This is certainly not something that means the Oxford vaccine is off the table,” he told Sky.
“We’ve got to keep in mind tens of thousand have received this vaccine,” Dr Coatsworth told Seven’s Sunrise this morning.
“That is a reason why the Australian government is investing in multiple potential vaccine candidates, we know that not all of them are going to go to market and that’s why we’ve got so many vaccine candidates, over 160 around the world, being tested.”
The Australian government announced a deal on Sunday to purchase and manufacture millions of doses of a COVID-19 vaccine using the AstraZeneca technology.
Dr Coatsworth seemed to suggest the government had no advance warning of the pause in the trial.
“It wouldn’t be appropriate to go out to the buyers before you go out to the public,” Dr Coatsworth told Sky.
“We all need to know and we all need to know at the same time.”
However, he said he was not concerned about the delay, noting that minor complications were common and the government would reap the benefits of having multiple vaccine candidates.
“With the information that I’ve got at the moment I’m not worried,” he said.
READ MORE: Cloud over China trade
Erin Lyons 8.08am: Tom Hanks back for filming on the Gold Coast
Hollywood heavyweight Tom Hanks has touched down on Australian soil after returning to finish filming Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic.
He arrived at Coolangatta on Tuesday evening in a private jet before being taken to a luxury hotel to serve his two-week quarantine period.
Filming was suspended in March after the coronavirus crisis started to reach its peak.
Mr Hanks and his wife Rita both contracted the virus – reportedly before they arrived in Australia.
.
Tom Hanks has landed on the Gold Coast to resume filming Baz Luhrmann’s big budget Elvis Presley blockbuster. https://t.co/B6pd2rXsbY
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) September 8, 2020
The 63-year-old couple were treated at a specialist ward at Gold Coast University Hospital before returning to the US where they carried on social distancing and isolating.
“We’re home now and, like the rest of America, we carry on with sheltering in place and social distancing,” Mr Hanks posted to Twitter in April.
“Many, many thanks to everyone in Australia who looked after us. Their care and guidance made possible our return to the USA.”
Mr Hanks plays Presley’s manager Colonel Parker in the $105 million biopic.
READ MORE: Tourism ‘facing mass staff exodus’
Agencies 7.58am: AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine study ‘on hold’
AstraZeneca PLC put on hold a COVID-19 vaccine study due to a suspected serious adverse reaction in a participant in the UK, according to a report from Stat News.
A company representative told Stat that the company’s “standard review process triggered a pause to vaccination to allow review of safety data.”
It wasn’t immediately known what happened or when but the test subject is expected to recover, Stat reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.
AstraZeneca’s shares fell 6.5 per cent to $51.17 in after-hours trading, while those of Moderna Inc., which makes a leading COVID-19 vaccine candidate, rose 1.8 per cent to $55.29. — Dow Jones Newswires
READ MORE: Stocks to dive after US tech tumble
David Ross 7.39am: Boarding school students granted Queensland isolation
Queensland has granted exemptions for interstate students at the state’s boarding schools, allowing students who travel home for the school holidays to return to school without going into self isolation.
However, the students from NSW or the ACT must abide by a strict set of regulations to avoid quarantine including having no visitors during their time home and not leaving the family property.
A Catholic Secondary College in Ipswich, west of Brisbane, has been closed after a student was diagnosed with COVID-19.https://t.co/cHt0xlKAmE
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) September 8, 2020
Parents from an area which has not had a case of COVID-19 in recent weeks will be allowed to enter Queensland by road to collect their children.
They must return home on the same day they enter by the most direct route practicable.
But students travelling by air to Queensland to return to school will be required to quarantine.
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David Ross 7.08am: Infections begin to plateau in the US
New COVID cases in the United States have been declined by an average of nine per cent over the last two weeks as new infections have plateaued in some parts of the country.
Almost 25,000 new cases were detected across the country on Tuesday, bringing total infections to at least 6.3m.
Deaths have also fallen below their peak, but at least 189,456 Americans have died of the virus as the viral pandemic roared across the country since the outbreak first hit New York City.
Global cases are now pushing on beyond 27.35m with no country left untouched by the virus.
At least 894,306 people have died of COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic.
Since the start of the pandemic, 10 cases have been detected in Vatican City and 13 in Greenland.
India’s COVID-19 caseload is gaining pace as outbreaks in the nation’s capital and major cities around the country have now spread to isolated parts of the country.
The country overtook Brazil on Tuesday as the second worst-hit country by caseload with 4.28m confirmed cases.
More than 27,775 Indians have died of the virus.
The number of new Covid cases in France and the UK is surging as the country’s attempt to reopen.
France confirmed more than 6500 new cases on Tuesday while the UK added another 2948 cases — the second-highest increase since May.
South Korea, which received plaudits for its early efforts to control the virus, is now seeing a resurgence of cases boosted by protests and church meetings.
At least a third of new cases in the Seoul area can be traced to church members and those who attended conservative protests against coronavirus restrictions.
READ MORE: Gupta slashes workforce in global revamp
David Ross 6.45am: 100 Sydney hospital staff quarantine as cluster grows
The healthcare cluster at Sydney’s Liverpool and Concord Hospitals has grown to nine cases after two new cases were linked to the outbreak.
Almost 100 staff at the two hospitals are currently self-isolating after being identified as close contacts of the confirmed cases, but NSW Health says there is no concern of staff shortages.
Concord Hospital has now closed to visitors until 10am on Friday.
The developments come as two new cases were linked to the growing Sydney CBD cluster, which has swelled to 66 after the outbreak was sparked at the Tattersalls club weeks ago.
One case was in a student at Kincoppal Rose Bay in Sydney’s east which has closed its boarding house in response to the outbreak.
PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) September 8, 2020
NSW Health is alerting the public to new locations visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19. See the full media release here: https://t.co/y9Ugd0o0Fm
Locations linked to known cases and advice on testing and isolation can be found here: https://t.co/pqkRdfh3cR pic.twitter.com/dZ5u2kQVt9
This follows two other cases identified in boarders at the school on Saturday.
The school has sent 150 boarders at the school home in response to the outbreak, with boarders and staff in the boarding area all identified as close contacts of the recent case.
The school has been deep cleaned and will reopen for Year 11 and 12 students.
This comes as the Unity Hall Hotel in Balmain was closed after the pub was found to have failed to comply with restrictions.
The legendary pub was fined $10,000 and will be shut for a week after a group of patrons were caught dancing and mingling at a private function.
The prohibited party happened just a day after the venue was slapped with fines for earlier COVID breaches.
Anyone who attended the following venues at these times is considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms:
Charles St Kitchen, 78 Charles St Putney on September 5 between 10:45am and 11:30am
Eastwood Ryde Netball Association, Meadowbank Park, Adelaide St West Ryde on September 5 between 12:15pm and 1:30pm.
Missing Spoon cafe, 8 Railway Ave Wahroonga on September 5 between 4:45pm and 5:30pm.
Croydon Park Pharmacy 172 Georges River Rd Croydon Park on September 3 between 1pm and 2pm.
Anyone who attended the following venues at these times is considered a close contact and must get tested and self-isolate immediately:
Plus Fitness at Epping on September 5 between 9am and 10.15am
The Bavarian Night Dinner at the bistro at Oatlands Golf Club on September 4 between 6.30pm and 8.45pm
The Paperboy Cafe in Concord on September 6 between 10am and midday.
Anyone who worked at the Hyde Park Medical Centre (including physiotherapy, pathology, dermatology and dental practices and pharmacy on the ground floor of the building between) between Monday 24 August to Saturday 5 September should get tested for COVID-19 immediately and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
READ MORE: Post lockdown Pokies binge
Rosie Lewis 6.00am: Andrews flips to fix tracing
Daniel Andrews will embed five public health teams in suburban Melbourne and dispatch officials to Sydney to “double and triple check” whether other changes can be adopted from NSW.
Victoria will also digitise its contact tracing process, a system still reliant on pen, paper and — in some cases — fax machines.
The Victorian Premier has refused to concede that these changes should have been made earlier to contain a deadly second coronavirus outbreak roiling the state, but said the government would establish five suburban contact tracing and public health response teams.
Mr Andrews also said he would change new case and contact management systems, changes which come after sustained criticism of Victoria’s public health response.
He will send Australia’s Chief Scientist Alan Finkel and Mark Hill, the Australian Defence Force’s Victorian COVID-19 chief, to Sydney on Friday to see if “there is anything that is different between our response and the response in NSW”.
But the Premier said he did not accept that putting those measures in place earlier would have prevented a second wave of infections, which peaked last month with 7880 active cases.
READ the full story here
Rosie Lewis 5.45am: Shorten’s not sweet on timeline
Former federal opposition leader Bill Shorten says he wants Victoria’s lockdown restrictions to “come off a bit quicker”, as Labor’s deputy leader Richard Marles endorsed the Andrews government’s controversial road map out of the second wave.
With business slamming the plan, warning the thresholds for reopening were too onerous and would kill off thousands more companies, Mr Shorten, a Victorian, said he had been inundated with complaints following the state Labor government’s road map announcement on Sunday.
The former Labor leader appealed to the Andrews and Morrison governments on behalf of small businesses in his Melbourne electorate of Maribyrnong to offer more support, saying they should be able to write off losses over a longer time frame like farmers could in the middle of drought.
“I’d sort of hoped that maybe the restrictions would come off a bit quicker, I’ll be honest,” Mr Shorten told Nine’s Today show.
“But no one can fault that Dan Andrews is giving it 100 per cent and that … it is the health problem (that’s the priority).
Business up top, casual down the bottom: Richard Marles attends Parliament from his Yarra street office. picture: Glenn Ferguson
Business up top, casual down the bottom: Richard Marles attends Parliament from his Yarra street office. picture: Glenn Ferguson
“People have got two attitudes at the moment, and I think they’re sort of a bit in tension with each other. One is they’re angry. They’re over this lockdown. I’ve been under restrictions for 69 days in my family. I’m over it. But people also just want to see (the outbreak) finished. They want to see that beaten. I want to see the case numbers come down.”
READ the full story here
Remy Varga 5.30am: Hotel guards’ profile ‘fed into second wave’
The use of private security guards in Victoria‘s hotel quarantine program may have contributed to outbreaks linked to the state’s second wave, with contact tracing efforts hampered by guards living in crowded accommodation as well as language and cultural barriers, health officials have told an inquiry into the scandal.
According to the statement of senior medical adviser Clare Looker, which was shown to the inquiry on Tuesday, the young, healthy and socially active guards were reluctant to undergo testing, while language barriers and a general distrust of government saw them less than forthcoming in interviews with contact tracers.
“Social and health vulnerabilities in the security guard cohort meant that many of our usual outbreak control measures were more difficult to implement and have success with,” Dr Looker said. “For example, many of the guards live in crowded, dense accommodation and are reluctant to accept our offer of alternative accommodation.”
Infection control breaches at the Rydges on Swanston and Stamford Plaza hotel quarantines programs have been linked to 99 per cent of Victoria’s second-wave coronavirus cases, which have killed more than 660 people.
According to a review into the Rydges on Swanston outbreak undertaken by the Department of Health and Human Services, there was a “high risk of transmission from COVID-positive cases being detained in the hotel to the staff working at the hotel”.
“This is due to the inadequate education and cleaning procedures that are currently in place.”
READ the full story here
Leaders grilled on who’ll lift nurses’ pay more
Queensland’s ‘tired and overworked’ nurses must be paid above the government’s budgeted wage policy or neither side of politics will be able to recruit promised health staff, a union warns.
Crisafulli silent on abortion limit vote
David Crisafulli has again refused to say whether Liberal National Party MPs will be given a conscience vote on legislation to repeal or restrict access to abortion in Queensland as pressure mounts from conservative crossbenchers hoping to force the issue.