Coronavirus Australia live news: Recordings to reveal truth on hotel quarantine
Recordings are likely to exist of crucial talks on whether to use ADF personnel for Victorian hotel security as the war of words continues over bungled quarantine.
- Recordings to reveal truth on hotel quarantine
- Aged care still ‘not prepared … even today’
- Health chief investigating airfreight link
- 1 million Australians jobless
- NZ cluster grows to 17
- NSW records 12 new cases
- Zero cases for Queensland
- Victoria records 278 cases, 8 deaths
Welcome to The Australian’s rolling coverage of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Key discussions relating to planning for the hotel quarantine scandal will have been recorded under standard procedures. The aged care sector remains unprepared for COVID-19 ‘even today’, the aged care commission has heard. It comes as Victorian authorities probe the possibility that coronavirus can live in frozen airfreight following New Zealand’s outbreak. Australia’s unemployment has climbed to 7.5 per cent in July. Victoria’s case numbers dipped to 278 today, with eight new deaths. NSW has recorded its 53rd death in a woman in her 80s as well as 12 new cases.
AFP 11pm: Global deaths top 750,000
The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 750,000 people worldwide since it first emerged in China in December, according to a tally by the news wire Agence France-Presse.
A total of 750,003 deaths have been recorded, out of 20,667,684 cases across the globe, the compiled from official sources found.
Latin America and the Caribbean was the hardest hit region with 228,572 fatalities.
Almost half of the deaths reported worldwide were in the four worst-hit countries: the US (166,038), Brazil (104,201), Mexico (54,666) and India (47,033).
READ MORE: ‘Hubris’ shown over aged care
Joe Kelly, Patrick Commins 10.30pm: Covid generation of jobless: Treasury chief
The unemployment rate is not expected to fall below 6 per cent for up to five years, the Treasury chief has warned in a secret briefing.
Simon Benson, Rachel Baxendale, Damon Johnston 10pm: ADF ‘high priority one day’, dismissed the next
The Andrews government abruptly withdrew an emergency request for defence personnel to help in hotel quarantine less than 16 hours after having lodged an appeal for help.
Rachel Baxendale 9.30pm: Outlying suburbs among hardest hit
Urban expansion. The view over Tarneit back to the city.
Outer Melbourne suburbs that are home to essential workers dominate the 16 Victorian postcodes with more than 100 active coronavirus cases.
AFP 8.50pm: Spanish region bans smoking to curb spread
A ban on smoking on streets and restaurant terraces when social-distancing cannot be guaranteed came into effect on Thursday in Spain’s northwestern region of Galicia, with other areas mulling similar restrictions.
Under a law approved by the regional government, smoking in public is not allowed if it is not possible to maintain a distance of 2m between people.
When he announced the measure the head of the regional government of Galicia, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, said several experts had warned his administration that “smoking without any restrictions, including on a terrace without any limitations, with people nearby, or in crowded places, without any social distancing, represents a high risk of infection”.
Officials in the southern region of Andalusia, along with those in the central regions of Castilla y Leon and Castilla La Mancha, said they were considering similar smoking restrictions.
The World Health Organisation has said tobacco users are likely to be more vulnerable to being infected by the virus and could increase the possibility of transmission of the disease since it involves contact of fingers with the lips.
AFP 8.20pm: First case in Greek island migrant camp
Greece has reported its first novel coronavirus infection in one of its overcrowded refugee camps, a migration ministry source said.
A 35-year-old man from Yemen living at the camp of Vial on the island of Chios tested positive, the source said on Thursday.
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Damon Johnston, Rachel Baxendale 7.55pm: Andrews mentioned private security before bungle began
Premier Daniel Andrews stated as early as March 27 — the day before the bungled hotel quarantine program started — that “private security” would be involved in enforcing compliance.
In a press conference on that Friday, Mr Andrews said 5000 hotel rooms had been placed on standby by the government, which was expecting between 1300 and 2000 travellers to return each day to Melbourne.
“Police, private security, all of our health team, will be able to monitor compliance in a much easier way, in a static location,” he told the press conference, held the same day as a critical emergency management meeting led by Andrew Crisp thrashed out the operating model for the hotel scheme.
Mr Andrews’s reference at the 3pm press conference to the use of “private security” is of particular interest, because it was made minutes before a critical emergency management meeting, chaired by Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp, which thrashed out the operating model for the hotel scheme.
Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions Secretary Simon Phemister told a parliamentary committee hearing on Wednesday that the decision to use security guards in hotel quarantine was made at that “very pivotal meeting”, which began at 4.30pm.
The meeting was attended by multiple agencies, but The Australian understands no Andrews government minister nor their staff were present.
Mr Andrews went on to say: “We have sufficient capacity, and we have done the work early, to accommodate those people.
“But this is the best way to ensure absolute compliance. One hotel, or a series of hotels as the case may be.”
Asked on Thursday about the March 27 meeting of emergency management staff where it was decided to have private security guards in hotel quarantine, Mr Andrews deflected and said the meeting would be looked at by former judge Jennifer Coate’s board of inquiry.
“Well, look, I think that that might be one of the matters that Judge Coate goes to, but I wouldn’t want that to be seen as me trying to influence what she looks at, but I would have thought that was one of the areas that, possibly, that Judge Coate will look at,” he said.
Luke Slattery 7.35pm: Holidayers think global, act local
Tasmanians are taking more holidays in the Apple Isle, helping to keep the local tourism industry afloat.
AFP 7.10pm: Duterte to skip Philippine trial of Russian vaccine
The Philippines will begin large-scale human testing of Russia’s coronavirus vaccine in October, but President Rodrigo Duterte will not receive the inoculation until regulators guarantee its safety, his spokesman says.
Mr Duterte had offered himself up as a guinea pig for the very first jab, expressing “huge trust” in the vaccine, despite growing scepticism about its effectiveness.
But his spokesman Harry Roque said the President was scheduled to receive the vaccine no earlier than May 1 — weeks after the Russian-funded phase-three clinical trial in the archipelago is due to end in March.
The country’s Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the vaccine — developed by the Gamaleya research institute and the Russian defence ministry — in April.
“May 1 is when the PSG (presidential security group) may allow him, once all requisite tests have been finished,” Mr Roque said on Thursday.
Moscow says it has developed the world’s first vaccine offering “sustainable immunity” against the coronavirus and is in the final stage of tests involving 2000 people.
The Philippines has logged the highest number of confirmed infections in Southeast Asia with more than 147,500 cases and over 2400 deaths.
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Chris Smyth 6.40pm: UK toll slashed by new counting method
The UK’s official coronavirus daily death toll is expected to fall by up to three-quarters after ministers switched its counting methodology.
AFP 6.10pm: Peru imposes Sunday curfews
Peru will re-impose a ban on people leaving their homes on Sundays and outlaw family parties, authorities said on Thursday as the nation reported a record number of new coronavirus cases.
Since the government started lifting containment measures on July 1, the number of new cases per day has more than doubled.
On Wednesday the government reported 8,875 infections, which surpassed the previous record set at the end of May.
“We have to take a step back in the measures we were relaxing,” President Martin Vizcarra said. “From this Sunday the mandatory curfew will return on a national level.”
The President blamed family social gatherings for “generating this spike in infections” and said they are now banned.
The Sunday curfew was briefly applied in April, a few weeks after Peru declared a health emergency.
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Damon Kitney 5.37pm: KPMG to return all staff to full pay next month
KPMG will return all its staff to full pay from next month after recording better than expected revenues in July, but the firm is forecasting a flat 2021 result in a year which chief executive Gary Wingrove is hopeful for a recovery in the second half.
On Thursday, KPMG Australia reported annual revenues of $1.905bn in 2020, up 7 per cent, but the result was dragged down in the last four months of the year when revenue averaged around 15 per cent down on budget.
The best result came from the firm’s flagship Audit, Assurance & Risk Consulting business, up 9 per cent on 2019.
John Ferguson 4.45pm: Key hotel quarantine discussions were recorded
Key discussions relating to planning for the hotel quarantine scandal will have been recorded under standard procedures.
The Australian understands that recordings are made in the Victorian State Control Centre according to normal protocols.
This means that key details of discussions will likely be available for examination by the board of inquiry into the quarantine scandal.
An Emergency Management Victoria spokeswoman on Thursday refused to say what occurred in SCC meetings.
“It’s not appropriate to disclose the State Control Centre’s operational practices,” she said.
Recordings are likely to have been made of crucial discussions in late March over whether or not to use ADF personnel for hotel security.
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Rachel Baxendale 4.20pm: Confirmed Victorian virus cases by postcode
Melbourne’s essential worker-dominated outer suburbs dominate the 16 Victorian postcodes with more than 100 active coronavirus cases.
The Victorian postcode with the highest number of cases is 3029, with 463 cases, which takes in Truganina, Tarneit and Hoppers Crossing.
The area is home to several large clusters, including the Al-Taqwa College Islamic school outbreak of 185 cases, and the Linfox warehouse outbreak of 59 cases.
The neighbouring postcode 3030, which takes in Point Cook and Werribee has the second-highest number of active coronavirus cases in the state, with 331, followed by the western suburbs postcode 3021, taking in Kings Park and St Albans.
Rachel Baxendale 4.10pm: 20,000 Vics sign up for COVID-19 test isolation payment
Almost 20,000 people in Victoria have applied for a $300 Andrews government payment to compensate them for not being able to attend work while they await a coronavirus test result.
Of the 19,040 people who have applied, 17,437 have so far received the payment, costing the government $5.23m.
Premier Daniel Andrews on Thursday announced he would be increasing the payment to $450.
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Rachel Baxendale 3.45pm: Latest breakdown of Victorian virus clusters
As of Thursday, there are 2018 active cases of coronavirus across 125 Victorian aged care facilities.
This is an increase of 89 cases since Wednesday.
Four of Victoria’s eight coronavirus deaths in the 24 hours to Thursday were linked to aged care facilities.
The largest aged care clusters include:
– 201 cases linked to Heritage Care’s Epping Gardens facility in Melbourne’s north, up from 198 on Wednesday;
– 184 cases linked to St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Fawkner, in Melbourne’s north, up from 182 on Wednesday;
– 153 cases linked to Estia Health in Ardeer, in Melbourne’s west – the same as on Wednesday;
– 131 cases linked to Kirkbrae Presbyrterian Homes in Kilsyth, in Melbourne’s outer east, up from 129 on Wednesday;
– 119 cases linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge in Werribee, in Melbourne’s outer southwest, up from 115 on Wednesday;
– 108 cases linked to Outlook Gardens aged care facility in Dandenong North, in Melbourne’s outer southeast, up from 107 on Wednesday;
– 99 cases linked to Estia Health in Heidelberg, in Melbourne’s northeast, up from 97 on Wednesday;
– 89 cases linked to the Arcare aged care facility in Craigieburn, in Melbourne’s outer north – the same as on Wednesday;
– 87 cases linked to Twin Parks aged care in Reservoir, in Melbourne’s north, up from 73 on Tuesday;
– 82 cases linked to the Glendale aged care facility in Werribee, in Melbourne’s outer southwest – the same as on Wednesday.
There are also 84 cases in residential disability accommodation, including 20 cases in residents and 64 in staff.
Other cases currently linked to key outbreaks:
202 cases have been linked to Bertocchi Smallgoods in Thomastown, in Melbourne’s north – the same number as on Wednesday;
82 cases have been linked to Australian Lamb Company in Colac, in southwest regional Victoria – this has been revised down from 83 on Monday, without explanation;
61 cases have been linked to the Woolworths Distribution Centre in Mulgrave, in Melbourne’s southeast, up from 60 on Wednesday;
59 cases have been linked to the Linfox warehouse in Truganina, in Melbourne’s outer west – the same number as on Wednesday;
45 cases have been linked to Golden Farms Poultry in Breakwater, in central Victoria, up from 44 on Monday.
29 cases have been linked to Ausfresh in Broadmeadows, in Melbourne’s outer north, up from 19 on August 1.
READ MORE: Auckland cluster grows by 13
Rachel Baxendale 3.25pm: 51 Victorians aged under 50 hospitalised with virus
Victoria has 51 people aged under 50 in hospital with coronavirus on Thursday, including three people in their 30s and four in their 40s who are in intensive care.
A total of 664 people are in Victorian hospitals with COVID-19 on Thursday, including 44 in intensive care, 25 of whom are on ventilators.
There are 48 people in their 50s in hospital with coronavirus, including 10 in intensive care, as well as 68 people in their 60s, of whom 15 are in intensive care, and 122 people in their 70s, of whom nine are in ICU.
Amid 2018 active cases of coronavirus in aged care residents, there are 245 people in their 80s in Victorian hospitals with the virus, of whom three are in intensive care, and 131 people aged 90 or above, none of whom are in intensive care.
People in their 80s account for 118, or 42.9 per cent of Victoria’s 275 coronavirus deaths, while the next most common age group for deaths is 90+, with 79 or 28.7 per cent of the state’s deaths, followed by people in their 70s, with 52, or 18.9 per cent of deaths.
The deaths also include those of two men in their 30s, one man in his 40s, three women and eight men in their 50s, and three women and nine men in their 60s.
Women make up 131, or 47.6 per cent of Victoria’s coronavirus deaths, while men comprise 144, or 52.4 per cent.
Stephen Lunn 3.00pm: Aged care still ‘not prepared … even today’
The aged care sector remains unprepared for COVID-19 even today, the aged care commission has heard.
Counsel assisting the commission Peter Rozen said the sector “was not properly prepared”, despite testimony from the nation’s most senior health bureaucrat Brendan Murphy that it was.
In an eviscerating summing up of a three-day examination of COVID-19 in aged care, Mr Rozen said “tragically not all that could be done was done” in relation to early outbreaks at Newmarch House and Dorothy Henderson Lodge, where more than 20 residents died collectively.
“The lessons of those two outbreaks were not properly conveyed to the sector and as a result the sector was not properly prepared in June 2020 when we witnessed high levels of community transmission of the virus in Melbourne,” Mr Rozen said.
“Based on the evidence you have heard the sector is not properly prepared now,” he told the commissioners.
Mr Rozen pointed the figure at authorities, saying it was open to the commissioners to conclude that the sector “has been hindered in its response by a lack of co-ordinated planning by all levels of government.”
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Richard Ferguson 2.06pm: ‘Evidence clear’ on ADF help to Victoria
Health Minister Greg Hunt says the “evidence is clear” that the Australian Defence Force offered Victoria help with their COVID-19 hotel quarantine system.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp have denied ADF support was offered as early as March, as questions grew over the use of private security guards linked to the second wave in Melbourne.
Mr Hunt noted on Thursday that ADF support was publicly announced by the national cabinet in March and the Premier put out a press release saying defence personnel would be available.
“There are matters here of clear public record. On 27 March, National Cabinet met, the resolutions of that cabinet were released and announced by the Prime Minister,” he said in Canberra.
“There was a formal announcement which indicates that the states would operate hotel quarantine and that the ADF would be made available. That’s on the record.
“And there’s also a Premier’s press release of the same date indicating that Victoria would be adopting hotel quarantine with ADF support.”
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Remy Varga 1.44pm: Health chief investigating airfreight link
Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health officer Allen Cheng said DHHS is investigating the possibility of the coronavirus living in frozen airfreight following New Zealand’s outbreak.
“I do note they [NZ} had 13 new cases today and it’s linked I think to a cold storage food processing facility,” he said.
“We’re aware of that and we’re looking into that, we’re not aware of any leaks at this stage.”
New Zealand health authorities are investigating whether the coronavirus was brought into the country with refrigerated goods.
Prior to the outbreak, New Zealand had gone more than 100 days without recording a case of COVID-19.
READ MORE: Auckland cluster grows by 13
David Ross 1.05pm: Insurers launch legal test to COVID payouts
The financial services ombudsman and insurance industry have launched a high-stakes legal challenge to business interruption insurance which will see disputes over the wording of policies and coverage related to the COVID-19 pandemic put to the test.
READ the full story here
Remy Varga 12.48pm: ‘Too much time spent on hotel bungle’: Andrews
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says he’s spent too much time on the bungled hotel quarantine program.
Dodging questions on reports 100 ADF personnel were on standby to assist with the scheme, Mr Andrews said he had to focus on fighting the coronavirus.
“In my judgment I’ve spent more time on that issue than I should because I’ve got lots of very important things to get on with,” he said.
“Things that I can change and influence, things that are about saving lives and driving down case numbers.”
It comes after The Australian reported at least 100 defence force personnel were ready to enforce compliance at Victoria’s quarantine hotels.
Mr Andrews did not dispute reports but said he wouldn’t comment on unnamed claims.
“I’m not sure who’s confirmed 100 troops were on standby,” he said.
“It’s not my practice to comment on claims that don't have someone’s name on them.
Mr Andrews says he’s “not entirely sure” if he was aware Emergency Services Commissioner Andrew Crisp requested 850 ADF personnel to assist with the bungled hotel quarantine program before it was rescinded.
“That's not a matter for me to sit in judgment of, there is a statement that has been provided by Andrew Crisp,” he said.
Mr Crisp’s statement did not address he requested 850 personnel from the ADF to assist with the program on June 24 before rescinding it the next day.
The statement was prompted after Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said Victoria was offered ADF assistance on multiple occasions following testimony by Mr Andrews that army support was not on offer.
Mr Andrews said he was unsure if the three security companies linked to Victoria’s second wave were still being paid by the taxpayer, with elements of hotel quarantine still running under Corrections Victoria.
“Of course if there’s an element of the program still running, then there would need to be staff,” he said in response to a question.
Accommodation for returning travellers was budgeted to cost around $80 million and the three companies linked to outbreaks are Wilson Security, Unifed and MSS Security.
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Remy Varga 12.24pm: State authorities take control of aged care centres
Daniel Andrews says Victorian health authorities had taken over the operations of three aged-care facilities in Melbourne’s west following management concerns.
“They are by no means the first, they are just the latest,” he said.
The facilities are Glenlyn Aged Care Facility in Glenroy, Florence Aged Care Facility in Altona North and Kalyna Care Aged Care in Delahey.
Mr Andrews reiterated that the decision on whether to keep residents in aged care facilities or relocate them to public or private hospitals was made by doctors.
“The healthcare needs of your loved ones will drive exclusively any decisions that are made about whether they stay in place in their home or whether they come to hospital.”
The number of active coronavirus cases in Victorian aged care facilities has exceeded 2000 for the first time ever, reaching 2018 on Thursday, across 125 facilities.
This is an increase of 89 since Wednesday.
Four of Thursday’s eight deaths have been linked to aged care facilities.
Meanwhile, Mr Andrews says the $300 coronavirus test payment will be increased to $450.
The payment is for casual workers who cannot attend work and will not receive sick pay while waiting for the results of their coronavirus test
READ MORE: ‘Lockdowns may be seen as an over-reaction’
Remy Varga 12.11pm: Woman in 50s among eight Victorian deaths
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed 278 new cases of the coronavirus as well eight new deaths, including a woman in her 50s.
Mr Andrews said four of the eight deaths were linked to aged care outbreaks.
There are 3068 cases without a known source as well as 1140 active cases among healthcare workers, Mr Andrews said.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Professor Allen Cheng said Victoria’s coronavirus crisis showed signs of “peaking and coming down” following the introduction of stage-four lockdown restrictions, but said it was too early to draw conclusions.
“We need to wait a few more days to see the full effect of it,” he said.
Victoria’s number of active coronavirus cases has decreased by 11 in the 24 hours to Thursday, building on Wednesday’s decrease of 3, which was the first decrease in active cases more than two months.
There are now 7866 active cases of coronavirus in Victoria, down from Tuesday’s record of 7880, and 7877 on Wednesday.
Thursday is also the first time the daily decrease in active cases has been larger than the daily number of deaths, meaning we have now finally reached a point where the number of people recovering exceeds the number of new cases.
There were eight deaths in the 24 hour to Thursday, compared with 21 on Wednesday.
The number of Victorian coronavirus cases that contact tracers have been unable to link to a known source has now exceeded 3000 for the first time, reaching 3068 on Thursday – an increase of 107 since Wednesday.
This does not include 2269 cases which remained under investigation on Wednesday, and a proportion of Thursday’s 278 new cases which are yet to be linked to known outbreaks.
Thursday’s 278 new cases come after 20,951 tests were processed in the 24 hours to Thursday, working out to a 1.33 per cent positive test rate.
The highest positive test rate this month was 3.02 per cent from a record 725 new cases and 24,000 tests processed on August 5, while the lowest rate was 0.95 per cent from 394 new cases and 41,416 tests processed on Sunday.
The number of healthcare workers in Victoria with active cases of coronavirus has risen by 61 on Thursday, to 1140.
Testing push for Victoria’s regions
The state government has unveiled a “testing push” in regional Victoria following concerns over coronavirus
From tomorrow, there will be three additional testing sites in Ballarat, Geelong and Bendigo, Mr Andrews said.
“We’re also going to increase operation hours at all their existing sites as well,” he said.
Geelong has around half the total number of coronavirus cases in regional Victoria, Mr Andrews said.
Deputy chief health officer Allen Cheng said the department was “looking very closely” at whether Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong would need to be put into stage-four lockdown.
“We really encourage the community to come forward to get tested so we can get on top of those transmission chains,” he said.
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Patrick Commins 11.37am: Jobless rise masks Victorian pain
Australia’s unemployment has climbed to 7.5 per cent in July, from 7.4 per cent in the prior month, new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show.
Employment increased by 114,700 persons, split between an additional 43,500 in the number full-time employed, and 71,200 more part-time employment, according to the seasonally adjusted numbers.
The number of unemployed people in Australia reached just over 1 million, 15,700 more than in June. There were 42 per cent more unemployed in July versus a year earlier.
The labour force participation rate climbed to 64.7 per cent, from 64.1 per cent in June.
There was a 1.3 per cent rise in the number of hours worked in the month.
ABS head of labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis said the July figures “indicate that employment had recovered by 343,000 people and hours worked had also recovered 5.5 per cent since May”.
“Employment remained over half a million people lower than seen in March, while hours worked remained 5.5 per cent lower,” Mr Jarvis said.
With millions of Australians not working but on JobKeeper – and therefore not appearing in the jobless statistics – economists have been focusing on the change in the hours worked figures as a more meaningful way to gauge labour demand.
The underemployment rate – or those who were working some hours but said they wanted to work more – fell to 11.2 per cent from 11.7 per cent in the previous month.
The ABS’s labour force survey was conducted between 28 June and 11 July, and so will not capture the extent of the hit from the deteriorating health and economic situation in Melbourne.
Data released yesterday showed the COVID-19 shock sent private wages backwards over the June quarter – the first fall in the history of the ABS series stretching back to 1997.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has said his state’s intensified stage three and four restrictions implemented from August 5 will lead to 250,000 Victorians being stood down. The second wave of cases has smashed business and consumer confidence.
The Reserve Bank and Treasury now expect a deeper recession and delayed recovery. They predict the national economy will contract again in the September quarter, and that the jobless rate will hit close to 10 per cent by the end of the year.
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Sarah Elks 11.29am: No pay rise for Queensland MPs
Queensland politicians will not have a pay rise for four years due to the coronavirus economic crisis, the state’s Independent Remuneration Tribunal has ruled.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition leader Deb Frecklington both called for the independent body to freeze wages for MPs.
In a report tabled in parliament on Thursday, the tribunal granted Ms Palaszczuk and Ms Frecklington’s request – despite some reservations that Queensland politicians’ salaries were lagging behind other states.
There will be a 0% pay increase for the pay years 2019-2022, the tribunal ruled.
Ms Palaszczuk as Premier is paid $399,955, up 5.5 per cent since 2014. By comparison, the NSW Premier is paid $407,980 (up 16.4 per cent since 2014) and the Victorian Premier is paid $441,439 (up 29.4 per cent since 2014).
Ms Palaszczuk ordered the state’s public servants wages be temporarily frozen due to the pandemic, but their planned 2.5 per cent wage increase will be deferred to a later year.
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Staff writers 11.12am: Auckland cluster grows with 13 new cases
New Zealand’s director general of health Ashley Bloomfield has updated the nation, announcing 13 new cases today.
After 102 days without any locally transmitted cases, New Zealand reported an outbreak that prompted authorities to reimpose restrictions in its biggest city.
All of the 13 cases are linked to the original four confirmed cases from the new outbreak in South Auckland.
Today’s numbers bring New Zealand’s total to 17 cases.
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Remy Varga 11.08am: Pimple excuse for not wearing mask
A Melbourne man who visited a friend while waiting for coronavirus test results and a man who didn’t wear a mask because he had a pimple are among the latest examples of public health breaches.
Victoria Police have issued a total of 204 fines in the last 24-hours, including 29 for failures to wear a face covering and 71 for curfew breaches.
Other examples of public health breaches include five people celebrating a birthday at a house in Braybrook in Melbourne’s west and seven people drinking together in Prahran Square in the city’s inner-south.
Multiple people attempting to visit their friends after curfew in metropolitan Melbourne have also been fined
Imogen Reid 11.04am: NSW records 12 new cases amid cluster concerns
Twelve new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed in NSW in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of infections to 3738.
Of the new cases, five are returned travellers in hotel quarantine, four were locally acquired and linked to known cases and three were locally acquired but have no known source.
NSW Health confirmed reports that a woman in her 80s has died from COVID-19 and said her infection was linked to the Our Lady of Lebanon Cathedral cluster in Harris Park.
12 new cases of #COVID19 have been diagnosed in NSW between 8pm on 11 August and 8pm on 12 August.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 13, 2020
For the latest list of COVID-19 locations, visit: https://t.co/pqkRdfyEBr pic.twitter.com/3EdVLpBmq2
“NSW Health passes its condolences to the family, friends and the Our Lady of Lebanon community,” the health authority said.
There have now been 53 deaths in NSW from COVID-19.
Imogen Reid 10.58am: ‘Wear masks to avoid Melbourne-style lockdown’
NSW residents have been sent a clear message that masks will become compulsory if more people do not start wearing them.
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance issued the warning this morning as people travelling on public transport continue to be spotted without them.
“We need everyone to put them on so we don’t have a Melbourne-style lockdown,” Minister Constance said.
“It’s really important we start to see more people wear them. The Premier, in terms of her very strong messaging, and, you know, this is the type of leadership this state needs, let’s get the masks on.”
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Imogen Reid 10.35am: ‘Wait and see’ if Victoria’s restrictions working
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said Australia needs to “wait and see” to ensure the strict coronavirus restrictions in Victoria are working.
“We have seen the total number of new cases continue to decline over the past week since stage four restrictions were introduced in Melbourne – stage three restrictions right across Victoria,” Professor Kidd told Today.
“But it is still early in the process. I think we have to wait and see what happens over the coming week just to make sure that downward slope continues over the days ahead.
“Very sadly though, of course, we have seen the consequence of the very high numbers a week or so ago start to reveal itself with the increasing number of people losing their lives to COVID-19.”
Victoria today recorded its lowest number of coronavirus cases in weeks, with 278 people diagnosed and eight deaths confirmed in the past 24 hours.
It comes after the state recorded its deadliest day on Wednesday, with 21 people succumbing to the virus.
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Staff writers 10.30am: Sydney wedding video ‘beyond disappointing’
A Sydney wedding video showing alleged COVID breaches has been blasted as “beyond disappointing”.
A video of the nuptials shows a large number of attendees at the event in Sydney’s west jumping around on a crowded dance floor, ignoring social distancing measures.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd slammed the event this morning.
“It’s beyond disappointing,” he told Seven’s Sunrise program.
“It’s really unacceptable that people are not taking this incredibly seriously.
“Lives are at risk when people take into their own hands their decisions to breach the rules and regulations which have been put in place to protect us all.”
Professor Kidd said it is really important for people to obey the COVID measures in place in NSW to avoid spreading the virus.
“We can have people who have no symptoms or very mild symptoms who are still infectious to other people,” he said.
“It’s really important people in NSW are adhering to measures that are in place.
“We can’t afford to have large numbers of unknown cases starting to appear in NSW.” — NCA Newswire
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Hannah Moore 10.08am: NSW records its 53rd death as case numbers grow
New South Wales has recorded its 53rd death from coronavirus, health authorities have confirmed.
The woman is understood to have been in ICU and is in her 80s.
This is the first death in nearly two weeks, with the last announced on August 2.
Case numbers have continued to grow in the past few weeks, with 18 new cases announced on Tuesday.
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Imogen Reid 9.59am: Brace for more deaths among elderly: PM
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued a warning to Australian’s to be prepared for more coronavirus deaths, especially among the elderly, after the country recorded its deadliest day since the start of the pandemic on Wednesday.
Victoria confirmed 21 people had died from the virus yesterday, taking the tally to 352. Today, another eight people have succumbed to the virus in Victoria, while another 278 cases were recorded.
“It’s so important that as we continue to move through this difficult time that we stay focused on protecting the most vulnerable,” the Prime Minister said in a video posted on Facebook on Wednesday night.
“They are the elderly in our community; not just looking after their health but wherever possible to ensure they are treated with dignity and respect.
“I assure you that where there are shortcomings in these areas they will be acknowledged, and the lessons will be learnt, and we will seek to be as upfront, particularly with the families of those who are affected in these circumstances as much as possible.”
It comes after the aged care royal commission heard that more than 68 per cent of the people who died were aged care residents, one of the highest COVID-19 death rates among elderly people in the world.
READ MORE: Savva — We all make mistakes and so does the PM
Sarah Elks 9.53am: Zero cases but Queensland borders to stay shut
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the state’s borders will remain closed for “as long as the risk remains”.
The state recorded zero new cases of coronavirus overnight, and conducted more than 11,000 COVID-19 tests. There are nine active cases.
The border decision will be reviewed at the end of the month, and currently prevents anyone who has been in VIC, NSW or the ACT from entering Queensland. Returning Queenslanders must go into hotel quarantine for two weeks, and pay for it themselves.
Ms Palaszczuk told parliament Queenslanders had made sacrifices, including having elective surgery delayed while hospitals prioritised the pandemic response.
READ MORE: Gottliebsen — No one wins when the unfit thrive
Melissa Iaria 9.41am: COVID-19 unable to mutate as quickly as flu
COVID-19 does not appear to mutate as quickly as the flu in what Australia’s national science research officials say is an encouraging sign for vaccine developers.
Researchers at the CSIRO are part of a joint global effort to build a vaccine for the virus.
CSIRO director of the health and biosecurity business unit, Rob Grenfell, says its researchers have been studying changes in the virus as part of efforts to create a vaccine.
“What’s important is if the virus decides to change,” Dr Grenfell told 3AW radio this morning.
“We all know the flu changes every year, so we have to make a new vaccine every year for that.
“What it appears is the coronavirus isn’t as cunning. I mean it’s an unbelievable foe, but it’s not changing or pivoting in the way the flu does every year so that’s reassuring.”
CSIRO researchers began preclinical studies for two potential vaccines in late March. They are studying how long the virus takes to develop and replicate, how it affects the respiratory system and how it can be transmitted. — NCA Newswire
READ MORE: For $19, vaccine guinea pig a ‘hero’
Imogen Reid 9.23am: ‘Mass, choir, communion continued at cluster school’
A parent from the school at the centre of a coronavirus cluster in New South Wales has revealed COVID-19 safety measures had not been maintained prior to the outbreak.
The parent of students at Tangara School for Girls in Cherrybrook contacted 2GB’s Ben Fordham this morning and said health advice had been widely ignored by staff members and students.
“According to this parent, the school has not been practising COVID-safe measures,” Fordham said.
“They say the primary school has been doing weekly choir, they’ve continued compulsory mass, students are still taking communion by the hand and teachers have been taking it by the tongue.
“Last Wednesday there was a primary school food stall run by the high school students.”
There are 19 cases linked to the school, 12 of which are students, one a teacher, four that are household contacts and two other cases. Health authorities are still racing to identify ‘patient zero’.
The Australian has contacted the school for comment.
READ MORE: Childcare key if remote working ongoing
Imogen Reid 9.16am: ‘Worst’ pub fined $10,000 for COVID safety breaches
Nine venues across NSW have been hit with fines for flouting COVID-safety measures, including a pub in Sydney’s Inner West that accrued $10,000 worth of penalties.
The Garry Owen Hotel in Rozelle had been operating without any COVID-safety plan and had a “complete disregard for mandated COVID safety measures.”
“We’ve seen how easily and quickly COVID transmission occurs – there are no second chances with this virus,” the NSW Liquor and Gaming Authority’s director of compliance, Dimitri Argeres, said.
“Now is not that time to be facilitating mingling among strangers, let alone allowing patrons to stand on your pub balcony sculling beers.
“This would probably be the most blatant noncompliance we’ve seen with the public health orders so far.”
The pub was fined for not being registered as COVID safe, for not having an up to date COVID-19 Safety Plan, a lack of hygiene processes, customers standing while drinking, physical distancing not enforced and failing to enforce sign-in procedures.
However, management at the venue told the ABC COVID safety procedures had now been enforced.
“It’s completely different, it’s completely safe and they will notice the changes we’ve enforced when they come in,” the hotel’s COVID safety marshal, Vanessa Hardin, said.
“We had done the wrong thing and the owners have got a lot more staff, we didn’t have enough staff on that night, so that was one of the major things that let us down.
“We’re really sorry about it and we’re embarrassed and that we just implemented changes to fix it.”
The other venues include the Riverview Hotel and Dry Dock Hotel in Balmain, The Padstow Park Hotel and Bowling Club in Padstow, the Marrickville Ritz, Randwick’s Royal Hotel and the Yai Thai restaurant in Gosford.
READ MORE: Where you’re most likely to catch COVID
Richard Ferguson 9.10am: Failing students to lose taxpayer funds
University students who fail more than half of their first-year subjects will lose government funding, as part of the Morrison government’s radical overhaul of higher education fees.
The Job Ready Graduates reforms – which are already under threat from Nationals MPs who want major changes – would see students lose their HECS-HELP support if they fail more than 50 per cent of their first eight university units.
Education Minister Dan Tehan said the new cap on HELP subsidies would ensure universities determine how academically suitable a student is throughout their degree, and not just after they leave Year 12.
READ the full story here
Rachel Baxendale 8.55am: Victoria records 278 new cases, eight deaths
Victoria has recorded its lowest daily number of new coronavirus cases in 24 days, with 278 cases in the 24 hours to Thursday.
#Covid19VicData for 13 August 2020.
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) August 12, 2020
278 new cases of #coronavirus (#COVID19) detected in Victoria in the last 24 hours. Sadly, 8 lives have been lost.
More detail will be provided this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/8SWet6eHv1
The number of deaths in the 24 hours to Thursday is also much lower than recent days at eight, following four days of record numbers of deaths, with 21 deaths on Wednesday, 19 on Tuesday, 18 on Monday and 16 on Sunday.
The most recent lower daily case number was 275 new cases on July 20.
The seven day daily average is also at its lowest in 19 days, at 379, after peaking at 573 on August 5, when a record 725 new cases were confirmed.
The most recent lower seven day daily average was 365 on July 25.
READ MORE: Infection control ‘the job of others’
Rachel Pannett 8.33am: If NZ can’t stamp out virus, can anyone?
New cases in New Zealand after 102 days without any local transmissions raise questions about whether it’s possible for any country to keep out the virus. WATCH
— The Wall Street Journal
READ MORE: Big companies reap JobKeeper rewards
Imogen Reid 8.13am: Tourism already hit hard enough: Lambie
Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has backed Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham’s warning to States and Territories they would have to foot the bill for lost business in the sector if borders stay shut, despite saying she disagreed with the move.
It comes as Senator Birmingham told The Sydney Morning Herald state and territory governments could not expect federal assistance for the tourism industry if it was affected by state government decisions to limit travel between non-affected areas.
Asked on the Today show this morning whether she agreed with Senator Birmingham, Senator Lambie delivered a firm response: “Absolutely not. Look, they’re getting the hardest hit than anywhere else, our pubs, our clubs, our tourism.
“They’re going through enough already so throwing that in the face is not helping the situation.”
However, Senator Lambie appeared to at least partially agree with Senator Birmingham on the reopening of state borders.
“The premiers need to come together and where there’s no cases or very limited, I think we need to start talking about opening our borders for flights,” she said.
“Get those face masks on, make sure that the airlines are ready and I am sure that they are and let’s start moving around and have a shot at this.”
Today host Ally Langdon then told Senator Lambie that was what the Tourism Minister was pushing for, Senator Lambie said she was not sure what the issue was.
“The bottom line is tourism — the people that are working in tourism and in our pubs and clubs should not be mixed up in a fight with this. Throwing this stuff out is not helpful,” she said.
READ MORE: Scrap penalty rates, say franchise firms
Imogen Reid 7.57am: Masks a must at most popular bars, restaurants
Employees at one of Australia’s biggest hospitality groups will be required to wear face masks in its NSW venues during their shifts.
Australian Venue Co (AVC), which operates venues like Cargo, Beer DeLuxe, Manly Wine, Kingsleys Woolloomooloo and The Winery, said it was the responsible thing to do and was the next step in the company’s Safe Socialising standards to keep their team of workers and customers safe.
Masks that meet the company’s safety standards are being sourced and supplied by AVC.
It comes after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people working in hospitality or retail to wear a mask.
READ MORE: Take Putin’s propaganda push at face value
Agencies 7.38am: UK economy shrinks to deepest recession on record
The U.K. economy fell into its deepest recession on record in the second quarter of the year, shrinking by a fifth despite a surge in June due to the easing of the restrictions ordered to fight the coronavirus pandemic. That was the largest contraction among European economies and the worst performance of the G-7 group of industrial nations.
The Office for National Statistics said on Wednesday that gross domestic product fell 20.4 per cent in the three months ended in June, although it rose sharply that last month, by 8.7 per cent. Despite this late pick up, economic output remains below the level it had reached in February, the last month before lockdown came into effect. — Dow Jones
READ MORE: Vaccine failure would ‘shock markets’
Damon Johnston 7.14am: Virus victim fled quarantine on tram
A coronavirus-positive woman walked out of a quarantine hotel seven hours after checking in and jumped on a tram in what staff have described as a major infection control breach.
As the woman — who had suffered a recent assault, was mentally disturbed, agitated and hostile towards staff — was a voluntary isolation guest at the Brady Hotel, she was not stopped by police or Department of Health and Human Services officials.
The latest infection control controversy at the government’s domestic hotel quarantine program is set out in worker complaints and backed by an account given to The Australian by a hotel staff member.
“She arrives and is acutely behaviourally disturbed. Nurses request police presence on her floor until she’s de-escalated and ongoing monitoring for roaming behaviour, until she’s assessed as more settled,” the source told The Australian.
READ the full story here
Imogen Reid 7.00am: Refrigerated goods may be source of NZ cluster
New Zealand health officials are investigating whether refrigerated goods that arrived in the country via freight are the source of the coronavirus outbreak.
The cluster in Auckland has grown to five after a new positive case was confirmed on Wednesday.
Director General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said one of the five cases was a man who worked at Americold, a cool store company in Mount Wellington.
Health authorities are investigating whether the virus may have been spread to other parts of the country in cold storage.
“We do know from studies overseas that, actually, the virus can survive in some refrigerated environments for quite some time,” Dr Bloomfield said.
Russia says the first batch of its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines will be ready within two weeks despite skipping crucial testing which could determine its effectiveness and safety.
Russia announced the approval of a vaccine on Tuesday and President Vladimir Putin said he wanted to start mass producing it and offering it to healthcare workers.
Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said that it would only be administered on a voluntary basis.
However, health experts have called the decision to produce the drug before clinical trials are completed “reckless” and fear for the safety of those who choose to be inoculated.
“It seems our foreign colleagues are sensing the specific competitive advantages of the Russian drug and are trying to express opinions that in our opinion are completely groundless,” Mr Murashko said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched an appeal for $76 million in aid for Lebanon after the Beirut blast destroyed hospitals, clinics and medical supplies.
“A week after the blast, the World Health Organisation is still concerned about the health and wellbeing of people who were injuring, lost loved ones, or became homeless, and it’s expected recovery from the psychological pain from the blast will last much longer,” WHO’s Regional Programme Director Rana Hajjeh said.
“In particular, we are concerned about the return of COVID-19 in Lebanon. We have launched an appeal for $76 million, and ask the international community to support the Lebanese people and show solidarity with them in every way possible.”
Greece has recorded its highest number of new infections since the pandemic began with 262 cases and two deaths reported on Wednesday.
Health authorities believe the surge in case numbers has been caused by people rejecting social distancing rules in hospitality venues.
Coronavirus cases in Spain increased by 1,690 new cases on Wednesday, up from 1,418 reported on Tuesday, taking the country’s total to 329,784.
The number of daily cases has steadily increased since the strict lockdown was lifted around six weeks ago.
Globally, there have been more than 20.4 million people infected with the virus, while the total number of COVID-19 deaths is 744,941.
READ MORE: For $19, vaccine guinea pig a ‘hero’
Anne Barrowclough 6.35am: NZ school pupil becomes fifth positive case
An Auckland high school student has tested positive for coronavirus, as authorities revealed there were four new ‘probable’ cases in the city.
Mount Albert Grammar School principal Patrick Drumm told parents of the news in a letter on Wednesday night, the NZ Herald reports.
“We have already notified the students and staff who are considered close contacts,” he said.
“We are offering support to both the student and their family and we request their privacy is respected at this time.”
It is unclear whether the student is one of Auckland’s four new ‘probable’ cases – three adults and a teenager – revealed by the Ministry of Health on Wednesday. The four are related to the South Auckland family who tested positive on Monday.
Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield confirmed the student was a close contact of the four existing cases.
READ MORE: NZ locks down aged care as precaution
Angela Snowden 6.00am: Race to find Tangara patient zero
The race is on to find ‘patient zero’ at the Tangara School for Girls as rising numbers of mystery COVID-19 infections across Sydney, put NSW Health officials on high alert and concerned about a major outbreak.
Eighteen new cases were recorded on Wednesday including four new coronavirus cases linked to schools, with the cluster focused on Tangara School for Girls in Sydney’s northwest growing to 19.
Another confirmed case was linked with Our Lady of Mercy College in Parramatta and the school has been shut down for two weeks. Parramatta Public School was also closed on Wednesday after a student contracted the coronavirus.
Gladys Berejiklian has pushed further on the use of masks, which is not mandated but strongly encouraged,
“Whilst compliance is increasing and we’re pleased with the take-up that has been there, we need it to go further,” the NSW Premier said. “Our concern is the accumulation of unknown sources.
“I also want to stress — can we please ask communities in western Sydney and southwestern Sydney where there has been the higher level of community transmission to please come forward and get tested.”
The outbreak at Tangara School, a non-government Catholic school, has been linked to a religious camp known as Eremeran. NSW Health would not confirm that was the source of the infection, but the study centre has closed until further notice because students who had attended the facility had tested positive to COVID-19.
At least two teachers at Tangara are connected to Eremeran.
READ the full story here.
Jacquelin Magnay 5.45am: UK toll lowers by more than 5000
The number of people who have died in the United Kingdom of coronavirus has been reduced by more than 5000 following a recount of deaths.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the number of UK patients who had died after testing positive for coronavirus within 28 days of death was now 41,329.
This new figure is 5377 less than the previous national coronavirus death figures of 46,706.
The review into the publication of death figures came after it was revealed that England was including the deaths of anyone who had ever had coronavirus, even if they died in a motor vehicle accident or any other unrelated cause.
The counting of those who have died of coronavirus is also complicated by deaths in aged care homes. Some are being reported as being coronavirus deaths by nursing home officials who don’t have a medical degree, while others claim the number of deaths in the aged care sector are being underreported. There is also confusion if somebody has died with coronavirus or because of coronavirus.
READ MORE: Health care officials move to high alert
Sharri Markson 5.30am: ‘Hospitals don’t want them’
Elderly people infected with COVID-19 are arriving at Melbourne hospitals, being refused treatment and sent back to their aged care home in a move devastating families.
One nursing home, Jewish Care in Windsor, had two residents turned away from hospitals in one day, including one who was refused admission at both The Alfred and Cabrini.
Another facility – the Glenlyn Aged Care in Glenroy – told the families of residents that Royal Melbourne Hospital “would not be accepting (residents) and they were to remain at the facility and be placed on end of life care and/or be sedated if they were wandering”.
“Please know that we have tried our utmost best to transfer the residents who we cannot isolate to the hospital but, to put it simply, the hospital does not want them,” management at Glenlyn, which is home to residents with high-care needs, told families.
READ the full story here.
CTE at age just 20: tragic rookie’s diagnosis that changes the game
NRL rookie Keith Titmuss was suffering brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy when he died at 20 — the youngest Australian sport player to be diagnosed with the head-knock-related condition.
Clark, the thief who stole hopes of a people
Geoff Clark’s criminal downfall has prompted an outpouring of regret and anger from Aboriginal leaders and policy makers, who see him as the symbol of dysfunction in Indigenous affairs.