Coronavirus Australia live news: Victorian crisis escalates with 49 new cases, Daniel Andrews warns lockdowns could return as he toughens quarantine rules
Deputy CMO Michael Kidd says Victoria’s 90 new cases over the weekend are of ‘concern’ as Daniel Andrews refuses to say if Ramadan festivities played a part.
- Australia ‘not in grip of second wave’
- Victoria records 49 new cases
- Andrews won’t be drawn on Ramadan blame
- Andrews considers suburban lockdowns
- Checkpoints, fines in new Victorian crackdown
- Government considers permanent dole increase
- US cases break another daily record
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd says Victoria’s worsening infection numbers are of “concern’’ but they do not represent a “second wave’’. Daniel Andrews refused to say if Ramadan festivities played a part in the spike in Melbourne as he revealed another 49 new cases on Sunday after 41 cases on Saturday. The Premier also warned Melburnians that he will reintroduce strict suburban lockdowns if infections continue to rise. Meanwhile, NSW has recorded three news cases overnight, WA has one new case.
AFP 7.50pm: China locks down half a million people
China imposed a strict lockdown on nearly half a million people in a province surrounding the capital to contain a fresh coronavirus cluster on Sunday, as authorities warned the outbreak was still “severe and complicated”.
After China largely brought the virus under control, hundreds have been infected in Beijing and cases have emerged in neighbouring Hebei province in recent weeks.
Health officials said on Sunday that Anxin county — about 150km from Beijing — will be “fully enclosed and controlled”, the same strict measures imposed at the height of the pandemic in the city of Wuhan earlier this year.
Only one person from each family will be allowed to go out once a day to purchase necessities such as food and medicine, the county’s epidemic prevention task force said in a statement.
The move comes after another 14 cases of the virus were reported in the past 24 hours in Beijing, taking the total to 311 since mid-June and spurring the testing of millions of residents.
The outbreak was first detected in Beijing’s sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food market, which supplies much of the city’s fresh produce, sparking concerns over the safety of the food supply chain.
Nearly a third of the cases so far have been linked to one beef and mutton section in the market, where workers are being made to quarantine for a month, city officials said on Sunday.
Businesses in Anxin county had supplied freshwater fish to the Xinfadi market, state news agency Xinhua reported.
Some 12 cases of the novel coronavirus were found in the county, including 11 linked to Xinfadi, the state-run Global Times reported.
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Bryan Appleyard 6.40pm: Pandemic revives interest in suburban life
COVID-19 — the new companion which, I suspect, will always be with us in one form or another — has suddenly exposed the city and its temptations as a deathtrap. We wear masks, we swerve away from each other, we cannot mix and mingle, we fear public transport and, even when these things become possible again, they will be tainted. One of the great, happy-clappy myths of the pandemic is that it has brought us together; on the contrary, it has driven us apart. As a result, the burb is back.
Read the full story here
Kieran Gair 5.35pm: Global infection tally hits 10m
The world has marked a grim milestone in the battle to contain the spread of the coronavirus after cases exceeded 10 million on Sunday, according to a Reuters tally.
The respiratory disease has killed almost half a million people in seven months, which is roughly the same as the number of influenza deaths reported annually, according to the World Health Organisation.
North America, Latin America, and Europe each account for about 25 per cent of cases, while Asia and the Middle East have around 11 per cent and 9 per cent, respectively, according to Reuters, which uses government reports.
The first cases of the new coronavirus were confirmed on January 10 in Wuhan in China, before infections and fatalities surged in Europe, then the US, and later Russia and Latin America.
Epidemiologists believe the pandemic has now entered a new phase, with India and Brazil recording about 10,000 new cases a day.
The US still leads the world with the highest number of infections, about 2.3 million or 25 per cent of all reported cases. The US managed to slow the spread of the virus in May, only to see it expand in recent weeks to rural areas. The virus is surging in some US states, and the American death toll has now eclipsed 120,000. The head of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention this week said the real number of infected Americans is probably 10 times the 2.3m official count.
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Paige Taylor 5pm: Traveller tests positive in WA
Western Australia recorded one new coronavirus case on Sunday. The person is a traveller who was already in hotel quarantine when diagnosed and remains there.
WA now has five people who are known to have COVID-19 and all are in hotel quarantine.
The state has recorded a total of 609 cases of coronavirus. Nine people have died from the disease in WA.
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Christine Kellett 4.25pm: How does the new saliva coronavirus test work?
We’ve heard today about a new test to detect coronavirus, but what is it? Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced that from today Victoria would lead the world in the roll-out of a saliva test to detect COVID-19. To date, tests have been done via nasal and throat swabs in a procedure that has been described as “unpleasant” and likely the reason so many in Victoria were refusing to be screened.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said the new test required people to spit into a tube.
“It may be that the saliva test may be more appropriate for people where swabs are more difficult and that may include young children or very elderly people,” Professor Kidd said.
“The saliva testing is allowing more testing to be carried out across Melbourne at the moment in relationship to the outbreaks and so we will watch and see.’’
Pathology centres were still building up capacity to process the tests in higher volumes, and the results took a similar time to be returned as nose and throat swabs.
“My understanding is the capacity to do large numbers of tests using the saliva testing is being built up in our pathology centres, particularly in Victoria at this time.”
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Scott Henry 4.15pm: Andrews won’t be drawn on religion blame questions
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews refused to be drawn on questions about a specific race or religion contributing to the state’s spike in cases.
During his Sunday update press conference, where he revealed 49 new cases had been detected, Mr Andrews was asked if Ramadan festivities in April and May could have played a part in the spike.
But he would not “draw those sorts of conclusions” and said the virus “does not discriminate”.
“I can tell you I have been to more online dinners this Ramadan than I ever have, and I think the Islamic community in a broader sense have been no different to all of us,” he said.
“Everyone wants this to be over, everybody wants these rules to no longer be a feature of their life.
“Again, I don’t want to be stereotypical, but I think larger families – potentially on the notion of a very social culture – people coming together, people meeting and sharing things together, that is really challenging at the moment.
“And regardless of whether you have faith or no faith, to whom you pray or whether you pray at all, that is not the issue. The issue here is all of us are in this together.”
The Australian confirmed that a family cluster of at least 14 cases across multiple households in Melbourne’s north and outer southeast has been linked to a gathering in Coburg held to celebrate the end of the Muslim holy month on the weekend of May 23 and 24. At the time, Victorians were prohibited from having more than five guests in their homes.
Mr Andrews said today: “This virus doesn’t discriminate based on where you were born or whether you pray or not, and to whom you pray. It is with all of us and it is with all of us for a long time, and that is why we all have to work together to beat it.”
He added that people had been infected at dinner parties and family gatherings from “Portsea to Broadmeadows” and among skiers returning from Aspen.
READ MORE: Eid family feast sparks big cluster
Christine Kellett 3.55pm: Australia is not in the grip of a second wave: Kidd
The nation’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd has expressed alarm at the latest resurgence in COVID-19 cases, but says Australia is not in the grip of a second wave.
Fifty-three new cases of coronavirus have been recorded nationwide in the past 24 hours, 49 of those in Victoria alone.
“The latest numbers are of genuine concern,” Professor Kidd told reporters in Canberra on Sunday afternoon.
“This is not a second wave, this is an outbreak and the response which is
occurring is very vigorous and appropriate.
“What we’re seeing happening in Victoria is exactly what was planned when we have outbreaks occurring across the country.”
Professor Kidd said widespread contact tracing was underway in Melbourne and he urged the millions of Australians who have not yet downloaded the COVIDSafe app to do so.
READ MORE: Joe Tannous survived coronavirus. He has a warning for rest of us
We can all stay COVIDSafe and help stop the spread by keeping our distance when spending time with others, regularly wash your hands with soap and water, and stay home if you are unwell. https://t.co/mOG5rJMaju pic.twitter.com/N4Eiy4tKS5
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) June 28, 2020
Agencies 3.30pm: Cigarette lighter, car pool may have infected quarantine staff
Daniel Andrews says a shared cigarette lighter and car pooling arrangements may have led to an outbreak of cases among staff in quarantine hotels.
Mr Andrews said the spread of the virus among staff working in hotel quarantine may have come from people sharing a cigarette lighter.
“[They were] keeping their distance but sharing a lighter between each other,” he said.
“An innocent thing that can lead to transmitting the virus.
“There also seems to have been some likelihood that some carpooling arrangements between staff may well have meant that they were in closer contact than you would like’’.
“You will never deliver a risk-free model — it doesn’t matter how you do it, you will never be 100 per cent risk-free.”
At least 14 cases have been linked to a cluster of security contractors at the Stamford Plaza quarantine hotel in Melbourne’s CBD, while 17 have been linked to an earlier cluster at Rydges on Swanston. — AAP
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Ben McKay 3.15pm: NZ confirms four new COVID cases at border
New Zealand has recorded its worst day for new COVID-19 infections in two months, announcing four new positive tests.
However, the previously COVID-free country remains without restrictions on gatherings or business, with all four new cases intercepted within the managed isolation border regime.
Health officials on Sunday announced the new cases had arrived from India and Nepal, with one transferred to hospital for care.
“While today’s news that one of our recent cases is in hospital may be concerning to some, it is something the health system in New Zealand has remained prepared for,” Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said. “I want to reassure the wider community that this person is receiving good treatment from the team at Auckland City Hospital who have previous experience of managing positive cases.”
Like many countries, New Zealand has closed its border to all but citizens and regular residents.
New Zealand now has 20 Kiwis considered active cases, each of whom have been quarantined. —AAP
READ MORE: New Zealand quarantine regime under fire
Agencies 2.55pm: Protesters march on asylum seeker hotel in Brisbane
Several hundred protesters have braved overcast and cool and drizzly conditions to again march on an inner Brisbane hotel demanding the release of asylum seekers held there.
In a repeat of last week’s rally, the protesters, many wearing face masks, first gathered in a park behind The Pineapple Hotel near the Gabba. They then marched about 100m to the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel & Apartments where some 120 men were being detained.
Our Pledge to Resist #LetThemHug #FreeTheKP120 #HistoryIsWatching pic.twitter.com/iELN0sATbP
— Refugee Solidarity Meanjin/Brisbane (@RSMeanjin) June 28, 2020
The majority came to Australia under medivac and have been confined to the hotel for up to 12 months although some have been in detention, overall, for almost seven years.
The protesters clogged side streets and chanted “freedom for refugees” as police watched on.
It’s the third straight week that Refugee Solidarity Brisbane/Meanjin has organised the rally and have promised to protest to bring attention to the plight of the asylum seekers.
Police say no one has been arrested. — AAP
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Kieran Gair 2.30pm: Drunk Vic man caught in SA after crashing car
South Australia’s Premier Steven Marshall has urged police to “throw the book” at a Victorian man who was allegedly caught breaching COVID-19 rules after he crashed his car at Port Augusta while drink driving on Saturday.
Emergency services were called to Parkside Row in Port Augusta at about 6.30pm on Saturday to reports a man had driven his car onto the curb and crashed into a street sign, causing minor damage to the vehicle.
The driver was ordered to undergo a breath test and recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.229 — more than four times the legal limit — and a search revealed he was also a disqualified driver.
He was arrested and charged with drink driving, driving while disqualified, and aggravated driving without due care.
Police allege the man entered South Australia eight days ago and was directed to self-isolate. He was hit a $1060 fine for breaching the public health order.
Mr Marshall said the man had “broken the commitment” he made to health officials when he entered South Australia and that he had put the community at risk by drink driving.
“We are absolutely angry that this Victorian’s come across the border, done the wrong thing, broken the commitment that he made and then [police allege] caught for drink-driving,” Mr Marshall said. “The police in South Australia will absolutely throw the book at this individual.”
Interstate travellers ordered to self-isolate may only leave their accommodation if seeking urgent medical assistance in South Australia. The man’s licence was cancelled for 12 months and he will appear in at Port Augusta Magistrates Court in September.
His vehicle was impounded for 28 days.
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AAP 2pm: Sutton: 5-day wait to see success of interventions
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said it would not be clear for another five to six days how effective recent interventions have been in containing the virus. Last week the government rolled back its decision to further ease restrictions in Victoria, including allowing only five visitors to a home. Professor Sutton said “if high case numbers continued, further revision could be made about restrictions’’.
“If it continues to increase, I think those are the circumstances where you think about an additional intervention and especially if it is localised in a particular postcode or a particular suburb,” he said.
Health workers are going door-to-door in Keilor Downs and Broadmeadows, with mobile testing vans and expanded community engagement teams on the ground. Residents in the two areas were also sent emergency text messages on Saturday, urging testing. — AAP
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Darren Cartwright 1.25pm: No new cases in Qld, border decision on Tuesday
Queenslanders will have to wait 48 hours to know when and how COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted after the transport minister stonewalled questions about borders reopening.
Mark Bailey says Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will announce any changes on Tuesday and those decisions will be rooted in “evidence” and on the back of medical advice.
Coronavirus (#COVID-19) case update 28/06.
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) June 28, 2020
Detailed information about COVID-19 cases in Queensland can be found here: https://t.co/kapyXpSIAP pic.twitter.com/H9iASnBprV
Queensland recorded no new cases overnight and has had just one positive test — a returned traveller from overseas — in the past eight days.
“Border provisions have been key to us, achieving that outcome, an outcome that New South Wales and Victoria haven’t been able to achieve,” he said on Sunday. — AAP
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Scott Henry 1pm: Andrews warns of more strict lockdowns if numbers rise
Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews issued a direct warning to Melburnians in virus hot spots refusing to take a coronavirus test, warning them that he will reintroduce strict suburban lockdowns if numbers of infections continue to rise.
“If we have to further limit movement in some of those suburbs, so for instance, a stay at home order — much like we all, as a community, had to endure for what felt like the longest of times — if that is deemed the appropriate public health response, then that is what we‘ll do,” the Premier said.
“We’ll do it if we need to. I’m not announcing that today. I’m hoping it doesn’t get to that.
“But it is another reminder that if people in those communities come forward and get tested, that will make it less likely that we need to move to those sorts of restrictions being reimposed. If someone knocks on your door, take the test.”
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Christine Kellett 12.30pm: Sutton admits spike is ‘big’, hopes trend will slow
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton concedes the number of infections in the state is “big” but he expects the trend to slow in the coming days as the effect of reimposed restrictions on family gatherings take effect.
“I would hope we are getting to a phase now where numbers are plateauing and hopefully driven down,” Professor Sutton said. “But if it continues to increase, I think those are the circumstances where you think about an additional intervention, especially if it is localised in a particular postcode or a particular suburb where there are significant increases in cases.”
Victoria recorded 49 news cases overnight, up from 41 on Saturday.
The Andrews government will follow NSW’s lead and require those in hotel quarantine who refuse testing to stay there for a further 10 days. However, the Premier said the government was considering other measures that didn’t just involve “locking people up”.
“I don’t think we necessarily get the greatest outcomes by physically locking people in their rooms 24-7 for 14 days,” Mr Andrews said.
“The last thing we want is to potentially create some very significant mental health and other behavioural challenges physically locking people up from 14 days straight. I think that is challenging.
“This is with us for a long time. The more we can all stay united and consistent and do the right thing, the quicker we will beat this.”
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Christine Kellett 12.10pm: Suburban lockdowns, fines not necessary yet: Andrews
More from the press conference by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. He says travellers who refuse COVID-19 testing in hotel quarantine will be compelled to remain there for a further 10 days, bringing the state in line with compliance measures in NSW.
Mr Andrews, who likened the outbreak in his state to a bushfire, said authorities were considering suburban lockdowns and fines, but he believed it was not necessary yet.
He said parents of young children in hotel quarantine had been reticent to agree to testing because it was an “unpleasant” procedure but a new saliva test being employed from today would help lift testing rates.
“Everybody leaving hotel quarantine today has been tested,” he said.
“Hotel quarantine is a very challenging environment, It cannot be made risk-free.”
He thanked the thousands of Victorians who had come forward for testing this weekend.
“There are literally hundreds and hundreds of people out doorknocking as we speak. There are thousands of tests that have been taken. I thank all Victorians in those communities that have come forward to get tested. It is a simple thing but a really powerful thing.’’
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Kieran Gair 12pm: NSW reports three new virus cases
NSW has recorded three new cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday after health officials conducted a record number of tests.
One case is a 34-year-old overseas cargo airline crew member who became unwell during transit.
The state’s other two new cases are returned travellers who are in hotel quarantine.
A record total of 18,114 tests were conducted on Saturday.
The total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW is 3177. Some 3,360 symptomatic returned travellers have been tested in hotels since March 29, with 106 of those, or 3 per cent, found positive.
There are currently 49 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health, with none in intensive care. Travellers are also now being screened on day 10 of quarantine.
2784 people in NSW have now recovered from COVID-19.
NSW Health’s Dr Michael Douglas said on Sunday close contacts of the airline worker have been identified and further investigations are underway.
Three new cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 3,177.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 28, 2020
One case is a 34-year-old overseas airline crewmember who became unwell during transit.
The other two new cases are returned travellers in hotel quarantine. pic.twitter.com/DwhRUqsBbt
More than 830,000 COVID-19 tests have now been carried out in NSW with the state’s total sitting at 3177.
There are currently 49 COVID-19 cases being treated, with none in intensive care.
NSW Health is discouraging travel to and from areas of Melbourne with COVID-19 outbreaks.
“Anyone who returns from areas of concern in Melbourne hotspots should not attend aged care facilities, hospitals, or other settings where vulnerable people might be,” Dr Douglas said.
“They should avoid gatherings outside their immediate household for the next 14 days.” Following increased cases in Victoria, where the number of new coronavirus diagnoses has grown by double-digits every day for the past week, NSW has announced it will turn away football fans from the southern state. NRL and AFL spectators trying to enter NSW stadiums from July 1 are likely to be required to show their driver’s licence to prove they’re not from Victoria.
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Scott Henry 11.35am: Daniel Andrews confirms 49 new cases in Victoria
Victoria’s coronavirus crisis continues to intensify with another 49 new cases revealed in the state on Sunday morning.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos also announced that he will bring the state’s COVID-19 quarantine provisions in line with NSW and will keep in lockdown for a further 10 days returned travellers who refuse to be tested.
The government says people in quarantine will be tested twice — firstly on day three and then again on day 11 of the 14-day quarantine period.
“Those who refuse to comply with testing will be required to remain in quarantine for a further 10 days to ensure they pose no risk of introducing coronavirus to the Victorian community,” Mr Andrews announced.
The decision follows a sharp spike in cases in Victoria, which is the only state to have reported cases in the double digits.
On Sunday, 49 new cases were reported — four from known outbreaks, 26 detected through routine testing, the other 19 are under investigation.
The four cases linked to known outbreaks are a person associated with a North Melbourne family outbreak, another is an employee at the Stamford Plaza Hotel, one is a close contact of a Brimbank family outbreak and the fourth is connected to the Coles distribution centre in Laverton.
Mr Andrews said 780,000 tests had been conducted in Victoria since January 1 and the new less-invasive saliva testing would start from Sunday.
Previously, swabs were taken from the nasal passage and back of the throat. Health workers are going door-to-door in Keilor Downs and Broadmeadows, with mobile testing vans and expanded community engagement teams on the ground. Residents in the two areas were also sent emergency text messages on Saturday, urging testing.
Australian Defence Force medical and support personnel are understood to have arrived in Victoria to help the state’s efforts.
There are currently 231 active cases in Victoria.
Seven people are in hospital with COVID-19, including one patient in intensive care while 1775 people have recovered from the virus.
READ MORE: Albrechetsen — Is Daniel Andrews losing control of Victoria?
Kieran Gair 11am: One new case reported in Western Australia
Western Australia has reported one new case of COVID-19 overnight in a returned traveller.
The state’s total now stands at 609.
There are tide active cases in WA — all are in hotel quarantine.
A total of 595 people have recovered from COVID-19 in WA.
329 people were tested for COVID-19 in WA on Saturday.
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Agencies 10.45am: Disneyland not the happiest place on Earth for staff
Workers at California’s Disneyland Resort have protested from their cars, arguing that the Walt Disney Co has not agreed to adequate protections for employees when the destination reopens to the public amid the pandemic. The company had planned to welcome guests back to Disneyland and neighbouring California Adventure starting on July 17 but delayed the restart date indefinitely.
Disney said that it would set a new opening date after the state issues guidelines on how theme parks can return to business safely amid the global coronavirus outbreak.
On Saturday, about 200 cars formed a caravan outside the resort in the protest staged by the Coalition of Resort Labor Unions, a group of 11 unions that represent 17,000 Disneyland workers.
The unions have called on the company to commit to providing onsite testing for COVID-19.
“When Disney does reopen, we want it to be as safe as possible for cast members, for the guests, and for the families that cast members have to go back to,” said Maria Hernandez, a union member who attended the rally.
Disney said in a statement that it has reached agreements on coronavirus protections with 20 union affiliates that include additional sick pay, face coverings for guests and cast members, and reduced park capacity. In a letter to unions, a Disney representative said existing COVID-19 testing was not recommended by US health authorities for routine screening.
Instead, health officials recommend focusing on physical distancing, face coverings, hand washing and sanitisation, the letter said.
Disney began shutting its theme parks in January as the coronavirus spread. It has reopened parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong to a limited number of guests. The company plans to open Walt Disney World in Florida on July 11. — Reuters
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Reuters 10.20am: Brazil coronavirus cases rise past 1.3 million
Brazil has recorded 38,693 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the past 24 hours and 1109 additional deaths.
The nation has now registered 1,313,667 total confirmed cases of the virus and 57,070 deaths, the health ministry said.
There are thousands of news cases and hundreds of deaths every day and the crisis is not yet thought to be at its peak.
Brazil has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases and fatalities in the world after the US where 125,435 have died and more than 2.5 million people have been diagnosed.
The Brazilian Government led by the populist far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, is in crisis and a judge has ordered him to wear a protective mask when he is in public spaces in Brasilia. The president has been criticised for belittling the risk posed by coronavirus which he dismissed as “a little cold” at the start of the pandemic.
READ MORE: Brazil judge orders president to wear mask
Agencies 9.45am: US surpasses 2.5 million coronavirus cases
The United States has confirmed more than 2.5 million coronavirus cases across the country.
There are also at least 125,435 deaths attributed to the new virus, more than in any other country, according to a tally released by Johns Hopkins University.
The surge in cases is most notable across the southern and western states, where many of the states had less stringent lockdown measures. California, the most populous state, which did institute severe coronavirus closures, also saw record cases this week.
The country broke its single-day new infections record repeatedly this week, with well over 39,000 new reported cases on Thursday.
New data from our Coronavirus Resource Center shows a timeline of state social distancing policies and re-openings compared to trends in new COVID-19 cases and deaths. More here: https://t.co/HjottZHYQO
— Johns Hopkins University (@JohnsHopkins) June 25, 2020
As populous states including Florida and Texas recorded surging case numbers this week, state officials tightened restrictions on business again. The decision to reimpose restrictions by Florida and Texas is a backtrack for the state’s governors — both Republican allies of President Donald Trump - who have resisted lockdown measures.
Florida reported more than 9500 new cases, up from almost 9000 on Friday, the previous record.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced late on Friday he would reclose beaches from July 3 to July 7 to prevent large gatherings and virus spread during Fourth of July celebrations.
Johns Hopkins has tracked 9,891,717 cases globally and 496,075 deaths. Both numbers are likely higher, due to unreported cases, testing problems and questions about whether cases earlier this year went unnoticed. — PA
READ MORE: US coronavirus infections hit another daily record
Joseph Kelly 9.30am: Labor calls for dole boost amid talk of $75-a-week rise
Opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek has called on Scott Morrison to permanently increase the rate of Newstart as the country emerges from the pandemic amid speculation the unemployed will receive a $75-a-week lift in benefits at July’s mini-budget.
Speaking on Sky News, Ms Plibersek said Newtstart was an “inadequate payment” and did not allow people to “live with dignity”. She argued that people in every community across the country would have more money to spend in their local economies if the government was more generous.
To navigate the pandemic, the Morrison government lifted the payment from $565.70 to $1115.70 on a temporary basis but is facing calls from within its own ranks and the business community to make a permanent change to the rate.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is due to deliver a mini-budget in July at which he will also provide the government’s response to the review of the $60bn JobKeeper payment which is due to wind-up in late September.
Ms Plibersek, the former Labor deputy leader, said the report into the JobKeeper payment – introduced to help businesses keep on workers during the downturn — should be released before next weekend’s Eden-Monaro by-election so the government could be “upfront with Australians.”
READ THE FULL STORY here.
Agencies 9am: Switzerland acts after first ‘superspreader’ event
Authorities in Switzerland have sent 300 people into a 10-day quarantine as a precaution after they visited a nightclub in Zurich.
Several people who went to the Flamingo Club on June 21 tested positive for the novel coronavirus, Zurich health authorities said. In a statement, the health department spoke of its first-ever COVID-19 “superspreader” event.
Initially, one man who had visited the club tested positive. Five other people who were in the club with him then developed symptoms and also tested positive.
The club operator was able to provide the authorities with a list of contact details for club visitors on the evening in question. Thanks to this list, a contact tracing team was able to inform the guests of the measure, it said.
The number of new infections with the coronavirus has recently increased again in Switzerland, with 69 new cases discovered within one day, about three times more than at the beginning of the week.
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Christine Kellett 8.15am: Checkpoints, fines in new Victorian crackdown
The Victorian government is considering imposing suburban lockdowns in virus hotspots as well as $1600 fines for quarantined travellers who refuse testing.
The Sunday Herald Sun reports the potential new measures come as a Metro worker based at Melbourne’s Flinders Street station tested positive for COVID-19, forcing 13 others into home quarantine.
It also reports traffic data in two municipal hotspots — Casey and Hume — shows residents are ignoring pleas to stay home, prompting the government to consider establishing suburban checkpoints manned by police.
Forty-one new infections were recorded in Victoria yesterday, the highest daily increase since April.
A third of returned travellers in hotel quarantine in the state are refusing COVID testing, and the state’s Chief Health Officer Annalise van Diemen on Saturday said the government had not plans to compel those who refused testing to spend more time in quarantine, as the NSW has announced.
A testing blitz — which saw more than 21,000 Victorians tested in 24 hours — will continue at pop-up testing stations in hotspor
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Mackenzie Scott 7.50am: Victorian outbreak raises fears of 30pc property fall
An increase in coronavirus cases in Melbourne could cause residential property prices to fall by up to 30 per cent, as the “worst case” for the housing market plays out.
Data firm SQM Research offered a range of scenarios in April for how the pandemic could affect the property market, with falls of between 5 per cent and 30 per cent.
The situation in the Victorian capital is largely reflecting the worst-case modelling — a second wave of new cases, high unemployment and restrictions remaining in place for a longer period — which managing director Louis Christopher said was worrying.
“Definitely in Melbourne, the chance of that bleaker scenario playing out is more likely,” Mr Christopher said.
“The fact that we will have restrictions in Melbourne for longer is bad news. We are probably going to see a negative housing market in the Melbourne market until this (outbreak) is more contained.”
READ THE FULL STORY here.
Christine Kellett 7am: Government considers permanent dole increase
The federal government is considering a permanent rise in unemployment benefits.
The permanent boost to the dole would take the base rate from $565.70 a fortnight to $715.70, or $75 more per week, The Sunday Telegraph reports.
The permanent boost to unemployment benefits would take the base rate from $565.70 a fortnight to $715.70.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is expected to announce the changes as part of a mini-budget in July.
Quizzed about JobSeeker payments during a press conference on Saturday, Mr Frydenberg said the government “would have more to say about that soon.”
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Dow Jones 6.30am: US cases break another daily record
Coronavirus cases have continued to surge in the US, as Florida reported another record-breaking number of new confirmed infections on Saturday, the second day in a row that it broke such a record.
Florida, Texas, California and Arizona have accounted for much of the recent rise in cases, prompting authorities to impose new restrictions in those states and reverse their reopenings.
The U.S. recorded more than 45,000 cases Friday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The tally was significantly higher than the 39,972 cases reported Thursday, a record at the time. The previous high of 36,291 daily cases was recorded in late April.
According to the Florida Department of Health, the state reported 9,636 cases on Saturday, up from 8,831 cases on Friday and a much lower 4,966 cases on Wednesday. The rate of positive cases has also jumped. On June 13, the rate of positive tests was at 5.36 per cent and has steadily climbed over the last two weeks, registering a positivity rate of above 14 per cent in the last two days.
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Andi Yu 5.45am: Royal Melbourne Hospital nurse tests positive for virus
Victoria’s fight against COVID-19 has intensified as an emergency department nurse tested positive to the virus and health workers descended on two Melbourne suburbs to control community transmission.
Details of the Royal Melbourne Hospital nurse’s case are yet to be revealed, including what her level of exposure was to fellow staff, patients or visitors. A statement from the hospital said all known contacts had been informed and were receiving support, and the hospital was carrying out additional cleaning and contact tracing.
The total number of recorded virus cases in Victoria is now 1987, with 1762 recoveries, and the death toll remains at 20. There were 41 new cases on Saturday, marking the 11th consecutive day of double-digit rises.
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Debbie Schipp 5.15am: Victoria’s infection spike continues with 41 new cases
Victoria’s coronavirus crisis continues to worsen, increasing fears of a second wave after 41 new cases were revealed in the state on Saturday.
It left Victoria’s besieged health officials and the Victorian government seeking legal advice on whether testing for returned travellers can be mandated following the revelation that 30 per cent are refusing to be tested.
Eight of the 41 latest cases are linked to known outbreaks, one is a returned traveller, 13 are from routine testing and 19 are being investigated.
“This is not something any of us have experienced before,” Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen said on Saturday as the state recorded an 11th consecutive day of double-digit rises.
With up to 300 overseas arrivals expected back in Australia by the end of the weekend, New South Wales moved to tighten quarantine restrictions.
It ruled returning travellers who refuse tests will have to spend a further ten days in hotel quarantine.
More than 250 repatriated Australians returned home on a flight from Mumbai via Singapore and will begin two weeks of quarantine in an Adelaide hotel. Others are expected to follow from South America and Indonesia.
Victoria has 204 active cases, with five in hospital, including one in intensive care. AN emergency department nurse has tested positive, it was confirmed on Saturday night.
“We know that cases and outbreaks will continue to occur, and we really are doing our best to keep absolutely on top of them.”
Dr van Diemen said 15 of the new cases under investigation were the result of community transmission with “no clear source”.
In Victoria, emergency text messages are being sent to residents in Keilor Downs and Broadmeadows, where there is a large proportion of fresh cases, urging them to get tested.
People in Broadmeadows and Keilor Downs may receive an important text message from the Chief Health Officer today. COVID-19 teams are doorknocking in your area. Stay safe. Get tested today. For more information, visit https://t.co/1biYLutF7j pic.twitter.com/4pjgjBzeMO
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) June 27, 2020
NSW has a two per cent test refusal rate, authorities have confirmed. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Saturday it was important to test and trace, otherwise lives would be endangered.
Internationally, European Union envoys are close to finalising a list of countries whose citizens will be allowed to enter Europe again, possibly from late next week, EU diplomats confirmed Saturday. Americans are almost certain to be excluded in the short term due to the number of US coronavirus cases.
Two of America’s largest states have reversed course and clamped down on bars again in the nation’s biggest retreat yet as the daily number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the US surged to an all-time high of more than 45,000.
Texas ordered all bars closed Friday, while Florida banned alcohol at such establishments. The two states joined a small but growing number that are either backtracking or putting any further reopening of their economies on hold because of a comeback by the virus, mostly in the country’s South and West.
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Mauricio Savarese 5am: Brazil partners with Oxford Uni for new vaccine
The Brazilian government will partner with Oxford University and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to produce a promising coronavirus vaccine that is undergoing tests.
Brazilian Health Ministry authorities said the country would pay $127 million and receive material to produce 30.4 million doses in two batches in December and January, which would allow it to quickly start inoculation efforts if the vaccine was certified to be safe and effective.
The total deal is for 100 million vaccines for a country of about 210 million residents. It will be produced by local vaccine maker Fiocruz.
The first to get the Oxford shot would be high-risk groups such as the elderly, people with comorbidities and health and security professionals.
On May 21, the United States announced a deal for at least 300 million doses of the Oxford shot and committed up to $1.2 billion to the effort. On June 13, AstraZeneca agreed to supply up to 400 million doses of the experimental vaccine to European Union nations. Other negotiations are ongoing with Russia and Japan, among other countries, the company’s CEO said this month.
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Agencies 4.45am: India’s virus epicentre faces severe doctor shortage
The acting health minister of India’s capital says New Delhi is facing a shortage of “trained and experienced” health care workers, providing a major challenge in a city that is the epicentre of the country’s coronavirus outbreak.
With more than 77,000 cases, New Delhi has been hit harder than any other Indian city. Infections had been projected to rise to half a million by the end of July in Delhi, the territory that includes the capital. With the rate of infections slowing down, the number has been revised to 400,000, and Acting Health Minister Manish Sisodia said he was hopeful that it could be less.
“But we can’t be under any illusions,” he said as India’s total caseload passed half a million. “The availability of medical staff is a big challenge that (other) states need to address as well.”
Mr Sisodia said that while the shortage of health care workers in New Delhi remained a concern, the situation was not as dire as it once was. He said that at the start of the outbreak, government hospitals were under enormous strain. But as doctors who were infected with the coronavirus recovered, the shortages became less serious and morale improved.
Still, a shortage of health care workers in New Delhi is significant because it is far richer and has more hospitals than many of the regions in India where the virus is spreading rapidly. New Delhi’s per capita income is three times the national average, according to government data. — AP
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