Coronavirus Australia live news: Deaths spike by 100 in less than 10 days as teens arrested for skipping quarantine
Coronavirus deaths have raced past 300, increasing by more than 100 in less than 10 days, amid warnings that more people will perish because of the ‘devastating effect’ on aged-care facilities.
- Teens arrested after skipping quarantine
- Victoria records 19 deaths
- Pharmacy worker tests positive
- Deadliest day amid mental health crisis
- Regional towns bleeding
- US reaches grim milestone: 5m cases
Welcome to The Australian’s rolling coverage of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Two teens returning to Queensland allegedly failed to declare they had visited a NSW hotspot, as data shows one in three Australian adults received stimulus payments by May. Victoria has reached another grim record with 19 deaths, while NSW Health has issued alerts after a pupil at a Sydney school and a pharmacy worker tested positive.
Geoff Chambers 10pm: Border ban ‘drives down crime rates’
Premier Mark McGowan’s COVID-19 border ban and social restrictions have smashed the West Australian drug trade and driven down crime rates in the state.
Kellie Southan 9.30pm: Map of active cases by Victorian LGA
Greg Brown 9pm: Kennett slams ‘lack of Liberal leadership’
Former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett says he is disappointed by ‘lack of leadership’ shown by the state opposition, amid a push for stronger scrutiny of the Andrews government.
Rachel Baxendale 8.30pm: Stage-four rules make inroads on transport
Victoria’s stage-four restrictions and 8pm to 5am curfew have seen road and public transport use fall dramatically.
Hannah Lucinda Smith 8pm: Hagia Sophia prayers lead to surge in infections
Up to 3000 people are likely to have been infected during the first prayers at Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia last month.
Dominic Walsh 7.30pm: Buffett warns only one thing can save flight industry
Billionaire Warren Buffett has warned investors that only one thing can salvage the immediate prospects of the aerospace market.
AFP 6.30pm: New Zealand eyes Cook Islands travel bubble
New Zealand plans to open a virus-free “travel bubble” with the tiny Pacific realm of Cook Islands this year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday, while expressing caution about a similar arrangement with Australia.
Ms Ardern said the quarantine-free travel corridor was possible because New Zealand and the Cooks — an archipelago of fewer than 10,000 people — had successfully contained the coronavirus.
“Our expectation is that it would be in place before the end of the year,” she said, adding officials were being careful not to move too quickly on the proposal.
“The last thing anyone wants is to reopen travel, only to have it closed down again because it hasn’t been done properly.”
New Zealand has recorded only 22 coronavirus deaths in a population of five million, and marked 100 days since its last case of community transmission on Sunday, while the Cooks declared itself virus-free in mid-April.
The economic benefits of the travel bubble are expected to be felt mostly in the Cooks, a popular tourist destination where Ardern estimated 60 per cent of pre-virus visitors were from New Zealand.
A trans-Tasman bubble with Australia would be far more advantageous to New Zealand’s economy, where international tourism screeched to a halt when borders were closed in March.
The prospect looked tantalisingly close a few months ago, before Australia was hit with a second wave of infections centred on Victoria state.
“We’re still undertaking the foundational work for trans-Tasman travel arrangements but obviously that’s going to be sometime off,” Ms Ardern said.
READ MORE: Dan’s disaster a self-fulfilling prophecy
Rachel Baxendale 6pm: Wait time to inform close contacts slashed
Fewer than than 1 per cent of known close contacts of positive coronavirus cases in are still awaiting contact more than 48 hours after Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services has been notified of a positive case.
Department data released on Monday, which relates to the period since Friday, appears to indicate a dramatic improvement in contact tracing in Victoria.
The Australian has previously reported that close contacts of two students at a Melbourne primary school who tested positive for COVID-19 waited at least 22 days for DHHS to tell them they might have been exposed to the coronavirus.
Former Australian Medical Association president Mukesh Haikerwal has also spoken of close contacts waiting 23 and 24 days to be contacted.
The new data comes as the number of Victorian COVID-19 cases under investigation fell dramatically from a peak of 3969 last Thursday, to 2238 on Sunday.
The data shows all new positive cases were notified of their positive result within 24 hours of the department receiving it.
Of these, 10-25 per cent of new cases were awaiting a contact tracing interview at the 24-hour mark, due to not answering the phone or not being home when DHHS authorised officers and the ADF came knocking.
Fewer than 1 per cent of known close contacts were awaiting notification more than 48 hours after the department received the positive result.
Victoria’s contact tracing team has more than doubled from 1000 during the first wave of the pandemic to more than 2400 tnowoday, including contact tracers from interstate and the ADF.
Its leadership team has also received a boost, with Deputy Chief Health Officer Annaliese van Diemen last month moved sideways to manage Victoria’s avian flu pandemic, and her previous role taken over by three eminent infectious diseases physicians — Professor Allen Cheng from The Alfred hospital, Professor Rhonda Stuart from Monash Health, and Professor Paul Johnson from Austin Health.
READ MORE: Watchdog failed to issue infection warning
Rachel Baxendale 5.35pm: Cases at abattoirs and smallgoods firms hit 876
A total of 876 coronavirus cases have emerged in 14 abattoirs or smallgoods manufacturers in Victoria.
Three huge outreaks have dwarfed the 111 cases at Cedar Meats, which was the largest coronavirus cluster of Victoria’s first wave of infections.
Cedar Meats, in Brooklyn, in Melbourne’s west, has since had another two cases as part of the second wave, bringing the facility’s total to 113.
The largest abattoir cluster in Victoria is at Bertocchi Smallgoods, in Thomastown, in Melbourne’s north, with 201 cases, followed by Somerville Retail Services in the western suburb of Tottenham, with 165, and JBS, also in Brooklyn, with 140 cases.
Regional Victorian meat processors have also been affected, with 83 cases at the Australian Lamb Company in Colac, in Victoria’s southwest, and 44 at Golden Farms Poultry in Breakwater, 18 at Hazeldene Chicken Bendigo, and 15 at Don KR Castlemaine, all in central Victoria.
A further 32 cases have emerged at Ingham’s, also in Thomastown, with 27 at Diamond Valley Pork in Laverton, in Melbourne’s west, 11 cases at Australian Meat Group, Dandenong South, in the outer southeast, 11 cases at D’Orsogna Meats in Mickleham, in the north, nine at Major Meats in Coburg, also in the north, and five at Top Cut Foods, also in Laverton.
READ MORE: One in three gets COVID payments
Paige Taylor 5.20pm: WA wary of Palmer after 121 days without spread
Western Australia has again recorded no new cases of coronoavirus, 121 days since the last detected case of community spread.
There are, however, three existing cases of COVID-19 in WA. Two are Australians who returned from overseas and went directly to hotel quarantine and one is an interstate traveller also in hotel quarantine.
The McGowan government continues to urge iron ore magnate Clive Palmer to drop his case against the state’s hard border closure.
Aged-care facilities across WA are preparing to go back into lockdown — or again severely limit visits — if Mr Palmer succeeds in the High Court.
READ MORE: ‘Like drowning’: Vic launches confronting COVID ad campaign
Olivia Caisley 5pm: Kidd fails to explain lack of aged-care planning
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd could not explain why the government provided such little advice to the aged-care sector to prepare for COVID-19 outbreaks at nursing homes.
Professor Kidd gave journalists less than seven minutes to ask questions about the government’s response on the deadliest day of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.
It came just hours after the Aged Care Royal Commission heard neither the federal health department or the aged care regulator had developed a COVID-19 plan for the sector, with counsel assisting the commission Peter Rozen QC criticising authorities for a lack of preparedness.
At a press conference in Canberra on Monday, Professor Kidd said he was not across the details of evidence given at the aged-care inquiry and therefore was unable to respond to questions regarding the government’s response to multiple outbreaks at nursing homes.
Of the 15 minutes allocated to reporters, 6½ minutes were devoted to the general coronavirus update.
As of Monday, there are 1756 active cases of coronavirus across 122 Victorian aged-care facilities, with the state recording a new high of 19 deaths.
Nationally, fatalities are up more than 100 in less than 10 days.
Asked why the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee had only provided the aged-care sector with specific advice on just three occasions (other sectors such as children and schools received eight statements over the same period), and why it took them six weeks to update advice regarding the easing of visitor restrictions despite skyrocketing cases across Victoria, Professor Kidd said: “There are many other (COVID-19 preparedness) mechanisms which are in play in determining what the responses are to what’s happening in the aged-care sector.
“This of course includes establishment by the Australian government and the Victorian government of the national Age Care Response Centre, which has been now running for two weeks and is working very hard to make sure the residents in each of the affected aged care facilities in Victoria have been met.”
Asked to clarify his response about the lack of advice given to the sector at a time when new daily infections rose from 24 to 413 over a period of six weeks, Professor Kidd said: “I’m sorry that I am not across the testimony which has been made to the Aged Care Royal Commission today sort of as to provide me further responses.”
A final question on medicine prices and concerns the cost of medications will rise under an agreement between the Pharmacy Guild and the federal government was met with the response that the question was “outside the terms of reference” of the press conference.
The Australian has separately submitted its unanswered questions to the Department of Health.
READ MORE: Why elderly with virus weren’t taken to hospital
Rachel Baxendale 4.30pm: Aged care clusters rage on in Victoria
As of Monday, there are 1756 active cases of coronavirus across 122 Victorian aged care facilities.
This is an increase of 8 cases in the 24 hours to Monday, up from 1748 cases across the same number of facilities on Sunday.
There have been 2339 cases linked to Victorian aged care since the pandemic began.
Of the total number of aged care cases since the pandemic began, 1088 have been in residents, 914 have been in staff, and 337 have been in other close contacts.
This represents an increase of 27 cases in residents and 59 cases in staff in the 24 hours to Monday.
There has also been a decrease of three cases in close contacts — presumably due to a reclassification of cases.
There have been 138 coronavirus deaths in Victoria linked to aged care facilities — up from 125 on Sunday.
The 138 deaths represent 61 per cent of Victoria’s total death toll of 228 since the pandemic began.
All of these deaths have occurred since July 5.
The largest aged care clusters include:
– 188 cases linked to Heritage Care’s Epping Gardens facility in Melbourne’s north, up from 186 on Sunday. This includes 93 residents (+2), 69 staff (+5) and 26 others (-5);
– 171 cases linked to St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Fawkner, in Melbourne’s north, up from 169 on Sunday. This includes 84 residents, 60 staff (+1) and 27 others (+1);
– 146 cases linked to Estia Health in Ardeer, in Melbourne’s west – the same as on Sunday. This includes 51 residents, 66 staff and 29 others;
– 125 cases linked to Kirkbrae Presbyrterian Homes in Kilsyth, in Melbourne’s outer east, up from 123 on Sunday. This includes 50 residents (+1), 49 staff (+2) and 26 others (-1);
– 106 cases linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge in Werribee, in Melbourne’s outer southwest, up from 105 on Sunday. This includes 54 residents, 37 staff (+1) and 15 others;
– 97 cases linked to Estia Health in Heidelberg, in Melbourne’s northeast, up from 96 on Sunday. This includes 27 residents, 52 staff (+1) and 18 others;
– 93 cases linked to Outlook Gardens aged care facility in Dandenong North, in Melbourne’s outer southeast – the same as on Sunday. This includes 38 residents, 43 staff and 12 others;
– 88 cases linked to the Arcare aged care facility in Craigieburn, in Melbourne’s outer north, up from 87 on Sunday. This includes 35 residents, 32 staff (+1) and 21 others;
– 79 cases linked to the Glendale aged care facility in Werribee, in Melbourne’s outer southwest, up from 78 on Sunday. This includes 39 residents, 26 staff (+1) and 14 others (+5);
– 78 cases linked to Aurrum aged care facility in Plenty, in Melbourne’s outer northeast, up from 77 on Sunday. This includes 47 residents (+1), 20 staff and 11 others;
READ MORE: Aged care watchdog failed to issue virus warning
Max Maddison 4.10pm: National deaths up more than 100 in less than 10 days
Coronavirus deaths have raced past 300, increasing by more than 100 in less than 10 days, as the deputy Chief Medical Officer warns that more people will perish because of the “devastating effect” on aged-care facilities.
While it was “heartening” to see declining numbers of cases in Victoria, Professor Michael Kidd said the reality of the situation meant more people would continue to contract the virus and become “gravely unwell”.
“And sadly some of those people will die. We will also continue to have significant risk of COVID-19 infection for senior Australians, receiving care in both residential aged care facilities and at home,” Professor Kidd told a daily briefing on Monday afternoon.
“This is the tragedy of COVID-19 and the tragedy of the high numbers we have seen in Australia over the past few weeks. COVID-19 has had a devastating effect on several aged care facilities, the people affected our much loved parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, and the dedicated staff who provide excellent care, and support to the residents, each day.”
With coronavirus-related deaths passing 200 only 10 days earlier, Professor Kidd was unwilling to provide projections about the death toll, but said the only way to prevent further cases in aged care facilities was controlling community transmission.
“The stage-four restrictions in Melbourne are achieving this control of community transmission across the city, contact tracing continues to be essential, we must make sure every new case of COVID-19 is being followed up every day,” he said.
“ … and I acknowledge the work of the colleagues in Victoria and making sure this happens. But everybody has a role to play in bringing down community transmission.”
READ MORE: ‘Like drowning’: Vic’s grim new COVID ad campaign
Rachel Baxendale 3.25pm: Mikakos says tweets conceding mistakes ‘speak for themselves’
Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos says a series of tweets issued around midnight on Saturday night in which she conceded that mistakes had been made in the Andrews government’s pandemic response “speak for themselves” and she will not become a “commentator” on herself.
Ms Mikakos tweeted that measures needed to be implemented “quickly and nimbly because the virus would not wait and no doubt, mistakes were made along the way, because humans are flawed yet contagious viruses are unforgiving.”
Since that fateful day on 25 January, when we had our first-ever case, I’ve worked every day to keep everyone safe. I have put every ounce of energy I’ve had into that effort. If it wasn’t enough, then I’m deeply sorry.
— Jenny Mikakos MP #StayHomeSaveLives (@JennyMikakos) August 8, 2020
She said she had “put every ounce of energy” she has into the pandemic effort, and “If that wasn’t enough, then I’m deeply sorry.”
She also made reference to retired judge Justice Jennifer Coate’s board of inquiry into the bungled hotel quarantine system, saying: “Let the independent judge do her job, let the cards fall where they may. I believe there is nothing to fear in seeking the truth. The truth will set you free.”
Asked to explain why she had tweeted, Ms Mikakos said: “Firstly I think the tweets speak for themselves.”
Let the independent judge do her job, let the cards fall where they may. I believe there is nothing to fear in seeking the truth. The truth will set you free.
— Jenny Mikakos MP #StayHomeSaveLives (@JennyMikakos) August 8, 2020
“I’m not going to be a commentator on myself, but what I would say is that, look, I think at this critical juncture where we have got Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne, Stage 3 restrictions across Victoria, every Victorian making huge sacrifices,” Ms Mikakos said.
“I’ve been concerned that the focus hasn’t been in terms of the public commentary on the fight against the virus, and I think that’s absolutely where the focus needs to be right now.
Asked whether she had anything in particular in mind when she said mistakes had “no doubt” been made, Ms Mikakos said: “That’s for others to judge.”
“There’s an independent process underway, and I think it’s important that that process is allowed to do its job without, you know, me or anyone else providing a daily running commentary,” she said.
Asked why she had felt the need to issue the tweets late on Saturday night, Ms Mikakos said: “I work very late hours.”
Asked if she would issue the tweets again if she had her time over, Ms Mikakos said: “Look the tweets are there, people can form their own views about them.”
“I’m not going to be a commentator, myself, and many others have expressed views,” she said.
“I’m focused on the task at hand. I’m not looking backwards. I’m looking forward. Others can look backwards.
“We’ve got an independent process that can analyse all of these things, go through thousands of pages of documents.
“I don’t have time to do that. I won’t be casting judgment on myself or anybody else. That’s for others to do.”
READ MORE: Deeply sorry: Health minister admits mistakes
Mackenzie Scott 2.46pm: Teens arrested after skipping quarantine
Two teenagers have been taken into custody after allegedly skipping hotel quarantine when they arrived from a NSW hotspot last Friday.
Police had been looking for the girls, aged 15 and 16, for the last 24 hours before tracking them down to Noosa Civic Centre shopping centre on Monday afternoon.
Authorities said the pair arrived in Brisbane from greater western Sydney by train on Friday before travelling north to the Sunshine Coast, ahead of the total ban on all travellers from NSW.
Superintendent Craig Hawkins said the girls had not been “completely honest” upon their arrival to the state but were now co-operating with police.
“There is no information to suggest they are carriers of the disease. However, in the interest of safety and certainly because they were in a hotspot, we were keen to ensure they have undertaken the right testing,” Superintendent Hawkins said.
Neither girl is symptomatic of the virus. Several stores within the shopping centre were forced to close on Monday afternoon.
Greater western Sydney was declared a hotspot last month as the number of COVID-19 cases and clusters rose throughout the region. The state border officially closed to all of NSW on Saturday morning, with only those living in the Tweed Heads region allowed to cross with passes.
All return travellers from declared hot spots are expected to enter compulsory 14-day hotel quarantine at their own expense.
READ MORE: Teens arrested after skipping quarantine
Patrick Commins 2.29pm: Stimulus payments reach 6.3 million Australians
One in three Australian adults, or 6.3 million people, had received a special government handout by May, and close to half of all adult Tasmanians, new analysis of household survey data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows.
Adding to savings and paying household bills were the most commonly cited primary use for the stimulus payments, at 29 per cent and 28 per cent of respondents, respectively, the ABS report said.
The next most common main use of government support was to buy food and non-alcoholic drinks, at 12 per cent.
Read the full story here.
Mackenzie Scott 1.47pm: Property search activity shrinks in Victoria
The number of online property searches in Victoria shrunk by 13.3 per cent last week as the real estate industry headed into virtual hibernation under stage four restrictions.
New data from realestate.com.au showed the enforcement of virtual only auctions and open homes in Melbourne dampened buyers’ appetite for property over the last week, with the double digit fall in search activity through Victoria the largest this calendar year.
Regional markets are operating under stage three restrictions, which allows one-on-one in-person inspections.
REA Insights executive manager of economic research, Cameron Kusher, said Melbourne’s second wave of virus restrictions are having more of an impact on the property market than the first, with search activity dropping significantly in Victoria last week.
“While lockdowns are likely to impact on search behaviour for a few weeks (based on the data from the first lockdown period) I would also expect that search behaviour will start to rebound as cases come under control and individuals start to see an end to the lockdown period,” Mr Kusher said.
The state was the largest driver of the national decline, down 3.4 per cent in what was the largest weekly decline in 19 weeks.
Mild change was recorded in the other states, down 1.5 per cent in New South Wales, 1.3 per cent in South Australia, 0.1 per cent in Western Australia and 1.7 per cent in Tasmania.
Despite the recent decline in search numbers nationally, volumes are still 28.8 per cent higher than they were a year ago. Even in Victoria, search volumes remain 9.4 per cent higher than last year.
Rental search data showed a similar trend, with Victoria’s 16.9 per cent plunge driving a national change of 2.8 per cent.
READ MORE: Mansion sales keep virus at bay
Imogen Reid 12.53pm: Cluster grows at school in Sydney’s northwest
Five of the 14 cases recorded in New South Wales in the past 24 hours have been linked with Tangara School for Girls in Cherrybrook.
NSW Health revealed that the new cases include four students and a household contact of a previously confirmed case.
However, this does not include an additional two cases – a teacher and a student – which will be added to tomorrow’s daily tally.
“In total, nine cases (including six students) were now associated with the school, including one case previously reported case,” NSW Health said.
“The original source of this cluster remains under investigation.”
The school’s secondary campus will remain closed until Monday 24 August, while the junior campus will be shut until Tuesday 11 August and will reopen on Wednesday 12 August for students whose parents need to send their children to school.
“All students, staff and support staff of the secondary school are self-isolating for 14 days and being tested, regardless of symptoms,” NSW Health said.
“Students of the primary school must monitor for symptoms and get tested if symptoms develop, even if they are mild.”
The school is less than 3km from St Agatha’s in Pennant Hills, where a positive case attended mass on two occasions last week.
People who attended early masses on Wednesday and Thursday this week are being asked to be alert for symptoms, with the church closed for cleaning.
Meanwhile, a childcare centre in Sydney’s northwest has closed today after a staff member worked while infectious earlier this month.
Contact tracing is underway to identify whether any possible transmissions occurred while the employee was at Kids’ Early Learning Quakers Hill Long Daycare Centre on 3 August.
Another student, also not included in today’s numbers, from Our Lady of Mercy College in Parramatta has tested positive for coronavirus. The school has since shut for cleaning.
Three of today’s new cases have been linked to the funeral events in Bankstown, bringing the total number of cases linked to the cluster to 63.
READ MORE: 14 new cases in NSW
Stephen Lunn 12.40pm: Health officials concerned about transfer precedent
NSW Health Department officials were concerned about setting a precedent if they transferred all COVID-positive Newmarch House nursing home residents for treatment, the aged care royal commission has heard.
Counsel assisting the commission Peter Rozen QC outlined arguments between commonwealth and state officials over how to handle residents who had contracted coronavirus, and a “hospital in the home” policy imposed on Newmarch residents.
“There was a vigorous disagreement between the commonwealth and NSW officials on this question of hospitalisation of COVID-19 positive residents in the early days of the outbreak at Newmarch House,” Mr Rozen said.
He said an email on April 16 recorded a meeting between commonwealth and state health discussing taking residents from the nursing home to hospital.
READ MORE: No federal COVID plan for aged care, commission hears
Rachel Baxendale 12.17pm: Promising trend for Victoria’s active cases
Victoria has recorded by far its lowest net increase in active cases in well over a month.
The number of active cases in the state increased by just 15 to 7869, as the number of people recovering in the 24 hours to Monday came close to the 322 new cases in that time.
Regrettably, the 19 deaths in that period would also have played a role.
Meanwhile there have now been 2863 cases that contact tracers have been unable to link to other known cases, 105 cases more than Sunday.
This does not include 2238 cases which remained under investigation on Sunday, as well as a proportion of Monday’s 322 new cases which are yet to be linked to known outbreaks.
There are now 1065 active cases in health workers – an increase of 71 since Sunday.
There are 1756 active cases in aged care – an increase of eight since Sunday.
READ MORE: Victoria’s new tactic to drive down infections
Olivia Caisley 11.55am: Four days to inform Health Department of outbreak
The aged care watchdog knew there had been a coronavirus outbreak at St Basil’s aged care facility in Melbourne but took four days to inform the Health Department, new evidence to a parliamentary inquiry shows.
At a senate committee scrutinising the government’s response to the pandemic last week it was heard it took five days for federal health officials to become aware that a staff member at St Basil’s nursing home – now at the centre of Victorian aged care COVID-19 crisis – had become infected with coronavirus.
Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck and Department of Health secretary Brendan Murphy told the hearing last week that while a St Basil’s employee told management they were infected with the virus on July 9, it wasn’t until July 14 that the state government informed its federal counterparts.
“The board chair became aware on the ninth but didn’t raise it with commonwealth,” Professor Murphy said.
Read the full story here.
Stephen Lunn 11.35am: No COVID plan for aged care, royal commission hears
Neither the federal health department or the aged care regulator developed a COVID-19 plan for aged care, the aged care royal commission has heard.
In a blistering opening address on a new hearing into coronavirus and aged care, counsel assisting the commission Peter Rozen QC criticised authorities for a lack of preparedness in aged care settings for the pandemic.
“While there was undoubtedly a great deal done to prepare the Australian health sector more generally for the pandemic, the evidence will reveal that neither the Commonwealth Department of Health nor the aged care regulator developed a COVID-19 plan specifically for the aged care sector,” Mr Rozen said.
He said the Australian Health Protection Protocol Committee, the joint-state federal body that is the main source of advice about COVID-19, offered no advice for the aged care sector about coronavirus between June 19 and August 3, “a crucial period of six weeks during which the number of new daily infections in Victoria grew from 25 to 413”.
“There was no advice about how the sector should respond to the risk posed by aged care workers who may be COVID-19 positive yet asymptomatic, particularly those who work in multiple facilities,” Mr Rozen said.
READ the full story here.
Rachel Baxendale 11.25am: New cases bring Victoria total to 14,957
There have been 322 new cases of COVID-19 in Victoria in the 24 hours to Monday, bringing the total since the pandemic began to 14,957.
There are now 640 people in Victorian hospitals with coronavirus, including 47 people in intensive care, 31 of whom are on ventilators.
There have now been 1,820,598 tests conducted since the pandemic began, including 19,213 processed in the 24 hours to Monday.
The 322 new cases from 19,213 tests result in a positive test rate of 1.68 per cent, up from Sunday’s positive test rate of 0.95 per cent from 394 cases from 41,416 tests.
However, it is well down from the August 2 record of 3.63 per cent, from 671 cases and 18,000 tests, and the most recent high of 3.02 per cent, from a record 725 cases and 24,000 tests.
READ MORE: What will save the future of flying
Rachel Baxendale 11.15am: Victoria deaths include man in 50s
The 19 deaths from coronavirus in Victoria in the 24 hours to Monday include those of a man in his 50s and a woman in her 60s.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the deaths also included those of two men in their 70s, one man and six women in their 80s, and one man and seven women in their 90s.
Of the 19 deaths, 14 were linked to aged care facilities.
Victoria’s death toll since the pandemic began now stands at 228, not 229, due to the duplication of a death reported yesterday.
“On behalf of all Victorians, we send our best wishes, our love and support and condolences and sympathies to the families of those 19 Victorians,” Mr Andrews said.
READ MORE: ‘Freedom day’ rally fizzles
Yoni Bashan 11.10am: NSW records 14 new cases
NSW has recorded 14 new cases of the novel coronavirus in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday, one of which involves a case without links to a known outbreak.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said another case was interstate acquired, a further 11 were linked to known clusters, and five were linked to the Tangara School for Girls cluster in the Sydney suburb of Cherrybrook.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian described the state as remaining in a state of “very high alert”.
“We are at least halfway through a very critical phase and it’s still really important for people to come forward and get tested.
READ MORE: Positive case at Catholic mass
Remy Varga 10.55am: Melbourne family fined over trip to playground
A Melbourne family who were “sick of walking around their local area” have been fined after travelling further than the permitted 5km to go to a playground.
They are among the latest tranche of public health breaches, with Victoria Police issuing 276 fines in the last 24 hours.
There were 37 fines issued over failures to wear masks as well as 74 issued for curfew breaches.
Other penalty examples include a man trying to buy cigarettes after curfew in the suburb of Kew as well as four males “hanging out” in a car in a carpark in the north Melbourne suburb of Campbellfield.
As well, police busted five people drinking, smoking and listening to music together in a garage in the local government area of Wyndham.
READ MORE: Morrison charting right course in crisis
Rachel Baxendale 10.30am: Andrews to give update at 11am
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is due to address the media at 11am, amid news the state has recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic, with 19 deaths.
The news comes as the state consolidates a recent run of lower daily case numbers with 322 new cases on Monday.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos is also due to front the media for the first time since she issued a series of tweets in the early hours on Sunday morning, conceding “no doubt, mistakes were made along the way” in Victoria’s response to the pandemic.
Ms Mikakos tweeted that she had “put every ounce of energy” she has into the pandemic effort, and “If that wasn’t enough, then I’m deeply sorry.”
Since that fateful day on 25 January, when we had our first-ever case, I’ve worked every day to keep everyone safe. I have put every ounce of energy I’ve had into that effort. If it wasn’t enough, then I’m deeply sorry.
— Jenny Mikakos MP #StayHomeSaveLives (@JennyMikakos) August 8, 2020
She also made reference to retired judge Justice Jennifer Coate’s board of inquiry into the bungled hotel quarantine system, saying: “Let the independent judge do her job, let the cards fall where they may. I believe there is nothing to fear in seeking the truth. The truth will set you free.”
Let the independent judge do her job, let the cards fall where they may. I believe there is nothing to fear in seeking the truth. The truth will set you free.
— Jenny Mikakos MP #StayHomeSaveLives (@JennyMikakos) August 8, 2020
The tweets came after Ms Mikakos last week refused to give a verbal answer to a single question in upper house question time, instead providing written responses the following day.
Several of these written responses involved a refusal to answer questions relating to the hotel quarantine inquiry.
This was despite Justice Coate clarifying earlier the same day that her inquiry is not a court, and “there is no general restriction or prohibition which would prevent a person from commenting publicly or answering questions to which they know the answers on matters which are the subject of examination by this board of inquiry.”
READ MORE: Dan’s state of disaster is a self-fulfilling prophecy
Imogen Reid 10.15am: Frydenberg repeats call for answers from Andrews
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has again backed calls to the Victorian government to explain the failures in the state’s bungled hotel quarantine system.
“It’s very, very difficult emotionally, it’s obviously difficult on the economy as well, and it should have never got to that particular point,” Mr Frydenberg told 2GB’s Ben Fordham this morning.
“With respect to quarantine, there have been very significant failures with deadly consequences. Victorian deserve answers. I’ll leave that to Daniel Andrews and his government to provide.
“I think it’s only fair that Victorian’s are provided with the truth about what happened in quarantine because they know the what but they don’t know the how or the why.”
It comes as Victoria reaches a grim record of 19 new deaths and 322 cases.
READ MORE: State of disaster is self-fulfilling prophecy
Imogen Reid 10.00am: Coatsworth confident Vic cases will fall
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth says he is confident Victoria’s coronavirus case numbers will start to drop over the next week.
Speaking on ABC this morning, Mr Coatsworth reiterated the importance of Melbourne’s Stage 4 restrictions, saying it is the only way the number of new infections will decline as the reproductive number falls below one.
“What is clear is that Stage 3 restrictions and now the Stage 4 restrictions have led to a plateau and there is every expectation that they have restricted movement enough that the basic reproductive number is going to fall substantially below one and we’re going to start to see the numbers come down, but we can’t have the disappointment or the rollercoaster ride of them going from 390 to 450 and up and down again,” Mr Coatsworth said.
“It is important to wait for the trend to emerge.
“This is about getting runs on the board. This is about Victorians, particularly those under Stage 4 restrictions, but those under Stage 3 restrictions getting rewarded for their efforts and when we do see it I think we will all be very happy to see that curve go downwards again.”
Mr Coatsworth explained previously that the basic reproductive number in Victoria was one, meaning on average, one person was infecting one other in Melbourne.
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Sarah Elks 9.35am: Broncos ‘threatening NRL season in Queensland’
Brisbane Broncos rugby league players breaching strict COVID-19 restrictions are threatening the whole season continuing in Queensland, the state’s Chief Health Officer says.
After the latest case of a Brisbane Bronco player breaking out of the NRL bubble and attending the opening of a barber shop, Chief Health officer Jeannette Young said she would be reviewing every breach reported by the league.
“I’m not sure the players understand the seriousness (of the situation),” Dr Young said.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the continued breaches – including coaching great Wayne Bennett in Sydney – were frustrating.
“(It’s) incredibly frustrating because Queenslanders are doing the right thing,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“This puts at risk the great work Queenslanders have done.”
Queensland recorded one new coronavirus case overnight, a returning traveller from overseas who is in hotel quarantine.
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Rachel Baxendale 9.25am: Victoria records 19 deaths, 322 cases
Victoria has recorded its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic, with 19 deaths in the 24 hours to Monday.
There were 322 new cases of #coronavirus (#COVID19) detected in Victoria in the last 24 hours. Sadly, there were 19 deaths reported #Covid19VicData pic.twitter.com/TINmAA7DBI
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) August 9, 2020
The grim news comes after a record 17 deaths in the 24 hours to Sunday.
There have been 322 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the state in the 24 hours to Monday. That number is the lowest daily increase for 12 days, and cap off five days of new case numbers under 500.
The most recent lower number was 295 cases on July 29.
The 322 cases also bring the state’s seven day daily average back to 467 cases, down from a record 573 last Wednesday, when Victoria had a daily record of 725 new cases.
There have now been 229 COVID-19 deaths in Victoria since the pandemic began, 219 of which have occurred since July 5.
From today, Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services will tweet the daily new coronavirus case and death numbers.
Previously the numbers were consistently leaking to the press prior to Premier Daniel Andrews’ daily media conferences.
READ MORE: Regional towns bleeding as lockdown cuts deep
Sarah Elks 9.15am: No community transmission in Queensland
Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the one new case in the state was a man returning from overseas, and there was no community transmission.
Dr Young warned people in Queensland and New South Wales’ border communities to think about the possibility of transmission.
“What will I do, what will my family do, if the border becomes closed because there are cases spreading north from Sydney,” Dr Young said.
Dr Young said the most northern case in NSW was in Newcastle, but health authorities expected the virus to spread further north in NSW, because there was still free movement allowed in that state.
Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said since the border closed to NSW and ACT at 1am on Saturday, 99 flight had arrived, with 4532 people processed through the airports.
197 people were placed in hotel quarantine, and six were refused entry from the airport.
On the road border, Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said 9046 vehicles were stopped, more than 500 people were refused entry, and 144 people were placed into hotel quarantine.
Six infringement notices were issued to people trying to enter Queensland untruthfully.
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Sarah Elks 9.10am: Queensland lifts aged care restrictions; one new case
Queensland will lift its aged care restrictions after recording just one new case of coronavirus – and no more linked to the Logan women who lied about returning from Melbourne.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the result was great for the state, and should give Queenslanders confidence to travel through the state over the upcoming long weekend.
The new case is a returning traveller from overseas in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of cases to 1089. There are 11 active cases.
More than 667,000 tests have been conducted in Queensland since the start of the pandemic, with more than 8000 in the past 24 hours.
“We’ve avoided the risk of a widespread outbreak from those (people) returning from Melbourne,” Deputy Premier Steven Miles said.
Visitors were banned from aged care centres in southeast Queensland after the case of the three women who returned to Queensland from Sydney, allegedly lying about being in Melbourne.
Two of those women have tested positive, and a third woman related to one of them has also tested positive. A Brisbane couple dining near the women at a restaurant were also confirmed to be COVID-19 positive.
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Imogen Reid 9.00am: Police called to Queensland beach party
Queensland police officers were forced to break up a massive beach party at the weekend which had a DJ, a stage and crowd of up to 300 people.
Officers were called to Wangetti Beach, about 40 kilometres north of Cairns, on Saturday morning after several complaints were made by the local community of large crowds and loud music. On arrival police found people were illegally camping, vehicles were parked illegally and alcohol was being consumed on the beach.
Officers broke up the revellers but said in a statement that a large section of the crowd became unruly and hostile towards police with additional resources needed to control the situation.
“A 35-year-old Cairns North man was arrested and charged with one count each of possession of a dangerous drug, possession of suspected stolen property, public nuisance and two counts of obstruction police,” police said in a statement.
“Two 23-year-old men were also issued with Notices to Appear in court for allegedly drink driving.”
People who breach social distancing regulations in QLD can face on-the-spot fines of $1335.
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Cameron Stewart 8.35am: Trump lashed over coronavirus aid ‘stunt’
Democrat leaders have accused Donald Trump of abusing his powers in bypassing Congress over coronavirus aid as the number of virus cases in the US officially broke through 5 million.
The president has unilaterally signed a series of measures to provide economic relief to millions of Americans by changing tax and spending policy which is traditionally the responsibility of Congress.
He did so after weeks of deadlock between Republicans and Democrats in Congress over a proposed coronavirus aid bill of between $US1 billion and $US3.5 billion.
“The president’s meagre, weak and unconstitutional actions further demand that we have an agreement,” Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.
Democrat Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said: “The president’s executive orders, described in one word, could be paltry; in three words, unworkable, weak and far too narrow.”
Former Democrat presidential contender Hillary Clinton also attacked the president. “It’s a stunt,” she said. “There’s no doubt about it, it’s most likely, as even Republican senators have said, unconstitutional, bypassing the Congress, trying to spend money that he has no authority to direct.”
READ the full story here.
Imogen Reid 8.05am: Incentives for business to hire more Aussies
Federal Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has said there would be incentives for businesses to hire more Australian workers in the Australia’s COVID-19 recovery mission.
Speaking on Seven’s Sunrise program this morning, Mr Cormann said getting on top of the health crisis occurring in Victoria and creating jobs will be key to reviving the economy.
"Clearly what we've demonstrated over the last six months is our preparedness to keep responding to an evolving situation"
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) August 9, 2020
Finance Minister @MathiasCormann says the Federal Government is open to making more changes to JobKeeper.
Latest update: https://t.co/NkVFH2ldL2 pic.twitter.com/b0W6bo3Aep
“That is key ingredient number one to get the economy going again and beyond that, to get businesses investing into their future wealth and success again, so they start hiring Australians again,” he said.
“We want to restore the jobs that were lost and create new jobs moving forward.
“There will be incentives for businesses to invest in their future growth.”
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Imogen Reid 7.15am: Pharmacy worker tests positive
NSW Health has issued a fresh health alert after a worker at PharmaSave Cherrybrook Pharmacy tested positive for coronavirus.
NSW Health is advising people who visited the PharmaSave Cherrybrook Pharmacy, in Appletree Shopping Centre, from 4pm to 7pm on Thursday 6 August to be alert for symptoms of #COVID19.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 9, 2020
If symptoms occur, immediately self-isolate and seek testing.https://t.co/LmeATIQK4Z pic.twitter.com/BSsLFTlZjm
The staff member worked at the pharmacy in the Appletree Shopping Centre in Sydney’s northwest on Thursday August 6 between 4pm and 7pm.
“Prior to the onset of symptoms, one of the cases reported in today’s figures worked at the pharmacy,” NSW Health said in a statement.
“People who were at the pharmacy at the same time are urged to watch out for any symptoms of COVID-19, and if they occur, to immediately self-isolate and seek testing.
“The pharmacy will undergo cleaning and will be closed temporarily as precaution.”
NSW Health said the employee was wearing a mask during their shift.
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Imogen Reid 7.00am: ACT relaxes restrictions from Monday
Residents of the ACT will enjoy relaxed restrictions from today as the territory continues its streak of no new cases.
Group bookings are no longer restricted at bars, pubs and clubs, but alcohol will still only be served to seated customers.
Food courts will be reopened for dine-in, along with casinos and indoor gaming facilities, while gyms and brothels will be opened for a maximum of 25 patrons when unstaffed.
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Imogen Reid 6.45am: Western Sydney school closes for cleaning
A school in Greater Western Sydney has been forced to close its doors to staff and students after a pupil tested positive for coronavirus.
Parents at Bonnyrigg Heights Primary School were notified classes had been cancelled on Sunday night.
A Sydney school will close today after a student tested positive to coronavirus. It comes a day after NSW Health reported a coronavirus exposure at a Big W in the nearby shopping centre. #7NEWS https://t.co/pAfO7ONENe
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) August 9, 2020
All students and staff have been asked to self-isolate while contact tracing is undertaken and the school is cleaned.
The Department of Education says further advice will be given over the course of the day.
“NSW Department of Education has been advised by NSW Health that a student at Bonnyrigg Heights Public School has tested positive for COVID-19,” the Department said in a statement.
“The school will assist NSW Health in the contact tracing process and the school will be thoroughly cleaned.”
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Imogen Reid 6.35am: US reaches 5 million cases, 160,000 deaths
The US reached a grim milestone over the weekend, recording over five million cases of COVID-19. The country has accounted for nearly a quarter of the world’s death toll, with more than 160,000 citizens succumbing to the virus.
President Donald Trump has signed executive orders designed to provide economic support to Americans suffering financially during the pandemic after the White House failed to reach an agreement with Congress.
The country with the second highest number of cases is Brazil, which has 2.96 infections, followed by Russia and India.
The death toll in India jumped by three on Sunday after a fire at a treatment facility increased to 10. The fire broke out at the health centre in the southeastern Indian city of Vijaywada. The daily death toll was originally reported as seven.
Greece recorded its highest daily rise in infections on Sunday since the start of the outbreak, with 203 new cases confirmed bringing the total number of infections to 5,623.
Meanwhile, Britain’s daily jump in cases passed 1000 for the first time since late June with 1,062 infections confirmed on Sunday.
Globally, there have been more than 19.7 million people infected with the virus, while the total number of COVID-19 deaths is 728,245.
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Stephen Lunn 6.00am: Deadliest day amid mental health crisis
Australia has recorded its deadliest single day of the coronavirus, with 17 people dying in Victoria, as new figures reveal the lockdown state is suffering through a deepening mental health crisis.
As strict restrictions across metropolitan Melbourne flatten the number of new COVID-19 infections — the 394 new cases reported on Sunday was its lowest tally since July 29 — Victoria now faces a rising death toll, fears about mental wellbeing and a high number of health workers contracting the virus.
Authorities are also concerned about a rising number of dead, with the nation’s death toll — 295 on Sunday — an increase of almost 100 in just one week.
The 17 new deaths included two men in their 50s, and 10 linked to nursing homes.
There have been 1061 Victorian nursing home residents infected and 125 aged-care deaths. With the fatality rate for Australians aged over 80 about one in five, authorities anticipate scores more will die.
But Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said new treatments developed since the start of the outbreak were reducing the fatality rate. “We’re also learning more and more … we’re applying new treatments and (medication) that’s demonstrating in a recovery trial to decrease mortality,” he said.
READ the full story here.
Richard Ferguson 5.45am: Regional towns bleeding as lockdown cuts deep
Victoria’s regional towns were bleeding jobs going into Premier Daniel Andrews’s hard lockdown and are suffering the biggest employment losses in the country, new data shows.
Analysis from the Grattan Institute reveals the regional electorates of Gippsland and Monash — held by Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester and Liberal MP Russell Broadbent respectively — suffered job losses of 10.24 and 9.91 per cent respectively between March and early July.
Of the 10 electorates with the nation’s highest job losses, only two are outside of Victoria: opposition education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek’s seat of Sydney and NSW Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite’s seat of Kingsford Smith round out the top 10.
Grattan Institute program director Brendan Coates’s data uses payroll information up to the first few days of Melbourne’s stage-3 lockdown in early July. He told The Australian regional towns suffered most in the initial hotspot lockdowns but had the most promise of rebounding.
“Regional economies in the state are the hardest hit now because they have less white-collar jobs. They rely on retail, hospitality — all of them very exposed right now,” he said.
READ the full story here.
Stephen Lunn 5.30am: Mikakos ‘deeply sorry’ over pandemic mistakes
Victoria’s health minister Jenny Mikakos has turned to social media to admit mistakes have been made in the state’s COVID response and to offer an apology if her efforts to keep people safe haven’t worked.
In a series of Twitter posts late Saturday night, Ms Mikakos also said she looked forward to the independent inquiry into the hotel quarantine issue to play out, as “the truth will set you free.”
I’ve always striven to be upfront and measured about the challenges facing us.
— Jenny Mikakos MP #StayHomeSaveLives (@JennyMikakos) August 8, 2020
So it pains me to see the incorrect assumption made that somehow I can single-handedly report on the actions of countless individuals and many agencies involved in our pandemic response.
Ms Mikakos praised the efforts of health workers after more than 200 had contracted coronavirus in the past two days.
“Since the first case in January, a huge effort by thousands of health care workers and many others has been a huge amount of good work achieved in preparing our health system,” she tweeted.
“It was work that needed to be done quickly and nimbly because the virus would not wait and no doubt mistakes were made along the way because humans are flawed, yet contagious viruses are unforgiving.
READ the full story here.
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