Coronavirus Australia live updates: National death toll rises; Donald Trump shocks with disinfectant injection musing
An aged-care facility in Sydney has another cluster death and police renew criticism of flouting of social distancing.
- Top cop hits at distancing flouting
- Tenth person dies in Tasmania
- Trump’s disinfectant remark ‘sarcastic’
- Brave farmer’s inspirational gift
- Secret behind our virus response
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis, as official global deaths near 200,000 amid almost 2.9 million cases. China has rejected Australia’s call for a pandemic review and stranded Australians are returning from South America on a mercy flight.
Agencies 9.50pm: Sixth death at aged-care facility in Sydney
An 83-year-old man has died from COVID-19 at an aged-care facility in western Sydney, taking the state’s virus toll to 36.
The Cadden facility is the state’s largest ongoing cluster, with 31 of the 100 or so residents having been infected as well as 17 staff members.
Earlier, an aged-care worker at a healthcare facility in the Blue Mountains tested positive, one of 12 new cases in NSW. The worker from Catholic Healthcare Bodington had not been at the aged-care home within 48 hours of showing symptoms, Channel 7 reported. NSW Health said no other positive cases have been confirmed at that facility.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard urged members of the public to continue adhering to social-distancing restrictions.
“If people become too relaxed or complacent, the virus can take off,” he said on Saturday.
“We know we’re doing well, but don’t let it lull you into a false sense of security.”
Police charged three people under the Public Health Act and issued 23 infringement notices in the 24 hours to 2pm on Saturday.
Among those charged was a 23-year-old man in Blacktown who told officers he was on his way to “a mate’s party” after having already received five infringement notices for not obeying public-health orders.
A 36-year-old man was also charged in inner Sydney’s Haymarket after police saw another man approach the accused’s car for a brief encounter before walking away. Police searched the car and allegedly seized cocaine and cash. He was charged for disobeying the public-health order along with related drug offences.
“Whether it’s arrogance, ignorance, or entitlement, I’m not sure,” Ms Webb told reporters on Saturday.
More than 2000 people have recovered from the virus in NSW while 19 are being treated in intensive care, with 15 requiring ventilators.
There are currently 203 positive COVID-19 cases being treated across the state
Ben Packham 8.25pm: China blasts Australia’s call for international inquiry
China has accused Australia of “ideological bias and political games” over Scott Morrison’s calls for an independent inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic.
In remarks on Saturday distributed by the Chinese embassy in Canberra, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the proposed inquiry was a political move that would undermine global efforts to tackle the virus.
“At such a critical juncture, it is highly irresponsible to resort to politically motivated suspicion and accusation,” Mr Geng said.
“We advise the Australian side to put aside ideological bias and political games, focus on the welfare of the Australian people and global public health security, follow the international community’s collective will for cooperation, and contribute to the global cooperation in fighting the virus, instead of doing things to the contrary.”
The comments follow those by the Prime Minister and by Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne urging a “transparent international review into COVID-19”.
MARISE PAYNE: Australia can lead the way
Agencies 7.20pm: Nations with strict shutdowns try limited easing
A tentative easing around the world of coronavirus lockdowns gathered pace on Saturday with the reopening in India of neighbourhood stores that many of the country’s 1.3 billion people rely on for everything from cold drinks to mobile-phone data cards.
The relaxation of the super-strict Indian lockdown came with major caveats.
It did not apply to hundreds of quarantined towns and other hotspots that have been hit hardest by the outbreak that has killed at least 775 people in India and terrified its multitudes of poor who live hand-to-mouth in slum conditions too crowded for social distancing.
Shopping malls also remained closed across the country.
Still, for families that run small stores, being able to reopen and earn again brought relief. “This is a good decision,” said Amit Sharma, an architect.
“We have to open a few things and let the economy start moving. The poor people should have some source of income. This virus is going to be a long-term problem.”
Last week, India also allowed manufacturing and farming activities to resume in rural areas to ease the economic plight of millions of daily wage-earners left without work by the country’s stringent shutdown imposed on March 24.
READ MORE: Strict India joins easing
Emily Ritchie 5.20pm: Exempt billionaire Stokes flies again
Billionaire Kerry Stokes and his wife Christine have flown from Perth to Canberra for an Anzac Day ceremony and then travelled onto Sydney just days after it was revealed the couple were granted an exemption on hotel quarantine after returning from overseas.
On Friday the Stokes flew to Canberra via private jet to attend an Anzac Day ceremony at the Australian War Memorial, where Stokes is a chairman, which was not open to the public.
The couple have since travelled to Sydney where they plan to stay indefinitely as current Western Australian border restrictions would prevent them from getting home.
“As chairman of the war memorial he was allowed to fly to Canberra for Anzac Day on his private jet,” a spokesman for Mr Stokes told The Australian on Saturday.
“He has arrived in Sydney and plans to stay here for the foreseeable future.”
The Stokes’ spokesman said the war memorial was a government organisation and so the travel could be classed as essential.
There are currently limited flights still operating between Canberra and Sydney, and Western Australians are allowed to leave the state.
The Stokes returned from the United States via private jet on April 8 and were allowed to quarantine for 14 days at their riverside Perth mansion instead of a hotel.
People in hotel quarantine have complained repeatedly that they cannot get alcohol, that their windows do not open and that they are not allowed outside their rooms for even short periods of exercise.
“Mr Stokes and his wife received an exemption because Mr Stokes recently underwent a medical procedure,” a spokesman for the mogul said.
“The exemption also applied to Mr Stokes’ wife, who accompanied him, and they have been in isolation for two weeks at their home in Perth.
“Mr and Mrs Stokes strictly followed all the required protocols during that time, as did the air crew. Many thousands of Australians have also received exemptions over the last month.”
Western Australian authorities told The Australian that of the 3000 people returning from overseas since April 6, 900 had been granted exemptions to quarantine either at home or in different facilities.
A spokeswoman for WA Health told The Australian the department provided advice to WA Police on the Stokes’ request for an exemption.
Under WA’s state of emergency laws, police decide whether a person can be exempted from two weeks in hotel quarantine.
READ MORE: Stokes excused from hotel quarantine
The Times 5pm: ‘COVID-secure’ offices to get country back to work
A Treasury proposal to “get Britain back to work” includes plans to ensure that offices and workplaces are free from coronavirus. Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, is drawing up measures to allow non-essential businesses to reopen in a “safe and practical way”.
Businesses will have to put up signs telling workers to remain two metres apart from one another and instruct staff to go home if they have symptoms of COVID-19.
Companies will also be told to close “communal spaces” such as canteens, unless people are able to socially distance, and to ensure there is a widespread supply of handwashing facilities and hand gel.
Train companies are drawing up plans to run an almost full timetable within three weeks, with the government telling operators to prepare for an 80 per cent weekday service from May 18 in case ministers take the decision to partially lift the coronavirus lockdown.
Britain’s death toll now at 19,506, with a new clinical trial was announced to treat up to 5,000 virus patients a week with plasma donated by those who have recovered.
Boris Johnson is due back in Downing Street next week after recovering from the coronavirus at Chequers. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said that Mr Johnson was “raring to go”. His return means he will be in post to decide how and when restrictions should be lifted. The prime minister has told allies that he is very cautious about easing restrictions and that his priority is to avoid a second wave.
There are also growing cabinet misgivings about the lockdown, with one minister comparing it to “house arrest” and saying that it must end soon to avoid the risk of permanent damage to the economy.
READ MORE: Boris v Five Horsemen of the modern apocalypse
Adeshola Ore 4.33pm: SA records no new cases for third day
South Australia has recorded no new cases of coronavirus for the third consecutive day.
The state has recorded 438 confirmed cases, with 402 people who have recovered.
The death toll remains at four.
Four people remain in hospital, with two in ICU.
READ MORE: Coronavirus infections — check your suburb
Agencies 3.50pm: Top cop blasts rule-breakers’ ‘arrogance, entitlement’
As NSW records 12 new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours — and one death — NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb says one per cent of the state’s population had not been adhering to social-distancing restrictions.
“Whether it’s arrogance, ignorance, or entitlement, I’m not sure,” she told reporters on Saturday, after large crowds of beachgoers again flocked to Coogee for a brief opening of the beach for exercise time.
Ms Webb said police would only issue infringement notices in the event that people failed to respond to warnings.
NSW Health Minister Brad Mr Hazzard described the virus as “cagey”, “energetic” and “sneaky”, and urged members of the public to continue adhering to social distancing restrictions. “If people become too relaxed or complacent, the virus can take off,” he said.
“We know we’re doing well, but don’t let it lull you into a false sense of security.”
READ MORE: Deaths a red flag but trial goes on
Adeshola Ore 3.30pm: NSW man’s costly supermarket trip
NSW Police have charged three people for breaches of the public health act in the past twenty four hours.
Police also issued twenty-three COVID-19-related penalty infringement notices.
One man was fined after he allegedly ignored self-quarantine rules while awaiting his COVID-19 test results.
Police allege the 62-year-old man visited a supermarket after he was ordered to self-isolate until medically cleared.
Agencies 3.10pm: Just one new corona case in WA
Only one new coronavirus case has been confirmed in Western Australia overnight, bringing the state’s total to 549.
Department of Health figures on Saturday showed 478 cases had recovered. On Thursday, a fourth person from the now-departed Artania cruise ship died of COVID-19, taking the state’s toll to eight.
Three of the other deaths were passengers on the Ruby Princess, Diamond Princess and Celebrity Solstice cruise ships.
WA recorded three “zero-case” days earlier this week, prompting the state government to say social distancing rules could soon be relaxed, but the advice remains that people should only leave their homes for essential purposes.
READ MORE: This won’t sink us, say cruise lines
Adeshola Ore 2.46pm: Infection of young ACT woman under investigation
An under 30-year old has contracted the coronavirus in the nation’s capital, bringing the territory’s total cases to 106.
The female’s case is still under investigation, but is believed to be related to overseas travel,
There are currently two cases under investigation.
ACT’s Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman reminded the public to stay at home over the weekend.
“Whilst we understand that staying active and connected is important, please avoid any unnecessary travel,” she said.
“If people wish to lay a wreath or leave a poppy at a significant site across Canberra for ANZAC Day, please do so in groups of no more than two people, keep a distance of 1.5m from people, maintain good respiratory hygiene, and leave the area as soon as possible.”
The territory’s death toll remains three. One COVID-19 patient remains in a Canberra Hospital in a stable condition.
READ MORE: Going early, going hard paid off, says top doc
Emily Ritchie 2pm: Queensland records just two cases in 24 hours
Another two cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Queensland in the past 24 hours, taking the state’s total to 1026.
There have only been 16 additional cases of COVID-19 recorded in the state since last Saturday, compared with 54 new infections the week prior.
The state’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said 964 of confirmed patients had recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk thanked Queenslanders for responding to restrictions and helping to flatten the curve.
“None of this is easy — but it’s worth it. It’s working,” she said.
A total of 97,057 tests for COVID-19 has been undertaken in Queensland, with 2,093 tests undertaken in the previous 24 hours.
Six Queenslanders have died from the virus, with 803 people recovering from the infection.
Queensland Health is continuing to contact trace flight VA341 from Melbourne to Brisbane on April 20 after a passenger on the flight tested positive to COVID-19.
“We ask that passengers seated in rows 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 of this flight, who have not already been contacted by Queensland Health call 13 HEALTH and advise that you were a passenger on this flight,” a Queensland Health spokeswoman said.
READ MORE: Even the rich are feeling the pain
Adeshola Ore 1.40pm: Victoria investigating fresh health-centre outbreak
Victoria has recorded three new cases of coronavirus, taking the state’s total to 1,346.
One of the cases is linked to a cluster at a Melbourne psychiatric facility. An investigation is now underway into the outbreak at the private facility run by Ramsay Health Care.
Victoria’s chief health officer said the clinic had been shut down. Fifteen COVID-19 cases have been linked to the centre.
Anyone who attended on or after March 24 is advised to monitor their symptoms.
The state’s death toll remains at 16.
Meanwhile, Victoria Police have handed out 55 fines for breaches of the public health order in the past twenty-four hours.
Police say groups are continuing to flout the state’s stage three restrictions, including a group of five friends who were caught having a party in Melbourne’s north-west.
READ MORE: Trump’s coronavirus endgame
Adeshola Ore 1.30pm: Stranded Australians to return on mercy flight
More than one-hundred Australians and Kiwis stranded in South America will depart Buenos Aires on Saturday in a repatriation flight home.
The rescue flight, coordinated by Qantas, is expected to land in Melbourne on Sunday evening.
Sydney father of two Jarrod Sheehan is driving to Melbourne on Saturday to meet his partner, Ami, and their two boys, aged three and eighteen months. He has been granted a special exemption to quarantine with his family.
“They were never meant to be away this long. I’m excited, but I just want them to land safely in Australia. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.
The family were due to fly back to Australia on March 20, after visiting family in Argentina.
They were faced with multiple cancellations when they tried to find alternative routes back home after Air New Zealand suspended its daily route from Buenos Aires.
“People thought that people stuck there had chances to get home, but the actual reality and the truth is very different.”
The direct flight is expected to take 15 hours. Passengers paid about $2,500 for a ticket home.
READ MORE: Greg Sheridan — Even Xi not immune from the politics of corona
Adeshola Ore 1.15pm: China reports a rise in coronavirus cases
China has reported 12 new cases of coronavirus on Friday, an increase of six from the previous day.
Data from the National Health Commission showed eleven of the new cases were imported.
The commission also reported 29 new asymptomatic cases, of which four were imported.
China has reported 82,816 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The death toll for the virus remains at 4,632.
READ MORE: Greg Sheridan — China relationship headed for the rocks
Adeshola Ore 12.45pm: Crowds swarm Sydney beach before closure
Crowds of people swarmed Sydney’s Coogee Beach this morning before the 9am closure, just a day after the council was forced to tighten its restrictions.
On Friday, Randwick City Council closed its beaches, just days after they reopened, after people failed to comply with the social distancing regulations.
The council said over the weekend its beaches, including Clovelly, Maroubra and Coogee would only be open between 6am to 9am for exercise purposes only.
All of the council’s other unpatrolled beaches, including Gordon’s Bay, will remain closed.
The council said it would reassess the beaches opening hours on Monday.
Emily Ritchie: 12.35pm: Death toll, cases rise in NSW
NSW has seen 12 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours and a 96-year-old woman has died, state Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Saturday.
Mr Hazzard said the daily increase in cases confirmed the state was in a “far better” situation than the end of March.
“Now we’ve jumped up to 12, I’d remind everybody that is still far better than it was at the end of March,” He said.
“About 27 March we had 212 people who tested positive … in a 24 hour period. We are certainly doing a lot, lot better,” he said.
The 96-year-old woman who died on Friday was a resident of Caddens’ Anglicare Newmarch House, where two staff members and two residents were also diagnosed with COVID-19 on Friday.
Six residents have now died of coronavirus at the aged-care home.
“To the family of that lady, I want to express all of the community’s condolences,” Mr Hazzard said.
There are now a total of 48 cases at Newmarch House, including 17 staff and 31 residents.
The Minister said a worker at another aged care facility had begun suffering coronavirus symptoms within 48 hours of working a shift, declining to name the facility.
“It’s a trigger for NSW Health and our federal government colleagues to implement what is necessary in terms of the tracing,” Mr Hazzard said.
“I would like to be open and transparent but at this stage I don’t think it’s appropriate to name the facility. This COVID-19 is very much a rolling situation, the families at this point have not been notified and nor have the staff.”
READ MORE: Hard work counting the unemployed
Adeshola Ore 12.15pm: Man to face court for spitting on ferry worker
A New South Wales man will face Parramatta Bail Court today after allegedly spitting at a ferry worker at Circular Quay.
Police say the 45-year-old man approached an 18-year-old female NSW Ferries employee on Tuesday and allegedly spat on her.
Police arrested the man at Bass Hill Police Station on Friday and charged him with common assault. He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today.
Last week, the state’s health minister Brad Hazzard announced $5,000 on-the-spot fines for anyone who spat or coughed at employees during the coronavirus pandemic.
READ MORE: Plans for 50,000 tests a day
Agencies 11.30am: Victorian crooks cop double virus whammy
Crooks are copping a double whammy from police, being fined for breaching social distancing rules when they’re caught committing crimes.
Police handed out another 55 fines for those breaching the state’s stage three restrictions, including people charged with assault, weapon and drug offences. Groups are also continuing to flout the law, including five friends who were caught having a party in Melbourne’s north west.
Emergency laws have been passed and an investigation is underway into a coronavirus outbreak at a Melbourne psychiatric facility, with the government warning the pandemic is far from over.
Fourteen COVID-19 cases have been connected to Albert Road Clinic, a private 80-bed psychiatric facility run by Ramsay Health Care.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the clinic had effectively been shut down.
Anyone who attended on or after March 24 is at risk of developing COVID-19.
READ MORE: Behind the race to save a fallen airline
Adeshola Ore 11.15am: Tenth person dies in Tasmanian cluster
A 90-year-old man has become Tasmania’s tenth coronavirus fatality.
Tasmania’s premier, Peter Gutwein said the man passed away at the Mersey Community Hospital.
Nine of Tasmania’s ten deaths have been from an outbreak in the state’s north-west.
“On behalf of the Tasmanian government I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathies to (his) family, friends and loved ones,” Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein said in a statement.
The man’s death takes the national COVID-19 toll to 80.
READ MORE: Pete Evans fined $25,000 for ‘Wuhan virus’ light machines
Adeshola Ore 10.45am: SA marks week with few new infections
South Australia has marked a week of few new COVID-19 infections as the state considers widening its testing criteria.
There are just 33 active cases, with three new cases reported over the past seven days.
More than 50,000 people have been tested across the state since February with South Australia recently broadening its regime to include anyone with even minor cold or flu-like symptoms.
Preparations are now under way for even wider testing to include people who show no symptoms at all.
Chief Public Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said while anyone who tested positive under such circumstances would face a period in isolation, she was confident South Australians would want to be tested.
“I’m in the process of working out how many tests we’d need to be doing at our population level and how best it would be to do that,” she said.
“I think that people will want to participate.”
South Australia has 438 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 91 per cent of those now recovered.
Four people are still being treated in hospital, including two men who are critical in intensive care.
READ MORE: This won’t sink us: cruise lines
Adeshola Ore 10.15am: Elective surgery ‘a risky trade-off’
The Grattan Institute’s health program director says the decision to ease restrictions on elective surgery is a “risky” trade-off.
This week, the national cabinet ordered all category-two and some category-three surgery to resume following weeks of suspension due to coronavirus.
“There’s still shortages of personal protective gear. GPs still can’t get that PPE,” Professor Stephen Duckett told the ABC on Saturday.
Professor Duckett said discrepancies in categorisation of surgeries can lead to inequitable access.
“It may be marginal if you are a two or a three, but it can make a difference of a month or two in your waiting time. This can happen in the same city. There can be huge differences.”
Professor Duckett said rehabilitative care and out-of-hospital treatment should be prioritised over low-value surgery.
“Over the last decade there’s been a lot more understanding of non-surgical ways of treat pain.”
READ MORE: Peter van Onselen — Denying unis a lifeline is wilful ignorance
Agencies 9.30am: Restrictions eased despite US death toll soaring past 50,000
Even as the confirmed US death toll from the coronavirus soared past 50,000, Georgia, Oklahoma and Alaska began loosening lockdown orders Friday on their pandemic-wounded businesses, despite warnings from health experts that the gradual steps toward normalcy might be happening too soon.
Republican governors in Georgia and Oklahoma allowed salons, spas and barbershops to reopen, while Alaska opened the way for restaurants to resume dine-in service and retail shops and other businesses to open their doors, all with limitations. Some Alaska municipalities chose to maintain stricter rules. Though limited in scope, and subject to social-distancing restrictions, the reopenings marked a symbolic milestone in the debate raging in the United States – and the world – as to how quickly political leaders should lift economically damaging lockdown orders.
READ MORE: How the coronavirus is affecting your sleep
Agencies 9am: America’s devastating economic shock
Coronavirus relief packages will see the US deficit mushroom to $US 3.7 trillion ($A5.7 trillion) in 2020, according to the latest projection from the Congressional Budget Office.
One of the lasting legacies of the coronavirus pandemic will be staggering debts and deficits on the US balance sheet, in a fiscal clamp that is likely to persist for a generation, or even into perpetuity.
Four coronavirus relief bills have been signed into law by President Donald Trump. A fifth bill is already in the works, and will be “expensive,” according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The deficit for 2021 is estimated to tally $2.1 trillion ($A3.2 trillion), double previous CBO estimates.
The report predicts a devastating hit to the economy this quarter at an annualised rate of decline of 40 per cent – probably the sharpest economic shock ever – accompanied by a 15 per cent unemployment rate this spring and summer
READ MORE: Boris vs the five horsemen of the modern apocalypse
Agencies 8.30am: Hunt rejected inflated medical supplies
Protective medical masks sourced from the coronavirus pandemic’s starting point in China, were offered to the federal government at inflated prices and knocked back, it’s been reported.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has told Nine newspapers that a number of private companies had sought to sell medical supplies to the government — in one case paying for 90 tonnes to come from Wuhan.
He said the government had rejected one-off deals at inflated prices. “What we offered and were able to secure was longer-term contracts for volume and time, not one-off inflated purchases,” he said.
The minister said that early in the spread of coronavirus, a procurement team together with high level diplomatic efforts had locked in supply lines of masks, test kits and ventilators.
In the private sector the huge increase in demand has led to claims of profiteering, with prices for N95 masks rising sharply.
READ MORE: Attack on medical chief backfires on union
Lolita C Baldor 8am: Virus ship captain should be reinstated, top officer says
The US Navy’s top officer has recommended the reinstatement of the aircraft carrier captain fired for sending an email to his commanders pleading for faster action to protect his crew from a coronavirus outbreak.
Admiral Mike Gilday recommended that Navy Captain Brett Crozier be returned to his ship, according to sources regarding an investigation that has not yet been made public.
If approved, his recommendation would end a drama that has rocked the Navy leadership, sent thousands of USS Theodore Roosevelt crew members ashore in Guam for quarantine and impacted the fleet across the Pacific.
Admiral Gilday met with General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Tuesday and with Defence Secretary Mark Esper on Friday morning to lay out his recommendations.
Crozier was abruptly removed earlier this month by acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly, who resigned days later. His return to the ship would reunite him with crew members so upset about his firing that many crowded together on the deck and applauded and chanted his name as he strode off the ship.
As of Friday, 856 sailors on the USS Theodore Roosevelt have tested positive for the virus and four are hospitalised. One sailor has died, and more than 4,200 of the ship’s nearly 5,000 crew members have been moved onto the island for quarantine.
READ MORE: This won’t sink us, cruise lines say
Agencies 7.15am: Trump’s disinfectant injection remark shocks doctors
US President Donald Trump has defended his musings on whether injecting disinfectants might treat COVID-19 as being “sarcastic” to reporters.
An international chorus of doctors and health experts urged people not to drink or inject disinfectant after Mr Trump suggested scientists should investigate inserting the cleaning agent into the body as a way to cure COVID-19
Donald Trump throws out the idea of injecting disinfectant to kill the coronavirus during the White House press briefing https://t.co/U6rH0PwJkR pic.twitter.com/KDWlanFCRE
— Bloomberg (@business) April 24, 2020
“I was asking a question sarcastically to reporters like you just to see what would happen,” Mr Trump told reporters at the White House.
However, the exchange still sent professionals scrambling to issue advisories to citizens to refrain from injecting disinfectant.
US President Donald Trump says his comments on using disinfectant inside people's bodies to fight COVID-19 were "sarcastic".
— SkyNews (@SkyNews) April 24, 2020
More on this story here: https://t.co/9dqy7JyVkS pic.twitter.com/FalXvwkInl
The American Cleaning Institute said in a statement that disinfectants were meant to kill germs or viruses on hard surfaces.
“Under no circumstances should they ever be used on one’s skin, ingested or injected internally,” the organisation said.
The current pandemic has many of us cleaning and sanitizing a little more often than usual. Remember, these products are not intended for ingestion or use on human skin, and should only be used as directed#PreventPoison #COVID19 #Prevention pic.twitter.com/7fPCBnTkI1
— Indiana Poison Center (@IndianaPoison) April 24, 2020
Dettol and Lysol manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser issued a statement warning people not to ingest or inject its products.
University of East Anglia professor of medicine Paul Hunter said injecting disinfectants likely would kill anyone who tried it.
The health of the American people is not a joke, Mr. President. https://t.co/4jjYlULrxA
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 24, 2020
“This is one of the most dangerous and idiotic suggestions made so far in how one might actually treat COVID-19,” he said.
“It is hugely irresponsible because, sadly, there are people around the world who might believe this sort of nonsense and try it out for themselves.”
I can’t believe I have to say this, but please don’t drink bleach.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) April 24, 2020
READ MORE: Caroline Overington — The good old days? You must be dreaming
Paul Osborne 6.25am: Morrison honours Anzacs at crowd-free Canberra service
Scott Morrison has reminded all Australians the Anzacs have passed on a torch to be carried into the future.
The prime minister drew on the words of his wartime predecessor John Curtin as he gave the address to a crowd-free commemorative service — held inside the Australian War Memorial in Canberra in line with coronavirus restrictions.
“Here in Canberra, on this day, 75 years ago and the midst of war, our then Prime Minister John Curtin, called for every citizen to give equal measure of devotion, what our servicemen and women give every day.,” Mr Morrison said.
Lest We Forget. pic.twitter.com/ytTJz0ZORa
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) April 24, 2020
“He reminded Australia that the original Anzacs handed on a torch, clenched and carried high, and that is passed on to every generation of Australians. This Anzac Day, it’s been passed to us. And so together, with faith in each other, and guided by the lives and examples of those who’ve gone before, we grasp that torch and we raise it high again lighting up the Anzac dawn. Lest we forget.”
Mr Morrison delivered his speech alongside the roll of honour, which marks the names of 102,000 men and women who have died in service.
#LIVE: The Anzac Day Dawn Service from the South Australian War Memorial in Adelaide. #9News #AnzacDay2020 https://t.co/SlrD7OBStt
— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) April 24, 2020
READ MORE: We will honour them … on this DIY Anzac Day of remembrance
Daniel Sankey 5.45am: This is humanity at its best: New York governor
New York governor Andrew Cuomo has shared a handwritten letter from a Kansas farmer who sent him an N95 mask to pass on to a doctor or nurse.
“This is humanity at its best. I share his letter as inspiration,” Mr Cuomo tweeted.
I received this letter from a farmer in northeast Kansas. His wife is ill and he is aging.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 24, 2020
He sent me 1 of 5 N95 masks he has from farming to pass on to a doctor or nurse in New York.
This is humanity at its best. I share his letter as inspiration. pic.twitter.com/Fa4h5LH9rL
From Dennis and Sharon, the letter read:
Dr Mr Cuomo, I seriously doubt that you will read this letter as I know you are busy beyond belief with the disaster that has befallen our country. We currently (as of March 26, 2020) are a nation in crisis, of that there is no doubt.
Your approach has been spot on correct. I commend you for that and for especially telling the truth, something that has been sadly lacking of late.
I am a retired farmer hunkered down in northeast Kansas with my wife, who has but one lung and occasional problems with her remaining lung. She also has diabetes. We are in our 70s now and frankly, I am afraid for her.
Enclosed find a solitary N95 mask left over from my farming days. It has never been used. If you could, would you please give this mask to a nurse or doctor in your city. I have kept four masks for my immediate family.
Please keep on doing what you do so well, which is to lead.
Sincerely, Dennis and Sharon
For all we know it's only halftime.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 24, 2020
How fast the infection goes down depends on what we do now.
If we rush back to business as usual the virus will spike fast and furious.
We have to be smart.
The heartwarming exchange came as New York reported its lowest number of daily COVID-19 deaths in weeks, with 422 deaths on Thursday. That’s the fewest since March 31, when it recorded 391 deaths. More than 16,000 people have died in the state from the outbreak.
“Again, this is at an unimaginable level, and it’s dropping somewhat. But it’s still devastating news,” Mr Cuomo said at his daily briefing. The total number of people hospitalised statewide continues to drop slowly, hitting 14,258, though the number of new patients coming into hospitals is basically flat at around 1,300.
While overall trends provide some hope, the governor continued to stress that any gains could be lost quickly if social distancing restrictions are relaxed too quickly.
“How fast is the decline, how low is the decline?” Mr Cuomo asked. “Again, the variable is what we do.” — with AP
READ MORE: Pete Evans fined $25,000 over ‘Wuhan coronavirus’ light machine
Marty Silk 4.30am: ‘Walk in faith’: Australian man in vaccine trial
An Australian man who is testing a potential coronavirus vaccine in the UK says he is taking a “walk in faith”.
Dr Edward O’Neill was one of the first two people injected as part of trials for a potential vaccine that has been developed by Oxford University. The Sydney man, who’s been researching radiation oncology at the university for two years, joined the trial because he wants to help the world beat COVID-19 faster.
“It just seems like the right thing to do, to ensure that we can combat this disease a little and get over it a lot faster,” Dr O’Neill said. His wife knew he was taking the injection and wanted to join the trial too but was unable as she’s breastfeeding their son.
2 UK scientist volunteer to take part in first European human trials for a coronavirus vaccine at Oxford University
— Povo News (@povonewstv) April 24, 2020
*Elisa Granato (Microbiologist)
*Edward O’Neill (Cancer Researcher)
First of more than 800 people recruited for the study in the UK.#CoronaVirusVaccine pic.twitter.com/rcRAIpkjbB
Dr O’Neill has not been told whether he’s been given the trial vaccine or if he’s part of the control group.
When asked if he had any concerns about safety, he said he would “walk in faith” and trust his fellow scientists.
“You can never fully exclude any potential risk, but I think you have to walk in faith with these things, you have trust that the work is being done (by scientists) as best as they can and know that the cause is important,” Dr O’Neill said.
The Australian admitted that as a researcher himself, he would also get a chance to gain a unique perspective on a scientific study.
“It’s important for myself to know what the other end of a clinical study looks like as well,” Dr O’Neill said.
“So it’s been informative for me as well.” Scientists across the globe are rushing to develop a treatment or vaccine for the fast-spreading coronavirus that has killed more than 191,000 people and ravaged financial markets. — AAP
Today @OxfordVacGroup began trialling a #Covid19 vaccine in two healthy human volunteers, to provide info on its safety & ability to generate good immune responses.
— Oxford University (@UniofOxford) April 23, 2020
We’re so grateful to the volunteers & researchers working tirelessly to develop this: https://t.co/K3LlIVhwfN pic.twitter.com/geiX9G7DEd
READ MORE: John Howard urges caution as Australia emerges from lockdown
Joe Kelly 4.15am: Tough border restrictions behind our virus success
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy, says tough border restrictions and strict social-distancing measures have helped keep local transmission rates of coronavirus running at below one infection per person in every state and territory except Tasmania.
Professor Murphy said the national success at containment to date was a result of the government’s early actions, including shutting down international travel in March. An infection rate below one means the number of overall cases of the virus will continue to fall.
Australia’s tally of cases stood at 6673 with 78 deaths on Friday. But the number of people in intensive care had dropped to 43 with only 29 on ventilators. Professor Murphy said 5000 of the cases had now recovered.
As at 6am on Friday, Australia had experienced only 13 new cases in the previous 24 hours.
Read the full story here.
Craig Johnstone 4am: Risk to teachers ‘in staffroom, not classroom’
Australia’s top medical adviser has declared classrooms pose no risk of spreading the coronavirus, and even says there is no need for students to follow social distancing, prompting Scott Morrison to urge the states and teachers to urgently reopen schools across the nation.
The Prime Minister took a swipe at teachers’ unions, saying workers — from bus drivers to supermarket staff — were showing up each day at work despite the risk of contracting COVID-19.
He said the risk for teachers was “not in the classroom; their risk is in the staffroom”.
“I mean, we’ve got people who are going to work in supermarkets every day,” he told Sky News. “We’ve got people who are doing jobs all over the community, driving buses, and they’re doing great work and they’re turning up to work to do those things.”
Read the full story here.
Crisafulli’s $50m anti-crime canoe camps
Children who wag school will have their phones confiscated and be sent on taxpayer-funded camps to canoe and learn coding under a Liberal National Party plan to drive down youth crime rates in Queensland.
Pro-Gazan pianist and MSO open to mediation
Jayson Gillham is suing the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in the Federal Court, with a trial likely to be scheduled in March next year if mediation fails.