Coronavirus Australia live updates: Five workers in remote Kimberley test positive
Five health workers have tested positive to coronavirus in the remote Kimberley region where half of all residents are indigenous.
- Victoria backflips on keeping couples apart
- No visits for Vic couples living apart
- Softer ‘stay home’ limits for ACT
- National death toll hits 21
- UK deaths 25pc higher than reported
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis. Westpac chief economist Bill Evans says the JobKeeper package will have a ‘profound effect’ on unemployment. The deputy chief medical officer says Australia’s curve is flattening but a vaccine is needed to eradicate COVID-19.
Paige Taylor 9.28pm: Five health workers in remote WA infected
Five health workers have tested positive to coronavirus in the remote Kimberley region where half of all residents are indigenous.
The new cases include an employee of the WA Country Health Service in Halls Creek, a service hub for remote Aboriginal communities and the place where desert people often go for medical appointments and treatment.
Three of the other Kimberley health workers were in the region’s largest town of Broome and one was in the town of Kununurra near the Northern Territory border. All three towns have hospitals that treat people from outlying settlements, where there are small clinics but no capacity for operations.
The cases created deep concern after the state and Commonwealth governments made careful plans in recent weeks to cut off travel to the region and in particular to remote indigenous communities. The WA Department of Communities has helped dozens of indigenous people return to remote communities from regional towns believing they are safer there.
About 17,000 of the Kimberley’s 34,000 residents are indigenous and considered especially vulnerable to COVID-19 because they have a higher incidence of underlying health issues such as diabetes and heart conditions.
West Australian Health Minister Roger Cook announced the number of known cases of COVID-19 in the Kimberley had doubled overnight on Tuesday from six to 12. Five of the six new Kimberley cases were health workers employed by the state government.
Halls Creek is the nearest town to dozens of remote settlements including the Tanami Desert community of Balgo where residents are racing to build a “Tanami Ark” for its elders. There are fears of an imminent coronavirus outbreak after some locals ignored advice not to let residents return from infected areas without first spending 14 days in isolation elsewhere.
Balgo, which is home to about 400 people living 500km south of Kununurra in northern Western Australia, had until Monday been striving to make those who claimed residency quarantine themselves outside the community before coming back.
Imogen Reid 7.29pm: Carnival Australia’s president defends cruise industry
Carnival Australia President Sture Myrmell has strongly defended the Australian cruise industry today, calling out suggestions that cruising makes no contribution to the country’s “well being and economy” as “hurtful” and “wrong.”
It comes as the NSW government told six foreign ships in or near Australian waters to sail away, including the Ruby Princess, which has been linked to three new coronavirus deaths across Australia.
“It is distressing to see Ruby Princess attract so much criticism in spite of some undeniable facts,” Mr Myrmell said.
“It is difficult for people and businesses who derive their livelihood and jobs from cruising to see it demonised in the way it has been and for its contribution to be discounted and devalued.
“We are part of any industry that contributes more than $5 billion to the national economy, supports nearly 20,000 jobs and buys huge quantities of produce from local suppliers.”
Mr Myrmell said it has been “bewildering” for the more than 300 staff at Carnival Australia’s Sydney office to see “governments and police turn on this industry for little consideration for them or their future.”
“We understand the pressure the government is under to slow the spread of coronavirus. It’s a massive task, and it is true we are all in this together.”
Mr Myrmell asserted that it simply wasn’t safe for the Ruby Princess to sail away from Australia when healthcare services could become urgently needed.
The company is in talks with the NSW state and federal government hoping to send crew members home who are not needed for the safe operation of the ship.
“As a maritime nation, we have obligations to look after people in our care in this country,” Mr Myrmell said.
“There is a duty to care for foreign nationals in the same way we would expect others to care for Australians in difficult circumstances overseas.”
There are around 1000 crew members still on board the ill-fated liner. The ship has been linked to more than 400 cases among passengers who disembarked on 19 March and 8 March.
Ewin Hannan 7.21pm: Fair Work proposes unpaid pandemic leave
The Fair Work Commission has proposed two weeks’ unpaid pandemic leave and extra annual leave flexibility for millions of award-reliant workers in a move designed to keep more employees in jobs during the coronavirus pandemic.
A commission full bench headed by president Iain Ross on Wednesday proposed changes to 103 awards including a new temporary workplace right giving workers, including casuals, access to unpaid pandemic leave when they need to enter self-isolation.
The full bench also proposed allowing employees, by agreement with their employer, to take twice the amount of their accrued annual leave at half pay.
It said the changes were being proposed given the “unique circumstances” pertaining to the pandemic and they would operate until June 30.
“Some employees required to self-isolate may be able to access paid or unpaid leave,” the full bench said.
“But for most award-covered employees this will depend upon the agreement of their employer.
“If the employer does not consent the employee may be placed in the invidious position of either contravening public health directions or guidelines, or placing their employment in jeopardy.”
Rosie Lewis 7.17pm: States to pay quarantine costs
State treasurers have agreed to pay for the coronavirus quarantine costs of their own residents returning from overseas, easing financial pressure on NSW.
National cabinet decided last week that each state would foot the bill for the Australians who landed in their respective capital city, meaning NSW was paying much more than other states as the bulk of returned travellers arrive in Sydney.
Under the new deal each state will pay for their own residents.
Overseas arrivals are forced to go into quarantine in a hotel in the city they first land in for two weeks, in a bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Matthew Denholm 7.08pm: Two new cases in Tasmania
Tasmania on Wednesday night confirmed two new cases of coronavirus, taking the state total to 71.
“Both cases are men - one is from southern Tasmania and one is from northern Tasmania,” said public health director Mark Veitch. “One is aged in their 20s and the other is in their 70s.
“Both have recently arrived in Tasmania from overseas and were already in self-quarantine.
“Public Health Services is continuing to investigate two cases in the Devonport area for which a source of infection has not been identified.”
All the other cases have been linked to overseas or cruise ship travel.
Dr Veitch revealed two interstate visitors who travelled together as part of an organised tour of Tasmania from 12 to 23 March had later been found to have coronavirus.
He issued a long list of popular places they had visited, including Port Arthur historic site, a Pennicott wilderness cruise to Bruny Island, and Kate’s Berry Farm, near Swansea, advising people who had been at these locations at certain times to contract Public Health if they developed symptoms.
Geoff Chambers 6.25pm: JobKeeper legislation put to parliament next week
The government’s $130bn JobKeeper legislation will be put to federal parliament next Wednesday.
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese agreed to recall parliament after discussing the wage subsidy package.
As at 5pm, 452,236 businesses had registered for the JobKeeper scheme, which will pay a flat fortnightly payment of $1500 to up to 6 million Australians.
The Australian understands the government and Labor are working towards around 40 MPs returning to Canberra, with a quorum of 31 required to sit in the lower house. In the Senate, 19 senators are required.
There are expected to be logistical issues getting MPs to Canberra, with limited access to flights and states and territories imposing self-isolation rules and border restrictions.
Exemptions are likely to be sought for some MPs to ensure they can attend parliament.
Leader of the House Christian Porter said the government was working on drafting the legislation in time for next week.
“The last time we had parliament there were about 90 people there, I think you would expect to see less than that. The legislative quorum for a parliament is 31 members, so you’ll certainly see more than that,” Mr Porter said.
“But we’ve got all these added complications of border closures between states and quarantine rules around people moving from state to state.
“So it’ll probably be the most complicated parliament that’s ever been called in terms of how the logistics of it work so that we can actually get enough people in the parliament voting and have its procedures as regular and as orthodox as possible in all the circumstances.”
Mr Porter said they were looking at bringing MPs to Canberra from locations “where we think it’s safest to move them in from”.
“One of the risks of course with parliament is we’re flying people from all around Australia, and they’re all in the parliament building and then we’re flying them all back to other parts of Australia,” he said.
“So we have to try and do this in a way that meets all of our constitutional and legislative requirements that provides fair scrutiny - that operates like a normal Parliament, albeit with less people – and we do it in a safe as possible way for all the people that come here and all the people in our communities that we go back to.”
“So we’ll be doing this very, very cautiously, very safely. We managed to do it a couple of weeks ago, this will be a little bit harder again, but it’ll get done.”
There is a preference within the government and Labor for as many members and senators as possible to drive to Canberra for the extraordinary sitting.
Victoria Laurie 6.10pm: Heatmap for virus in WA released
Western Australia is one of the last states to release a COVID-19 heat map, showing all confirmed WA cases but excluding cases from cruise ships.
The maps are a graphical representation of where the virus is across the state by local government area.
Health Minister Roger Cook announced the new map, which will not reveal the exact location of individual cases to ensure patient confidentiality.
Only WA cases will be displayed, excluding 27 cruise ship cases and 20 positive tests from non-West Australian citizens.
Western Australia recorded 28 new cases overnight, bringing WA’s total to 393. It includes nine health workers who tested positive for Covid-19. There are 54 coronavirus patients in hospital, 14 in ICU.
From tomorrow, criteria will be broadened for WA residents to be tested for Covid-19. All members of the community who have a fever of 38 degrees and above and a respiratory illness can now be tested.
Police officers who have a fever or a respiratory illness can also be tested.
“We want to find new cases and understand the spread of the disease,” Mr Cook said.
Imogen Reid 6.23pm: Short-term support for media organisations
The Judith Neilson Institute has announced it will be providing a short-term support package to bolster struggling media organisations and journalists during the coronavirus crisis.
Freelance and casual contributors can expect a boost in funding as part of the new initiative, which will also provide a free news service for Australia’s 450 community radio stations, and introduce measures to help tackle the spread of misinformation on COVID-19.
Executive director of JNI, Mark Ryan, said the package was “aimed at providing help as quickly and efficiently as possible where it was most needed.”
“All sectors of the economy are affected and the impact of journalism is profound,” he said.
Advertising revenue and sponsorship has dramatically decreased over the past few months causing massive financial downturn threatening the future for media organisations.
“While more people are reading, watching and listening to the news, media organisations are struggling with the financial implications of the crisis,” Mr Ryan said.
All media organisations, including independent and regional media, will be able to apply for financial support for freelancers and casual contributors which will be distributed over the next 2-3 months.
National Radio News service will be free of charge for community radio stations impacted by the pandemic as sponsorship drops and volunteers work from home for six-months, which will enable more stations to access it and potentially reach 5.8 million listeners every week.
Under the initiative, consumers will be able to make sense of the overwhelming amount of news about COVID-19 with the help of RMIT University ABC Fact Check, a service sharing accurate news on the virus.
Eli Greenblat 5.34pm: Uniqlo closes its Australian stores
Japanese department store Uniqlo has decided to close all its 22 stores in Australia, standing down the majority of its more than 1500 staff in Australia and adding to the woes within the retail sector in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
In an email to loyal shoppers this afternoon Uniqlo said it had decided to close all its stores in Australia from Thursday, with the decision adding to the more than 50,000 retail employees who have been sent home — many without pay — in the last fortnight as shops choose to close rather than stay open at a time when all governments are urging Australians to stay in their homes.
David Penberthy 5.37pm: Virus cluster worsens at Adelaide Airport
Anyone who has passed through the Adelaide Airport in the past 14 days should watch for coronavirus symptoms, get tested if they feel unwell and disinfect their baggage to guard against infection.
That was the message from SA Health today as the coronavirus cluster worsened at the SA capital’s airport, jumping to 13 cases as the state’s total number of cases rose by 30 to 367.
Qantas revealed yesterday that six baggage handlers had tested positive to Covid-19 from an unknown source. The men worked in close proximity with another 100 staff, all of whom are now in two weeks’ quarantine.
The number of cases rose today with another five Qantas baggage handlers and two of their family members also testing positive.
SA Health says the first baggage handler became infected about the “first week of March”.
SA Chief Health Officer Associate Professor Dr Nicola Spurrier said that while the risk of infection by passengers was low people should still watch for symptoms. The testing parameters have been widened so that anyone who visited the airport in the past fortnight will be automatically able to get a Covid-19 test.
In a statement Qantas said it was working closely with SA Health to ensure staff and travellers were all safe.
The few flights in and out of Adelaide are back on track after a Sydney to Adelaide flight was turned back on Wednesday night as there were not enough staff to remove the bags from the plane.
Four of SA’s new cases are linked to Ruby Princess, bringing that total to 78 and a total number of cruise ship cases in SA to 109.
Richard Ferguson 5.12pm: Victoria backflips on ban on visiting partners
The Victorian government has backflipped on its ban on romantic partners from different households meeting.
Premier Daniel Andrews said as early as Tuesday morning that partners faced fines if they visited their other half in a different household.
Regarding ‘Stay at Home’ rules: We have no desire to penalise individuals who are staying with or meeting their partners if they don’t usually reside together. We’ll be making an exemption. Hope that helps.
— Chief Health Officer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) April 1, 2020
This afternoon, Victorian chief medical officer Brett Sutton said an exemption would be made for partners.
“Regarding ‘Stay at Home’ rules: We have no desire to penalise individuals who are staying with or meeting their partners if they don’t usually reside together. We’ll be making an exemption. Hope that helps,” he tweeted.
Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville tweeted her approval of Professor Sutton’s decision, describing it as a “good common sense outcome”, despite earlier tweeting: “You cannot visit your partner for social reasons”.
Please note that the chief health Officer has just announced he will change the direction and provide an exemption. This is a good common sense outcome
— Lisa Neville (@LisanevilleMP) April 1, 2020
Imogen Reid 5.05pm: National death toll hits 21 after NSW death
Another person has died in New South Wales from coronavirus, taking the state’s death toll to 10.
The person died at Orange Base Hospital in Central NSW.
The coronavirus death toll in Australia is now 21.
Staff reporters 4.40pm: Queensland calls on ‘mud army’ recruits
Queensland’s “mud army” is changing out of its gumboots to reach out to the elderly community as the coronavirus impacts life, AAP reports.
Queenslanders over the age of 65 have been told to stay at home by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
“We know with coronavirus, our most vulnerable people in our community are the most at risk, ” Ms Palaszczuk said on Wednesday. “If we can look after our most vulnerable, we can prevent them from ending up in the hospital or even in ICU.
“We know there’s an army of people out there, that are willing to step up to the plate and help our most vulnerable. We want to protect one million seniors.”
Seniors, especially those over 65 with chronic conditions, and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders over 50 with chronic conditions, are urged to stay home. The rest of the state has been urged to join the care army and “support a senior”, including the thousands of volunteers who joined the “mud army” who went street by street to help people clean up after the 2011 floods. “We can all do this. Support a senior in your suburb,” the premier urged young Queenslanders.
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Amos Aikman 4.20pm: NT a long way from easing social distancing
The leader of the jurisdiction whose capital survived Cyclone Tracy has warned that the coronavirus crisis poses “a bigger risk to us and our economy than any natural disaster in our history”, and pushed back against suggestions it could be over soon.
Chief Minister Michael Gunner did not expect the situation to ease until the Northern Territory was entering its next wet season — traditionally a slow period — meaning it could be 18 months before many businesses had a chance to recover.
But he promised that stimulus packages assembled by his and the federal governments would give the Top End economy a boost worth at least $1 billion over six months.
He pledged to “throw the kitchen sink” at saving Territory jobs, adding that Canberra’s $130 billion JobKeeper package was a “game changer”.
“We’re expecting nearly 7000 local businesses to benefit, supporting the jobs and wages of 45,000 Territory businesses,” he said.
Mr Gunner also confirmed that Ayers Rock Resort at Yulara, near Uluru, had just stood down close to 800 workers and called the losses a “significant whack”.
At least 500 of those workers have reportedly been made redundant.
The Territory has so far seen just 19 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no evidence of community transmission, prompting suggestions from some business figures that social-distancing rules could be eased quite soon.
Mr Gunner distanced himself from that proposal. “I’m planning for coronavirus to be essentially a six-month journey, that we’ll be in this position, what we’re doing, for about six months,” he said.
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Rachel Baxendale 4pm: Alleged drunk driver ‘escaped’ self-isolation
A man accused of drunkenly driving into a Melbourne shopfront in the early hours of Tuesday morning had returned from overseas 13 days ago and was supposed to be self-isolating, police have said.
The 23-year-old Deepdene man allegedly drove into a Balwyn North property, in Melbourne’s east, about 5am on Tuesday.
Victoria Police allege he returned a positive breath test at the scene. The man was taken to Box Hill Hospital with minor injuries.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said would not comment on “individual cases”, but that if people broke social distancing rules, they would face “significant penalties”.
“If these rules aren’t followed, people will die. It’s as simple as that,” Mr Andrews said.
Individuals face on-the-spot fines of up to $1652, or up to $20,000 if the matter proceeds to court.
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Elias Visontay 3.50pm: Deputy chief medical officer says signs good
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says Australia’s COVID-19 infection “curve is flattening” but warned “it is not time to take the foot off the brake” of strict social isolation measures.
Dr Kelly also asked all Australians to get the seasonal flu vaccine as soon as they can, urging particularly older and Indigenous Australians as well as those with preexisting conditions who will suffer a “double burden” from the two viruses.
He said there were 4860 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Australia, with 20 reported deaths.
“We haven’t had a large increase in the last 24 hours although the numbers continue to increase,” Dr Kelly said. “We are continuing to get more cases but the curve is flattening and rather than thinking about a peak we should be thinking about a long haul. That’s really the most important thing.
“This is very good news but it is not time to take the foot off the brake. We need to continue those measures, possibly for some months.”
On the flu vaccine, Dr Kelly said “as of now there are millions of vaccines out there ready” as part of the national immunisation program.
“I would really encourage and really stress the importance, this year in particular, for people to get their flu vaccine as soon as they can ... this is particularly important for those in our community who are most vulnerable for the COVID-19 problem as well as flu. So unfortunately this is a double burden for our elderly members of our community.”
He also said he did not think Australia could eliminate the COVID-19 virus without a vaccine, but cautioned it could take between 12-18 months as there had never been a successful vaccine against any strains of coronavirus.
Asked about the arrival of 1.5 million point of care testing kits in Australia, Dr Kelly said they couldn’t be relied on in the same way the current testing technology had been used.
“These point of care tests are not really for diagnosis of the disease, the reason is because they actually test the body’s immune response to the disease rather than the virus itself.
“It can be useful for example to see whether you have been exposed in the past but in general terms it will be negative for at least a week.”
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Elias Visontay 3.15pm: Labor wants a watch on spending, new powers
Labor has called for an ongoing audit of the government’s “unprecedented” spending program and expansion of powers that are introduced as part of its COVID-19 response.
Opposition public service spokeswoman Katy Gallagher wrote to Auditor General Grant Hehir on Tuesday requesting “close monitoring” of the “just over $200 billion in direct Commonwealth spending”, as well as the new powers afforded to Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston.
“In association with the supply bills which passed the Parliament on 23 March 2020 a significantly increased Advance to the Finance Minister (AFM) was agreed providing the Finance Minister with $40 billion to meet any urgent and unexpected expenditure,” Senator Gallagher wrote.
“This is almost 20 times the amount provided in association with normal appropriations in any given year. Whilst there are some agreed (but not legislated) conditions on the use of this increased AFM, Labor believes there is a strong case for close monitoring of the use of this mechanism as part of the COVID-19 response.”
Labor wants an audit of the implementation and ongoing performance of the government’s economic response.
The request is now under consideration.
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Paige Taylor 3pm: Mining magnate’s charity brings in medical supplies
Philanthropist and iron ore magnate Andrew Forrest says his charity Minderoo Foundation will give up to $160 million for medical supplies and equipment and to ramp up COVID-19 testing.
In a statement to newsrooms on Wednesday, Minderoo said it had joined forces with Dr Forrest’s mining company Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) “to procure and distribute lifesaving medical supplies and equipment, and to ramp up accurate RNA-based COVID-19 testing by at least 20 times”.
“The first plane of critical medical supplies from the world’s largest producer, China, is to depart from Shanghai today,” the foundation said. “Minderoo Foundation has arranged the charter of the Airbus A330, operated by China Eastern, that will touch down in Perth after a 10-hour flight.”
The aim is to resolve Australia’s extreme shortage of PPE (personal protective equipment), and the foundation said two more flights were due to arrive on Friday and Saturday, bringing more than 90 tonnes of medical supplies. This will include over 1 million N95 equivalent face masks, 400,000 surgical masks, 2.3 million medical-grade gloves, 100,000 nasal swabs, 200,000 medical coveralls, 10,000 medical goggles, 5,000 touch-less thermometers and over 33 ICU grade ventilators.
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Victoria Laurie 2.40pm: WA Premier wants federal help with cruise ship
A clearly frustrated WA Premier Mark McGowan has called on the federal government to “step up here” as cruise ship Artania refuses to leave Fremantle harbour.
It has 450 crew and 12 passengers on board.
“I would urge the federal government to resolve the situation as soon as possible,” he said. “My advice to the federal government is to get the ship away and get (it) home.
“It’s very high stress because the Commonwealth has to deal with the fact that there are Australians on cruise ships in other parts of the world, there’s Australians in hospitals in other parts of the world.
“That is no doubt weighing on the minds of the Prime Minister and federal ministers.
“I just say clearly this is problematic and I don’t want the Artania to serve as an attractor for cruise ships from elsewhere.”
He said there were 12 passengers the state government didn’t know about who had remained on board and were unwell.
“If the ship needs to be cleaned, we’ll clean it and then get it on its way ... we’ve got to get the ship on its way. It has to go back to Germany. I suspect most of the crew want to go back to Germany.”
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Simon McLoughlin 2.20pm: Sydney fire draws police, fireys, and a crowd
Police and fire brigade units have been forced to disperse scores of onlookers at a large fire which is burning down the abandoned Drummoyne Sports Club, in Sydney’s inner west.
While several fire crews battled to keep the flames under control, police seemed just as concerned by people not observing social-distancing regulations as they were by the threat posed by the fire.
The club, which was previously known as Drummoyne Bowling Club, closed in July 2012 and the building was sold. It has sat abandoned since then with the bowling green overgrown and the inside of the building largely destroyed by vandals.
The site at 2A Hythe St, just off Victoria Road - one of Sydney’s busiest thoroughfares - currently incorporates disused bowling greens and the dilapidated former club.
Fire crews were desperate to extinguish the fire with a 7-Eleven petrol station located directly across the road.
A member of the public reported smelling petrol at the site of the dilapidated club on Tuesday.
A proposal for medium-density housing to take over the site has attracted criticism from local residents due to noise concerns.
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Remy Varga 2.10pm: Adult massage parlour fined in Melbourne
Police in Victoria have fined an adult massage parlour in Melbourne’s far southeast for performing “non-essential business”.
It comes as six Victorians were fined for leaving their homes without a valid reason. The Frankston outfit on Wednesday copped a $9913 fine while a female employee and her male client each received a $1652 fine for failing to adhere to social distancing directives
“Sex Industry Coordination Unit members visited a massage premises in Frankston and observed non-essential services being undertaken,” a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
“This is a breach of the directive about non-essential business.”
We’re continuing to enforce emergency powers – which include stay at home, restricted activity and isolation directions – as part of the #COVID19au State of Emergency declared in Victoria.
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) March 31, 2020
If breached, fines of $1,652 (individuals) and $9,913 (businesses) will be issued. pic.twitter.com/kUrvNtTaUm
Victoria Police have also issued six penalty notices to individuals for leaving home without a valid reason.
Three fines have been issued in South Melbourne, two in the far northwestern suburb of Melton and one in Footscray in the city’s inner west.
Victoria Police have conducted 2198 self-isolation spot checks at homes, business and non-essential services over the last 24 hours.
Operation Sentinel, the COVID-19 Taskforce, has conducted a total of 9208 spot checks since March 21.
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Victoria Laurie 1.55pm: Artania defies order to leave Fremantle harbour
The German-owned cruise ship Artania is refusing to leave Fremantle port, and has asked Australian Border Force if it can remain until mid-April.
The WA government has repeatedly demanded the immediate departure of the ship, which arrived on March 25 and has since had 41 passengers and crew transferred to Perth hospitals with coronavirus. Several passengers remain in critical condition in ICU.
The other 800 passengers were flown home to Frankfurt earlier this week. None of the passengers or crew from the vessel are Australian.
But Attorney-General Christian Porter said on radio that twelve passengers remaining on board are too unwell to fly home, and the ship required more time in port on humanitarian grounds.
The ship has repeatedly delayed its departure, despite the WA government and Australian Borderforce ordering it to leave.
Premier Mark McGowan has said he is ‘edgy’ about the delay in leaving, given the presence of 450 crew on board and the ten-day incubation period of the disease.
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Angelica Snowden 1.40pm: ACT coronavirus cases rise to 84
There are 84 COVID-19 cases in the ACT after the territory recorded five more overnight.
The new cases include three males and two females who are between 27-years-old and 79-years-old. ACT Health says there is no evidence of community transmission, and that four of the new cases are linked to overseas travel including on cruise ships. The remaining case is a close contact of a previous confirmed case. Eight Canberrans have recovered from coronavirus while nine remain in hospital. The ACT has so far recorded one death, a woman in her 80s who contracted the virus on the Ruby Princess cruise ship. ACT Health say one person thought to have COVID-19 has now been excluded from the total count after they were determined not to have the virus.
Patrick Commins 1.25pm: JobKeeper package to have ‘profound effect’
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans says the government’s $130bn JobKeeper package will have a “profound effect” on the trajectory for unemployment in coming months, as he slashed his forecast for the peak in the jobless measure to 9 per cent from 17 per cent.
Under the latest government measure aimed at cushioning the blow from a forced economic hibernation, employees of businesses which have been hurt by the global coronavirus crisis will receive $1500 a fortnight, paid via the employer from May 1. Treasury estimates 6 million people will eventually receive the payment, equivalent to more than half of the private sector labour force.
Westpac’s economics team expect GDP will contract by 8.5 per cent in the June quarter, followed by a 0.6 per cent contraction in the September quarter, before a 5.2 per cent lift in the final three months of the year.
That collapse in economic growth would have translated into unemployment peaking at 17 per cent in coming months, but the JobKeeper package “has been a game changer for employment and the unemployment rate,” Evans writes.
”We expect the rate will peak at 9 per cent in June and subsequently fall to around 7 per cent (compared to 9 per cent)” by the end of the 2020, he says.
Mr Evans continues: “We have assessed that 80 per cent of three sectors — retail and wholesale trade; accommodation and food services; and arts and recreation services — will be eligible for the payment.
“For other sectors that will be adversely affected by the shut down and social distancing policies, we assess that 40 per cent of businesses will qualify for the payments. Note that the take-up rate of businesses for this new program is difficult to gauge and any variations relative to the 80 per cent and 40 per cent will have an impact on these calculations.”
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Elias Visontay 1.15pm: Public servant work from home concerns
Opposition public service spokeswoman Katy Gallagher has urged the government to provide clearer direction to government departments about working from home arrangements, amid concern public servants are still expected to travel to their offices despite government advice to work remotely if they can.
The ACT Senator said public servants had contacted her office after being told they needed a doctor’s certificate to be given permission to work from home, with Senator Gallagher writing a letter to Scott Morrison and Public Service Commissioner about the safety issue. “I think there are a lot, well, quite a number of agencies who have declared themselves essential for the purposes of the next few months and have required everyone to stay in the workplace,” she told ABC Radio Canberra.
“I think messages going out from agencies have been a bit mixed to people. And I think that’s worried a lot of public servants who have wanted to do the right thing, protect their families, protect their colleagues, and have felt constrained by what the department head is telling them.
She acknowledged agencies including Services Australia, the Australian Tax Office and the Department of Health had been “at the forefront of this virus response from day one”, but said that being able to work from home was about keeping the community, particularly in Canberra, safe.
Angelica Snowden 1pm: States differ on visits by couples
States are beginning to diverge on social distancing rules, with some allowing couples to visit each other if they don’t live together while others will allow it.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller confirmed that couples are allowed to visit each other if they live in separate households. Mr Fuller said that if your partner is not living with you, can you go to their house. “I would put that under care. Absolutely, mental health that’s under care,” Mr Fuller said. “We get it, that is absolutely under care,” he said.
In contrast, the Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews backed his Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville and said that those who do not live with their partners cannot visit them for social reasons.
Ms Neville tweeted: “You cannot visit your partner for social reasons. There are select reasons you can go to the home of your partner. They are outlined clearly in the directives of the CHO which you can find and read at: https://dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.”
“I know it does seem very harsh,” she said. “But it is part of the directive of the chief health officer based on how this virus can easily spread moving from household to household.”
ACT chief medical officer Kerryn Coleman announced softer “stay at home” restrictions in a public health order that mean residents can have up to two visitors. “An occupier of residential premises must not permit more than 2 persons, other than persons ordinarily resident at the premises, to enter and remain at the premises,” the ACT order reads.
David Ross 12.45pm: RM Williams shuts factory, 700 out of work
Australian bushwear icon RM Williams is closing its Adelaide factory for four weeks, putting more than 700 people out of work, as it succumbs to a collapse in demand because of the COVID-19 crisis.
The closure of the factory in Salisbury in Adelaide’s north comes just days after RM Williams closed its boots and clothing outlets around the world.
All 709 staff at the company will be offered two weeks salary as well as a payout of accrued annual leave as they joining the hundreds of thousands of Australians who have lost work in the coronavirus shutdown.
RM Williams chief executive Raju Vuppalapati said recent drought, bushfires and now a viral pandemic were proving tough for the business, founded in 1932.
But the health and safety of its employees were a top priority.
READ MORE: RM Williams to close factory, putting 700 out of work
Ewin Hannan 12.30pm: Wharfies refuse to unload medical supplies
DP World has stood down more than 60 wharfies for refusing to unload a vessel containing medical supplies after the maritime union said the ship had docked in Melbourne in breach of the 14-day coronavirus quarantine period. DP World said the Xin Da Lian, which left China on March 17, arrived at the company’s Melbourne terminal on Tuesday night after being cleared for entry by the Australian Border Force.
The vessel contains surgical masks, gloves and shoe coverings, surgical gowns, hair nets, toilet paper, hand towel rolls, chemicals for soap and detergent manufacturing, tinned foods for supermarkets and whitegoods.
Maritime Union of Australia assistant national secretary Warren Smith said wharfies had refused to unload the vessel on safety grounds because it had docked in breach of the government’s 14 day quarantine period. “The largest cluster of COVID-19 cases in Australia — which has already claimed several lives and caused hundreds of illnesses — was the result of inadequate measures put in place for the arrival of ships,” he said. “What’s the difference with this ship?
READ MORE: Wharfies refuse to unload ship from China
Agencies 12.20pm: No blooms at Floriade this Spring
Australia’s biggest celebration of spring has been cancelled amid fears about the spread of coronavirus. The ACT government has cancelled the annual flower and arts festival Floriade, which attracts about half a million visitors to Canberra every September and October.
“Given the significant planning and co-ordination required for Floriade, the ACT government is not assured that the event can be set up and staged in a manner that guarantees compliance with current physical distancing requirements,” Chief Minister Andrew Barr said on Wednesday. — AAP
Tim Dodd 12.10pm: University applications open for 2021
The Universities Admission Centre today opened university applications for 2021, pressing ahead, despite the uncertainty over year 12 assessment and how ATARs will be awarded this year.
The NSW-based admission centre – which handles applications for all NSW universities as well as several in other states and some independent higher education institutions – acknowledged that year 12 students would be worried about the impact of the virus.
However “it’s important that they continue with their studies and their plans for next year”, UAC said.
“UAC will work with universities, the NSW Education Standards Authority, schools and other stakeholders to ensure that students can still get through year 12 and reach their goals.”
UAC also said that applications were still open to start university in the second semester of 2020.
“Many unis are offering remote learning opportunities for students in place of face-to-face lessons so that students can continue to progress in their chosen course,” it said.
READ MORE: If you fail nobody will know
Ben Packham 12.05pm: Huawei’s PR move in virus crisis
Embattled Chinese telco Huawei has seized on the coronavirus crisis to try and improve its corporate reputation in Australia, declaring it will continue to provide a “vital revenue stream” to the NRL’s Canberra Raiders as the club’s major sponsor.
The embattled company, banned as a “high risk vendor” from participating in Australia’s 5G rollout, said while it could have backed out of the deal due to the suspension of the 2020 NRL season, “we will continue to fulfil our major sponsor obligations to the Canberra Raiders”.
“Although other options were available to us following the disruption to the NRL season senior Huawei management in Australia and at our company headquarters in Shenzhen, China have agreed to continue with our current sponsorship deal,” Huawei said in a statement on Wednesday morning.
The naming rights sponsorship, which was renewed last year to 2021, is believed to be worth about $1m a year.
In recent weeks the company has also begun posting “Let’s Talk Huawei” podcasts and newsletters in Australia, offering cyber security advice and positive takes on the company’s support for the global pandemic response.
The PR offensive follows the dissolution of Huawei’s Australian board, the shedding of 500-plus local jobs and the loss of key contracts including the scrapping of a $200m deal last week to supply a radio communications system for Perth’s urban railway network.
“Huawei Australia knows what it’s like to go through tough times and just as the Canberra Raiders stuck by us during our toughest times we will stick by them now as well,” Huawei Australia corporate affairs director Jeremy Mitchell said.
Huawei’s ownership structure is opaque. But it is close to the Chinese Communist Party – which at first covered up the coronavirus outbreak in Hubei province – and is arguably under state control.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Peter Jennings said China was moving beyond the domestic consequences of the coronavirus to cast the nation as a global “helper”.
However, he said Huawei would struggle to rehabilitate its public standing in Australia following the 5G ban and its effective shutdown of local operations.
In a speech in Sydney last month, Huawei Australia chief executive Hudson Liu said claims the company was owned by the Chinese government were laughable.
READ MORE: Bleak times bleaker still for young
Rachel Baxendale 11.50am: Plan for 4000 more Vic ICU beds
The Andrews government has moved to provide an additional $1.3bn to Victoria’s health system to establish an extra 4000 intensive care beds in response to COVID-19.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the funding would secure the ICU equipment, staff and space needed to meet the expected surge in coronavirus patients at the peak of the pandemic.
Victoria currently has 476 fully equipped and staffed ICU beds.
“We know that won’t be nearly enough if the spread of the coronavirus continues,” Ms Mikakos said.
“To be ready for the pandemic peak, we are ordering $1.2 billion worth of equipment and consumables we need, as well as investing over $65 million for capital works and workforce training – securing record capacity for our
intensive care system.”
The order will also see additional personal protective equipment purchased, including 551 million gloves, 100 million masks and 14.5 million gowns.
“None of us want to see the scenes from Milan, New York and other parts of the world happening here in Victoria,” Ms Mikakos said.
“This is a massive task, but we are preparing Victoria’s healthcare system to rise to the challenge.
“Although we are acting quickly to slow the spread of coronavirus, the government is ordering enough equipment to ensure we have supplies for the worst case scenario.”
The package adds to $537m announced a fortnight ago, as well as an in-principle agreement to co-operate with private hospitals.
Victoria’s 968 COVID-19 cases include 526 men and 438 women, ranging in age from babies to people in their early 90s.
There are 343 people who have recovered.
There have been 771 cases in Melbourne, and 183 in regional Victoria, with the locations of several cases unclear.
READ MORE: Race to build virus ‘ark’
Rachel Baxendale 11.30am: No social visits for Victorian couples living apart
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has backed his Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville in declaring that Victorians who do not live with their partners cannot visit them for social reasons.
Victoria’s Stage Three coronavirus shutdown legislation stipulates that a person must not permit another person to enter their place of residence unless they are a fellow resident, they have been directed to live their for self-isolation purposes, they must visit for work or education, they are attending a private real estate inspection, they are attending for medical or emergency purposes, or their entry is otherwise required by law.
Quizzed over whether this meant a ban on partners visiting each other, Mr Andrews said:
“That’s not work, that’s not care-giving, that’s not medical care, that’s not shopping for the things you need when you need them, and it does not comply with the rules. People should not do that.”
Ms Neville earlier tweeted: “You cannot visit your partner for social reasons. There are select reasons you can go to the home of your partner. They are outlined clearly in the directives of the CHO which you can find and read at: https://dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.”
“I know it does seem very harsh,” she said. “But it is part of the directive of the chief health officer based on how this virus can easily spread moving from household to household.”
You cannot visit your partner for social reasons. There are select reasons you can go to the home of your partner. They are outlined clearly in the directives of the CHO which you can find and read at: https://t.co/lZt5A46ROh
— Lisa Neville (@LisanevilleMP) March 31, 2020
Mr Andrews said people had to ask themselves whether their actions were “worth a life” before proceeding.
“If you don’t need to do it, don’t do it. That’s a very, very simple thing,” he said.
“Stay at home, preserve the health system and save lives.
“We’ve got a long way to go and I know I’m asking a lot.
“I know that people are making sacrifices across the community, but it is a price worth paying because it’s going to save lives.
“Our nurses and doctors, the whole team, they’re making big sacrifices too.
“We’ve all got to play our part, and I’m very proud of Victorians who are, and I’ve got a message for those who aren’t: you will be caught and the fines are significant, but it’s not dollars, it’s lives. That’ll be the true cost of you breaking these rules.”
READ MORE: JobKeeper: tips and traps for employers
Debbie Schipp 10.55am: Palaszczuk to update Queensland
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Minister Kate Jones will hold a press conference at 11am NSW time to update what is happening in their state. Watch live in the video at the top of this article
Angelica Snowden 10.50am: BaptistCare’s heartbreak over latest death
BaptistCare say they are “saddened” about the death of a 95-year-old resident at the Dorothy Henderson Lodge after the woman tested positive to coronavirus.
“It is heartbreaking to learn of another resident passing away,” said BaptistCare CEO, Ross Low in a statement.
“To be faced with this loss is incredibly difficult, especially knowing just how hard everyone is working to care for our residents and staff,” he said.
“I have spoken with the family to share my condolences with them during this devastating time. Their words of support to me and the staff at Dorothy Henderson Lodge were incredibly uplifting.”
There are 21 cases of COVID-19 at the nursing home in Sydney’s northwest, including 16 residents and five employees.
READ MORE: Trump’s grim forecast: Up to 240,000 deaths
Matthew Denholm 10.40am: No new Tas cases, stop complaining
Tasmanians have been warned against complacency after no further coronavirus cases were confirmed overnight, as the Premier slapped down complaints from people in state-run quarantine.
Peter Gutwein said on Wednesday morning the lack of new cases reported on Tuesday or overnight was the first case-free 24 hours for almost two weeks.
However, he warned Tasmanians against a slacker approach to strict self-isolation and social distancing laws, and bluntly dismissed complaints from several high-profile quarantine detainees, including a former senior policeman.
“If this were a game of football, we are not even thorough the first quarter yet,” he said. “This no the time to be complacent.”
He was backed by the Director of Public Health, Dr Mark Veitch, who warned the lull, probably related to overseas and cruise ship returnees peaking, was the time to double-down on measures to prevent and slow COVID-19 spread.
Mr Gutwein was dismissive of complaints from several of the 177 people in state-enforced quarantine in hotels across the state.
This included former police assistant commissioner Glenn Frame, who complained to the Hobart Mercury that he and others forced into quarantine on arrival in the state had been shown little concern for their needs or welfare.
“I make no apologies,” Mr Gutwein said, adding he had known Mr Frame for a long time and held him in “high regard”.
“But unfortunately, we are going to implement these strict measures and everybody, regardless of who they are, or where they’ve come from, will be going into quarantine,” he said.
“I’ll get some advice about how the facilities are being managed but again, this is about ensuring that we protect those people, and we protect our community. And do make no apologies for that.”
The state has 69 COVID-19 cases in total; only two of which have so far not been traced to overseas or cruise ship travel.
READ MORE: Police state: blitz on parkgoers
Angelica Snowden 10.30am: Number of businesses registering for subsidy doubles
Australian Taxation Office Second Commissioner Jeremy Hirschhorn says the number of businesses registered for Scott Morrison’s JobKeeper scheme doubled overnight.
An extra 200,000 businesses registered interest in the scheme and Mr Hirschhorn said that number could double again by the end of the day.
“I would not be surprised if that number doubles (at the end of the day),” Mr Hirschhorn told 2GB.
“We really want to make it as easy as possible for those who deserve it and as hard as possible for those who don’t,” he said.
The Tax chief clarified that employees “had to be an honest taxpayer reporting to an employer on March 1 to be eligible”.
“Most Australians are honest, and recognise that this is a team Australia moment,” he said.
“To be blunt they (businesses) just can’t make up employees as of March 1, we know the employees of March 1.”
Mr Hirschhorn said while it was common for young people to have multiple jobs, only one business can claim the benefit per employee.
“Employees will have to tell an employer if they are claiming the tax free threshold from them and that is a good sign that that is their primary employer,” he said.
“But there will also be an onus on the employer to check with the employee that they are their primary employer.”
The tax chief issued a stern warning to any businesses who think they can rort the system.
“We are a compliance business. We have in our data analytics group one of, if not the biggest data analytics group in Australia,” he said.
“When we catch you if you have been trying to rort this system there will be extremely severe consequences.”
READ MORE: Robert Gottliebsen writes: JobKeeper trips and traps for employers
Elias Visontay 10.25am: Birmingham defends Chinese market decision
Simon Birmingham has defended the inclusion of the Chinese market in a $110 million freight flight program to deliver Australian goods to key Asian markets.
The Trade Minister was discussing the government’s $110m International Freight Assistance Mechanism, designed to “protect regional jobs” by exporting seafood, beef and dairy products to China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates over the next six months, with return flights bringing back medical supplies to support the COVID-19 response.
However Senator Birmingham said China should not be excluded from the deal as a punishment for their handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
“China are a significant and important trading partner,” he told Sky News.
“We don’t determine as a government who our farmers sell their goods to, or who our fishermen sell their goods to, or who our mining or resource companies sell their goods to. They decide those things.”
Asked if the government should consider trade sanctions be placed on China – similar to those in place for North Korea – because of the country’s role in handling the initial local outbreak of COVID-19, Senator Birmingham said “I don’t think it’s remotely analogous to compare it North Korea”.
“This scheme is not about exclusively the China market.
“It will be supporting crucially, first and foremost I think in terms of the initial flights to Japan. Flights also to Singapore, flights also to the United Arab Emirates.”
“It’s about getting our goods into all of the markets of the world upon which we depend.”
READ MORE: Government hands seafood, dairy, beef producers lifeline
Rachel Baxendale 10.20am: Vic hospitals get $1.3bn to fight virus
The Andrews government has announced a $1.3bn hospitals package to
boost capacity amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the package would pay more an
additional 4000 ICU beds – almost ten times the 476 the state currently has.
The announcement came as Victoria’s COVID-19 caseload reached 968, up 51 since Tuesday.
The number of community transmission has risen by seven, from 32 on
Tuesday to 39 on Wednesday.
There are 32 Victorians in hospital, including six in intensive care.
So far more than 47,000 people have been tested in the state.
There are 951 returned travellers in hotel quarantine, including 141 who
arrived in the past 24 hours.
READ MORE: Focus on keeping older Aussies safe
Richard Ferguson 10.05am: Softer ‘stay at home’ restrictions for ACT
Canberrans will face $8000 fines for gathering in groups of more than two, but households in the nation’s capital will be allowed to have at least two other people visit their homes.
ACT chief medical officer Kerryn Coleman has unveiled softer “stay at home” restrictions than in NSW and Victoria, but Canberran businesses face hefty fines of more than $40,000 for breaking social distancing rules.
The territory’s chief minister Andrew Barr has previously said he would closely follow NSW rules on coronavirus social distancing due to its closeness to the bigger state, but he will not fine people for leaving the house without “a reasonable excuse”.
An ACT public health order released late last night also does not prevent people entering others’ home. In Victoria, any social visitors have been banned from entering homes, including romantic partners.
“An occupier of residential premises must not permit more than 2 persons, other than persons ordinarily resident at the premises, to enter and remain at the premises,” the ACT order reads.
“An occupier of residential premises must not a person not ordinarily resident at the premieres to enter and remain in the premises unless social distancing of 1 person per 4 square meters can be observed.”
Airports, public transport, medical facilities, shopping centres, offices, hotels, schools and courts have been made exempt from the more-than-two-people rule in the ACT.
READ MORE: Police ‘could have been less aggressive’
Adeshola Ore 9.55am: Latest nursing home death ‘heartbreaking’
BaptistCare’s CEO has expressed his condolences for the death of a 95-year-old resident at Dorothy Henderson after she tested positive for coronavirus.
NSW health authorities said the woman has become the ninth victim of COVID-19 in the state.
There are twenty one confirmed cases of COVID-19 at Dorothy Henderson Lodge, including five employees.
“It is heartbreaking to learn of another resident passing away,” said BaptistCare CEO, Ross Low.
“To be faced with this loss is incredibly difficult, especially knowing just how hard everyone is working to care for our residents and staff.”
“I have spoken with the family to share my condolences with them during this devastating time. Their words of support to me and the staff at Dorothy Henderson Lodge were incredibly uplifting.”
READ MORE: Intensive care units battle shortage of nurses
Adeshola Ore 9.35am: Two Kmart staff members test positive
Kmart stores will operate with reduced opening hours from today after two staff members tested positive to coronavirus.
In a statement, the company said the new store hours would give “our teams more time to clean stores and support online order fulfilment”.
“We have worked closely with the Department of Health who have advised us that there is minimal risk to any customers who entered our store on that day.”
Kmart’s store in Chadstone, Melbourne was closed on Tuesday after two casual staff members tested positive to COVID-19. The two staff members worked a shift on Saturday, March 28.
But a spokesman for the store said the Department of Health and Human Services had confirmed there was minimal risk for customers who visited the store that day.
The reduced hours apply to all K-mart stores in Australia. Twenty-four hour stores will trade from 8am to 8pm.
Remaining stores will open as follows:
Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania
Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm
Saturday to Sunday: 8am to 5pm
Western Australia and South Australia
Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm
Saturday: 8am to 5pm
Sunday: 11am to 5pm
Queensland
Monday to Friday: 7am to 8pm
Saturday: 7am to 5pm
Sunday: 9am to 5pm
READ MORE: Paul Kelly writes: United front in war on home soil
Adeshola Ore 9.20am: Musk offers Tesla ventilators to hospitals
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has announced the electric car company has ventilators that can be shipped within the company’s delivery region.
In a tweet, Mr Musk said the ventilators were approved by the US’ Food and Drug Administration.
We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Device & shipping cost are free. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients, not stored in a warehouse. Please me or @Tesla know.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2020
“Device & shipping cost are free. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients, not stored in a warehouse,” Mr Musk wrote.
Earlier, the Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, condemned the US federal government for its eBay-style bidding approach for ventilators.
Around the globe, governments have urged automakers to make ventilators and other medical equipment needed to treat patients of the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier this week, Ford became the latest carmaker to announce it would begin making ventilators.
READ MORE: Reduce risks and Skype your doctor
Jonathan Chancellor 9.10am: Golf courses to reopen after confusion
“Fore!” NSW golfers will be back on courses from today, so anyone else out exercising ought be warned of wayward balls.
Golf courses are set to reopen starting from Wednesday after 2GB broadcaster, and keen golfer, Ray Hadley inquired with authorities as to just how the ban came into force.
It emerged the ban arose from a “miscommunication”.
On Tuesday night NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and the Premier Gladys Berejiklian advised Hadley the ban was to be lifted from Wednesday by Sports Minister Geoff Lee.
The ban was announced on Monday, followed by a confusing 24 hours for players who had hoped to play through the coronavirus crisis.
There had been a message between the Department of Sport in NSW and Golf NSW saying “you should stop playing golf”.
Read the full story here.
Yoni Bashan 8.55am: Police could have been less aggressive: Fuller
NSW Police Commissioner Michael Fuller has conceded his officers may have been overly confrontational in their policing of social distancing measures in parts of Sydney on Tuesday.
Footage emerged showing police driving on parkland and individually stopping alongside sunbathers and others abiding by social distancing edicts in Rushcutters Bay Park, in Sydney’s east.
They were ordered to go home because they were idle in the park and not exercising or outside for an essential purpose, such as food shopping.
“I’ve seen the vision myself, I’ve thought a lot about it – on one hand, could they have got out of the car and achieved the same thing in a less aggressive way? Yes they could. On the other hand, there’s (hundreds) of parks we’ve got to get to at the same time,” he said.
“That was probably a bit disappointing and confronting.” Read the full story here.
READ MORE: Editorial: Guard against march of Big Brother in crisis
Adeshola Ore 8.40am: Six month review for private hospitals deal
The CEO of the Private Hospitals Association has outlined a six-month review period for the country’s landmark deal which will see the private system join the fight against coronavirus.
Under the new deal, governments will contract private hospitals to boost hospital healthcare workers by more than 100,000 and grant access to hundreds of ICU beds.
Michael Roff said it was vital for the private hospital sector to step up in the pandemic.
“Hopefully we are in a position in six months time where we can start to transition back to the previous roles,” he told Sunrise on Wednesday.
“At the end of the pandemic, we need all of Australia’s private hospitals up and running to deal with that backlog on surgery and other services.”
READ MORE: Private hospitals come to the rescue
Yoni Bashan 8.30am: Nursing home death takes NSW toll to 9
A 95-year-old resident of Sydney’s Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care facility has become the ninth victim of COVID-19 in NSW and the 20th victim in the country.
The death was confirmed by Dr Jeremy McAnulty, NSW Health’s Director of Health Protection, at a press conference on Wednesday.
Dr McNulty said there were currently 2,182 cases of COVID-19 in NSW, with 150 cases recorded as of 8pm on Tuesday night.
Elias Visontay 8.20am: Movement permissions to bring Aussies home
Government agencies are negotiating with South American governments to secure movement permissions for Australians in the face of restrictions that are changing “on literally an hourly basis”, as Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne warns “it will not be possible to bring everybody home”.
Senator Payne also said a Qantas flight was scheduled for further Australians stranded around the continent, a day after a private charter flight also brought Australians home.
However she said local movement restrictions, particularly in Peru, made it “very difficult” for Australians, particularly outside of Lima or Cusco, to travel domestically to reach evacuation flights back to Australia.
Speaking about the 95 Australians trapped on the Greg Mortimer cruise ship off the coast of Uruguay, Senator Payne confirmed an Australian in his late 60s disembarked in Montevideo on Tuesday to go into self isolation, but said different quarantine requirements in the country made it difficult for passengers to disembark and then board a flight.
She also said there were two cruise ships carrying Australians off the coast of Florida that authorities were working to evacuate citizens from.
“There’s no denying that this is a very difficult situation,” she told ABC Radio.
“There are literally hundreds and hundreds of thousands of Australians at any time overseas and there are still a very large number of Australians overseas,”
“We are working with local authorities to seek travel permissions and movement permissions (in Peru).
“But there are some parts of Peru which are obviously very isolated, and we will do as much as we possibly can but … it will not be possible to bring everybody home.”
“The complexities of different countries’ rules and requirements is something that we are managing on literally an hourly basis.”
READ MORE: Aussies at sea don’t know when they’ll get home
Yoni Bashan 8.10am: Premier calls on manufacturers to retool
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is calling on businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to retool their operations and pivot to manufacturing medical supplies due to a shortage in global markets.
Ms Berejiklian said hospitals needed sanitisers, medical equipment and a “host of other things” that could be manufactured in NSW.
“The supply of medical equipment isn’t what it used to be,” Ms Berejiklian said. “Many companies have started retooling – we know that’s already occurring, but today we formally start the process.”
NSW Jobs and Investments Minister Stuart Ayres said eight products were currently in high demand and would continue to remain in demand.
These included sanitisers, hand soaps, disinfectant and cleaning products, masks, eyewear, toilet paper and other paper based products.
“If you have the capacity to retool, we will be your customer for the foreseeable future and we will be able to buy from you with confidence,” Mr Ayres said.
Businesses are being encouraged to register through nsw.gov.au.
READ MORE: ‘Low doc’ lifeline to raise quick funds
Elias Visontay 7.50am: ‘Not in lockdown, just tighter restrictions’
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has walked back comments his state is in lockdown, responding to criticism of a crackdown on isolation restrictions by declaring his officers “haven’t issued a single ticket” since they were given sweeping new powers.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Fuller said the state was “absolutely” in a state of lockdown, as NSW police officers raided parks and public spaces threatening to fine people who were otherwise obeying social-distancing laws but did not have a reason – including buying essentials, working, or exercising – for being out of their homes.
“I’m not asking for any more powers, from our perspective. We just want people to get the message and understand it … we’re not in lockdown, we are certainly seeing tighter restrictions,” Commissioner Fuller told Sky News on Wednesday morning.
“We are open to criticism, I have no problems with it. But the reality is if we haven’t issued a ticket since the new powers have come in and we’ve been cautioning people and we’re using discretion. Then we’re certainly applying the power fairly at the moment.
Commissioner Fuller explained police could only issue fines up to $1000 for breaches of the new restrictions, and that only a court could impose an $11,000 fine and six months jail. He said only someone who knowingly had COVID-19 but chose not to self isolate could receive the most severe penalty.
“We had new powers that were turned on midnight two nights ago and we’ve asked police to go out and show high levels of discretion“while there’s a call for overzealous police no one has been issued a single infringement and no one has been arrested.
“We understand that people can go out and exercise but laying and sun baking in the park is hardly being out and exercising … I understand that people will criticise us for being overzealous. I understand that tomorrow I’ll be criticised for under-policing it when there’ll be a photo of a group of people together.
“Our greatest power is our power of discretion, and the fact we haven’t issued a single ticket since this power was turned on I think is a pretty good example that we are measured in our response,” he said.
READ MORE: Chris Kenny writes: Police state tone is deeply worrying
Adeshola Ore 7.45am: Boris Johnson holds remote cabinet meeting
Boris Johnson has hosted the country’s first cabinet meeting over video call during his self-isolation in No. 11 Downing St.
On Tuesday, the British Prime Minister chaired a meeting with his ministers on the video conference app, Zoom.
The cabinet’s secretary Sir Mark Sedwill and a handful of officials were in the cabinet room at 10 Downing Street.
Mr Johnson told the cabinet “the situation is going to get worse before it gets better, but it will get better.”
The UK reported its deadliest day from the virus on Tuesday, with 381 new death
READ MORE: Countdown to revolutionary decision
Adeshola Ore 7.25am: Twelve and 13 year-olds Europe’s youngest victims
A twelve-year old girl who died in Belgium has become Europe’s youngest coronavirus victim.
Belgian health authorities said the girl’s condition deteriorated after three days with a fever.
“It is a rare event but one that devastates us,” virologist Emmanuel Andre told a press conference.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has also recorded deaths in the age category of 10-19 year old in Spain, but has not provided further details
In London, a 13-year-old boy with no apparent underlying health conditions died after testing positive for coronavirus. Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab died in hospital in the early hours of Monday. He had tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, a day after he was admitted to London’s King’s College Hospital, his family said.
A spokesman for King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the boy’s death.
“Sadly, a 13-year old boy who tested positive for COVID-19 has passed away, and our thoughts and condolences are with the family at this time,” he said in a statement.
“The death has been referred to the coroner and no further comment will be made.”
Following the release of the latest official figures, a 19-year-old was believed to be England’s youngest victim to have died in hospital with no existing medical issues.
READ MORE: Children not part of cluster: Minister
Adeshola Ore 7.15am: Call for national response to cruise ship debacle
NSW Labor Leader Jodi McKay has called for a national response to the Ruby Princess debacle, which has been linked to more than 400 cases of coronavirus.
On Tuesday, ACT health authorities confirmed the territory’s first death was a woman in her 80s who contracted coronavirus on the Ruby Princes cruise ship. Two people in Tasmania and a NSW woman who have died have also been linked to the cruise.
On Twitter, Ms McKay called for the more than 1,000 crew members still onboard with symptoms to be tested.
Over 1000 crew are still on board. We must test every crew member with symptoms.
— Jodi McKay (@JodiMcKayMP) March 31, 2020
My thoughts are with everyone caught up in this incredibly distressing situation.
We’ve had no explanation or apology from the Premier, just a coverup.
“My thoughts are with everyone caught up in this incredibly distressing situation.”
“We’ve had no explanation or apology from the Premier, just a cover-up.”
At least 440 Ruby Princess passengers are infected with COVID-19. Today we call for a comprehensive national effort to track, trace and test every known contact between them and the community in NSW and beyond. pic.twitter.com/uMgB5Hd6S8
— Jodi McKay (@JodiMcKayMP) March 31, 2020
READ MORE: ‘Tourist borne cluster’ sours tranquillity
Adeshola Ore 6.55am: ‘Like being on eBay, bidding for ventilator’
Globally, there are more than 825,000 coronavirus infections and 40,000 deaths.
The US’ death toll has now climbed to nearly 3,500, surpassing China’s official count. New York City is now the epicentre of the virus, with 43,139 confirmed cases. The city’s governor Andrew Cuomo conceded that the virus was “’more dangerous” than expected. He has condemned the US federal government for creating what he described as an eBay-style bidding war for ventilators.
“We all wind up bidding up each other and competing against each where you now literally will have a company call you up and say, ‘Well, California just outbid you.’ It’s like being on eBay with 50 other states, bidding on a ventilator.”
We are one nation.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 31, 2020
We need to purchase and distribute supplies working together as one nation.
50 states can't be competing with each other for the same supplies.
It makes no sense.
New York’s health officials have begun transferring patients to hospitals at the convention centre and tennis centre, which hosts the US Open.
In Europe, Spain recorded its deadliest day from the virus, with 849 deaths in a twenty-four hour period. France also recorded its highest death toll with 418 deaths on Tuesday. Italy, Spin and France now make up around a third of the world’s cases of coronavirus.
Italy’s daily death toll surged over 800, despite the infection rate slowing. The country has extended its nationwide lockdown until Easter. The World Health Organisation has warned that these strict measures should stabilise the country’s coronavirus epidemic, but vigilant follow up will be required.
READ MORE: Special unit to track spread of virus
Jacquelin Magnay 6.40am: UK releases pregnant prisoners, new mothers
Low risk pregnant prisoners and scores of women in mother and baby units are to be temporarily released from British prisons because of the coronavirus.
The pregnant prisoners and mothers will be expected to wear ankle tags and must self-isolate at home, in line with the current British coronavirus rules for expectant mothers. As with people over 70, pregnant mothers are to stay at home for 12 weeks as part of a shielding operation to protect them from contracting coronavirus.
The move comes as the UK death figures soared on Tuesday to 381 deaths, bringing the tally to 1789 but this included a backlog of statistics involving people dying at home, according to data released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said: “We have already taken extraordinary measures to protect prisoners and the public over the last few weeks, but it’s clear now that we must temporarily release pregnant woman and those with small babies with them inside prison.
“Governors can now temporarily release pregnant prisoners so that they can stay at home and reduce social contact like all other expectant mothers have been advised to do.”
It is believed around 70 to 80 prisoners will be released under the new guidelines.
READ MORE: Care units battling shortage of nurses
Agencies 6.10am: Andrew Cuomo’s brother Chris tests positive
The US death toll from the coronavirus has climbed past 3,500, eclipsing China’s official count, as the deepening crisis in New York hit governor Andrew Cuomo’s family.
Mr Cuomo said his brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, had become infected but “luckily, we caught it early enough.”
Mr Cuomo said his 49-year-old brother was now quarantined in his basement.
“But it’s my family, it’s your family, it’s all of our families. But this virus is that insidious, and we must keep that all in mind,” he said.
This virus is the great equalizer.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 31, 2020
Stay strong little brother. You are a sweet, beautiful guy and my best friend.
If anyone is #NewYorkTough it’s you. https://t.co/B7veuweZzx
In a Twitter message to his brother, he wrote: “Stay strong, little brother. You are a sweet, beautiful guy and my best friend.”
READ MORE: Trillion dollar debt to rival post WWII years
Jacquelin Magnay 5.45am: British virus deaths may be ‘25% more than reported’
Britain’s death rate has risen to 1789 after the UK suffered its highest daily toll with 380 dying in the past 24 hours. However new data shows that deaths from coronavirus are about a quarter higher than previously thought, because dozens of deaths that occurred at home or in care facilities aren’t being counted in daily updates.
Analysis from the UK’s Office for National Statistics shows. that, in the week ending March 20, there were 181 deaths linked to coronavirus. In the same period there were 1,841 deaths from flu and pneumonia, which was also lower than the five year average of 2,120 deaths.
The deaths included 28 people who had no underlying health conditions, including the youngest reported death, a 19-year-old man.
While the number of deaths nearly doubled in the past 24 hours, the rate of people testing positive to coronavirus – usually seriously ill and in hospital, rose by 14 per cent.
The UK is beginning to roll out testing for frontline medical staff with unions saying one in four doctors and one in five nurses are presenting with various coronavirus symptoms.
Thank you Kaydyn for staying at home. Glad the food box arrived.
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) March 31, 2020
We’re doing everything we can to protect people like you.#StayHomeSaveLives https://t.co/AA74m4StMw
READ MORE: Travellers bristle over targeted tests
Tom Horton 5.25am: Star Wars actor dies of coronavirus complications
Star Wars actor Andrew Jack has died aged 76 in the UK as a result of coronavirus.
The actor, who also worked as a dialect coach, was unable to “see or talk to” his wife, Gabrielle Rogers, who he was “madly in love with”, at the end of his life as she was quarantined in Australia, Jack’s agent Jill McCullough said.
She added that he had died in hospital in Surrey on Tuesday “of COVID-19”. “Andrew lived on one of the oldest working houseboats on the Thames, he was fiercely independent but madly in love with his wife, also a dialect coach, Gabrielle Rogers.
We lost a man today. Andrew Jack was diagnosed with Coronavirus 2 days ago. He was in no pain, and he slipped away peacefully knowing that his family were all 'with' him.
— Gabrielle Rogers (@GabrielleRoger1) March 31, 2020
Take care out there, lovers x@RealHughJackman @chrishemsworth @RobertDowneyJr pic.twitter.com/fm5LevA8n2
“Tragically she is stuck in quarantine in Australia, having just flown in from New Zealand last week.
“She was unable to see or talk to him at the end of his life and there is a chance a funeral may not be held.”
Jack was “full of life”, “funny, charming and a joy to be around”, she added. “He was still working full-pelt, currently coaching on the new Batman.”
Actor Andrew Jack, who portrayed Caluan Ematt in THE FORCE AWAKENS and THE LAST JEDI, has passed away at the age of 76 years old due to #COVID19 complications. pic.twitter.com/YSIxkxvbga
— Star Wars Direct (@StarWars_Direct) March 31, 2020
His agent said that she had been inundated with messages about the late actor, adding: “Our community has lost one of its brightest and clearest voices.”
Jack had appeared in Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi as General Ematt, as well as Solo: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens.
Jack’s clients for his dialect coaching included the actors Robert Downey Junior and Chris Hemsworth.
Andrew Jack, who played Caluan Ematt in The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi and voiced Moloch in Solo, passed away as a result of complications he developed from COVID-19. May the Force be with you. pic.twitter.com/97pFsOSN7m
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) March 31, 2020
McCullough added: “Dialect coaching isn’t just about being good at accents, you need to make your actors feel safe and confident, and Andrew’s actors adored him.” — PA
READ MORE: Virus mutates into eight strains
Agencies 5.15am: April fool coronavirus jokers face fines, stints in jail
From Thailand to India, countries have told people not to make April Fools’ Day pranks related to coronavirus, with some threatening jail time as they seek to prevent the spread of rumours which could put lives at risk.
Tech giant Google, which is famous for its annual spoofs, has cancelled the tradition because of the pandemic which has killed about 40,000 people worldwide.
“Our highest goal right now is to be helpful to people, so let’s save the jokes for next April, which will undoubtedly be a whole lot brighter than this one,” it said in an internal email to staff.
People around the world are suffering from #Covid19 outbreak, and that's reason enough why people should be more considerate and not use this as a prank or a joke. pic.twitter.com/DvF5A1WOv6
— PR Thai Government (@prdthailand) March 31, 2020
Thailand said overnight (AEDT) that April Fools’ Day jokes about the virus could be punished under a law carrying a sentence of up to five years in prison.
Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen took to Facebook to tell people not to prank about the virus, adding that anyone spreading rumours or false information could face up to three years in jail and/or a fine of up to $A162,800.
In India, Maharashtra state’s cyber security unit said it would take legal action against anyone spreading fake news on April Fools’ Day.
Tomorrow's April 1st. The annual tradition making an 'April Fool' of people has already begun on WhatsApp & social media. The state govt won't allow anyone to spread rumours/panic on #Corona. I've instructed @MahaCyber1 to act swiftly & strongly such miscreants.#NoCoronaRumour
— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) March 31, 2020
Under the heading “Corona is no joke”, Germany’s health ministry also urged the public not to make up stories related to the virus.
With people relying on the internet and media for vital information about coronavirus, there are fears that jokes could fan the spread of misinformation. From drinking cow urine to sleeping by chopped onions, myths about how people can catch and cure COVID-19 are already widely circulating.
The World Health Organisation has described it as an “infodemic”, which could increase the spread of the virus among vulnerable people.
READ MORE: Keep away warning for Easter travellers
Agencies 5am: Virus ‘most challenging crisis since WWII’, WHO says
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning that the world faces the most challenging crisis since World War II, confronting a pandemic threatening people in every country that will bring a recession “that probably has no parallel in the recent past.”
The UN chief said at the launch of a report on the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 there was also a risk that the combination of the disease and its economic impact would contribute to “enhanced instability, enhanced unrest, and enhanced conflict.”
Guterres called for a stronger and more effective global response to the coronavirus pandemic and to the social and economic devastation that COVID-19 is causing. He stressed that this will only be possible “if everybody comes together and if we forget political games and understand that it is humankind that is at stake.”
“The magnitude of the response must match the scale of the crisis — large-scale, co-ordinated and comprehensive, with country and international responses being guided by the World Health Organisation,” the secretary-general said, noting that not all countries were following WHO guidelines.
Guterres announced the establishment of a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund to support efforts in low- and middle-income countries, with the aim of swiftly enabling governments to tackle the crisis and promote recovery. — AP
READ MORE: Put world economy on ice, Frydenberg tells G20
Natasha Robinson 4.45am: Private hospitals to fall into national health system
Private hospitals will be contracted into a brand new national health system under a deal struck with federal and state governments to boost the hospital workforce by more than 100,000 health workers and guarantee access to hundreds of intensive care beds.
The commonwealth government is pouring $1.3bn into underwriting the nation’s 657 private hospitals during the COVID-19 crisis in a deal that would see taxpayers pay them to open up their 35,000 private beds to public hospital patients and give them access to tens of thousands of nurses and doctors.
The federal government has struck a deal with state governments to share the cost on a 50-50 basis. The states will, in turn, strike service agreements with the owners of the private hospitals to open up their facilities.
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Family of coffee attack baby speak after suspected offender named
The parents of the nine-month-old baby who had hot coffee poured on him have spoken out after the suspect behind the attack was identified by Chinese media.
‘No tolerance’: Police issue warning on ‘praising terrorism’ ahead of Oct 7
In a joint national statement from state and territory police and the AFP, protesters planning rallies on October 6 and 7 have been warned there will be zero tolerance for violence, hate speech or glorifying terrorism.