Coronavirus Australia live updates: Aussie doctors, dentists ‘stuck on cruise ship’ off coast of Chile
More than 100 Australian doctors, dentists and nurses taking part in a health convention on board a cruise ship are stranded off the coast of Chile.
- Aussie doctors, dentists stuck on ship
- Business fears recession is here
- Bragg tests positive
- Aged Care homes in lockdown
- Why we won’t go into lockdown
- SA, NT cancel ANZAC Day
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis, as businesses declare we are already in recession. Dozens of politicians are barred from entering parliament next week but Greg Hunt declares we won’t go into lockdown just yet.
Ewin Hannan 8.09pm: Welfare to support casuals: Porter
Attorney-General Christian Porter has rebuffed renewed union calls for casual workers to receive paid leave if they are unfit for work due to the coronavirus.
Mr Porter, who is also Industrial Relations Minister, insisted support for impacted workers should be provided through the welfare system.
He welcomed the commitments from major private sector employers as well as the Australian Public Service Commission for paid leave for casuals impacted by the virus.
As the pandemic evolved, he said demand in one area of the economy for casual labour would decline, while demand in other areas would increase.
“Many people may require help in the challenging times ahead, because they find they are not able to work or because they have experienced unemployment due to changed economic conditions. The best assistance mechanism is the welfare system because of it’s proven ability to deliver income support to affected workers,” he said.
“This is the most effective way to ensure income-support reaches those in need as simply and quickly as possible, with regular waiting periods waived. As Australians focus on, and work together to deal with this health crisis, it is not the time for wholesale structural change to the industrial relations system in Australia for one group of workers. What those most affected really need is income support until things improve.
READ MORE: Manufacturing sector conditions hit 20-year decline
Nicola Berkovic 7.42pm: Jewish prayer services halted
Sydney synagogues have suspended prayer services after the Jewish authority, or Beth Din recommended the drastic measure on Tuesday to limit the spread of coronavirus.
The authority said that protecting human life superceded all other Jewish commandments and that it was a halachic, or Jewish legal imperative to cease holding prayer services.
“Some might argue that we need not act now but rather wait for the government to increase restrictions,” the Beth Din said in a statement.
“However, the experience throughout the world has shown that waiting may have been a grave error.
“With that knowledge in mind, and watching the example of other overseas Jewish communities, we believe there is a halachic (Jewish legal) imperative to act now.”
Many synagogues across Sydney have already made the decision to follow the order. Those include Central Synagogue, one of the city’s largest synagogues, in Sydney’s east.
Rabbi David Rogut, who served on the Sydney Beth Din for 40 years before retiring and is currently spiritual head of the Montefiore homes, said the city-wide move was unprecedented in his lifetime.
He said it was very difficult for the community, especially those with weddings, barmitzvahs and other special milestones coming up.
“It’s very hard but no one is doing it for any negative intention,” he said.
READ MORE: $2.3bn emergency package for NSW
Angelica Snowden 7.07pm: Aussie doctors, dentists ‘stuck on ship’
More than 100 Australian doctors, dentists and nurses taking part in a health convention on board a cruise ship are stranded off the coast of Chile after the country closed its ports to cruise liners in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The former director of Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital emergency department — and former Senior Australian of the Year — Gordian Fulde is understood to be among those on the vessel, which was caught out after Chile Health Minister Jaime Manalich unexpectedly banned cruise ships from docking at the weekend.
The maritime lockdown, which will remain in place until September, came after an 83-year-old British passenger on board another cruise ship tested positive for coronavirus after disembarking at a separate Chilean port more than 2300km north of Punta Arenas.
The Australian healthcare workers were on board the Roald Amundsen, owned by Norwegian cruise company Hurtigruten, for a 16-day cruise to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and the Chilean Fjords as part of a medical and dental conference organised by Unconventional Conventions.
READ MORE: New MPs sworn in three-by-three
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.06pm: UTS student infected
A student at the University of Technology, Sydney, has tested positive for COVID-19, requiring 27 students and a staff member to enter self-isolation.
University Provost Andrew Parfitt wrote to students on Tuesday to tell students that all relevant areas of the university had been comprehensively cleaned overnight in line with NSW health protocols.
No classes will be affected as on Monday the university suspended classes for a week in order to begin moving all face-to-face coursework online.
Craig Johnstone 7.02pm: Arts centre shuts theatres
One of Brisbane’s most popular cultural destinations, the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, will close all its theatres until April 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The move will see the cancellation of must-anticipated productions including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Gospel According To Paul.
QPAC’s chief executive John Kotzas said the cancellation of performances and projects was “necessary and disappointing”.
“However the health and wellbeing of the community is the Centre’s number one priority,” he said.
“Our audiences and artists have been front of mind since the start of this international crisis and we have consistently acted cautiously and responsibly to unfolding advice.”
READ MORE: What you can still buy at the supermarket
Angelica Snowden 7.00pm: Ten more infected in Qld
Queensland Health has confirmed the state now has 78 cases of coronavirus after ten more people were diagnosed with COVID-19 on Tuesday.
The health department said all patients with the virus are “isolated in appropriate accommodation”.
The ages of the people who tested positive range from a 28 to 71 years old.
They are being treated at public hospitals in the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Townsville.
Paige Taylor 6.29pm: WA aged care worker infected
A worker at an aged care facility is among three Perth healthcare workers who have tested positive to COVID-19 since Sunday.
The other two workers were reportedly medical staff from a maternity ward at a private hospital. That ward is now closed.
West Australian health minister Roger Cook said each worker had travelled overseas and returned to work before they showed symptoms of coronavirus. In each case, the person’s contacts were being examined.
In a written statement distributed to newsrooms on Tuesday, Aegis aged care chief operating officer Kevin Brimblecombe said that on Monday 16 March, the company was notified that a staff member at its Ascot Transition Care Facility in Bayswater had tested positive for COVID-19.
“Our absolute priority remains the health and wellbeing of the small number of residents at this Facility, their families and our staff,” Mr Brimblecombe said.
“The facility was yesterday closed to all visitors. We are working closely with the WA Department of Health to ensure that all relevant tracking is taking place for all who may have had any contact with the staff member. No other Aegis Facility is affected by this single COVID-19 case and we are maintaining our already strict Infection Control Protocols including restricted visitations, hand hygiene and physical distancing.”
WA has recorded 31 cases of COVID-19. In each case, the person is believed to have contracted the disease overseas.
READ MORE: Doomsday scenario forced Boris to act
Olivia Caisley 6.25pm: ADF to help make medical supplies
The Morrison government has enlisted its first domestic manufacturer to help ramp up national supplies of personal protection equipment as the number of coronavirus cases soars.
Med-Con — a manufacturer near Shepparton, Victoria — will boost production of clinical protective apparel and disposable medical clothing with the support of the Australian Defence Force.
It comes as the Department of Industry issued an alert to manufacturers on Sunday asking them to diversify their operations to produce medical supplies, amid skyrocketing demand for personal protection equipment.
READ MORE: Virus in the US, home of the grave
Angelica Snowden 6.03pm: Bunnings cancels sausage sizzles
Hardware chain Bunnings has made the “tough” decision to cancel sausage sizzles from tomorrow.
Managing director Mike Schneider said a shortage of volunteers and supplies lead to their decision.
“We absolutely understand the important role these sausage sizzles play for thousands of local community groups and charities and that finding alternative fundraising opportunities at short notice isn’t easy,” Mr Schneider said in a statement.
“To assist community groups who have sausage sizzles booked over the next month, our store teams will donate $500 gift cards to these local organisations to assist with their fundraising activities,” he said.
“Across Australia and NZ, this represents an investment into local communities of over $1.2m.”
Bunnings will also cancel all other in store activities, including school holiday workshops and Easter and Mother’s Day family nights.
READ MORE: Thousands volunteer to help health workers with chores
Richard Ferguson 5.29pm: Hanson to avoid Canberra
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and her colleague Malcolm Roberts will not return to Canberra next week.
A spokesman for Senator Hanson told The Australian was following advice from Senate President Scott Ryan as the nation’s parliament limits its number to stop the spread of coronavirus.
“On the advice of the Senate, only a small number of Members of Parliament from the Government and Labor will attend next weeks reduced number of sitting days,” he said.
“One Nation Senators have taken the view that our votes can be cast by means of a pair and therefore will not be attending the limited sitting days.
“A final assessment on the parties attendance will be made once the draft legislative program is released tomorrow.”
The Greens have not determined how many senators will come to Canberra but will be pushing ammendments to Scott Morrison’s stimulus bills to raise Newstart and provide sick leave to casuals.
READ MORE: Courts now for lawyers only
Richard Ferguson 5.23pm: Infected senator retraces steps
Coronavirus-positive senator Andrew Bragg has reached out to fellow MPs he worked with at a recent inquiry into superannuation to warn them about his diagnosis.
Senator Bragg is now retracing his steps after he caught COVID-19 at Stanwell Tops wedding on March 6 from which at least six people now have the disease.
The third federal politician to catch COVID-19 chaired an economics legislation committee meeting in Sydney last Monday.
Nationals senator Susan McDonald, who also has coronavirus, is on the committee Senator Bragg chaired but did not attend the March 9 hearing because she was in Townsville.
Senator McDonald has been in hospital with mild symptoms and is on the mend. She is expected to be released soon and will enter home-isolation.
READ MORE: Police health fears trigger call for guidance
Tom Whipple 5.05pm: Vaccine not a race but a lottery
There had always been a plan for a “Disease X situation”. By late last year the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi) was funding scientists across the world. It had teams looking at known viruses, trying to tease out their weaknesses and exploit their flaws.
Then, says Melanie Saville, Cepi’s director of vaccine development, in January came the moment for which it had been created.
“We came back from vacation and saw this new disease emerging,” she says. “At the very least we thought it could be a drill for a real pandemic.”
They had their Disease X and the global drive for a coronavirus vaccine began.
It is tempting to view what has happened in the two months since as a race.
In London, we hear, there’s a vaccine that tricks muscles into making coronavirus proteins. In Paris there’s one based on genetically engineering a measles vaccine. Boston has a company that is skipping human trials, Seattle has one that is injecting humans.
From Australia to America, none of these impressive advances is cause for much hope. The hope lies in the fact that all of them are happening together.
Making a new vaccine is not a race, it is a lottery. Each of these teams has bought a ticket.
Read the full story here
Remy Varga 4.50pm: Vic cases rise to 94
Victorian health authorities have confirmed 23 new cases of the coronavirus in Victoria, bringing the total to 94.
The new cases included 11 men and 12 women with ages ranging from the early 20s to the mid-60s.
The health department is further investigating whether students and staff from Toorak Primary School need to self-quarantine after the school was shut for two weeks after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.
The current health advice is that schools in Victoria should remain open for the time being.
More than 60 of the total cases in Victoria were contracted overseas while 29 are still being investigated and two were contracted through community transition.
The Victorian health department said seven people were recovering from the disease in hospital with around 14,200 Victorians undertaken tests to date.
Victoria’s Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton said the number of confirmed cases in the state would likely continue to increase.
“We are reviewing this rapidly evolving situation daily and will continue to provide up-to-date information to the community,” he said.
“We are all focused on doing whatever is necessary to minimise the spread of infection and keep Victorians safe.
READ MORE: Police health fears trigger call for guidance
Bridget Carter 4.30pm: Virgin ‘preempts restructure’
Virgin Australia is understood to be working closely with legal restructuring experts from the law firm Clayton Utz as the airline industry awaits news as to whether it will receive government support.
It comes as Virgin Australia on Tuesday told the market that the ratings agency S&P Global downgraded Virgin Australia’s credit rating to B- on deteriorating domestic market conditions and placed the airline on Credit Watch Negative.
Virgin Australia’s shares are now at 6c and its market value at $583m.
Read the full story here
Adam Creighton 4.05pm: Business fears economy in recession
Businesses across the nation have declared the economy in recession for the first time in almost 30 years, as the death toll from the deadly corona virus reaches five and infections soar above 450.
Almost 60 per cent of more than 600 Australian businesses surveyed by Roy Morgan said the economy was in “recession” already, including almost 70 per cent in Queensland – more than any other state - whose tourism sector is expected to be hit especially hard by the collapse of international travel.
“Some industries have been hit harder than others but majorities of businesses in most industries agree Australia is in a ‘recession’ including Manufacturing, Construction, Wholesale trade, Accommodation & Food services and Education & Training,” said Roy Morgan chief executive Michelle Levine.
“Although it’s obvious Australia is already in a ‘recession’ there are only a few things that can save Australia from experience a full-blown ‘depression’ which is recognised as a fall in GDP of at least 10 per cent,” she added.
The last recession in Australia in the early 1990s saw the jobless rate surge from 6.6 per cent to 9.5 per cent in the 12 months to 1991.
Read the full story here.
Wally Mason 4.00pm: Stawell Gift cancelled
Australia’s richest footrace, the Stawell Gift, is the latest sporting event to fall victim to the coronavirus outbreak.
The Stawell Athletic Club confirmed on Tuesday that the three-day Easter event, which draws tens of thousands of people to the small town in western Victoria every April, would not be run this year.
The club said the decision had been taken following the implementation of a state of emergency which bans non-essential gatherings of 500 people or more.
“The Stawell Athletic Club is working closely with the Victorian Government, Northern Grampians Shire Council and the Victorian Athletic League in what is an involving situation,” the club said.
“This includes assessing options for potentially rescheduling the 2020 Stawell Gift to a date later in the year.”
The decision comes just weeks after the Victorian government provided a financial bailout to ensure the historic event could go ahead this year.
Tim Dodd 3.50pm: Macquarie student tests positive
A student at Macquarie University in Sydney has been diagnosed with the coronavirus. The university said on Tuesday that parts of the campus were intensively cleaned overnight after the student recorded a positive test.
“The student reported feeling ill, was tested for COVID-19 and is receiving appropriate care,” the university said.
It said that “current advice” was that the university could continue operating as normal after the cleaning had taken place.
However from Wednesday Macquarie will suspend classes until Monday March 30, allowing time to shift most courses online.
Elias Visontay 3.47pm: ‘Empty shelves don’t mean shortages’
Industry Minister Karen Andrews has sought to reassure Australians that empty supermarket shelves do not mean a shortage in supplies of essentials, but are caused by an inability to restock shelves quickly enough to keep up with panic buying.
Her comments come a week after she held a roundtable with industry groups, which raised concerns that curfew hours on supermarket delivery needed to be lifted to allow quicker restocking of shelves.
“There is no need for people to continue to buy extensive amounts of toilet paper. We have adequate supplies of that in Australia, and quite frankly, people’s usage is not likely to change. So there is no need to panic buy that,” Ms Andrews said.
“There’s also no need to panic buy other products. The issue that we are experiencing at the moment is getting the goods out of our distribution centres and on to the shelves.
“The more panic buying that continues, the more difficult that is, which means that people will walk into stores and they will see shelves that are not fully stocked. That is only a restocking issue. It is not a supply issue. So if everyone goes back to their normal purchasing behaviour at a supermarket, there is no cause for alarm,” she said.
Richard Ferguson 3.45pm: Bragg tests positive
NSW Liberal senator Andrew Bragg is the third person to test positive for coronavirus after attending a wedding.
“I was a guest at a friend’s wedding in Stanwell Tops on 6 March. After satisfying the guidelines of direct exposure and flu symptoms, I have tested positive to Coronavirus,” he tweeted on Tuesday.
Senator Bragg joins Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Queensland LNP senator Susan McDonald in contracting coronavirus.
At least 60 MPs and 22 senators will not attend parliament next week to contain the disease’s spread through the nation’s lawmakers.
I was a guest at a friend’s wedding in Stanwell Tops on 6 March. After satisfying the guidelines of direct exposure and flu symptoms, I have tested positive to Coronavirus.
— Senator Andrew Bragg (@ajamesbragg) March 17, 2020
Stephen Lunn 3.40pm: Regis Aged Care in lockdown
One of Australia’s biggest residential aged care providers has gone into lockdown from Tuesday for two weeks.
Regis Aged Care, which has nursing homes across the country, announced a “no visitors” policy from 5pm Tuesday.
But loved ones of the very frail may be granted access in special cases, the company said.
“We understand that there will be some exceptional circumstances where visitors can still arrange to attend the home with our Facility Managers (for example end of life care) as long as they can demonstrate that they are well, haven’t been overseas in the previous 14 days and haven’t been in direct contact with a person diagnosed with COVID-19.”
“After this period we will reassess the situation taking into account the best medical and public health advice available,” it said. “This is a proactive step to protect the health and safety of our residents and staff.”
With the elderly cohort the most vulnerable to the coronavirus, the national cabinet is expected to address the issue of access to aged care facilities at its meeting late Tuesday, and provide new directions for aged care providers on Wednesday. These directions are anticipated to include some restrictions on visitors.
Council on the Ageing chief executive Ian Yates has warned of the possible adverse consequences of cutting older people off from family members, including the distress of being isolated.
However, aged care facilities are being forced to weigh this risk against the far higher mortality rate of the coronavirus among the elderly.
Rebecca Urban 3.35pm: Teachers lash government on schools
The body representing NSW teachers has hit out at government advice to schools on handing concerns around the spread of coronavirus as conflicting, contradictory and impossible to implement.
While cases of COVID-19 continue to rise across the state, the NSW Teachers’ Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos has taken issue with the banning of public gatherings of 500 or more people, while asking schools to remain open.
According to Mr Gavrielatos, approximately 30 per cent of schools had more than 500 students with the largest public school having a population in excess of 2000 students.
“Schools have been told to implement a range of social distancing measures which include keeping a distance of 1.5m between persons and minimising physical contact where possible,” he said.
“However, the design of many of our schools and the size of our classrooms make this impossible.”
“The overcrowding of some schools also makes this impossible beyond the classroom. This is further amplified on wet days when children and their teachers have to remain indoors.”
Mr Gavrielatos said beyond social distancing measures, teachers were concerned about a lack of resources necessary to ensure satisfactory levels of cleaning and sanitation to maintain good hygiene.
“The lack of clarity, consistency and, at times, conflicting advice and opinions expressed by the medical community and elected leaders is creating considerable stress for teachers and principals,” he said.
Matthew Denholm 3.20pm: Tasmania gets $420m stimulus
A $420m state stimulus package will attempt to limit the economic impacts of the coronavirus on Tasmania.
The Gutwein Liberal government on Tuesday announced the “first stage” of its economic response to the disease, including payments of up to $1,000 for families forced to self-isolate, as well as payroll and other tax relief for business.
Key measures include $50m to upgrade public buildings and parks, $50m interest free loans to local government to upgrade tourism facilities, and $20m for interest free loans for hospitality, seafood and tourism businesses.
These same industries will benefit from $7m in payroll tax relief, which will also be applied to other small to medium sized businesses on application, costing a further $9m.
A .75% efficient dividend imposed on government departments in the last state budget will be dropped to allow agencies to focus on dealing with the coronavirus crisis.
“Now is the time to use the budget as an economic stabiliser to support the economy and keep Tasmanians in jobs and that is exactly what we will do,” Premier Peter Gutwein told state parliament.
I live in Tasmania and everything is shutting down. The mid-winter event that holds our economy together has been cancelled, so the next few months are going to be scary.
— jm (@jesss_mary) March 17, 2020
Adeshola Ore 3.05pm: Restaurant for homeless closes
Sydney’s Loaves & Fishes restaurant for the homeless has closed its doors as a temporary response to coronavirus.
The Exodus Foundation’s restaurant will now provide takeaway meals to the disadvantaged as part of safety precautions to the virus.
The foundation’s venue in Sydney’s inner-west was established in 1989 to serve food to the city’s homeless.
“The homeless are among the most vulnerable from infection by COVID-19, so we can’t have them congregating together in our Loaves & Fishes Free Restaurant”, founder Reverend Bill Crews said in a statement.
“The restaurant staff will be on hand to distribute these to our homeless guests, and also to ensure they maintain social distancing.”
READ MORE: Australia’s next priority is to keep people employed | Isolation measures hit mall owners | Doomsday scenario forced Boris to act
Remy Varga 3.00pm: Police investigate Woolies incident
A man is being flown to hospital after an incident at a Woolworths in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Ambulance Victoria said paramedics were called to a supermarket in Rosebud about 12.55pm on Tuesday and treated a man for an injury to the lower body.
The man, believed to be in his 30s, is being flown to The Alfred hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Read the full story here
Rosie Lewis 2.50pm: Aged care visitors curbed
The number of visitors to aged care facilities is set to be curbed in a bid to stop the coronavirus infecting some of Australia’s most vulnerable people.
With an announcement on aged care restrictions due on Wednesday, Health Minister Greg Hunt said there would be a reduction in visitor numbers but he did not want them stopped altogether.
“What has been contemplated is making sure that rather than an increase, there is a decrease and a reduction in numbers but not a stopping of flow,” Mr Hunt said.
“Because these are our parents and our grandparents. These are our senior Australians who have helped build what we have. And so we have to protect them from the disease, but we don’t want to remove them from the most human of contact.”
Aged care homes already limit visitors during an influenza outbreak and check people who come in to ensure they do not make residents sick.
Mr Hunt said residents were also separated to stop the spread of disease.
This approach had been recommended by Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck to facilities in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.
“What is being considered here is to make sure that there is access, but limited access,” Mr Hunt said. “That’s to make sure that there is not an increase of (coronavirus) numbers because many people will be worried and that’s the most human of responses.”
Elias Visontay 2.30pm: ’Why we won’t go into lockdown’
Health Minister Greg Hunt has responded to calls for a lockdown of Australian cities, saying one of the main hesitations in declaring one is the implications for healthcare workers.
Mr Hunt also said the impact of a lockdown on food supplies is of concern as health chiefs meet to discuss action.
Asked when Australia could expect a lockdown similar to what has been seen in Europe, Mr Hunt said: “Each country has to make its own judgement about their particular needs.
“One of the things we’re looking at and balancing, and I think it is very important to explain to this Australians, is to make sure that, as we help stop the spread through our individual actions as well as our Government decisions and our collective actions, we are not making the problem worse by destroying the capacity for our health workers, our medical workers, of having an impact on supplies for food and other things.”
Mr Hunt also said the government was in “advanced discussions” with Australian businesses to begin local manufacturing of medical supplies that cannot be sourced from overseas.
“We are looking at lots of different options for production. We’re in advanced discussions on a variety of fronts, including masks and potentially there is a role for test kits, so as we’re not just relying on international sources and international imports. But we are ramping up our domestic production of critical supplies.”
Mr Hunt also said 230,000 health masks arrived in Australia on Tuesday and are being distributed to health care providers.
“We have had over 30,000 tests conducted in Australia, and I expect new figures in the next 24 hours which will be significantly in advance of that,” he said.
Elias Visontay 2.20pm: Telehealth to be expanded
Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced coronavirus telehealth initiatives will be expanded to include midwives and specialist services as the government seeks to stop the spread of the virus to vulnerable Australians.
Mr Hunt also said the telehealth capacity would be expanded to patients could access a doctor or their practice that they have a history of visiting.
“We have expanded the capacity for telehealth to cover midwives, which I think is a very important development for Australian mums and Australian families more generally.
“Secondly, we will expand the capacity where people have had a prior relationship not just with an individual doctor but with their practice. This is about protecting the vulnerable. This is our fundamental national task, is to protect the vulnerable, because they are the ones who are most likely to have an impact from the coronavirus which could either be serious or could, of course, lead to a fatality.
“We are also expanding the telehealth to cover new specialist services. And so a range of new specialist services, such as the capacity for general surgeons, the capacity for mental health, through psychiatrists, mental health facilities and support, being made available, all geriatricians, amongst others, but a vastly expanded array of services through midwives, general practice, and now through specialists.
“These are important ways of providing support to those who are diagnosed, in isolation, or from the broad vulnerable community, particularly our elderly or our immune-compromised.”
Elias Visontay 2.15pm: Bowen calls for more testng
Opposition health spokesman Chris Bowen has said Labor will support “every single Government measure” responding to the coronavirus, but called for greater testing of Australians.
“There’s one overriding principle we should apply. We can’t get to the other side of this and ask ‘could we have done more? Could we have acted sooner? Could we have taken bigger steps?’,” Mr Bowen said.
“That’s the overriding principle that the nation should apply, that the Government must apply, and that Labor applies. That’s why we’ve backed every single Government measure, including some that were at the time, controversial. We made the decision to support every single decision made by the Government. But we also say ‘let’s do more’.
Mr Bowen also made several recommendations to the government, and said “testing is vital”.
“We know from those countries that are succeeding in containing, turning around and stopping this virus taking hold, that widespread testing is important. Of course, who to test should be based on the very best medical advice. It cannot be driven by any shortages. The decision about how many tests to apply should only be driven by one factor - how many people need them?
“Anything sensible to get more testing material out into the field will have our full support, but it’s urgent and if more needs to be done, we won’t hesitate to say so.
“Telehealth is very important. We don’t want anybody who can avoid going to the doctors to have to go to the doctors. There’s so much that can be done over the phone or online, on video conferencing, on Skype.
“The Government introduced a Telehealth rebate. We welcomed that and we called for it and we welcome it. But it is far too limited in scope. It only applies to people over 70 and people in isolation. People who are pregnant and some sectors of the Indigenous community. It should apply to everyone.
Mr Bowen also welcomed the announcement that Australian Public Service casual employees would continue to be paid if they couldn’t work, but said “but it needs to apply to every casual in the country.”
“I say to the Prime Minister and to the Government, and to all governments, please take the Australian people into your confidence as much as possible. Tell them what might be needed. Tell them what might bring about those decisions. Tell them when these decisions might be made... the Australian people deserve to know.”
Cameron Stewart 2.10pm: US could be home of the grave
As medical experts pore over modelling for the global spread and death toll from the coronavirus, it is the projections for what potentially awaits the US that are among the most shocking.
The combination of the government’s slow response to the crisis, minimal testing, a dysfunctional health system and a large, mobile population is a recipe for disaster that could soon exceed what has been seen in either China or Italy, experts say.
“The system does not, is not really geared to what we need right now. It’s failing, let’s admit it,” says Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Read the full article here.
Adeshola Ore 2.05pm: TWU - protet aviation jobs
The Transport Workers Union is urging the federal government to protect jobs in the aviation industry, as Qantas and Jetstar this morning announced further cutbacks to their flights.
Qantas said it would cut 90 per cent of its international flights and 60 per cent of domestic capacity until the end of May in response to coronavirus.
Transport Workers’ Union and the Australian Services Union has written to the federal government asking it to protect aviation jobs and companies in an assistance package.
“These companies will need the workforce capacity to accelerate out of the downturn when the crisis subsides, “ the letter reads.
“Shedding jobs will not only contribute to the economic crisis now but limit our capacity to recover in the future. We warn against situations where well-paid airline executives get to set the terms of state assistance, with workers shut out and their interests ignored.”
Adeshola Ore 2.01pm: Hanks released from hospital
Hollywood star Tom Hanks has been released from the Gold Coast University Hospital after testing positive to coronavirus last week. His wife Rita Wilson remains in isolation.
He had been in Queensland to work on an upcoming Elvis Presley biopic directed by Baz Lurhmann.
On Monday, the actor wrote on Instagram “Thanks to the Helpers. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other.”
Joseph Lam 2.00pm: Warning of COVID scams
The Australian Cyber Security Centre has warned that phishing scams with malicious software pretending to be the Australian government are now in circulation.
In a statement from the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Stay Smart Online initiative, the organisation has warned that messages with advice on where to get tested for COVID-19 may contain links to malicious software which may, if clicked, steal the phone owner’s banking details.
Stay Smart Online is urging anyone who receives a message with links from “GOV” to delete the message.
“If you receive one of these messages, delete the message and do not click the link.” the statement says.
Multiple reports of the message from “GOV” have been received by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)’s Scamwatch.
Recipients who have clicked the link or remain concerned after deleting the message are encouraged to contact their financial institutions immediately.
Richard Ferguson 1.55pm: At risk MPs get pairing priority
Anthony Albanese says MPs with an increased risk of catching coronavirus and travelling long distances will be given priority for pairing arrangements next week.
At least 60 MPs in the House of Representatives and 22 senators will be kept out of parliament next week to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The Opposition Minister said his meeting with Scott Morrison on Tuesday to sort out parliamentary arrangements was constructive, and he felt it was important for the House to still sit.
The pair have also agreed to still hold Question Time while the stimulus bills are being passed.
“Priority would be given for pairing arrangements for people who were more susceptible to viruses, if I can put it that way. And to people travelling longer distances as well,” he said.
“There will be an absolute majority of at least 76 if the Coalition and Labor vote together, which I would expect would happen on procedural issues and on others where that’s required to facilitate the passage of the legislation.
“Parliament will have a Question Time. It’s agreed. How long Parliament sits for - we’ll wait and see how long it takes.”
Elise Shaw 1.40pm: Pymble Ladies College closes
Pymble Ladies College in Sydney has emailed parents and carers notifying that it will move to a fully online learning environment beginning at 9.25am Thursday 19 March.
The school said in a statement it has NOT had any positive cases of COVID-19.
Yoni Bashan 1.30pm: Gladys refuses tougher measures
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is refusing to enact more aggressive policies of social distancing across the community or shut down parliament next week, despite conceding the state is bracing for a “critical mass” of COVID-19 cases that will eventually overwhelm the health system.
Ms Berejiklian made the remarks during a press conference at NSW parliament on Tuesday morning alongside her health minister, Brad Hazzard, who revealed a further 39 cases of coronavirus had been diagnosed overnight. He said that number is likely to rise further before an official announcement is provided by NSW Health.
The latest rise in infections has sets a new daily record for the state — on Monday, thirty seven cases were diagnosed, the largest increase since tallying began. There are now 210 cases statewide and 440 across the country.
Read the full story here.
NSW Premier @GladysB has announced a $2.3 billion stimulus package for the NSW economy in a bid to counter the financial havoc caused by the global coronavirus pandemic. https://t.co/CdIsyJiyUW @ChrisReason7 #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/EnCAw1rqaU
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 17, 2020
Elias Visontay 1.25pm: Qantas cuts ‘disappointing’
Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham has said it is disappointing that Qantas will cut international capacity by 90 per cent and domestic capacity by 60 per cent.
“Qantas’s decision is disappointing but entirely understandable given the dramatic situation we’re seeing in terms of the downturn in international travel and the impact flowing through onto domestic travel as well,” Senator Birmingham said.
His comments come after he told Sky News he sought assurances from Qantas and Virgin that “a critical piece of our national infrastructure” is not at risk of collapsing, warning of “a critical requirement to make sure that we maintain connectivity between key cities”.
Asked if the government would bailout airlines if required, Senator Birmingham said “not having airlines in Australia is not negotiable for a country like us and would cripple our recovery. So of course we have to be ready to respond as and when necessary”.
“We do need to note that when it comes to that recovery stage, airlines are a critical piece of our national infrastructure as well. And so of course, we will continue to engage closely with the airlines to ensure that we have them for that recovery.
“There is also a critical requirement to make sure that we maintain connectivity between key cities and key regional centres around Australia. Airlines aren’t just important in terms of the tourism and travel sector. They’re also important in terms of the provision of critical social services into particularly remote communities.
Ewin Hannan 1.20pm: Manufacturing slump biggest in 20 years
Business conditions in the manufacturing sector have been hit by the largest single quarter decline in 20 years, and the slump occurred weeks before the latest shockwaves over the coronavirus.
The latest Australian Chamber-Westpac Survey of Industrial Trends undertaken between February 10 and March 3 found the Actual Composite index fell to 45.0 in the March quarter, from 56.1 in December and down from 61.7 during the same period in 2019.
A similar drop was last seen in December 2000 when the index fell 12.5 points and, during the global financial crisis, when a 15-point decline was observed over two quarters.
The survey’s Labour Market Composite also points to a further slowing of jobs growth across the economy, declining to 44.7, down from 53.7 a year earlier, its lowest level since 2014.
“The survey shows a a steady decrease in business conditions and confidence because of uncertainty caused by concerns about the impact of the coronavirus,” Australian Chamber CEO James Pearson said.
Read the full story here.
Amos Aikman 1.15pm: Darwin doctor joins lockdown call
A Darwin doctor has shared an open letter with all Northern Territory parliamentarians calling on the Prime Minister to urgently lockdown Australia to avert an Italian-style coronavirus crisis.
The letter warns that without urgent action, Australia could see 6,000 coronavirus cases by 1 April and be in a worse position than Italy in about three weeks.
“On current growth rates the 370 cases in Australia today will be 750 on Friday, 1500 on Tuesday next week, 3000 next Saturday, 6000 on the 1st of April, 12 000 by the 4th of April and 24 000 by the 7th of April,” the letter states.
“This is 3 weeks from now and puts us in a worse position than Italy is currently in.”
It says that experience from China and Italy shows that social distancing will take at least a fortnight to slow the rate of spread of the virus. It also highlights the severe risks from coronavirus to indigenous communities.
“While we applaud the measures that have been taken by Australian authorities so far we know that they are not enough,” the letter says.
“The Italian government believed that they were acting decisively with their first local lockdowns at just 21 confirmed national cases, far lower than the current rates in Australia.
“Many of us are in contact with colleagues in Italy, Spain and France and they are begging us to learn from their mistakes.”
The letter, which is freely available on the Google Docs collaboration platform, was excerpted and sent to all 25 NT parliamentarians by Menzies School of Health Research associate professor Suzanne Belton.
In her email headed, “Urgent for your consideration — when will the NT lockdown or close our borders?”, Dr Belton urged all MLAs to heed the letter’s warnings, adding she suspected that “by the end of the day many doctors and nurses will have signed it.
“I am not writing this on behalf of the Menzies School of Health Research and I have no vested interest or financial gain in seeking your urgent action,” Dr Belton wrote.
“I appreciate all the work that has been currently undertaken to assist infected patients in quarantine and levels of planning on logistics and preparation, especially by the NT Department of Health.”
Dr Belton declined to comment when approached by The Australian.
Richard Ferguson 12.40pm: Parliament to cap politicians
Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have agreed to keep 60 MPs and 22 senators away from Canberra next week to contain coronavirus.
The Australian has confirmed the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader have agreed to lose 30 MPs in the House and 11 senators in the Senate each to pass vital coronavirus legislation on a quorum basis.
The restrictions on MPs come on top of new rules to keep ex-politicians, lobbyists, and members of the public out of certain parts of parliament to coRichardntain the spread of the virus.
It is understood the arrangements are only between the Coalition and Labor at this stage, meaning crossbench members and senators could also choose not to come to parliament.
The House needs an absolute majority of 76 MPs to suspend standing orders, while the Senate can suspend standing orders in some circumstances with 39 senators.
Elias Visontay 12.35pm: Chalmers ‘happy’ with cap on politicians
Opposition treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers has said he is “happy to go along with” new measures to put a cap on more than 90 politicians entering Parliament House to halt the spread of coronavirus.
It comes after The Australian reported on Tuesday that federal parliament was set to return next week with as few MPs and staff as possible after north Queensland LNP senator Susan McDonald tested positive for the disease.
“We’re in the hands here of the negotiations between Tony Burke and Chirstian Porter here and I’m happy to go along with whatever they’ve negotiated on our behalf,” Mr Chalmers told Sky News.
“Clearly these are pretty extraordinary times it requires pretty extraordinary steps like this. I think as solemn as we make the right and sensible decision about how we keep the wheels of democracy rolling then that’s fine.
“We’ve got some legislation that we need to pass from the government’s first stimulus package, we haven’t seen that legislation yet, but it’s important that we get that support out the door as soon as possible and that’s why parliament needs to meet.”
A spokesman for the Prime Minister told The Australian an announcement on the measures would be made short
Yoni Bashan 12.15pm: NSW cases soar
During a press conference at NSW parliament on Tuesday morning, NSW Health minister Brad Hazzard revealed a further 39 cases of coronavirus had been diagnosed overnight. He said the number is likely to rise further before an official announcement is provided in the coming hours.
On Monday, thirty seven cases were diagnosed, the largest increase in infections since tallying began.
There are now 450 confirmed cases in Australia, including five deaths.
NSW: 210; VIC: 94; QLD: 78; SA: 30; WA: 28; TAS: 7; ACT: 2; NT: 1
Matthew Denholm 12.10pm: Tassie Anglican service banned
The Anglican Church in Tasmania has banned church services until further notice to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Bishop Richard Condie said from Tuesday the church would avoid groups of more than 10 people meeting together.
“As there is increased risk of transmission where larger numbers of people gather together, we have decided, effective immediately, that no public gatherings, including church services, will take place in our churches until further notice,” Dr Condie said.
“Our Church has listened carefully to concerns within our community about the need for social distancing to reduce the spread of the COVID19 virus.
“We understand that we need to act quickly and early in order to slow the spread of the virus. Being a Church for Tasmania, we want to act in the best interests of the wider community and will no longer meet for our regular church services.”
Dr Condie said the church was exploring ways of “gathering people together online” and that weekly church services would be available on the web.
Remy Varga 12.05pm: Vic Coroners Court suspends hearings
Coroners Court of Victoria has suspended all “non-essential” hearings this week following federal and state government advice on the coronavirus outbreak.
The court is currently exploring alternative methods for conducting hearings that minimise the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
Elias Visontay 11.55am: Cabinet, NSC to meet over virus
Scott Morrison and his cabinet ministers, as well as the National Security Committee of cabinet, will each hold meetings on Tuesday afternoon, as key leaders progress their response to coronavirus.
The Australian understands the meetings will happen via videolink, with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton testing positive to coronavirus last week.
The meetings will occur ahead of a meeting of the newly formed National Cabinet, made up of the Prime Minister and state and territory heads, to occur at 8pm on Tuesday.
The newly-formed National Cabinet takes medical advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, with updates on greater restrictions on nursing homes and potential school closures expected.
Peter Lalor 11.25am: Cricketers to lose millions
Australian players could miss out on tens of millions of dollars with Cricket Australia understood to be reviewing whether it will allow them to participate in this year’s IPL and other domestic competitions because of the pandemic.
The administration has warned its players to heed government travel warnings and is believed to be considering whether to issue certificates that allow its stars to play in domestic tournaments overseas.
Read the full story here.
Adeshola Ore 11.20am: Queensland police ramp up patrols
Queensland police will ramp up its use of mobile patrols, after it cancelled major roadside operations for drink driving.
The police are deploying officers from large-scale roadside operations to mobile patrols due to the spread of coronavirus.
“The decision has been made to minimise health risks to officers and the community,” the police service said in a statement.
“The QPS will continue to undertake random breath and drug testing through high visibility mobile patrols.” The changes will apply for the foreseeable future.
Adeshola Ore 11.10am: SA, NT cancel ANZAC Day
South Australia and the Northern Territory have joined cancelled their public Anzac Day services.
In Adelaide, official guests will attend a dawn service at the war memorial on April 25.
The traditional march has been cancelled. Sub-branches across SA and the NT will be permitted to hold dawn services, but only for their members.
“We lose a chance to pay our due respect and acknowledge the great contribution servicemen and women have made,” the RSL said.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 11.08am: ‘God’s punishment for US’
Zimbabwe’s defence minister has described coronavirus as God’s punishment for the United States and other western countries for imposing economic sanctions on the African country.
At a rally in Chinhoyi, 120km northwest of the capital Harare, Oppah Muchinguri said the west must “feel the pain,” according to local reports.
“This coronavirus that has come are sanctions against the countries that have imposed sanctions on us,” she said.
“God is punishing them now and they are staying indoors now while their economy is screaming like what the did to ours by imposing sanctions on us.
“Trump should know that he is not God. They must face the consequences of coronavirus so that they also feel the pain.”
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa issued a statement on Monday saying the country had sympathy for those impacted by the virus.
Zimbabwe is yet to confirm a case of coronavirus. Across 30 African countries, just 54 cases have been confirmed.
Ben Wilmot 11.05am: Property leads market down
Property stocks are leading the market down in morning trade with the big mall owners and funds management stocks suffering the most.
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, that bought the international Westfield empire in 2018, had plunged by 15.8 per cent to just $5.02 at about 10.30 after it warned its operations would be hit by closures across Europe.
Investors drove Scentre, owner of the local Westfield empire, down by 6 per cent to just $2.19 as fears spread about the local restrictions on movement.
The already beaten down Vicinity Centres was only off by 1.5 per cent to $1.497.
Property funds manager Charter Hall was slugged and it and fallen by 9.4 per cent to $7.70 as concerns deepen that commercial property deal making will drop off over the next period.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 11.00am: Macquarie Uni closes
Macquarie University has followed the lead of other Australian universities, announcing on Tuesday that they will pause all teaching activities until the end of the month to transition all face-to-face learning activities online.
Classes will be suspended from Wednesday until 30 March, with the university planning to make up for loss time by running classes throughout the April university break.
Graduation ceremonies slated for April will be cancelled, with all upcoming graduates to formally graduate “in absentia”, with all fees refunded.
“Macquarie is responding in line with the latest advice from the Australian Government and NSW Health. The Vice-Chancellor has established a taskforce to address this evolving situation,” the university said in a statement.
Ewin Hannan 10.50am: McManus slams PM over response
ACTU secretary Sally McManus has told Scott Morrison the government’s refusal to provide paid leave to casual and contract workers impacted by coronavirus represents a “serious gap” in his response to the epidemic.
In a new letter to the Prime Minister, Ms McManus also accused the government of excluding unions from access to a specialist Treasury unit set up to liaise with business groups about how to respond to coronavirus.
She said the government had not replied to her letter sent two weeks ago that raised the need for workers impacted by coronavirus to have access to paid leave.
”We note and support the extensive measures you announced last week to support businesses,” she wrote.
“There is, however, we believe a serious gap in your government’s response which is increasingly putting at risk Australia’s measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“It is essential for public health that if workers need to self-isolate that they do not face a financial penalty. If working people are forced to choose between going to work sick or being able to pay their bills and feed their families then we are creating an unacceptable risk to public health.”
A number of major employers, including Woolworths, Telstra and Wesfarmers-owned businesses such as Kmart and Target have committed to paying leave to casuals if they are unfit for work due to the coronavirus.
The government has said casuals can access sickness payments through the welfare system and waived the waiting period.
Ms McManus said many workers were being stood down and were now without any pay, such as in the entertainment industry.
“This has left many working people without any income at a time when the economy, let along their families, can least afford it,” she said.
”We urge you to provide a guarantee of two weeks paid special leave for all workers, permanent, casual and contract, who are forced to either self-isolate as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic or where there is a genuine business downturn or shutdown as a result of the pandemic.”
She noted the government had last week set up a Business Liaison Unit in Treasury to engage with peak business groups “on systematic issues relating to Coronavirus” and “as a source of information”.
“We are extremely concerned that you appear to have excluded worker representatives from this important initiative and ask that you extend such arrangements to the ACTU as representatives of working people to ensure the highest level of communication and consistency at this time,” she said.
Glynis Traill-Nash 10.45am: Fashion Week cancelled
Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia joins the growing list of events to be cancelled in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The showcase, which is the country’s main industry event, would have run from 11-15 May.
The event is owned by US-based events company IMG.
Natalie Xenita, executive director of IMG’s fashion events group for the Asia-Pacific region, said in a statement released this morning: “Due to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC)’s mandate against holding non-essential, organised public gatherings of more than 500 people in light of global health concerns regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus), we regret to share that Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia 2020 will not take place.
“We thank our incredible designers, producers, partners and staff for their support of the Australian fashion community and look forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2021.”
The international fashion weeks that span New York, London, Milan and Paris were largely unscathed in February and March, with only a relative handful of shows cancelled.
Last week’s Melbourne Fashion Festival ran for eight days until being shut down for the final two in light of government advice regarding mass gatherings.
MBFWA is the key event in the fashion schedule for the Australian fashion industry, acting as a showcase to local and international buyers.
This year it was to open up a handful of shows to consumers to attend.
The news follows swiftly behind the announcement that the Met Gala – one of the world’s most glamorous fashion events attended by a who’s who of fashion and celebrity – will not proceed.
Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of US Vogue, which hosts the event, announced: “Due to the unavoidable and responsible decision by the Metropolitan Museum to close its doors, About Time, and the opening-night gala, will not take place on the date scheduled.”
The majority of Cruise-season shows have already been cancelled by luxury brands. The shows, which sit outside the international fashion week schedules, have become increasingly extravagant in recent years, with brands flying in hundreds of media and celebrities to different locations around the world, including Rio and Palm Springs.
Armani has cancelled its Dubai show, Burberry has called off one in Shanghai, Dior has cancelled Puglia, and Ralph Lauren, Versace and Gucci have cancelled their US-based shows.
Imminent fashion weeks in Seoul, Beijing and Tokyo have all been cancelled, while Shanghai has announced its event will be online only.
Peter Lalor 10.45am: Virus forces cricket to dump Shield final
NSW has been crowned winners of the 2020-21 Sheffield Shield after a decision was made to abandon the final yesterday.
The Blues were on top of the table with a round to go, ahead of last year’s winners Victoria before the last round.
Cricket made the call to cancel the final round last week but consulted the state’s before calling off the game which was due to begin on March 27.
Read the full story here
Adeshola Ore 10.40am: Loo roll shortage causes blockages
A Victorian water and waste company has warned the toilet paper shortage is causing drain blockages in the state’s sewers.
Coliban Water said the flushing of toilet paper alternatives is creating wastewater spills of up to 20,000 litres.
It comes as supermarkets across Australia have sold out of toilet paper amid coronavirus panic-buying.
Adeshola Ore 10.35am: Bushfire inquiry limits public
The national bushfire royal commission will push ahead, but limit public access due to coronavirus.
The Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements has announced it will hold a ceremonial hearing in Canberra on March 31, with formal hearings to begin in April.
The commission said access to the ceremonial hearing will be limited but it will be live streamed.
Remy Varga 10.32am: Woolies apologises
Woolworths managing director Claire Peters acknowledged many customers were unable to purchase the items they needed on Tuesday morning and said the supermarket chain was working to get products back on shelves.
“It’s day one of our dedicated shopping hour and we know it wasn’t perfect across all of our stores,” she said.
“While we’ve heard positive feedback from many stores across the country, we regret that many customers were unable to get all the items they needed this morning.”
David Ross 10.30am: Deliveroo in contactless delivery
Deliveroo has introduced contact free delivery as part of its response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Customers can select the option at checkout so that riders will leave food at their door.
Riders will then step back at least one metre and wait for customers to collect their food.
The company is hoping the measure will guard against transmission between riders and customers.
“We hope that this new tool provides you and our riders with greater safety during this time,” a statement from the company said.
The move follows earlier moves from Dominos, Uber Eats, Menulog, and Coles to do the same.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 10.27am: Met Gala cancelled
One of the biggest events in the fashion industry - the Met Gala - has been cancelled, host Anna Wintour said.
The gala usually takes place on the first Monday of May and benefits the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s costume institute. This year, the event was scheduled for May 4 but the Museum has shut its doors.
“Due to the unavoidable and responsible decision by the Metropolitan Museum to close its doors, About Time, and the opening night gala, will not take place on the date scheduled,” Ms Wintour wrote on Vogue’s website.
The cancellation of the event comes as Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, directed all schools in the state to close by April 1.
Another New York institution - Saturday Night Live - has announced it will halt production until further notice.
Adeshola Ore 10.25am: GoT’s Giantsbane tests positive
Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju has tested positive for coronavirus.
The Norwegarian actor Kristofer Hivju, who played Tormund Giantsbane in the HBO drama, made the announcement on Instagram. He said he and his family were self-isolating following the diagnosis.
“I only have mild symptoms of a cold. There are people at higher risk for who this virus might be a devastating diagnosis, so I urge all of you to be extremely careful,” he wrote in the post
“Wash your hands, keep 1,5 meters distance from others, go in quarantine; just do everything you can to stop the virus from spreading. Together we can fight this virus and avert a crisis at our hospitals.”
Elias Visontay 10.20am: ‘Essential to maintain connectivity’
Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham has sought assurances from Australia’s airlines that “a critical piece of our national infrastructure” is not at risk of collapsing, as he warns of “a critical requirement to make sure that we maintain connectivity between key cities”.
Senator Birmingham also warned one in thirteen Australian jobs reliant on tourism and hospitality “are all on the line right now” as the sector is hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
“These are unprecedented and incredibly difficult times for Australia’s tourism industry,” Senator Birmingham told Sky News.
“One in thirteen Australian jobs rely on the tourism and hospitality sector and those employers, those businesses and those jobs are all on the line right now.
“The impact is now basically, all parts of the Australian tourism industry assume they’re not really going to see any degree of international visitation for the foreseeable future. And that is a huge multibillion dollar hit on those businesses and on our economy.
“Ultimately, we’re not going to be able to save every single business or every single job either. This is a terrible, terrible event that we’re dealing with. It’s something that has never been encountered before.”
Senator Birmingham said Australia’s two airline carriers, Qantas and Virgin, had assured him of their viability and of “significant cash reserves”.
Asked if the government would bail out airlines if required, Senator Birmingham said: “Not having airlines in Australia is not negotiable for a country like us and would cripple our recovery. So of course we have to be ready to respond as and when necessary”.
“We do need to note that when it comes to that recovery stage, airlines are a critical piece of our national infrastructure as well. And so of course, we will continue to engage closely with the airlines to ensure that we have them for that recovery.
“There is also a critical requirement to make sure that we maintain connectivity between key cities and key regional centres around Australia. Airlines aren’t just important in terms of the tourism and travel sector. They’re also important in terms of the provision of critical social services into particularly remote communities.
“We need to have and it is essential that we have effective carriers able to service Australia through these tough times in terms of keeping key routes open, but crucially then able to scale up again when it comes to the other side,” Mr Birmingham said.
Natasha Robinson 10.15am: Doctors urge radical lockdowns
More than 1,000 doctors have written to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt urging radical lockdown measures in an attempt to slow the transmission of COVID-19 on home soil.
The letter, written by Perth GP Hemant Garg and signed by doctors around the country, calls for an urgent shut-down of all places where people gather.
“We should immediately recommend a three to four week closure of schools, cultural and religious places (including places of worship), gyms and leisure centres, pubs, bars, theatres, cinemas and concert halls,” the letter said.
“This would allow a steady declaration of cases of Coronavirus to present to hospitals and fever clinics as their symptomatic phase develops. They could then be tested as per protocols, keeping in mind the pressure on the supply of laboratory testing equipment.
“Numbers of confirmed cases could then be firmly established and their progress tracked, allowing for clearer guidance for ongoing quarantine requirements. Other people with flu like illnesses, but without the relevant travel histories to countries affected by coronavirus, would also be able to be assessed and managed appropriately and calmly during this period.”
The doctors called for an emergency relief fund to be created to assist businesses who would lose revenue in such a scenario.
“I am aware that such broad measures would come with income/revenue losses for individuals and businesses. My hope is that something like a short term “emergency relief fund” could be established, to help ease such an impact for all concerned,” Dr Garg said.
Robyn Ironside 10.00am: Qantas cuts 90 per cent of international flights
Qantas will cut 90 per cent of international flights and capacity and 60 per cent of domestic until the end of May, in response to rapidly evaporating travel demand due to the coronavirus.
In its most dramatic changes to network since the outbreak was confirmed in China, the national carrier will ground the equivalent of 150 aircraft, including almost all of its widebody fleet, made up of Boeing 747s, Airbus A380s, A330s and 787-9s.
A statement to the ASX on Tuesday said the 90 per cent cut to international capacity “reflected the demand impact of severe quarantine requirements on people’s ability to travel overseas’.
Read the full story here.
Kieran Gair 9.50am: Sydney libraries close
A number of public libraries across Sydney will close today until at least the end of the month as the local government sector reacts to a surge in community transmissions of COVID-19.
Woollahra Council in the city’s eastern suburbs announced on Twitter it would close libraries at Double Bay, Watsons Bay and Paddington until the end of March.
The State Library of NSW, meanwhile, has cancelled events and closed The Shakespeare Room, but confirmed it will remain open for the time being.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 9.45am: Vic cases rise to 94
The number of coronavirus cases in Victoria has risen to 94 overnight, with premier Daniel Andrews saying that of the 23 cases, one was a member of Toorak Primary school, which has closed for today.
Mr Andrews also confirmed Australia’s chief medical officer’s earlier comments that the government is likely to issue new advice that could see the size of public gatherings permitted further reduced, with the National Cabinet set to deliberate on the issue later on Tuesday.
There are now 401 confirmed cases in Australia, including five deaths.
NSW: 171; VIC: 94; QLD: 68; SA: 30; WA: 28; TAS: 7; ACT: 2;NT: 1
Matthew Denholm 9.38am: Tasmania in public health emergency
Tasmania has declared a state health emergency in response to the coronavirus outbreak and announced a new hospital wing is ready to open.
Premer Peter Gutwein said on Tuesday the declaration would allow the Director of Public Health increased powers to compel people to quarantine, avoid certain areas and mass gatherings, and to direct vehicle movements.
Mr Gutwein also revealed a newly constructed K Block of the Royal Hobart Hospital was ready to open, after delays caused by air-conditioning and water problems.
As well, the Premier foreshadowed state economic stimulus measures. “We will use the budget as an economic stabiliser … and to support people to ensure they can continue their work,” he said.
Matthew Denholm 9.33am: MONA closes
Hobart’s famous Museum of Old and New Art is to be closed to avoid spreading the coronavirus, with owner David Walsh citing the “precautionary principle”.
“Even if COVID-19 just went on its irksome way as a granny-killing hyperflu, we’d have to take extreme measures,” Walsh said in a statement announcing closure of the popular tourist attraction.
“It will keep killing, and it will be extremely difficult to manage on a case-by-case basis, so COVID-19 must be checkmated.
“Mona, most likely, would play no part in the spread of this insidious coronavirus, and so closing would, probably, play no part in protecting against it. But there’s a chance that Mona could become a major centre for contagion. Preventing people interacting prevents many unlikely infections, but unlikely infections add up. They might add up to mayhem.”
It follows last week’s decision by the wealthy gambler to cancel this winter’s Dark Mofo festival, also to avoid spreading coronavirus.
9.30am: McDonalds closes company restaurants
McDonald’s said it would close dining rooms at company-owned restaurants in the U.S. and asked franchisees to take the same step to confront the coronavirus pandemic.
The Chicago-based burger giant said its stores would continue to serve customers through takeout, drive-throughs and delivery. McDonald’s said the bulk of its franchisees would comply with the new operating plan.
“We’re going to do whatever is necessary to help every owner-operator and partner survive this crisis. We will not let you fail,” Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski said in a video the company released on Monday.
McDonald’s said it was complying with the growing number of cities and states that have banned dining-in at restaurants. The company said it also would close children’s play spaces at U.S. restaurants and delay the construction projects at restaurants across the country.
Dow Jones
Elias Visontay 9.25am: ‘Heading for deep recession'
Former Labor Treasurer Wayne Swan has commended the government for introducing a stimulus package to deal with the coronavirus, but warned “we are heading for a deep global recession”.
“We’ve now finally buried this notion that governments shouldn’t intervene … I welcome their change of heart,” Mr Swan told Sky News.
“In many ways, it does mirror what happened through the Global Financial Crisis which in itself became a deep global recession and threatened to become the Great Depression mark two.
“We have to act, we have to act decisively, we have to act quickly.”
He warned the combination of businesses shuttering and sections of the workforce being “locked out of the economy” made the threat posed by the coronavirus unique.
However Mr Swan criticised the government for being “slow out of the blocks” to respond to coronavirus as well as to economic issues leading up to the pandemic.
“They had the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia last year advising them last year to stimulate the economy because it was very weak and consumption was low.
“They didn’t take that advice then so we go into this episode far weaker than we should have been had they acted last year.
“I think we should be doing everything we possibly can to avoid a deep recession because it destroys lives, it destroys communities and it destroys productive capacity.
“The costs of inaction are greater than the costs of action.
“During the Global Financial Crisis we were haunted by the one real lesson of history that typically governments have acted too timidly and acted too late. We were acutely aware of that which is why the minute we had finished announcing our first stimulus package we began working on our second stimulus package,” Mr Swan said
Lachlan Moffet Gray 9.10am: Woolies slammed over empty stocks
Woolworths has been slammed for sending elderly and disabled Australians on a wild goose chase by opening stores with insufficient supplies for the first “community shopping hour” designed to ensure vulnerable Australians can access necessities like toilet paper, long-life foods and hygienic products.
The supermarket chain announced the community shopping hour on Monday, saying that shoppers will have to present a valid concession card to enter all Woolworths Stores between the hours of 7am and 8am to give the elderly and the disabled “the opportunity to shop before our stores officially open - helping them obtain the essential items they need most in a less crowded environment.”
But hundreds of Australians who rose early to line up outside supermarkets across the country say they were greeted by either empty shelves or woefully insufficient stock.
Went to @woolworths early
— Jan Owen (@JanOwenAM) March 16, 2020
for my 86yr old father-in-law for the #seniorshour but the shelves are all empty. Too little too late #Woolies 😪 pic.twitter.com/qXpWebCQVn
“I was first in through the doors at woolworths at Casula, Liverpool,” said one caller to 2GB.
“There were just 12 packets of toilet paper and a queue of well over 200 people there.”
#Woolworth toorak vic 😷😷😷shame on 😷you empty shelves for older people this morning 😷 most of your staff grumpy unprofessional 👽shame shame shame
— Lucy Rose (@lucyrose383) March 16, 2020
“ I’ve just come back from Woolies at Emu Plains,” said another caller.
“By the time they opened doors, they were at least 200 deep, they had no toilet paper at all.”
“I’ve just come from Burwood in sydney no toilet paper, no kitchen paper, no wipes, no sanitizer. there’s a little bit of pasta,” said a woman.
“One handler said people were there at 5.30 this morning.”
Appearing on Alan Jones’s 2GB show to answer to criticisms of “elder abuse,” Woolworth’s director of fresh food, Paul Harker, admitted that the supermarket got it wrong.
“We are really sorry that we have impacted people this way,” Mr Harker said.
“What we’re trying to do, Alan, is to do something different...we started a trial this morning to see if it would make a difference, it’s clearly not perfect.
“Day one, we got it wrong, we’re going to do what we can to fix it.”
Coles yesterday announced it would also launch a community shopping hour between seven and eight am, due to begin on Wednesday.
The supermarket chain on Tuesday also announced new restrictions on products to ensure availability for all shoppers.
Coles shoppers may now only purchase two packs per customer of the following: eggs, chilled pasta, frozen vegetables and frozen desserts.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 9.00am: Coles launches elderly hour
Coles, like Woolworths, has also committed to establishing a community shopping hour between the hours of 7 and 8 am, starting on Wednesday.
Concession cards must be presented to enter the supermarkets.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.35am: Empty shelves greet elderly shoppers
Woolworths’ first day of their community shopping has been met with derision by elderly residents, who have been left frustrated by a lack of necessities such as toilet paper and hand sanitiser.
Several customers have told 2GB’s Alan Jones that hundreds of people had been lining since the early morning to get in, only to be met with empty shelves.
“I’ve just come from Burwood in Sydney — no toilet paper, no kitchen paper, no wipes, no sanitiser. There’s a little bit of pasta,” one caller said.
“One handler said people were there at 5.30 this morning.”
Went to @woolworths early
— Jan Owen (@JanOwenAM) March 16, 2020
for my 86yr old father-in-law for the #seniorshour but the shelves are all empty. Too little too late #Woolies 😪 pic.twitter.com/qXpWebCQVn
Coles, like Woolworths, has also committed to establishing a community shopping hour between the hours of 7am and 8am, starting on Wednesday.
Concession cards must be presented to enter the supermarkets.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.30am: Dutton leaves hospital, returns home
Peter Dutton says he is feeling “much better” after being sent home from hospital following his coronavirus diagnosis last Friday.
“The health system was unbelievable. Queensland Health were fantastic. They isolated me very quickly, I have been sent back home now,” the Home Affairs minister told Channel 9’s Today.
“I was happy to take up the suggestion to return home, I only had a mild case of it.”
Mr Dutton said he didn’t know where he contracted the virus, but it could have been in the US.
“I think the doctor’s advice initially was ‘maybe you picked it up in the United States, literally thousands of people have it that don’t know’, but I was pretty — you know, pretty militant about the hand sanitiser,” he said.
“You could pick it up on the plane, I suppose you could pick it up in a lift, pick it up walking up somebody.
“I was home with my wife and the kids for a couple of days during that week. They haven’t yet shown any symptoms, thank God.
“I’m in the 80 per cent of cases where it’s only mild … we are worried about the 20 per cent (of serious cases in people) and we want the health system to be able to cope to provide support to those people.”
— Peter Dutton (@PeterDutton_MP) March 13, 2020
Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.25am: US employs stringent social distancing
Following the US government’s declaration that gatherings of 10 people or more should be banned for at least two weeks, stringent social distancing policies are coming into effect across the country.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020
Almost seven million people in Northern California, including Silicon Valley, are being ordered to stay self-isolated indoors from Monday night for at least three weeks.
The most important thing you can do is remain home as much as possible,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed said on Twitter. “There is no need to rush out for food or supplies, as these stores will remain open.”
Health services, supermarkets, petrol stations and banks will remain open, as will public transport for travel to and from essential services.
Effective at midnight, San Francisco will require people to stay home except for essential needs.
— London Breed (@LondonBreed) March 16, 2020
Necessary government functions & essential stores will remain open.
These steps are based on the advice of public health experts to slow the spread of #COVID19.
New Orleans has closed all bars, nightclubs, casinos, movie theatres, malls and gyms in the city. Pennsylvania has closed all liquor stores in the state.
New York City’s mayor Bill de Blasio said officials are considering a curfew, or other possibilities and told people to stay at home as much as possible.
“That guidance might get a lot sharper at any point,” de Blasio said.
“It will get a lot worse before it gets better.”
President Donald Trump has also taken to Twitter to urge Americans not to hoard “unnecessary amounts of food and essentials.”
I ask all Americans to band together and support your neighbors by not hoarding unnecessary amounts of food and essentials. TOGETHER we will stay STRONG and overcome this challenge!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020
8.15am: Queensland extends payroll tax break
All Queensland businesses will get a payroll tax holiday and struggling traders will get access to cheap loans to help them survive the coronavirus crisis.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has stepped up economic support to help traders stay in business and keep Queenslanders in jobs.
She’s extended to all businesses a six-month payroll tax holiday, announced earlier this month for small- and medium-sized businesses.
The government has also set aside $500 million for concessional loans of up to $250,000, including an initial 12-month interest free period. The support is in addition to specific measures to help bruised and battered tourism operators and seafood exporters.
It's vital that we protect jobs in Queensland during this pandemic. That's why we'll offer interest free loans to support businesses and extend the coronavirus payroll tax deferral. https://t.co/SxFqLW0mSY #qldjobs #COVID19au pic.twitter.com/BKJzZJgNrP
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 16, 2020
“We know the effects of this outbreak will grow and intensify, and as they do, so will our measures to protect Queenslanders’ health, their jobs and their businesses,” the premier said on Tuesday.
The cheap loans will be rolled out quickly through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority, which is usually used to dole out help during natural disasters.
The state’s confirmed coronavirus tally stands at 68 and while schools are officially open, some are preparing to close campuses and move to online teaching by the end of the week.
All Saints Anglican School on the Gold Coast has told parents that Thursday will be their last day on campus, with students to then learn from home in the run up to the Easter holidays.
Nearby Somerset College also told parents classes would be online within 48 hours.
There is no need to rush out and panic buy. We are working with @RedCrossAU to make sure people who are self-quarantined have the supplies they need. Now is the time to work together. Together we will fight this virus. #coronavirus #COVID19au pic.twitter.com/F5k4q13o47
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 16, 2020
— AAP
Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.05am: School closures issue ‘vexxed’ — Murphy
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy has flagged stronger restrictions on social gatherings, saying the health protection principal committee comprised of state and federal medical chiefs was preparing additional advice for the government relating on “stringent social distancing.”
“We will be making a range of recommendations to governments about social distancing measures for indoor events and smaller events,” Professor Murphy told 2GB.
“We will also be making a range of recommendations for aged care facilities because that is a really crucial issue.”
The country’s medical head stopped short of saying the government would be advised to close schools and universities, calling the issue of schools “vexxed”.
“If you close schools and children stay at home, often they don’t stay at schools — they go out and mingle,” he said.
Professor Murphy also said that although he didn’t want to cause panic, the threat of coronavirus had to be taken seriously.
“The challenge is even if it is a one per cent mortality rate, which is probably the best guess for a high income good health system country … that’s a significant issue if there’s a large outbreak.
“There are worse case scenarios which we are doing everything we can to avoid.”
He also called panic buying “stupid” and said that all governments were committed to keeping the economy supported through “this difficult time.”
Elias Visontay 8am: Job swaps may aid struggling businesses
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has floated the idea of “job swaps” between struggling sectors to in-demand businesses including the supermarket industry as he warned the government’s revised coronavirus stimulus package was “looking at some pretty significant options that we would never have considered in the past”.
Senator Cormann said the government would focus the renewed package on businesses and workers most affected by COVID-19, and would announce the details “as soon as we can”.
“Businesses will close, people will lose their jobs,” Senator Cormann told Sunrise.
“We are very very focused on making sure that we provide the necessary support now through the transition but also to ensure we have the strongest possible bounceback on the other side of this period.
“The tourism and hospitality sectors are very much on the front line. There are other sectors severely impacted. But by the same token supermarkets are doing extremely well and there might be opportunities to job swap from areas that are badly impacted into areas where there is significant demand as we speak right now.”
Speaking later to ABC Radio, Senator Cormann said waiving billions of dollars in fees that airlines paid each year was one option the government was considering.
Asked if the government was considering measures to prevent evictions if out of work casual employees couldn’t pay rent, Senator Cormann said: “We are very seriously considering what appropriate supports we can provide in particular to the most vulnerable across our community and specifically those that are most severely impacted.
“It is going to be a tough period. We’re all in this together.”
Asked if government support throughout the coronavirus pandemic could surpass the $52 billion government spend during the GFC, Senator Cormann said: “I’m not going to put a number on it right now.”
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.45am: NSW to invest in more ventilators
Gladys Berejiklian says NSW will use part of the additional $700 million in health spending announced on Monday as a coronavirus stimulus plan to expand the number of intensive care hospital beds and ventilators in hospitals.
Serious cases of coronavirus can cause severe respiratory issues, necessitating the use of ventilators to assist in breathing.
“At the moment we have about 40 per cent of the nation’s ventilators,” the NSW Premier told 2GB.
But we will need more in the coming months because we want everyone to get the care they need.”
Overnight NSW invoked emergency powers in the Public Health Act.
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) March 15, 2020
We will take every step needed to protect the community. pic.twitter.com/Yr6cpX4CHT
Ms Berejiklian said the added intensive care capacity would ensure that coronavirus patients of all ages could receive the treatment they need.
“We will assess all age groups,” she said.
“We know the elderly are the most vulnerable but overseas … they have seen all demographics experience those serious conditions.”
Ms Berejiklian also reiterated the importance of keeping calm, and urged people not to over-shop.
“Well obviously you can’t control how people respond to fear, but when it comes to basic products like that (toilet paper), people shouldn’t worry … please remain calm, we have sufficient products for the shelves.”
The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is the same way you would protect yourself from catching flu or other respiratory illness. Watch to find out more. pic.twitter.com/2o4hEfLHud
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 11, 2020
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.25am: US Supreme Court postpones arguments
The coronavirus outbreak has forced the US Supreme Court to postpone arguments — including fights over subpoenas for President Donald Trump’s financial records — for the first time in more than 100 years.
Arguments scheduled at the high court for late March and early April were indefinitely postponed as federal and state courts around the country closed or curtailed their operations.
Other business at the Supreme Court will go on as planned, including the justices’ private conference on Friday and the release of orders in a week’s time.
Some justices may participate by telephone, the court said in a statement. Six of the nine justices are 65 and older, at higher risk of getting very sick from the illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 87, and Stephen Breyer, 81, are the oldest members of the court.
— AAP
Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.10am: Coronavirus vaccine testing underway
A clinical trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine is now underway in the US.
Forty-five young volunteers will be injected with different doses of vaccine shots developed by Moderna Inc and the National Institute of Health at the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health research institute in Seattle, one of the epicentres of coronavirus in the US.
Public health officials said it would take a year to 18 months to validate any vaccine, and longer still to get it to market.
The vaccine shots reportedly do not contain the virus itself, meaning the participants cannot be infected.
US National Institute of Health (NIH) has started testing a very promising drug for COVID-19: Remdesivir.
— Umar Saif (@umarsaif) March 15, 2020
It has already shown positive results in treating Corona patients. Big hope! https://t.co/pGqpkXXrWU
Lachlan Moffet Gray 6.45am: US told to avoid gatherings of more than 10
US president Donald Trump has urged citizens to avoid gatherings of 10 or more people over the next 15 days and advised cities with evidence of community transmission to close down gyms, bars, restaurants and other public facilities.
Several cities in the US, including San Francisco and Philadelphia, as well as entire states such as Maryland, have already done so.
Just had a very good tele-conference with Nation’s Governors. Went very well. Cuomo of New York has to “do moreâ€.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020
Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation’s foremost infectious disease expert, said although the measures seemed like an over-reaction, they were necessary.
“It will always seem that the best way to address it would be to be doing something that looks like it might be an over-reaction,” he said at a White House press conference.
“It isn’t an over-reaction. It’s a reaction we feel is commensurate which is actually going on in reality.”
President Trump insisted that the US would be able to get on top of the spread of the disease and said there were no current plans for a nationwide quarantine outside of certain local hot spots.
“At this point, not nationwide, but there are some — some places in our nation that are not very affected at all but we may, we may look at certain areas,” he said.
The president also said he was looking at expanding federally-mandated sick leave to companies with more than 500 employees. The current coronavirus response act only contained sick leave provisions to employees of small and medium businesses.
He pledged to support struggling American airlines, telling reporters “we’re going to back the airlines 100 per cent,” and said that the US may be heading into a recession.
Everybody is so well unified and working so hard. It is a beautiful thing to see. They love our great Country. We will end up being stronger than ever before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2020
Mr Trump also said he believed postponing elections amid the virus outbreak was “not a very good thing” and “unnecessary”.
When asked how he would grade his response to the coronavirus crisis, Trump gave himself a 10.
6.30am: Major League Baseball postponed
Major League Baseball has pushed back opening day until mid-May at the earliest because of the new coronavirus after the federal government recommended restricting events of more than 50 people for the next eight weeks.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred made the announcement following a conference call with executives of the 30 teams.
“The clubs remain committed to playing as many games as possible when the season begins,” the commissioner’s office said in a statement.
Statement from Major League Baseball: pic.twitter.com/E5xPfMGOc0
— MLB (@MLB) March 16, 2020
— AP
Lachlan Moffet Gray 6.20am: G7 leaders will do ‘whatever is necessary’
The leaders of the G7 group of nations, which comprises of the US, UK, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and Canada, have committed to doing “whatever is necessary” to combat coronavirus — but have committed to maintaining the stability of the global economy.
“We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven, acknowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic is a human tragedy and a global health crisis, which also poses major risks for the world economy,” they said in a joint statement.
After a nudge from French President Emmanuel Macron, President Trump and other G7 leaders agree on coronavirus coordination https://t.co/rQrrZsgJul pic.twitter.com/8Rl4tbEwEx
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) March 16, 2020
“We are committed to doing whatever is necessary to ensure a strong global response through closer co-operation and enhanced co-ordination of our efforts. While current challenges may require national emergency measures, we remain committed to the stability of the global economy.
“We express our conviction that current challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic need a strongly co-ordinated international approach, based on science and evidence, consistent with our democratic values, and utilising the strengths of private enterprise.
“We are committed to marshalling the full power of our governments to: co-ordinate on necessary public health measures to protect people at risk from COVID-19; restore confidence, growth, and protect jobs; support global trade and investment; and encourage science, research and technology co-operation.”
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has told the French people to stay in their homes and only come out when it’s absolutely necessary to do so, under threat of punishment.
Adresse aux Français. https://t.co/V0kwXbU79J
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 16, 2020
Mr Macron also said all companies must take steps to ensure their employees can work from home.
Angelica Snowden 6am: Julia Gillard in self-isolation
Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard is self-isolating after she embraced Sophie Gregoire Trudeau in London a week before she tested positive to COVID-19.
The Canadian Prime Minister’s wife and Ms Gillard spoke at a We Day event in Wembley Arena in early March, the Guardian reported.
A spokeswoman for Ms Gillard said she was in good health but self-isolating just in case.
“Former PM Gillard did attend the WE Day event with Sophie Trudeau. Ms Gillard is in London and feeling well, but as a precaution is self-isolating and will continue to do so until the end of the recommended period.”
We all have women in our lives who inspire us, and for as long as I’ve known her, Sophie’s done exactly that. She has always worked hard, with love and compassion, to empower other women. So as we celebrate the strong women in our lives, I’m extra thankful for this one. #IWD2020 pic.twitter.com/UYR1cbjbW3
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) March 8, 2020
Lachlan Moffet Gray 5.57am: Coronavirus cases continue to escalate
The coronavirus crisis is continuing to escalate across the globe with the number of cases approaching 180,000 worldwide, with at least 7096 deaths.
In the UK, the number of deaths shot up overnight by 19, bringing the total to 53. Each of the most recent deaths were of people aged between 56 and 94. The number of cases are now over 1500, including British actor Idris Elba.
This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus. Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing 👊ðŸ¾ðŸ‘ŠðŸ¾ No panic. pic.twitter.com/Lg7HVMZglZ
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 16, 2020
Canada has announced it is closing its borders to all non-citizens and residents. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau is in self-isolation after being infected with COVID-19 on a trip to London where she came into contact with former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, leading to Ms Gillard to self-isolate. There are 376 confirmed cases and four deaths in Canada.
The isolated island of Greenland has recorded its first case of coronavirus. The patient is a nurse named Anders Madsen, from the capital city of Nuuk. The island’s governor warned that there could be a delay in diagnosing new cases as all coronavirus tests have to be flown to Denmark for analysis.
The United States is preparing for their situation to deteriorate further as states across the nation limit public gatherings, close schools, bars and restaurants.
The US surgeon general said the United States was about where Italy was two weeks ago in the coronavirus struggle, a sign that infections were expected to rise.
“We are at a critical inflection point in this country, people,” Surgeon General Dr Jerome Adams told Fox News. “When you look at the projections, there’s every chance that we could be Italy.”
Two weeks ago, Italy had 1,700 cases of coronavirus and had reported 34 deaths. Now, Italy is reporting an estimated 27,980 cases and more than 2,100 deaths. About 3,800 cases have been reported in the United States and so far, more than 65 people have died from coronavirus.
The EU is expected to close its borders in a matter of days, banning non-essential travel for 30 days.
The @EU_Commission presents guidelines on border measures & proposes:
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 16, 2020
1⃣Green lanes/fast lanes giving priority to essential transport to keep the mobility sector going & ensure economic continuity
2⃣Temporary restriction on non-essential travel to the EU (30 days) pic.twitter.com/9bda9MntF0
Germany has partially closed its borders with five neighbours, leading to queues at some crossings. German police also launched new controls at the usually check-free borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Denmark on Monday. People who commute across the border to work are still allowed to cross, as can trucks carrying goods, and Germans are being allowed back in.
In Iran, Tehran reported another 129 fatalities on Monday, the largest one-day rise since it began battling the Middle East’s worst outbreak, which has claimed more than 850 lives and infected a number of senior officials in the country. Businesses in the capital remained open even as other countries in the region moved towards full lockdowns.
News agencies said a 78-year-old member of the Iranian clerical body that chooses the country’s supreme leader has died from COVID-19. There are at least 14,991 confirmed cases.
Spain has become the fourth most virus-infected country in the world, surpassing South Korea, following a sharp rise in cases.
Minister Fernando Grande Marlaska said a total lockdown could be the next step, after deploying the army to the streets and to clean train stations, ordering 46 million to stay at home and taking over control of private hospitals. Portugal and Spain have already agreed to halt tourism across their shared border.
Switzerland’s government has declared a state of emergency, ordering shops, restaurants, bars and other facilities to shut.
The measures exclude healthcare operations and supermarkets but include entertainment and leisure facilities, which will be closed until April 19. The government approved the use of up to 8,000 members of the military to help in hospitals, as well as where needed with logistics and security.
— with AAP
Patrick Commins 5.45am: Rates set for another cut
The Reserve Bank is ready to cut rates this week to a record low of 0.25 per cent and intervene in the bond market, as part of a co-ordinated global central bank effort to reduce the threat of the coronavirus crisis after another horror day on the sharemarket.
As Australian stocks plunged a further 10 per cent on Monday, RBA governor Philip Lowe said financial regulators and the government were working closely to ensure effective operation of the market and availability of credit to households and businesses.
The move came as the death toll from the virus escalated and fatalities and cases outside China overtook those recorded in the country where the contagion first emerged.
Read the full story here.
More Coverage
Misconduct finding over WA ombudsman’s globetrotting
Chris Field created a ‘sham’ process to approve his own extensive travel to destinations around the world, WA’s Corruption and Crime Commission finds.
Why should an arts degree cost more than medicine?
Everyone agrees arts courses cost too much. But imagine how increasing what students pay to become teachers and nurses to subsidise humanities courses would go down in the electorate.