Coronavirus Australia live updates: US economy hammered, shrinks by 4.8 per cent
The US economy contracted in the first quarter at its sharpest pace since the 1930s Depression as lockdown took effect.
- US economy shrinks
- 12th death at aged care home
- Countdown to ‘way back to normal’
- PM on easing of restrictions
- China embassy defends its leak
- Forrest warns of China inquiry focus
- US cases top one million
- Crucial vaccine breakthrough
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis.Announcements are close over limits to the way we are living, hopefully ‘getting back to some sort of new normality’, the DCMO says, as PM Scott Morrison flags restrictions on domestic travel and going to pubs are closer to being lifted than previously thought, but warns international travel and going to football games again are a long way off. China’s Embassy in Australia has defended its unprecedented move to reveal the details of a call with Australia’s top foreign affairs official, accusing DFAT of playing “petty tricks.” Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest warns a COVID-19 inquiry shouldn’t focus on China. And a key vaccine breakthrough has been made by Australian scientists.
Agencies 11.00pm: US economy down by 4.8 per cent
The US economy contracted in the first quarter at its sharpest pace since the 1930s Depression as stringent measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus almost shut down the country, ending the longest expansion in the nation’s history.
The Commerce Department said gross domestic product fell at a 4.8 per cent annualised rate in the January-to-March period after expanding at a 2.1 per cent rate in the final three months of 2019.
Economists in a Reuters poll had been looking for a GDP contraction of 4 per cent, though estimates ranged to as low as negative 15 per cent. The decline reflected a plunge in economic activity in the last two weeks of March, which saw millions of Americans seeking unemployment benefits. The snapshot will reinforce analysts’ predictions that the economy was already in a deep recession.
Most of the key components of US economic output - including consumer spending, which accounts for two-thirds of economic activity - fell sharply. “The economy is in free fall, we could be approaching something much worse than a deep recession,” said Sung Won Sohn, a business economics professor at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
“It’s premature to talk about a recovery at this moment, we are going to be seeing a lot of bankruptcies for small and medium sized businesses.”
The first-quarter decline was the steepest pace of contraction in GDP since the first quarter of 2009.
READ MORE: Virus hammers US economy
Matthew Denholm 9.25pm Health work in Tasmania’s northwest tests positive
Another healthcare worker in northwest Tasmania has contracted coronavirus, taking the state’s total cases of infection to 219. The woman is aged in her 20s.
Tasmania has recorded 11 deaths, with 137 people recovered. The northwest accounts for 146 cases, the south 44 and the north 26.
“A concerted effort is being made to identify any further cases of coronavirus in the North West,” said Public Health Director Mark Veitch. “Anyone who lives in the North West who currently, or in the last few days has had respiratory symptoms like a cough, sore throat, runny nose, or fever should arrange testing through the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or their GP.”
READ MORE: Why Sweden’s coronavirus policy is no failure
AFP 9.12pm Brazil death toll passes China
Brazil, the South American country worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic, has registered more than 5000 deaths from COVID-19, pushing the toll above that of China.
A record 474 deaths were recorded on Tuesday, local time, with the number of infections rising to 71,886.
China, where the virus emerged, has recorded about 4600 deaths.
Brazil’s health ministry said its toll could be significantly higher than official figures, with 1156 further deaths under investigation. Experts believe the overall number of COVID-19 cases could be 12 to 15 times higher because of a large number of undetected cases, given the lack of testing availability across the country’s population of 210 million.
Deaths among vulnerable indigenous communities rose by 15 on Monday, a jump of 50 per cent in the past five days, according to the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil.
Read the full story here
AFP 8.20pm China’s parliament to resume
China’s parliament will hold its annual session next month after being delayed because of the coronavirus, state media said on Wednesday, signalling the communist leadership’s growing confidence in taming the epidemic.
Beijing announced in February that it would put off the annual National People’s Congress for the first time since the Cultural Revolution as the country battled the coronavirus outbreak, which has since become a pandemic.
The rescheduled session on May 22 will highlight confidence by the leadership that China has largely brought its outbreak under control.
Top Communist Party leaders including President Xi Jinping attend each year’s gathering with thousands of delegates from across the country, to rubber-stamp bills, budgets and personnel moves. The annual gathering was originally due to start on March 5.
According to a statement cited by official news agency Xinhua from the NPC Standing Committee — the body that oversees the legislative session — the epidemic in China is “improving steadily” and “normal economic and social life is gradually resuming”.
This means the “conditions for convening the NPC annual session... are ready,” the statement said.
China’s capital on Wednesday lowered its emergency alert from the highest level and lifted a strict quarantine requirement for domestic travellers from “low-risk” areas, which it had kept in place long after many other regions in the country eased travel restrictions.
Arrivals in Beijing from the virus epicentre of Hubei province as well as travellers coming from abroad are still required to complete a 14-day quarantine, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
“This is a show of strength,” said Hong Kong-based political analyst Willy Lam. “It’s a sign that China is back on its feet, and the economic machinery keeps humming, and a big reassurance to the people that the epidemic is over.”
The announcement was also aimed at the domestic audience, to reassure Chinese citizens after a sharp 6.8 per cent contraction in the first quarter’s economic growth, he added.
Paige Taylor 6.39pm WA school attendance hits 60pc
Six out of 10 students enrolled in government schools in Western Australia went back to class on Wednesday, a little over a month since the McGowan Labor government urged parents to keep their children at home if they could.
The WA government has made classroom learning optional for all state school students while telling parents that attendance for students in Years 11 and 12 is strongly encouraged.
Many schools have staggered start times and the times of recess and lunch to reduce contact between students. Under a new $63m hygiene regime, cleaners have been sent into all schools to wash surfaces and playground equipment several times a day.
Some independent schools have delayed the return to classroom lessons.
“The latest information we have from a sample of schools across the state is that we have about 60 per cent school attendance bear in mind we won’t get the exact percentage until tonight,” WA Premier Mark McGowan said,
“We said there would be parental choice, parents have obviously chosen in large numbers to send their children back to school.
“I appreciate that parents made a choice under a difficult and unusual set of circumstances.”
WA students were encouraged to stay home from March 30.
The State School Teachers’ Union of WA described the “soft” opening of classrooms on Wednesday as an experiment that would lead to chaos, but did not threaten industrial action. The Australian understands the state government has accommodated a significant portion of teachers with compromised immunity to continue to teach online.
Optional attendance would be reviewed after three weeks.
READ MORE: Schools divided in class war
Remy Varga 5.55pm Patient forces 24 hospital staff into quarantine
A patient who tested positive after showing no symptoms of COVID-19 has forced 24 medical workers at a hospital in Melbourne’s west to self-quarantine.
Western Health Executive Director of Operations Natasha Toohey said the patient, who had no known risk factors or symptoms of COVID-19, presented to the emergency department at Sunshine Hospital on Thursday requiring emergency surgery.
“Over the weekend, the patient developed a mild cough and was tested for COVID-19, returning a positive result,” she said.
“Twenty-four staff are self-quarantining as a precaution and testing is underway.”
Ms Toohey said no other patient had been identified as a close contact of the infected patient with the Victorian Department of Health notified of the confirmed case.
“All staff at Western Health have access to face masks, eye protection and other required Personal Protective Equipment,” she said.
“The safety of our staff is paramount and Western Health took immediate action in response to this positive result.”
Ms Toohey said contact tracing of staff members had been undertaken.
READ MORE: How the lost generation will turn out
Richard Ferguson 4.58pm Forrest invited envoy to gatecrash press conference
A Chinese diplomat gatecrashed an Australian government press conference with the help of mining magnate Andrew Forrest, it has been revealed.
There was surprise when the Chinese Consul-General in Melbourne, Long Zhou, spoke at a Wednesday press conference with Mr Forrest and Health Minister Greg Hunt, where he praised the magnate’s recent deal to acquire 10 million coronavirus tests through Chinese business links.
The Australian understands the consul-general was invited to the media event by Mr Forrest, not the Health Minister.
Mr Hunt did not reference Mr Long’s presence during his remarks and avoided being in the same camera shot as him following the war of words between the Chinese embassy and the Australian government.
Earlier in the day, Mr Forrest called for any prospective global COVID-19 inquiry to only happen after the US presidential election and said it cannot focus solely on China’s role.
READ MORE: Beijing unleashes gunslingers
Imogen Reid 4.25pm: Death toll reaches 12 at aged care home
Anglicare Sydney has confirmed the death of another resident from Newmarch House in Sydney’s western suburb of Caddens. It brings the total number of residents who have died from coronavirus to 12.
“The past 24 house have been tragic for Anglicare Sydney and today we are saddened to announce the death of another resident who had tested positive for COVID-19 at Newmarch house,” a statement from the nursing home’s operator said.
“The total number of our residents who are COVID-19 positive who have died since the outbreak on Easter Sunday is now twelve.”
News of the death came less than an hour after Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly emphasised the importance of protecting Australia’s most vulnerable, saying the outbreak at Newmarch House “demonstrates how quickly in those vulnerable groups things can change.”
Mr Kelly urged anyone working in an aged care facility to take even the most minor symptoms seriously and to get tested. He added the mass coronavirus outbreak at the high-care home is “not a blame game at all” and that the circumstances of the case will come out in time.
“But in general terms for those of us that care for vulnerable people, really taking that seriously and thinking through getting testing early,” Mr Kelly said.
“Even the most mild symptoms can be quite infectious, as we’ve found in this case when we’re dealing with vulnerable people.”
READ MORE: Deadliest virus hotspot: four deaths in 24 hours
Imogen Reid 3.50pm: Countdown to ‘way back to normal’: DCMO
The Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has said Australia is “on a countdown” to easing social distancing restrictions with decisions expected to be made on 11 May.
He said the decisions will rely on three precedents, including low case numbers, the ability to respond to outbreaks swiftly, and new laboratory testing, purchased by mining magnate Twiggy Forrest, which will increase case finding ability.
“So over the next few weeks — and as we get closer to that May 11 target and after that as well — there will be many announcements about changes in the way we’ll be living our lives and hopefully getting back to some sort of new normality in lifting in a COVID-19-safe society,” Mr Kelly said.
Mr Kelly backed Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s view on students returning to school, saying the federal government is “committed” to get kids back into the classroom.
Addressing widespread confusion over the matter, Mr Kelly warned upcoming announcements will vary between states as Australia moves into a new phase of change, but reiterated the “slightly different” changes are not mixed messages but changed messages.
“And I’m sure across Australia people will understand that. One example is on schools. We’re all committed, I’m sure with slightly different approaches in different jurisdictions, to get the kids back into the classroom,” he said.
“I’m sure teachers, parents and children themselves will agree that’s the best place for children to be learning to get the best outcome from that learning.”
Prof Kelly discussed the dangers of a second wave of coronavirus in Australia, claiming “we’re victims of our success” with such low numbers of people infected with the virus.
“Because we’ve had so few people that have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and we are nowhere near that concept of herd immunity,” he said.
“We’re definitely not not looking to do that in Australia, as some of the countries have either planned to do or have been forced to achieve very large caseloads.
“We’ve seen what that has done in other parts of the world. So we won’t be going to that.”
He said a second wave is possible and reinforced the importance of the three conditions Australia must reach before health restrictions can be lifted.
“That’s why those three precendents which have been set by the Prime Minister before we lift those social distancing and socialisation rules about case finding, keeping the cases low if possible, if cases occur, finding them quickly, finding their contacts, quarantining them and decreasing the size of any outbreaks that we might have by having a very detailed and quick response,” he said.
“If a second wave does occur we’ll deal with it quickly and we’ll respond to it.”
READ MORE: Schools divided in education ministers’ class war
Paige Taylor 2.49pm: Teen diagnosed with virus as WA schools reopen
The recovery of 500 coronavirus patients in Western Australia has left just 43 active cases across the state.
West Australian Health Minister Roger Cook announced the state had recorded a single new case of coronavirus on Wednesday as the majority of the state’s 1051 schools reopen classrooms.
The McGowan Labor government began what it termed a “soft” opening of government schools on Wednesday, making attendance optional while telling parents that students in Years 11 and 12 were strongly encouraged to turn up.
The advice of the WA chief health officer to parents is that schools are safe for staff and students and should stay open, that school staff and children are not at increased risk of COVID-19 by physically attending school and that there have been no cases of student-to-student transmission in Western Australia and no cases of student-to-teacher transmission.
Government schools have adopted staggered starts and staggered recess and lunch, and classrooms and playground equipment are sterilised several times each day as part of a $63 million cleaning regime.
Mr Cook initially said the teen diagnosed with COVID-19 was a 13-year-old Perth girl but since then his office has contacted newsrooms to correct her age. She is 19 and her infection was “related to overseas travel”.
Of the 43 remaining cases across the state, 15 of those were foreign nationals from the cruise ship Artania.
Of the 551 positive tests across WA since the pandemic began, eight had died. All of the people who have died from coronavirus in WA were cruise ship passengers - four were Australians and four were citizens of Europe or Asia from the cruise ship Artania.
READ MORE: PM flags easing of restrictions sooner
Angelica Snowden 2.40pm: Health advice ahead of the cold snap
Get your flu shot, download the COVIDSafe and if you have a sniffle don’t go out.
That’s the advice from health authorities ahead of this weekend that will see an easing of social distancing requirements coincide with a cold snap set to bring strong winds, hail, snow and downpours across most of Australia’s east coast.
President of the Royal Australian College of GPs Harry Nespolon said there are higher rates of influenza in colder months because people tend to congregate together more.
“The x-factor in all of this is that we are decreasing the amount of social isolation and allowing (people) to visit their friends,” Dr Nespolon said.
“That potentially increases the risk of influenza being spread as well as coronavirus,” he said.
Dr Nespolon said the “reality” of easing social distancing will mean an increase in COVID-19 cases.
“If we do see an explosion in numbers like we have seen in Singapore and Japan, my guess is that we will go back to more severe restrictions.”
Meteorologist Adam Morgan said maximum temperatures would be between 8C and 14C below average for this time of year.
“This is a very strong and wide spread cold outbreak across the south east that we haven’t seen in April since around 2008,” Mr Morgan said in a Bureau of Meteorology update.
A cold front is moving through South Australia today and will bring with it widespread falls of 15mm across the south east of the country.
“For some parts of northern South Australia, north west NSW and south west Queensland it will be their coldest April day since the 1960s or 1970s,” he said.
READ MORE: Official WHO ‘advice’ mocks our restrictions
Jamie Walker 2.06pm: Australian vaccine ‘ready by September’
An Australian vaccine for COVID-19 could be ready by September, its developers say.
University of Queensland program leader Trent Munro revealed on Wednesday that successful preclinical testing of the breakthrough molecular clamp technology had put it on a fast-track to production.
After being tested on laboratory mice, the prototype vaccine had triggered an immune response more powerful than that recorded in people who had recovered from coronavirus.
Paige Taylor 1.28pm: Virus laws snare country drug dealers in Perth
Country drug dealers who sneaked into Perth to ply their trade have been snared by Western Australia’s strict regional boundary laws introduced to slow the spread of coronavirus, police say.
WA Police allege a 35-year-old man and 48-year-old woman navigated a series of back roads to get around roadblocks established under state-of-emergency laws that effectively lock down all residents of the state into one of nine boundaries. Perth is off limits to country residents and vice versa. People such as truck drivers are allowed to travel between regions because their work is considered essential.
On Tuesday police stopped the pair outside the the satellite city of Bunbury - about two hours drive south of Perth - as they drove close to their respective homes in a Nissan Patrol. Police searched the car and their houses, allegedly finding 1kg of methylamphetamine, $7000 cash, a sawn off shotgun, ammunition and smaller amounts of MDMA, cocaine, LSD and cannabis.
They have each been charged with a string of offences over the seized items and two counts each of breaching the state’s travel restrictions. Crossing a regional boundary in WA during the state of emergency without an exemption results in a fine of up to $50,000.
READ MORE: Meet the lost generation
AAP 1.20pm: Union boss John Setka tested for virus
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews wants 100,000 people to be tested for COVID-19 in the next two weeks before a decision is made on easing the state’s restrictions. That will be a “massive effort” but achievable if people are willing to be tested, Mr Andrews said, with Victoria having enough kits to complete up to 12,000 tests each day.
Among those being tested for the virus on Wednesday was CFMEU boss John Setka. He was tested alongside construction workers at Multiplex’s $2.8 billion Melbourne Square site at Southbank, which had the second confirmed case of coronavirus in the industry.
The construction union’s industry partner Incolink is utilising its health buses to test construction workers for COVID-19 under a new initiative supported by the state government.
“We are proud to support Incolink to extend the use of their health buses to test for COVID-19 and I encourage all members to utilise this great tool to ensure their safety,” Mr Setka said in a statement.
READ MORE: US to monitor our winter virus spread
REMY VARGA 1.10pm: September’s Royal Melbourne Show cancelled
The Royal Melbourne Show, scheduled to take place in September, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus. The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria CEO Brad Jenkins said axing the 2020 was disappointing but was in the best interest of public health with the organisation aiming to give as much notice as possible to stakeholders.
“The COVID-19 health crisis is unprecedented and the ongoing social distancing measures and mass gathering restrictions mean that in the best interest of public health, we are unable to plan and deliver the 2020 Royal Melbourne Show,” he said.
“It was also important to decide on the Royal Melbourne Show now, as many sponsors, exhibitors and competitors spend months preparing for the show.”
The Victorian Labor government is due to review social distancing laws next month after completing a testing blitz over the next two weeks.
The cancellation is the third time in the annual show’s 165 year history, with the first in 1915 when the Royal Melbourne showground was requisitioned for the war effort and again for five-years during WWII.
READ MORE: Jobs go as Bauer halts mags
PATRICK COMMINS 12.55pm: Inflation tops 2pc for first time since 2018
A 9 per cent spike in the cost of vegetables lifted annual inflation above 2 per cent for the first time since 2018, as drought and bushfire pushed food prices higher over the first three months of the year, according to data which captured only the very early impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The consumer price index rose 0.3 per cent in the March quarter, bringing the annual rate to 2.2 per cent, the highest since September 2014, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.Headline CPI rose by 1.8 per cent last year, after lifting 0.7 per cent over the three months to December.
READ THE FULL STORY here.
ANGELICA SNOWDEN 12.40pm: 10 million more tests secured by Andrew Forrest
Ten million more COVID-19 test kits have been secured by mining billionaire Andrew Forrest for use in Australia, Health Minister Greg Hunt says.
Mr Hunt said the additional testing capacity will move Australia to “recovery on the way back to normal life”.
“What that says to Australians is we have the supply lines, we have the health capacity and we have the pathway back,” he said.
The extra test kits were secured through a partnership between the Australian Government, Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation and private pathology providers.
Mr Forrest said that one month ago Health Minister Greg Hunt challenged him to supply the much needed medical supplies.
“The minister challenged the Minderoo Foundation to supply an unprecedented level of testing machines, which are incredibly rare right now,” he said.
“There is sovereign competition like never before for any equipment that I have ever seen in my life as well as the reagents.”
It means a 20 fold increase in testing will be possible and allow further easing of social restrictions in the next four weeks.
The test kits were secured with the help of BGI Genomics based in China. Mr Forrest thanked BGI’s chairman Wang Jian for his efforts in securing the kits.
“Your integrity to withstand the attacks on the supply lines between yourself and myself is unimpeachable,” he said. Mr Forrest said the relationship between Australia and China was “solid” as public tensions between the two countries play out over an investigation into the outbreak of COVID-19.
“The relationship I see between the Australian people and the Chinese people is really one of a common heart,” he said. “Each of us would like to leave this world a better, kinder, more environmentally sustainable one than we have now. That is the motive behind the Chinese people.”
Mr Hunt said there are now 6741 cases in Australia with the national death toll up to 89.
There were 13 new cases identified across the country in the last 24 hours — there was only one case of community transmission.
READ MORE: Why Sweden’s virus policy is no failure
Richard Ferguson 12.30pm: PM to campaign for end to wildlife wet markets
Scott Morrison says he is concerned about all wildlife wet markets across the globe, as fears rise about the operation of such markets in Indonesia. The Australian revealed on Wednesday that wet markets selling slaughtered bats alongside other exotic animal meats continue to operate in Indonesia under conditions similar to those in China that have led to the worst pandemic in a century, despite urgent warnings about the risks to human health.
The Prime Minister said he would pursue an end to wildlife wet markets across the globe before the World Health Assembly meets next month and has secured the support of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“My position has never been directed only to one country. It has been a broad position. These markets exist in many places, just as the next pandemic could come from any country, any country in the world,” he said in Canberra.
“It could occur in any part of the globe, and it is important that we learn the lessons of how this pandemic started, so we can move on any future pandemic, wherever it starts.
“This is why it is an important initiative, and one that I believe has support to occur at the right time. In Europe at the moment, I was speaking to the president of the European Commission last night. We discussed this issue. The Europeans are bringing forward a motion on this matter at the world health assembly. I think it is a very good motion.”
READ MORE: Wet markets flourish in Indonesia
MATTHEW DENHOLM 12.20pm: Tassie won’t be lifting any restrictions in coming days
Tasmania will not be lifting any COVID-19 restrictions in coming days, with Premier Peter Gutwein saying the risk is too high given the state’s older and more vulnerable population.
While some states have eased social distancing and movement restrictions in recent days, Mr Gutwein on Wednesday sought to dampen expectations Tasmania might speedily follow suit.
The Premier, who has an 84 per cent satisfaction rating, said he would on Thursday outline to state parliament “next steps” in “rebuilding Tasmania” but no one should expect this to include restriction easing. “In terms of this state, we don’t want to get in front of ourselves,” he said. “Importantly, because of the older, more vulnerable population that we, have we moved quickly early. It’s important that … we step out if it in a sensible and responsible way, guided by public health. Our first thought must be for the safety of Tasmanians…. I want to be clear: tomorrow I will not be announcing the lifting of any restrictions.”
A decision on whether to further extend a harder lockdown in the state’s northwest outbreak epicenter would be made at the end of the week, while nationally-agreed restrictions would be reviewed in time for their expiry on May 15.
Mr Gutwein announced an extra $4.1m to assist homeless people and mental health and announced the return of normal staff to the North West Regional Hospital emergency department. Work at the emergency department of the hospital, which has been at the centre of the local COVID-19 outbreak, was being performed by military and Australian Medical Assistance Team nursing and clinical staff.
The change-over follows extensive quarantining of staff, with three of the latest four COVID-19 cases in the state revealed to be hospital staff whose infection was diagnosed as part of a return to work plan.
Tasmania has recorded 218 cases and 11 deaths, with 137 people recovered. The northwest accounts for 145 cases, the south 44 and the north 26.
READ MORE: Gutwein shines with skills no one knew he had
Richard Ferguson 12.10pm: PM vows to pursue China, WHO probes
Scott Morrison has vowed to continue pushing for an international inquiry into the origins of coronavirus and the World Health Organisation’s handling of the pandemic, despite mounting attacks from China.
After China’s Embassy in Australia accused the Prime Minister and DFAT of “petty tricks” and “political games”, Mr Morrison said he will push still for an investigation ahead of the meeting of the World Health Authority later next month.
“What Australia is pursuing is not targeted. It is said independently, it is said out of common sense, and I think in Australia’s national interests, and in the global interest,” he said in Canberra. And so I find Australia’s position to be not remarkable at all, but one that is entirely responsible, and I am sure is broadly seen in that light around the world.”
READ MORE: Special envoy needed to drive WHO reform
Richard Ferguson 12pm: PM says some restrictions may be lifted earlier
Scott Morrison has flagged that restrictions on domestic travel and going to pubs are closer to being lifted than previously thought, but warned international travel and going to football games again are a long way off.
After warning early in the crisis that restrictions would last six months, the Prime Minister on Wednesday said Australia’s success in flattening the curve was giving the national cabinet more options before it reviews all restrictions later next week.
“I can’t see international travel occurring anytime soon. Can’t see that. The risks there are obvious. The only exception to that, as I have flagged, is potentially with New Zealand, and we have had some good discussions about that. But outside of that, that is unlikely,” he said.
“But I look forward to the time when Australians can travel again within Australia. I look forward to the time where they can sit down for a meal at a restaurant or a cafe or a pub again.
“I look forward to the time where they can see, whether it is the AFL, the netball, the NRL, or whatever code they support, and being able to watch that again. But I can’t see them going along to a game for a while, those larger mass gatherings.
“I can see, I suppose, the opportunity for those seeking private prayer in a place of worship, I can see that happening. I can’t necessarily, though, see the largest services occurring again. But anyway, these are the issues we have to work through.”
READ MORE: Emerging Kiwis head to Maccas
Richard Ferguson 11.40am: Decrease in use of mental health services
A national mental health plan will be released next week as government fears rise that people in need are not seeking the necessary help during the coronavirus pandemic. Mental Health Commission chief executive Christine Morgan said on Wednesday that there has been a decrease in the use of mental health services despite lockdown.
“Why we think that is happening is that, for those who would normally be using mental health services to support their mental health and well-being, or their mental health challenges, they are not actually going out and doing those visits,” she said in Canberra.
“Now, we partially addressed that with the pivot to telehealth, and it is incredibly important that we look at the increased use of it. You do still need to contact your mental health services. You can do it now through telehealth, you can do it through the digital services, but part of getting through this whole crisis is that we actually address our mental health and our well-being.”
Ms Morgan said the upcoming mental health plan will focus on better coordinating state and commonwealth services.
READ MORE: Second shutdown looms as infection rate makes Merkel think again
Richard Ferguson 11.20am: Nearly 3 million Aussies download COVIDSafe app
Nearly three million Australians have now downloaded the COVIDSafe tracing app and Scott Morrison is calling for more people to take up the digital tool, likening its use to applying sun cream.
“This is an important protection for a COVID-safe Australia. I would liken it to the fact that if you want to go outside when the sun is shining, you have to put sunscreen on,” he said in Canberra, revealing that 2.8 million people had downloaded the app since its launch on Sunday. “This is the same thing. Australians want to return to community sport. If you want to return to a more liberated economy and society, it is important that we get increased numbers of downloads when it comes to the COVIDSafe app.
“This is the ticket to ensuring that we can have eased restrictions and Australians can go back to the lifestyle and the many things that they previously were able to do and this is important.”
Hoaxers who tried to frighten users of the COVIDSafe contact-tracing app through fake texts have been told to be “afraid of the law” and could face up to five years in jail.
READ MORE: COVIDSafe — Things to know when you hit download
Richard Ferguson 11.10am: China embassy defends its DFAT leak
China’s Embassy in Australia has defended its unprecedented move to reveal the details of a call with Australia’s top foreign affairs official, accusing DFAT of playing “petty tricks.”
DFAT secretary Frances Adamson has refused to comment on the contents of her call with Chinese Ambassador Cheng Jingye, even though he accused of her trying to “cry up wine and sell vinegar” and downplays Australia’s push for a global review into the origins of coronavirus.
A Chinese Embassy spokesman on Wednesday morning said the release of the call Q&A was legitimate and a response to “leaks” from Australian officials about Ms Adamson’s diplomatic overtures.
“The Q&A of the Embassy Spokesperson in the afternoon of 28 April was a legitimate response to the earlier breach of diplomatic protocol by the Australian side,” the spokesman said.
“The report on the phone call between the Chinese Ambassador and DFAT Secretary first appeared on Australian media. The phone call itself as well as the content of the conversation was obviously leaked by some Australian officials. As the Australian media report was inaccurate and misleading, the Embassy had no choice but to set the record straight.
“The Embassy of China doesn’t play petty tricks, this is not our tradition. But if others do, we have to reciprocate.
READ MORE: The world needs answers and trust — not cowboy envoys
Sarah Elks 11am: Iconic Birdsville Races are still on — for now
Outback Australia’s raucous and iconic Birdsville Races are still on — for now — despite the threat of coronavirus. The annual event draws tens of thousands of partygoers to the tiny town of Birdsville, on the edge of the Simpson Desert in far south-west Queensland.
Despite fears to the contrary, the September races have not yet been cancelled.
Birdsville Races vice-president Gary Brook said the organising committee would make a decision about the event’s future in late May or early June, but would try its best to keep the horse races going.“Unless restrictions change dramatically for mass gatherings, we wouldn’t be permitted to hold it,” Mr Brook said. “But we could consider slightly delaying the event, to October.” Mr Brook said having the event go ahead would be crucial to the revival of the outback economy, and the all-important tourist market. “It’s not just for us, we’ve got pubs, service stations, roadhouses, that are all virtually closed.”
READ MORE: Outback urges government to step up
Richard Ferguson 10.55am: PM set to deliver coronavirus update
Scott Morrison will speak in Canberra today about increasing calls into mental health and anti-domestic violence helplines through the coronavirus pandemic.
The Prime Minister has already launched several support packages for mental health and anti-domestic violence services, in order to ensure the most vulnerable in society are helped during lockdown.
It is likely Mr Morrison will also be asked about Australia’s deteriorating relationship with China and the push to get schools back to normal. He will be up in Canberra at 11am.
Angelica Snowden 10.50am: Wuhan professor rejects lab theory
Claims that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan have no basis in fact, the head of the lab says.
Wuhan Institute of Virology Laboratory professor Yuan Zhiming said “malicious” claims about the lab had been “pulled out of thin air” and contradicted all available evidence.
“The WIV does not have the intention and the ability to design and construct a new coronavirus,” he said in written responses to questions from Reuters.
An inquiry into the outbreak of the virus that is now responsible for more than 200,000 deaths worldwide is investigating whether it was synthesised by the WIV.
The Five Eyes intelligence agencies of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Britain and the US are examining the work of a scientist at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Peng Zhou, as they investigate whether COVID-19 originated from a wet market or whether it may have been released from the laboratory, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Dr Zhou, the head of the Bat Virus Infection and Immunity Project at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, worked at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory — a bio-containment facility — between 2011 and 2014, where he was sent by China to complete his doctorate.
Claims that the virus originated in the lab have also been promoted by US President Donald Trump. On April 15 Mr Trump said that his government was investigating whether the virus had originated in the Wuhan lab.
— With Reuters
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Rachel Baxendale 10.40am: Police fine lunchers amid spot checks
Five people eating lunch together in a car and multiple people committing criminal offences are among 53 people fined by Victoria Police for breaching physical distancing laws in the past 24 hours.
Victoria Police said they had conducted 586 spot checks at homes, businesses and non-essential services in the 24 hours to 11pm. Police have conducted 32,249 spot checks since March 21.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said examples of breaches which had resulted in fines on Tuesday included six males gathering at a school car park, five people in a car together having lunch and multiple people committing criminal offences, including burglary, theft and drug related offences.
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Staff Reporters 10.30am: Medical chief sorry for Tasmania claim
Australia’s top medical officer has apologised to health workers in Tasmania for speculating they attended an illegal dinner party and contributed to a coronavirus outbreak, AAP reports.
Professor Brendan Murphy made the claim about staff in the state’s northwest while giving evidence to a New Zealand parliamentary committee earlier this month.
He quickly walked back the comments after Tasmania Premier Peter Gutwein pointed out contract tracing had found no evidence of such a gathering. A subsequent state police investigation into the allegation found no evidence of a party.
Tasmania is expected to this week release a report into the northwest virus cluster, which accounts for about two-thirds of the state’s 218 cases. Mr Gutwein has also pledged an independent investigation into the outbreak, which has shut Burnie’s private and public hospitals and forced tough social restrictions.
“I apologise to Tasmanian health workers for my comments, and welcome the positive outcome of the investigation,” Prof Murphy said in a statement on Wednesday.
Prof Murphy was speaking about Australia’s response to the global pandemic on April 14 when he brought up the outbreak in Tasmania.
“We thought we were doing really well in the last week and then we had a cluster of 49 cases in a hospital in Tasmania just over the weekend,” he said. “Most of them went to an illegal dinner party of medical workers, we think.”
State Labor opposition leader Rebecca White has welcomed the apology. “His comments at the time were reckless and really hurtful for workers up there,” she told ABC Radio.
Three northwest health workers on Tuesday became the latest of dozens in the region to test positive to COVID-19. Ten of Tasmania’s 11 virus deaths have been in the northwest.
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Rachel Baxendale 10.20am: National COVID-19 death toll rises
A woman in her 80s has died, bringing Victoria’s COVID-19 death toll to 18.
Victoria confirmed three new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 1354.
There are 18 COVID-19 patients in Victorian hospitals - five fewer than yesterday.
Nine of those patients are in intensive care - two fewer than yesterday - while 1,287 Victorians have recovered from COVID-19.
Health authorities have conducted more than 111,000 tests, with at total of 7,000 tests conducted since the Andrews government on Monday declared it would push for 100,000 tests in a fortnight.
The government said it expects to have 12 mobile testing sites operating by Sunday to assist with reaching the 100,000 test goal.
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Rebecca Urban 10.10am: Split emerges over Vic schools return
A split has emerged in the independent schools sector, in the wake of the Commonwealth’s offer to fast track funding in return for reopening campuses, with the Victorian schools lobby accusing the government of placing more than 200 schools under “unfair political pressure”.
While the Independent Schools Council of Australia has welcomed the federal government’s announcement that it will bring forward funding payments, its Victorian arm said its schools, which have so far complied with a state directive to deliver remote learning for term two, had been placed in “an extraordinarily difficult and unfair position”.
Victoria, along with Queensland, are the only two states yet to commit to plans to reopen schools, despite federal expert health advice that it is safe to do so.
“Independent schools are being used as a wedge in a policy disagreement between the Federal and Victorian governments, “ said Independent Schools Victoria chief Michelle Green.
“This is unfair and entirely inappropriate when what’s at stake is the health of children and their teachers. The students and teachers at Independent schools are being pitted against their government counterparts.
“ISV has consistently recommended to its Member Schools that they follow the advice of the Victorian Government, based in turn on the advice of Victoria’s Chief Health Officer.
“While not mandatory for Independent schools, this advice is that schools should provide remote and flexible learning for the majority of their students, while providing onsite learning for those who have no alternative.”
Ms Green said schools, many of them struggling financially as a result of the pandemic, were now in the difficult position of having to make a decision about the federal offer in just two days.
Independent Schools Queensland executive director David Robertson was also critical of the plan.
“ISCA and AISs have been engaging with the Minister for several weeks on the prospect of bringing forward the July payment to assist schools with cash flow,” he said.
This outcome is disappointing as schools are now being wedged between the Federal and State Governments and their differing advice on the operation of schools.
“Given this situation, and the fact that independent schools have followed the advice of the Queensland Government and health authorities on the operation of schools, it would be difficult for an independent school to commit to the conditions required by the Commonwealth for the early payment of the July grant.
He said it would be up to each school authority as to whether they take up the Commonwealth offer.
There are 220 independent schools across the state, educating more than 145,000 students.
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Sarah Elks 10am: Covid crackdown for seasonal fruit pickers
Queensland’s foodbowl will be protected from coronavirus, with up to 10,000 seasonal workers a month required to self-quarantine when they arrive from interstate.
Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said fruit and vegetable growers from Mareeba, in far north Queensland, to Moreton Bay, near Brisbane, required about 10,000 workers a month to pick produce.
Mr Furner said a five-point plan would be introduced to protect those workers and the farms.
He said people coming into Queensland wanting to work on farms would be required to self-isolate, and then would need to have a ‘health management plan’ detailing their travel history.
Mr Furner said there would be extra compliance as well.
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Richard Ferguson 9.50pm: Forrest urges virus inquiry to be delayed
Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has called for a COVID-19 inquiry to only be held after the US presidential elections and says it must not focus solely on China.
Mr Forrest - one of Australia’s richest men - says Scott Morrison should not rush to investigate China’s role in coronavirus as it will be tied up in the agenda of US President Donald Trump, whom Mr Forrest accused of blaming everyone but himself for his country’s coronavirus crisis.
“A COVID-19 inquiry worldwide is common sense but it is not to be a Chinese inquiry/ That would make it instantly political,” he told ABC radio.
“I don’t see what the rush is all about. If this is held after the US presidential election, then let’s just say there’s not going to be a political dog in this fight.
“There’s a bloke in the White House who really wants to stay there and he’s pushing blame as fast as he possibly can from anywhere else but himself. And I don’t think this should be politically orientated.”
Mr Forrest said Australia’s deteriorating relations with China can be repaired.
“You realise that they all want the same thing ... Australia needs to walk that line where we have a best friend in America, a best friend in China, best friends across South-East Asia,” he said.
“We do not choose our best friends because we’re a small country and we must be best friends with them all.”
READ MORE: Beijing’s shift was Turnbull’s gift to Morrison
Angelica Snowden 9.35am: Premier takes a shot at rogue NRL players
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has admonished NRL players who flouted social distancing rules, saying the “word disappointing doesn’t cut it”.
“Everybody is trying so hard to stick to the rules,” Ms Berejiklian said. “Everybody is trying so hard to do the right thing and then to have some people behave in that way is beyond belief,” she said.
“To have these breaches occur before the season has even started is extremely concerning.”
Star NRL players Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Nathan Cleary were caught breaching self-isolation rules after pictures surfaced on social media.
Ms Berejiklian said she was looking forward to having a discussion with the National Cabinet on Friday to consider issues regarding professional and community sport.
READ MORE: V’landys locks in NRL for lift-off
Angelica Snowden 9.30am: Treasurer: We won’t bow to economic coercion
Josh Frydenberg has backed calls for an independent review into the outbreak of COVID-19, amid escalating diplomatic tensions between China and Australia.
“We won’t bow to economic coercion,” the Treasurer said on Sky News. “We will continue to speak up in Australia’s national health interest and we won’t trade off health outcomes for economic outcomes.”
“This is a very serious global pandemic that has disrupted economies around the world and taken many lives and there does need to be that investigation as the Prime Minister has called for.”
Mr Frydenberg said despite the public clash that has seen China’s Ambassador call for Australia to stop playing “political games”, the economic relationship between both countries was very important.
“Around 60 per cent of the iron ore they import comes from Australia,” he said. “Last year alone that would have created enough steel to build ten thousand Sydney Harbour Bridges.”
Mr Frydenberg said the Coalition would continue to rally behind “Australia’s national interests” and insist on an independent review.
“When you get something such as the coronavirus and the global pandemic that has disrupted the globe as it has, there does need to be this independent, open and transparent investigation.”
READ MORE: China turmoil as envoy resigns
Sarah Elks 9.20am: Qld reports just one new Covid case
Queensland has recorded just one new coronavirus case overnight, a Queenslander who had returned from quarantine interstate after contracting the disease on a cruise ship.
The Australian understands the newest case disembarked a cruise ship in Melbourne, and spent two weeks in quarantine in the Victorian capital.
However, it was not until the person travelled back to Queensland that they were tested and diagnosed with coronavirus.
It is possible the person was not showing symptoms within the two weeks, or that their incubation period for the virus was longer than the two weeks.
The state now has 1034 recorded cases of the virus, but just 94 are active, with 12 currently being treated in hospital, and six requiring ventilation in intensive care.
In the last 24 hours, 3234 people have been tested in Queensland, a much higher rate of testing, with everyone with any coronavirus symptoms being encouraged to get tested.
“Our positive testing rate is incredibly low,” Health Minister Steven Miles said.
READ MORE: China unleashes its gunslingers
Angelica Snowden 9.10am: No time for a holiday, police chief warns
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has warned people against using the mild easing of social distancing rules as an excuse to go on holiday.
“So people can clearly go and visit friends and relatives in terms of that care space,” Commissioner Fuller said.
“But if you live in the city and you are up in Byron Bay thinking that’s a good excuse for a drive then that’s not going to wash.”
Commissioner Fuller said he thought it was positive that social distancing rules were being relaxed, but asked people not to make bad decisions.
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Rebecca Urban 8.50am: Fast-track of school funding wins key support
The independent schools lobby has welcomed a move by the federal government to fast-track funding for schools that open their doors to students, claiming that it will alleviate significant funding concerns.
Education Minister Dan Tehan wrote to all non-government schools on Tuesday offering $3.2 billion in incentives to open campuses immediately and return to at least 50 per cent classroom teaching before the end of May.
Independent Schools Council of Australia chief David Mulford said that the sector greatly appreciated the offer as it would address “some major cash flow issues facing many schools resulting from the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
“It is important to note that this is not a handout,” said Dr Mulford. “It is simply a matter of adjusting the timing of one of the regular scheduled payments to assist in effective financial management by schools.
“It will have no extra cost to government, but it will make a big difference in helping schools wrestle with the complexities of the COVID -19 impact.”
Under the proposal, non-government schools and systems can access up to 25 per cent of their total annual recurrent funding, due as two separate payments in late May and early June.
To be eligible for the first payment of 12.5 per cent, schools would need to be currently open for physical campus learning in term two, and have a plan to fully reopen classroom teaching by 1 June.
For the second payment, schools would need to commit to achieving 50 per cent of their students attending classroom-based learning by 1 June 2020.
They must apply by Friday.
The offer has been interpreted as a direct challenge to the states, largely Victoria and Queensland, that have not yet committed to opening campuses for term two, despite federal health advice that it was safe to do so.
Dr Mulford said health and safety of students and staff remain of the utmost priority, but schools remained supportive of the federal government’s intention to reopen schools in a timely manner.
He said schools looked forward to working cooperatively “to restore face-to-face learning as soon as practicable”.
READ MORE: Rebel schools push classroom comeback
Angelica Snowden 8.35am: 4-year-old in Sydney among new infections
New Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant confirmed that of the 11 new COVID-19 cases, only one was as a result of community transmission.
Dr Chant said two more staff contracted COVID-19 at the Newmarch House aged care care facility in Sydney’s west.
She said one of the staff members was working in the facility before they were diagnosed, but wore full personal protective equipment. The other staff member was diagnosed while in isolation.
A four-year-old who attended a childcare centre in western Sydney is also among the new cases. The child attended the Bright Minds childcare centre in Cranebrook for two consecutive days while they were infectious. The centre has been closed for the day.
The remaining infections consisted of five overseas acquired cases and two were linked with a family cluster.
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Angelica Snowden 8.20am: 11 new coronavirus cases in NSW
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says only 11 new COVID-19 cases have been identified in the last 24 hours across the state from 5400 tests.
Ms Berejiklian said the NSW Health Minister had contacted the federal Aged Care Minister to discuss the management of the Newmarch House aged care facility where four people died yesterday.
“(We contacted the federal Aged Care Minister) to express our government’s concerns at the lack of communication between the centre’s operators and the relatives,” she said. “I can’t imagine how distressful that is.
“Many of us who have a loved one in an aged care home, it would be devastating not to contact them, not to be able to be with them, and we made our concerns known to the federal minister.”
The Premier also said the easing of social distancing rules was not a “licence” to go beyond the new restrictions. “Have conversations (with family) about what you can do ... we haven’t put a limit on how far you can travel in order to visit a loved one.”
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Adeshola Ore 8.10am: Aged care facility’s battle to find workers
The Aged Care Minister says a shortage of workers at an aged-care facility at the centre of a coronavirus outbreak in Western Sydney has been rectified.
Anglicare’s Newmarch House reported four deaths on Tuesday, taking its COVID-19 death toll to 11.
Richard Colbeck said he had worked with the NSW state government to ensure adequate staffing levels at the centre.
“There will be some staff from the facility coming back out of isolation today,” Mr Colbeck told the Today show. “We’ve not limited the resources we have made available to Anglicare at all in this circumstance”
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Angelica Snowden 8am: Premier: Don’t push your luck on liberties
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she does not “want people to stretch” their liberties after announcing that households can have up to two visitors from Friday.
The Premier moved yesterday to ease COVID-19 social distancing measures and said from Friday two people plus young children - but no more - would be allowed to visit their friends and family.
Thanks to everyone for sticking to the rules. From Friday, 2 adults (& any dependent children) are able to visit another household to reduce social isolation. Pls be extra careful when visiting those over 70. Don’t leave home if you have symptoms & continue to socially distance. pic.twitter.com/EzCTArn99X
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) April 28, 2020
“It does not mean a holiday, does not mean you should leave the house for multiple reasons,” she said on Channel 7. “We’ve done this to extend our definition of care and to reduce social isolation and to improve people’s mental health.”
The Premier clarified that even if there are multiple adults living in a share house, the new easing of restrictions does not mean two visitors per person.
Ms Berejiklian said she wanted full time, face-to-face learning to resume before the end of term two.
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Adeshola Ore 7.45am: China’s activist jailing under fire
The director of Human Rights Watch Australia has condemned China’s detention of activists who reported on the coronavirus outbreak.
The NGO has called on the Chinese government to release five citizen journalists and activists who reported on the government’s handling of the pandemic.
“They have no access to a lawyer and I think it just goes to show what lengths the Chinese government will go to really prevent any independent reporting on what happens around China,” Elaine Pearson told the ABC.
Ms Pearson said a coalition of foreign governments was needed to pressure the Chinese government to co-operate with an investigation into its handling of the virus.
“If the Chinese government doesn’t have anything to hide, it shouldn’t be scared and it should co-operate with an investigation of this kind. We think that is necessary.”
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Angelica Snowden 7.30am: NSW Premier to deliver latest update
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will give an update on the COVID-19 pandemic in her state at 8am AEST.
The Premier will be joined by the NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant, Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys.
Watch a live stream of the update here, on The Australian’s live blog.
Adeshola Ore 7.10am: UK pauses to honour virus victims
Millions of people around the UK paused for a minute of silence on Tuesday in a nationwide tribute to healthcare workers who have lost their lives in the pandemic. Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to frontline workers alongside Cabinet Secretary Mark Sedwill and Chancellor Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street.
This morning I took part in a minute’s silence to remember those workers who have tragically died in the coronavirus pandemic. The nation will not forget you. pic.twitter.com/6yV5PCINyM
— Boris Johnson #StayHomeSaveLives (@BorisJohnson) April 28, 2020
More than 21,000 people have died across the country because of the virus. The latest government figures show that a third of the country’s coronavirus deaths are occurring in care homes.
Italy
Italy’s number of coronavirus cases has surpassed 200,000. That figure climbed by 382 on Tuesday, making it the highest daily death toll since Saturday.
The total number of fatalities since the pandemic began is 27,359, the second highest in the world after the US. The number of people in intensive care continues to decline, falling to 1863 on Tuesday.
The country’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has defended the government’s slow easing of its coronavirus lockdown. Parks, factories and construction sites are set to reopen on May 4. But shops will remain shut until May 18 and students will not return to school before September.
Spain
The easing of the restrictions will begin on May 4 as part of a four-phase plan, and will vary between provinces. In the first phase, hairdressers, other appointment businesses and takeaway food services will be able to resume business. Bars are expected to be able to open their terraces with one-third capacity on May 11. The last stage at the end of June will see beaches reopen with the support of local authorities.
Tuesday’s daily death toll stood at 301, less than a third of a record high 950 in early April. The country’s total number of COVID-19 fatalities is 23,822.
— With Reuters
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Angelica Snowden 6.45am: US COVID-19 infections pass one million
The number of coronavirus infections in the US has surpassed one million, accounting for a third of the world’s total COVID-19 case count.
New York
The news comes as COVID-19 hospitalisations continue to slowly decrease in New York State, averaging under 1000 a day for the first time this month.
Governor Andrew Cuomo travelled to Syracuse, New York, as he continued to sketch out the steps regions of the state need to take to restart local economies.
The daily death toll dropped again, with 335 deaths reported Monday - the lowest daily tally recorded in April and the third straight day under 400.
There have been 17,638 deaths in New York since the outbreak began. The state total doesn’t include more than 5200 New York City deaths that were attributed to the virus on death certificates but weren’t confirmed by a lab test.
At the peak of the outbreak this month, there had been more than 3000 new COVID-19 hospitalisations a day, based on a three-day rolling average.
The comparable figure released Tuesday was 953.
Insurance
In Washington, business and health industry groups are urging US politicians to shore up health insurance coverage for unemployed Americans in the next coronavirus bill, as millions lose coverage.
Meat shortages
President Trump will sign an executive order on Tuesday designed to stave off a shortage of chicken, pork and other meat on American supermarket shelves.
The order will use the Defence Production Act to classify meat processing as critical infrastructure to keep production plants open.
The order comes after industry leaders warned that consumers could see meat shortages in a matter of days after workers at major facilities tested positive for the virus.
A senior White House official said the administration was working to prevent a situation in which a majority of processing plants shut down for a period of time, which could lead to an 80 per cent drop in the availability of meat in supermarkets.
— With AP
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Staff Reporters 6.40am: MP in strife after breaching restrictions
A Queensland MP has resigned from the LNP’s shadow ministry after he and two police officers were fined for breaching coronavirus restrictions, AAP reports.
Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts and the sergeant and senior constable were each fined $1334 over a weekend street gathering in breach of social distancing rules.
LNP Leader Deb Frecklington said she had accepted Mr Watts’ resignation as shadow minister for police and counter terrorism and corrective services. “I expect the highest standards from my team, especially my Shadow Ministers,” Ms Frecklington said in a statement on Tuesday.
Mr Watts said he had been catching up with his neighbours on their respective driveways on Sunday afternoon and did not think he was in breach at the time.
“My actions demonstrated a momentary lack of judgment and I regret them deeply,” he said in a statement posted by Seven News.
Ninderry MP Dan Purdie, a former detective, will replace Mr Watts as the opposition spokesman for police, counter terrorism and corrective services.
Mr Purdie’s old job as assistant treasury spokesman will be filled by Nicklin MP Marty Hunt, another former police officer.
Queensland Police said the two police officers had been fined for failing to comply with a COVID-19 direction.
Police are working to identify 12 other people believed to have been involved in the gathering.
— AAP
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Jamie Walker 5.15am: Crucial breakthrough in push for coronavirus vaccine
An experimental Australian vaccine for COVID-19 has generated immunity levels in preclinical trials exceeding those recorded in people who have recovered from the disease.
The findings released Wednesday entrench the molecular clamp technology developed by scientists at the University of Queensland as among the most promising in the world to combat coronavirus.
After being tested on animals in the lab, the prototype drug was shown to generate high levels of antibodies against the virus.
“We were particularly pleased that the strength of the antibody response was even better than those observed in samples from COVID-19 recovered patients,” project co-leader Paul Young said.
The team has repurposed a vaccine platform that had already proved to be highly effective against seasonal influenza and SARS, a coronavirus closely related to COVID-19.
“In terms of getting a vaccine that we think will work, we think we are already there,” Keith Chappell, another joint project leader, told The Australian last month.
Read the full story here.
Jacquelin Magnay 5am: Mystery illness strikes children in United Kingdom
British health officials are scrambling to find out if a clutch of ill children suffering a mystery form of toxic shock syndrome are being struck down by the coronavirus.
Medical professionals have been warned to look out for children who suffer Kawasaki syndrome — a six-week illness affecting the lymph system and prevalent in those under five — who also present with fever and sore stomach, which could lead to swelling of the heart.
More than a dozen children had been struck by the mystery illness and have been treated in intensive care in the past three weeks.
British Health Minister Matt Hancock said reports of the condition made him “very worried”.
WATCH: We’ve been able to expand #coronavirus testing capacity, so we’re further expanding access to testing across the country. pic.twitter.com/5pXpoca52y
— Matt Hancock (@MattHancock) April 28, 2020
Read the full story here.
Rebecca Urban 4.45am: Private schools challenge Victoria’s hard line stance
A powerful network of Victorian private schools has demanded the discretion to reopen campuses in regions largely unaffected by the coronavirus, in a direct challenge to Premier Daniel Andrews’s hard line stance on school closures.
Ecumenical Schools Australia, which represents 19 mostly regional campuses and more than 17,000 students, called on the state Labor government to endorse schools to conduct their own risk analysis on reopening.
This would allow principals to open doors “as soon as possible’’ in areas where the risk of coronavirus infection was deemed to be low.
The demand came as federal Education Minister Dan Tehan wrote to all non-government schools offering $3.2bn in incentives to open campuses immediately and return to at least 50 per cent classroom teaching before the end of May.
Read the full story here.
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