Coronavirus Australia live news: Second aged-care resident tests positive; Victorian lockdown extended by seven days; six new cases bring outbreak total to 60
As Victoria’s lockdown is extended for seven more days in face of highly infectious Indian variant, 90-year-old man is second nursing home resident to contract Covid.
- Second aged-care resident tests positive
- Indian variant ‘in measles category of infectiousness’
- Lockdown extended by seven days
- Six new cases, lockdown extension looms
- New exposures sites in NSW
- Victorian lockdown extension looms
- New hotel quarantine transmission
Welcome to live updates on Australia’s battle with the Covid-19 pandemic. For the latest in federal and state politics, follow our dedicated blog PoliticsNow here.
A 90-year-old man at the Arcare Maidstone nursing home in Melbourne’s west has been diagnosed with Covid-19, the second aged-care resident infected in Victoria’s latest outbreak.
Victoria’s lockdown has been extended by seven days with some key changes, as the state records six new cases, with locally acquired infections since the Whittlesea cluster emerged rising to 60.
The Indian variant of Covid-19 infecting Victoria is ‘in the measles category of infection’, health officals say.
A positive coronavirus case visited a string of sites in NSW and Victoria over nine days of potential infectiousness, authorities in both states have confirmed.
Nicholas Jensen 11.10pm:Bombshell emails over what Fauci knew
America’s top medical adviser Anthony Fauci was informed as early as February 2020 that Covid-19 exhibited unusual viral characteristics which could have potentially been engineered in a lab, according to emails published.
A trove of private correspondence, obtained by The Washington Post and Buzzfeed, reveal some of the crucial moments leading up to the pandemic in early 2020 when Dr Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, sought urgent information regarding the nature and origins of Covid-19.
Dr Fauci, who led the US response to the outbreak, previously rejected claims that Covid-19 leaked from a laboratory setting, but reversed his position in May, admitting that he was “not convinced” the virus had developed naturally and more needed to be done to investigate its precise origins. In one email from Kristian Andersen, a virologist at the Scripps Research Institute in California, Dr Fauci was told that Dr Andersen and his fellow scientists had to “look really closely at all the sequences to see that some of the features (potentially) look engineered”.
Remy Varga, Ellie Dudley10.25pm: Fears variant can infect two hours on
Victorian health authorities fear a two-hour gap between an infected person leaving a grocery store in Melbourne’s north and another person entering was enough contact for the Indian variant to jump from one person to another.
Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton on Wednesday compared the B. 1.617.1 variant to the measles and said contact tracers believe someone who visited JMD Spices in Epping contracted the virus two hours after a positive case had left. “They (the positive case) were there for a substantial period of time but they had left two hours before the next exposed individual came in, who’s become a case,” Professor Sutton said.
“That’s in the measles category of infectiousness.”
Rachel Baxendale9.40pm:Andrews breaks his silence
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has broken more than six weeks of silence to issue a late-night Facebook message of encouragement as Victorians prepare to enter the second week of the state’s third lockdown.
Having said on April 18 that his team of medical specialists were confident he would return to work in June following his recovery from a fall in March, which saw him fracture his spine and multiple ribs, Mr Andrews on Wednesday night indicated a meeting with his medicos next week would determine the timing.
“I’m sorry I can’t be there with everyone right now but I’m so grateful to James for his leadership,” Mr Andrews said, paying tribute to Acting Premier James Merlino in a postscript to his message regarding the lockdown.
“I have more scans and a meeting with my medical team next week. I’ll let you know how that goes and exactly when I’ll be back on deck later this month.
“See you soon.”
The Premier’s main message, regarding the lockdown, began: “I won’t talk about how hard this is, or why it matters so much. You all know that.”
“But I did want to send a message to Victorians facing another week off work, away from school, or with the kids at home: Just because we’ve had to do this before, doesn’t mean it’s easy to do again. Some of us will be tired. Some stressed. Some sick to the back teeth of this pandemic. Maybe a mix of all three,” Mr Andrews said in the Facebook message issued after 9pm.
“But please know that every individual effort you made today, and everything you’ll do tomorrow and every day after will save lives.
“Record tests, record vaccinations, record fight - we’re doing this to protect our communities, our state and the entire country.
“Be proud of what you’ve achieved and be proud of our state too.
“Keep fighting, Victoria.”
Greg Brown, Adeshola Ore8.40pm:You’re moving too slowly on quarantine, PM told
One of Scott Morrison’s key advisers during the Covid-19 pandemic has accused the federal government of moving too slowly in expanding and establishing purpose-built quarantine facilities, saying “we should be getting on with this as a priority”.
Former health department secretary Jane Halton, a commissioner on the National Covid-19 Commission Advisory Board, said the quarantine system was not running at “best practice” after another outbreak in Victoria.
She said it was “perplexing” it had taken the government so long to expand the capacity of the Howard Springs centre to 2000 people after her report on the quarantine system released in October called for the government to consider establishing a “national facility for emergency or surge situations”.
“I’m disappointed that it certainly appears we don’t have continual adoption of best practice right across the system,” she told the ABC. “Inevitably, (given) the numbers of people who are coming back to Australia, it is very difficult to have all of those people accommodated in facilities such as Howard Springs.
“It is good we are going to get Howard Springs to 2000 places. It is also … a bit perplexing that it has taken us this long. I think it is good we are now hearing positive signs that there may well be an agreement with Victoria.
“ I’m not wedded to one particular location … I think the style of quarantine we are talking about here is important and having that as a significant component of our quarantine program is certainly desirable.”
Stephen Lunn, Olivia Caisley 8pm: Health union blasts rollout ‘debacle’
A second nursing home resident has tested positive for Covid-19 in Victoria’s latest outbreak as the Morrison government again came under intense pressure over its handling of aged care during the pandemic.
The 89-year-old man at the Arcare Maidstone nursing home in Melbourne’s west was transferred to hospital on Wednesday after being confirmed with the virus, joining a 99 year-old woman from the same facility who tested positive on Monday.
Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck said the man had been fully vaccinated, and was asymptomatic. “The resident initially had … an indeterminate test, then had a negative test, and then was retested and is now positive,” he told Senate estimates on Wednesday.
“The advice I have is that the resident is asymptomatic,” he said. “The vaccine … won’t necessarily prevent you from contracting the virus but the evidence we’ve received is that it will protect you from serious illness, and can we all trust that … is the outcome … for this gentleman.”
Two care workers at the Maidstone facility have also tested positive, with one also doing shifts at another home, the BlueCross Western Gardens nursing home in nearby Sunshine. One had not been vaccinated.
Tom Dusevic 7.30pm:A cloud on our economic horizon
Australia is moving from recovery to expansion mode, three full-bodied quarters after touching the void last June. Government money is slowly being withdrawn and consumers and companies are spending up big on houses, dining out, tools and utes.
But there’s a cloud. Lockdowns are instantly brutal and leave a long tail of economic woe. After last year’s four-month torture, Victoria’s economy bounded along in the December and March quarters to lead all states with cumulative growth in final demand of 9.6 per cent.
And yet, that still wasn’t enough to drag Victoria’s output back above its pre-Covid-19 level. The lockdown’s extension for Melbourne brings more pain.
David Penberthy 6.45pm: Hands off the football, please
The controversial decision to exempt Collingwood from the Victorian border closure ahead of an AFL game in Adelaide has descended into farce, with South Australian health officials warning fans not to touch the football if it is kicked into the crowd during the game.
Amid public confusion over why the Pies have been allowed into the state when almost all other Victorians are locked out, South Australia’s chief health officer Nicola Spurrier offered advice for fans worried about being infected during Saturday’s game against the Crows.
“If the ball comes towards you, my advice is to duck and do not touch that ball,” Professor Spurrier said.
Nicholas Jensen 6pm: Vaccinations top 4.5m
A total of 4,501,444 jabs have been administered as part of the federal government’s vaccination rollout, with 138,705 doses given in the past 24 hours.
The commonwealth has administered 2,860,154 vaccines, with 85,859 given in the 24 hours to Tuesday night.
The states and territories have administered a total of 1,641,290 jabs, with 52,846 completed in the past 24 hours.
In the past 24 hours, Victoria led the way, administering 19,338, followed by NSW with 447,260.
Queensland administered 236,701 jabs, Western Australia 175,884, Tasmania 70,273, South Australia 112,530, ACT 50,410 and Northern Territory a total of 34,857.
A total of 2,498,644 shots have been administered in primary care clinics by the commonwealth, and 361,510 given in aged and disability facilities.
Olivia Caisley 5.10pm:Jabs at nursing home scrapped at eleventh hour
The planned vaccination of aged-care workers and elderly residents at a Victorian nursing home was cancelled by a Commonwealth contractor at the eleventh hour because they were no longer considered a “priority” as the state was plunged into lockdown.
Liscombe House in Melbourne’s north received confirmation from Commonwealth contractor Health Care Australia last Friday morning that workers, as well as at least five elderly residents that had not yet received a jab, would be finally vaccinated.
But less than four hours later the same aged-care facility received a second email from HCA, rescinding on its appointment, because the nursing home was not considered a “tier one site” or “high risk” under the state government’s grading system.
A spokeswoman for the Old Colonists Association of Victoria, which runs the aged care facility, said the vast majority of residents had been vaccinated but the nursing home was still in limbo about when the jabs for the remaining patients would be administered.
“We’re pleased Victoria has stepped in and are encouraging our staff members to go and take advantage of that blitz rollout,” she said. “But it’s quite hard for staff if they’re working to get there (to the hubs), so what we would like to see is for the Federal government to get their vaccination teams back into aged care to get the vaccines.”
“Especially as we all know aged care staff are the ones that bring it (Covid-19) in.”
All aged care workers and residents across Australia were meant to be vaccinated by mid April through the Commonwealth’s in home program under the initial time frame.
Asked about the vaccination delay at the home in Question Time, Health Minister Greg Hunt said he would be “very much keen” to receive more details about the case.
READ the full story here.
Stephen Lunn 4.20pm:Second aged-care resident tests positive
A 90-year-old man at the Arcare Maidstone nursing home in Melbourne’s west has been diagnosed with Covid-19, the second aged-care resident infected in Victoria’s latest outbreak.
Aged-care services minister Richard Colbeck confirmed the case in Senate Estimates on Wednesday afternoon.
Senator Colbeck said the man, who was fully vaccinated, was being transferred out of the facility and all other residents had been isolating with the home.
“The resident … had an indeterminate test, then had a negative test, and then
was retested and .. is now positive,” Senator Colbeck said.
“The advice I have is that the resident is asymptomatic,” he said.
The man was a close contact of another resident at the home, a 95 year-old who tested positive on Monday, Senator Colbeck said.
Two care workers at the facility have also tested positive, with one of those workers also doing shifts at another home, the BlueCross nursing home in nearby Sunshine.
It’s believed the man is not one of the six cases announced today in Victoria, and may be an new case to be included in tomorrow’s numbers.
READ MORE:Lockdowns and lurch towards institutionalised restrictions
Remy Varga 3.40pm:Indian variant ‘in measles category of infectiousness’
Victoria’s chief medical officer Brett Sutton said contact tracers believed someone who visited JMD Spices in Epping contracted the virus two hours after a positive case had left, comparing the infectiousness of the Indian variant to the measles.
“We do have a suspicion that there’s been transmission, two hours after any infectious cases maybe it’s an indoor enclosed space,” Prof Sutton sauid
“They [positive case] were there for a substantial period of time but they had left two hours before the next exposed individual came in, who’s become a case,” Professor Sutton said.
“That’s in the measles category of infectiousness.”
Descriving the variant as “an absolute beast”, he said people are becoming infected with Covid-19 “in ways we have not seen before”.
“This variant is not the most infectious, but it is more infectious than anything we saw in the beginning and middle of 2020, so we have to bear that in mind.”
Adeshola Ore3.37pm:Attempt to suspend standing orders over ‘bungled’ rollout
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has attempted to suspend standing orders in the lower house over what he says is a “bungled” vaccine rollout in the aged-care and disability sectors.
During senate estimates on Tuesday, the Morrison government revealed it did not know how many aged care workers had received a coronavirus jab.
On Wednesday, the Opposition Leader attempted to suspend parliamentary business to move a motion to debate the federal government’s vaccine rollout in aged care and disability care.
“This Prime Minister won’t accept responsibility for anything,” Mr Albanese said.
Deputy Labor Leader Richard Marles said Victoria remained in lockdown because Mr Morrison was “incompetent and negligent.”
READ MORE:Politics Now
Remy Varga3.20pm:Pub transmission highlights strength of Indian variant
Of Victoria’s six new cases, one is a resident of the Surf Coast town Anglesea who is believed to have contracted the virus at the Brighton Beach Hotel.
Professor Sutton said this demonstrated the heightened infectivity of the Indian strain, also referred to as the kappa variant.
“This variant of concern is starting to show up in places where normally it would be less likely,” he said.
“So the Brighton Beach Hotel, that was an outdoor dining setting well ventilated where we wouldn’t expect transmission to occur.”
Four new cases are a Victorian family who holidayed in NSW’s Jervis Bay, leaving a handful of exposure sites along the Hume Highway.
The two children attended North Melbourne Primary School, which has been closed as contact tracing continues.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said there are now two index cases where contact tracers had been unable to identify where they contracted the virus.
They are the parent in the family of four who originally became infected and the healthcare worker linked to the Arcare aged care facility in the suburb of Maidstone in Melbourne’s inner northwest.
The sixth case is linked to Stratton Finance and the infected person has been in quarantine for the entirety of their infectious period. There are no additional exposure sites linked to this case.
Rosie Lewis3.15pm:Victoria can’t do this alone: ARA plea for federal wage support
The Australian Retailers Association has joined industry calls for a reintroduction of JobKeeper or similar wage subsidy scheme as Victoria’s lockdown is extended by another seven days.
“Victoria can’t do this alone. The federal government has done a great job to keep businesses afloat through JobKeeper and we need them to step up to the plate again,” ARA chief executive Paul Zahra said.
“We believe a reintroduction of a scheme like JobKeeper, which is targeted at those most in need, would be the simplest and easiest measure to implement, given the back-end systems are already known and worked well for a year. The scheme should be targeted – just for those negatively impacted by lockdowns.
“This isn’t just about Victoria. This is about other states and territories who might have to deal with state-imposed lockdowns and restrictions, should new cases emerge in the community. A scheme like JobKeeper should be a lifeline that can be activated when it’s needed.”
Rosie Lewis2.55pm:Hospitality industry calls for federal support for Victorians
The hospitality industry has urged the Morrison government to “step up” and provide a wage subsidy for hundreds of thousands of employees in Victoria unable to work as the lockdown is extended for another week.
“The federal budget did not contain any further wage support or contemplate a 14-day lockdown scenario. Put simply, reminding businesses owners over and over about past stimulus is no answer to the present and future,” Restaurant and Catering chief executive Wes Lambert said.
Mr Lambert said the number of coronavirus cases in Victoria should be manageable and lashed the lockdown as a default response.
“The announcement today is a bitter pill to swallow. Thousands of businesses will keep their doors closed. Hundreds of thousands of staff will go another week without wages, at home, feeling more and more hopeless,” he said.
Adeshola Ore 2.50pm:One-quarter of disability care residents receive first jab: PM
Scott Morrison says 25 per cent of disability care residents have received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.
During Question Time, Labor drew attention to the commonwealth’s rollout in the disability residential care sector, which is part of phase 1a in the rollout.
The Prime Minister said more than 7,000 people of the 26,000 Australians with a disability living in residential care had received a first dose by May 29.
“There have been more than 10,000 doses now,” he said.
READ MORE:PM, virus expert at odds over quarantine report
Adeshola Ore 2.30pm:Vaccinations have doubled in past month: PM
Scott Morrison says vaccination rates in Australia have doubled over the past month, as Labor uses Question Time to target the commonwealth’s rollout in aged-care facilities.
The Prime Minister said more than 700,000 Austrlaians have been vaccinated in the past week, indicating the country was “rallying together” around the rollout. But Senate estimates revealed yesterday the government did not know how many aged-care staff had received one or both jabs, as there were several ways that workers may have received it, including through their own GP.
Labor frontbencher Cathering King said at an aged care facility in her Victorian electorate, five residents had missed out on their first vaccine doses because commonwealth contractors arrived without enough supply.
“The residents were told to go to a GP clinic to get them, but the residents are frail and immobile. While it is the government telling people who are frail and immobile to find their way to a local GP clinic for their vaccine?,” Ms King asked.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said all Victorian facilities had now received their first dose, but said he would be pleased to receive details about the centre.
READ MORE:Politics Now
Joseph Lam1.55pm:Fully vaccinated: NSW Premier receives second AZ shot
Gladys Berejiklian is now fully vaccinated for Covid-19, receiving her second dose on Wednesday.
The NSW Premier rolled up her sleeve earlier in the afternoon and received the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Pleased to receive my second AstraZeneca COVID-19 jab. If you are 50 and over, contact your GP or if you don’t have a GP, you can book at one of our @NSWHealth vaccine clinics. pic.twitter.com/n7t2voVrpl
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) June 2, 2021
Joseph Lam1.45pm:NSW over-40s can register vaccine interest via app
NSW residents aged over 40 can now register interest in having their Covid-19 vaccine through the Service NSW mobile app, with Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello saying the new registration method would be invaluable to contact tracers.
“This is an easier way to register your expression of interest in the event that you wish to go to through your app,” he said.
“That makes it really simple for the 5 million-odd people in New South Wales to register their interest once they’re in that category of age 40 to 49. Again, this will continue to roll out as we progress through the age brackets.”
Mr Dominello said the app is used by about 5.1 million people in NSW. He also reminded those with the app to use their Dine and Discover vouchers from within the app.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there are about one million people between 40 and 49 who are eligible to register through the app.
READ MORE:Family of man who visited NSW test positive
Joseph Lam12.50pm:What is changing under extended Victorian lockdown
Regional Victorians will enjoy a number of new freedoms from midnight on Thursday as Melbourne remains under extended lockdown for a further seven days.
Regional Victorians can now enjoy outdoor gatherings up to 10 people and enjoy outdoor seated entertainment with a cap of 50 people or 50 per cent of venue capacity.
Restaurants will open for dine-in, sit-down service capped at 50 patrons with a space requirement of four metres per person.
Retail venues will open but checking in is now mandatory, with customers and staff required to wear face masks at tattoo parlours and beauty studios.
Religious gatherings, similar to restaurants, will be capped at 50 persons or 50 per cent of the venue’s capacity.
Libraries and outdoor pools with swimming classes will be allowed to operate with a limit of 50 people.
Acting Premier James Merlino urged Melburnians who attempted to flee to regional into Victoria to stay put.
“We’ve also seen previous examples of people who left Melbourne, broke the rules and took the virus with them,” he said.
“We do not want to see that happen again, particularly with this variant of concern that is this outbreak.”
Here's a summary of what's changing. Accessible versions of these documents will be available shortly from https://t.co/yVrxYhWAxApic.twitter.com/029m6BHkwe
— James Merlino (@JamesMerlinoMP) June 2, 2021
Joseph Lam12.45pm:Victoria adds another $209m in business support
Melbourne businesses who will keep doors closed for a further seven days and regional businesses unable to open under eased restrictions will have their government support doubled.
Acting Premier James Merlino announced that some businesses will receive up to $7000 in support.
“The Government is adding a further $209 million, this is on top of the $250 million package that the Treasurer and I announced on Sunday, and that will include $181 million to increase the business cost assistance program, increase those grants from $2500 to $5000 in total,” Mr Merlino said.
“So if you are restricted to one week, then it is a $2500 grant. If you are restricted to the two weeks of this lockdown period, then you are eligible for $5000. So there will be a single application.
“$28 million to increase the licensed hospitality venue fund, and those grants increase from $3500 to $7000. Again, if you have been impacted for two weeks, then you are eligible for the $7000.”
READ MORE:All the new Covid rules in Victoria
Joseph Lam12.35pm:Family of Victorian man who travelled to NSW test positive
The family of a Victorian man who tested positive for Covid-19 after travelling to NSW have also reportedly contracted the virus.
It’s understood the wife and children of the man, who visited several areas on May 23 and 24, have since tested positive for the virus as health authorities reported six new locally-acquired cases of Covid-19 in Victoria.
The man visited venues in Jervis Bay, Goulburn, Hyams Beach and Vincentia while potentially infectious on May 23 and 24.
Joseph Lam12.28pm:Year 11, 12 students to head back to school
As Melbourne continues under lockdown for a further seven days, some new rules will come into effect, including the return to school for year 11 and 12 students.
Acting Premier James Merlino announced that face-to-face learning was one of several types of work or education given a minor exemption.
“Students in years 11 and 12 will return to face-to-face learning, and that includes students in other year levels that are undertaking a Unit 3 / 4 VCE subject. So that happens on Friday,” Mr Merlino said.
“A number of outdoor jobs will be added to the authorised list. Things like landscaping, painting, installing solar panels or letterboxing. Other restrictions including mask-wearing remain in place.”
READ MORE:All the new Covid rules in Victoria
Joseph Lam12.24pm:This is why we’re still in lockdown: Premier
Acting Premier James Merlino has given insight into why Melbourne will continue under lockdown for a further seven days.
Mr Merlino on Wednesday said the current strain of the virus, at the heart of Victoria’s growing 60-case cluster, is unlike anything Australia has seen before.
“What we’re seeing now is something else – something even more serious. At least one in ten current cases have caught this virus from a stranger,” he said.
“People brushing against each other in a small shop. Getting a takeaway coffee from the same cafe. Being in the same place, at the same time for mere moments.
Statement from the Acting Premier on restrictions pic.twitter.com/8h5l9ova4k
— James Merlino (@JamesMerlinoMP) June 2, 2021
“Just walking past someone you’ve never met can mean the virus is jumping to a whole new network.
“And when you don’t know someone – you don’t know their name or where they live – you’re looking for one person in 6.6 million.”
Chief health officer Brett Sutton has added to Mr Merlino’s warning, describing the virus as a monster.
“I have to describe it as an absolute beast because we have to run it down to the ground,” he said.
Professor Sutton said the sheer spread of the virus in other countries proved how deadly it could be without taking important steps to curb the virus.
“There are a dozen countries that had no community transmission going into 2021 that have now lost control that have community transmission and will probably not bring it back to a point where they’ve got no community transmission again.”
READ MORE:Foley unmasked as he throws SA under the bus
Joseph Lam12.05pm:Victorian lockdown extended by seven days
Victoria will remain under lockdown for a further seven days until June 10, with Acting Premier James Merlino warning “if we let this thing run its course, it will explode”.
Restrictions will be eased in regional Victoria but for Melbourne, the current condition remains in place bar an extended lockdown area, now 10km from 5km.
The news arrives as Melbourne recorded six new cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to midnight.
Overnight Victorian authorities confirmed a man who tested positive for the virus had travelled to southern NSW on May 23 and 24, sparking the closure of several businesses and dozens of staff isolating in those areas.
READ MORE:Victoria records six new cases
Joseph Lam11.40am:Christmas Island was designed for this: Premier
Mark McGowan says the fact that Covid-19 was transmitted from one traveller to another in hotel quarantine in Perth speaks volumes about Australia’s quarantine system.
“It just goes to show that hotel quarantine was not built for these purposes,” the WA Premier said on Wednesday.
Mr McGowan said the federal government will face the same issues of potential virus transmission unless a purpose-built facility is built.
“The best solution is obviously the commonwealth using a remote location for these purposes, next to an international airport but so far they have steadfastly refused to do so,” he said.
“Unless the government wants to build something next to a major international airport, unless they want to open Christmas Island to it, there is no easy alternative.
“We are looking as we speak at what is out there but no solution is perfect. The best solution is as I have suggested, which is to use Christmas Island which is actually purpose-built.”
READ MORE:PoliticsNow – Breaches due to ‘absence of best practice in quarantine’
Remy Varga11.33am:Victorian authorities to front media at midday
Victoria’s acting Premier James Merlino, Health Minister Martin Foley and chief health officer Brett Sutton will front the media at midday and are expected to confirm the extension of the state’s lockdown.
You can watch the press conference live via the video player at the top of this blog from 12pm.
Joseph Lam11.15am:One new quarantine case in NSW amid warning
NSW has recorded one new case of Covid-19 among an overseas returned traveller in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
The case arrived as NSW authorities confirmed a Victorian man who tested positive for the virus travelled to southern NSW.
The man visited venues in Jervis Bay, Goulburn, Hyams Beach and Vincentia while potentially infectious on May 24 and 24.
NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 2, 2021
One new overseas-acquired case was recorded in the same period, bringing the total number of
cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,399. pic.twitter.com/RXq5iFUX2G
“Sixty-four close contacts in NSW have now returned negative results. These people will continue to isolate for 14 days from their exposure date and will be tested again before the end of their isolation period,” NSW Health said.
The state has extended the opening hours of its clinics in southern NSW as well as deployed a mobile testing unit to Huskisson, with a drive through clinic at the back of local club Husky Sports Club at 336 Huskisson Rd.
NSW has warned Victorian residents not to travel to NSW and similarly, NSW residents have been warned against travelling to Victoria.
READ MORE:Foley unmasked as he throws SA under the bus
Stephen Lunn11am:Victorian nursing head calls for Colbeck to go
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in Victoria has called for the resignation of the aged care services minister Richard Colbeck over his handling of the vaccination of the aged care workforce.
ANMF Victorian secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said the government nearly three months ago promised aged care workers would be vaccinated in their own facilities, but now Senator Colbeck can’t provide data about the number of workers who have received their first or second dose.
“It’s like their promise to vaccinate the aged care workforce through an in-reach program in the facilities never, ever existed,” Ms Fitzpatrick said. “Was it only ever a vaccine-dregs-for-staff arrangement?”
“Don’t blame staff for not being vaccinated when you never told them you had no intention to vaccinate them at their workplace,” she said.
“We’re calling on Senator Colbeck to resign. We need a minister who gets things done with a sense of urgency, care and respect for the residents and the dedicated staff.”
Senator Colbeck told Senate estimates on Wednesday that evidence from overseas since the initial plan was proposed had revealed staff and residents of aged care facilities shouldn’t be vaccinated at the same time. It was decided after receiving that advice to change the plan, he said.
READ MORE:Jabs blitz for aged, disability workers
Joseph Lam10.50am:Stop ‘sit back’ approach to quarantine: Labor
Labor’s health spokesman Mark Butler says the federal government needs to stop its “sit back” approach toward the pandemic and take responsibility for Australia’s hotel quarantine programs.
“The Prime Minister in particular, it is not his job to sit back and wait for proposals to come forward,” Mr Butler said.
“The commonwealth is responsible for quarantine and they have received advice after advice on purpose-built facilities.”
Scott Morrison doesn’t know how many aged care residents or workers have been fully vaccinated. His Government has neglected aged care residents and workers. Aged care is the Commonwealth responsibly. They were supposed to be fully vaccinated by Easter!
— Mark Butler MP (@Mark_Butler_MP) May 31, 2021
Mr Butler said the sheer cost of lockdowns should be enough to motivate the government to consider purpose-built quarantine facilities.
“We also know that this pandemic is not going away anytime soon and we know, from advice, that there is always the risk of future pandemics so we should spend a dime now to prevent these regular breaches from hotels built for tourism and not quarantine and be prepared for this to take time to settle.”
READ MORE:New names for Covid variants
Remy Varga10.43am:Over 350 Victorian exposure sites identified
The number of Victorian exposure sites has soared past 350, after a positive case visited a number of locations in a popular regional coastal town a week ago.
Victoria’s health department said the Anglesea Golf Club on Golf Links Rd was now a tier one site after a positive case visited between 6:00pm and 7:30pm on May 25.
Health authorities have also identified three tier two exposure sites in the Surf Coast town, including the Anglesea Transfer Station and the Oaks Bakery. Anyone who visited these sites between 9.20am and 9.35am respectively on May 25 is urged to isolate and undergo testing.
As well, anyone who went into the IGA Anglesea between 10.15am – 11am and 10.30 – 11.15am is urged to undergo testing and isolate until they receive a negative result.
More details here.
Stephen Lunn10.32am:No aged care staff, residents among new cases: Murphy
No nursing home residents or staff are among the six new Victorian Covid-19 cases, a Senate estimates committee has heard.
Federal health secretary Brendan Murphy said while the Victorian government would soon provide details about the new cases reported overnight, he was aware none were related to aged care.
“There are no other aged care related infections,” Professor Murphy said. “All other tests have been negative in aged care.”
Professor Murphy said the situation in aged care in Victoria remained that two care workers had been infected, along with one resident who remained in hospital.
READ MORE:Health chief’s warning on rollout message
Adeshola Ore9.38am:Breaches due to ‘absence of best practice in quarantine’
One of Scott Morrison’s key advisers on coronavirus says she is frustrated the federal government has not adopted a “best practice” national quarantine system.
National Covid-19 Co-ordination Commissioner Jane Halton conducted an inquiry into the nation’s hotel quarantine schemes for the Morrison government. The review recommended that states and territories reconsider a one-size-fits-all approach and said the commonwealth should consider a national quarantine facility to provide surge capacity.
Read the full story in our federal politics blog, PoliticsNow
Joseph Lam9.24am:One new Queensland case in quarantine
Queensland has recorded one new case of Covid-19 overnight among an overseas returned traveller.
The case tested positive while in hotel quarantine.
The state recorded just 3447 tests over the past 24 hours.
Wednesday 2 June – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) June 1, 2021
• 0 new local cases
• 1 overseas acquired case
• 14 active cases
• 1,619 total cases
• 2,639,081* tests conducted
Sadly, seven people with COVID-19 have died. 1,591 patients have recovered.#covid19pic.twitter.com/pbZiW0gTat
READ MORE:Foley unmasked as SA thrown under the bus
Joseph Lam9.02am:Melbourne primary school closes after positive cases
A Melbourne primary school has closed overnight after two individuals tested positive for Covid-19.
North Melbourne Primary School, just 3km north of the CBD, sent a letter to parents and carers on Wednesday announcing an investigation was underway and the school would be closed until further notice.
“While the Department of Health conducts its investigation, staff and students are also asked to stay home and limit their movements until advised otherwise,” the letter read.
“Students should avoid public places and only leave home for brief periods for necessary activities.”
READ MORE: Extra lockdown pain puts recovery at risk
Rachel Baxendale8.57am:Six new cases as lockdown extension looms
Victoria has recorded six new cases of coronavirus, taking the total number of locally acquired cases in the state since the Whittlesea cluster emerged last week to 60.
This includes cases linked to Melbourne’s northern suburbs, an associated cluster emanating from Stratton Finance in Port Melbourne, and an as-yet unlinked cluster associated with a worker at the Arcare aged care facility in Maidstone, in Melbourne’s west.
It also includes a case confirmed overnight to have visited a string of sites in NSW and Victoria over nine days of potential infectiousness.
Reported yesterday: 6 new local cases and no new cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 1, 2021
- 20,585 vaccine doses were administered
- 51,033 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/x1EhMbKNjC
There were 51,033 tests processed on Tuesday, up from 42,699 on Monday and second only to Friday’s record 56,624.
On Tuesday, 20,585 vaccinations were administered at state government-run facilities, compared with 20,484 on Monday and a record 21,626 last Friday.
The total number of active cases in Victoria is 67, including seven cases in recent overseas arrivals in hotel quarantine.
Senior cabinet ministers and public health officials met on Tuesday night to discuss extending the state’s circuit breaker lockdown, which is due to end 11.59pm Thursday.
An extension is likely.
With Remy Varga
READ MORE:Blame, rollout blunders a national failure
Adeshola Ore8.39am:Minister’s admission should ‘terrify’ Australians: Labor
Labor’s aged care spokeswoman Clare O’Neil says Australians should be alarmed that the Morrison government does not know how many aged-care workers have received a coronavirus vaccine.
Victorian aged-care and disability-care workers will be fast-tracked in a five-day state government vaccination program starting on Wednesday, as the state prepares for its lockdown to be extended. Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck told Senate estimates on Tuesday the government did not know how many aged-care staff had received one or both jabs, as there were several ways that workers may have received it, including through their own GP.
“It should terrify every person in this country that the Aged Care Minister cannot tell us how many aged care staff have been vaccinated,” Ms O’Neil told the ABC.
“This is a government that committed to vaccinate all aged care staff by March and the best information that we have to date is that it’s somewhere between eight to nine per cent of aged care workers who have been fully vaccinated.”
The Victorian MP, who is currently locked down in the state, said the federal government had “dropped the ball” on its vaccination rollout in aged care homes.
Concern over the vaccination of aged-care workers has risen after a carer at the Arcare Maidstone in Melbourne’s west tested positive on Saturday as part of the latest outbreak.
READ MORE:Blame, rollout blunders a national failure
Joseph Lam8.35am:Tehan hints at US, UK travel bubbles
Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has hinted that Australia is looking to form travel bubbles with the US and the UK.
Pointing to the success of the New Zealand travel bubble, Mr Tehan said the government was actively assessing Australian’s travel options.
“Six weeks now we have had a two-way travel bubble and it is working very well,” he said.
“We do want to see whether we can extend to Pacific Island countries when it is safe to do so and then potentially, places like the US and UK.”
However, Mr Tehan said before a bubble is formed with the US and the UK, the government would need to see infection rates drop in both countries.
“You have got to remember at the moment there is about 3000 active cases or over 3000 active cases in the UK and the US each day so still a long way to go there for them in dealing with the virus and obviously once they can get on top of that, we can start looking at these things.”
READ MORE: Cruising high on tourism agenda
Adeshola Ore8.29am:AMA urges mandatory vaccines for aged-care workers
Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid has urged the nation’s expert medical panel to recommend mandated vaccines for aged-care workers.
The Morrison government has asked the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee to review its advice on mandating vaccines for aged care workers, following Victoria’s outbreak which has seeped into nursing homes.
“The AMA generally is cautious around mandatory vaccination, but when it comes to frontline workers who are actually looking after other people who are really vulnerable and there is none more vulnerable to Covid than aged care residents, mandatory vaccination is a good idea,” Dr Khorshid told the ABC.
“It is something that I have actually already written to the Chief Medical Officer and the Health Minister about in the last day or so indicating the AMA’s support for mandatory vaccination in aged care.”
Victorian aged-care and disability-care workers will be fast-tracked in a five-day state government vaccination program starting on Wednesday, after the Morrison government revealed it does not know how many nursing home workers in Australia have had the jab.
READ MORE:Jab blitz for aged, disability workers
Rachel Baxendale8.22am:One ‘fleeting contact’ case tests negative
One of several Covid-19 cases cited by Victorian health authorities as evidence of the Indian B. 1.617.1 variant transmitting through “fleeting” contact has tested negative for the virus, prompting suspicion that her previous test result was a false positive.
The woman visited a display home in Mickleham, in Melbourne’s outer north, two days after a positive case.
She received a positive test result on Friday, but on Tuesday morning returned a negative result, the ABC is reporting.
The news comes after Victoria’s Covid-19 logistics commander Jeroen Weimar on Tuesday urged people who have visited a slew of shopping strips across Melbourne to get tested, following several instances of suspected stranger-to-stranger transmission.
Chief health officer Brett Sutton last night warned the Indian strain “has moved faster than any other strain we’ve dealt with, and we’re seeing transmission in settings and circumstances we’ve never seen before”, ahead of an expected announcement later on Wednesday that Victoria’s lockdown will be extended beyond Thursday.
READ MORE:Stranger-to-stranger danger alarms contact tracers
Joseph Lam7.52am:ACTU calls on Coalition to ‘step up’ on aged care workers
ACTU President Michele O’Neill says the federal government’s support of casualisation had led to aged-care workers having to hold multiple jobs to support their families.
Appearing on Sky News on Wednesday Ms O’Neil accused the federal government of being “asleep at the wheel” and said it “needs to step up”.
“Why is the government not working day and night to ensure we have income support for people who need it and to ensure we have an effective vaccine rollout?” she asked.
Ms O’Neil said when the federal government stopped its support program in November, workers were forced to take on multiple jobs. Without shift guarantees, casual workers had no choice but to look for other work “because they’re not given enough shifts, hours and pay to be able to feed their families and look after themselves,” she said.
“I think there should be very clear income support so they can work at just one site. We need to make sure that money goes to workers.”
READ MORE:Stranger-to-stranger danger alarms contact tracers
Joseph Lam7.15am: Qld considers aged-care worker vaccine blitz
Queensland is considering a vaccine blitz for the state’s aged-care workers after it was revealed in senate estimates that just 32,833 aged care workers have been fully-vaccinated nationwide.
While no official announcement has been made, Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath told the Courier-Mail that the state government wanted “to see all aged care workers vaccinated as soon as possible”.
She added: “We will have more to say in coming days about how they can get vaccinated.”
It’s understood that the government is finalising plans and could use hospital Pfizer hubs in coming days, Courier-Mail reports.
READ MORE:Victorian jabs blitz for aged, disability workers
Joseph Lam7am:Disability sector ‘left behind’ in vaccine rollout
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations chief executive Ross Joyce says his sector has largely been left behind in the vaccine rollout, with government health officials failing to acknowledge the significant risk the virus poses to those with disabilities.
Mr Joyce on Wednesday told Sky News the “snail pace” of the vaccine rollout was “outrageous” and the government can’t afford to ignore those with disabilities.
“Apparently one of the health officers decided they weren’t as at risk. We were gobsmacked when that was announced only a few weeks ago,” he said.
“We’re very concerned, people with disability in their families are concerned about risks posed to them.”
Mr Ross fears that an outbreak in disability care could have grave consequences.
“There is a real risk of people in supported accommodation. If something gets out in the 6000 premises across Australia that provide supportive accommodation, well, we’ve seen what happened aged care.”
READ MORE:New disability worker screening checks cause delays
Rachel Baxendale5.10am:Exposure sites in NSW, Victoria over positive case
A positive coronavirus case visited a string of sites in NSW and Victoria over nine days of potential infectiousness, authorities in both states have confirmed.
Health departments in both states issued late-night statements, detailing a series of exposure sites.
“The case visited a number of venues in Jervis Bay, Goulburn, Hyams Beach, and Vincentia while potentially infectious,” a NSW Health statement said.
“NSW Health is continuing to investigate the movements of this case in and around Jervis Bay, and the list of venues is likely to be updated.”
A pop-up Covid-19 testing clinic will today be established in Huskisson.
NSW Health is advising anyone who visited any sites in that state during the times listed to please call them on 1800 943 553, get tested and isolate until they receive further information from NSW Health.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – JERVIS BAYâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 1, 2021
NSW Health has been advised by the Victoria Department of Health and Human Services that a confirmed case of COVID-19 from Melbourne was in Jervis Bay, Goulburn, Hyams Beach and Vincentia while potentially infectious on 23 and 24 May. pic.twitter.com/h6FKv177wU
NSW
Sunday, May 23:
● Cooked Goose Cafe (formerly Hyams Beach cafe), Hyams Beach, 10am-12pm;
● Coles Vincentia Shopping Village, Vincentia, 12pm-1pm; and
● Green Patch Camp Ground, Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay, all day, until 9am Monday
Monday, May 24:
● Shell Coles Express, Big Merino, Goulburn, 10am-11:30am;
● Trapper’s Bakery, Goulburn, 10:30am-11:30am.
Victoria
* People who have visited Tier 1 sites must test and isolate and for 14 days regardless of test result, while those who have visited Tier 2 sites must isolate until they receive a negative result.
Monday, May 24:
● BP Truckstop, Southbound Carriageway, Hume Freeway, Glenrowan, 4pm-4:30pm (Tier 2);
● BP Euroa, Euroa, 5pm to 6pm (Tier 1); and
● BP Truckstop, Wallan, 6:45pm to 7:15pm (Tier 2).
Tuesday, May 25:
● GTA Consultants, Level 24 and Level 25, 55 Collins St, Melbourne (Tier 1)
Saturday, May 30:
● Officeworks, QV Centre Russell St, Melbourne, 10:40am-11:19am (Tier 2); and
● Coles Spencer St Outlet, 201 Spencer St, Docklands, 12pm-1pm (Tier 1).
Sunday, May 31:
● Male public toilets, 225 Bourke St, Melbourne, 1pm-2:30pm (Tier 2).
Victorian health authorities are working closely with NSW Health to test, trace and isolate the contacts of a newly-identified positive case.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 1, 2021
The individual is from Victoria and travelled to New South Wales, returning to Melbourne on 24 May.
[1/7]
READ MORE:Paul Kelly — Blame, rollout failures a national disgrace
Rachel Baxendale5am:Victorian lockdown may be extended to June 14
Victoria is preparing to extend its economically damaging seven-day lockdown by up to another week, as the nation’s top two economic officials warn that virus outbreaks represent the biggest risk to the national recovery and are urging Australians to get vaccinated.
Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy on Tuesday warned of “downside risks” to the budget’s upbeat projections should the Victorian lockdown be extended, as new KPMG modelling estimated a $125 million economic hit for each day the lockdown continued.
Senior Andrews government ministers and health officials were meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the length of the likely extension to the lockdown, which was due to end on Thursday night.
The Australian understands one scenario under consideration would be to extend the lockdown to cover the Queen’s Birthday long weekend from June 12 to 14. A final decision is expected to be announced on Wednesday.
Read the full story, by Rachel Baxendale and Rosie Lewis, here.
Angie Raphael4.45am:New case of hotel quarantine virus transmission
A new case of coronavirus has been transmitted from one traveller to another in hotel quarantine in Perth.
It happened at the Pan Pacific hotel in the CBD after a man from Colombia arrived in Western Australia via the United States on May 21.
Chief health officer Dr Andy Robertson said that man tested positive for the virus on May 23.
A man in the adjoining room, who had arrived on May 16, was tested on day 13 of his quarantine stay and also returned a positive result.
He had the same strain as the man from Colombia, which indicated there had been transmission at the hotel.
Read the full story here.
More Coverage
ACT may as well not ‘bother with democracy’: Carnell
Former Liberal ACT chief minister Kate Carnell has lashed out after Labor won a seventh term in the nation’s capital and the Liberal Party confronts 27 years in opposition.
BCA seeks $10bn housing reform fund
The Coalition is also calling for construction workers to be placed on the immigration skills priority list as the Albanese government faces mounting pressure on housing.