PoliticsNow: Scott Morrison quashes push for new quarantine facilities; Pfizer to send 10m more doses
Daniel Andrews among those suggesting remote quarantine may be ‘useful’; Pfizer to send 10m more vaccine doses.
- PM quashes remote quarantine
- Pfizer sends 10m more vaccine doses
- Biden calls Morrison
- Victorian venues affected
Welcome to The Australian’s` rolling coverage of the news from Canberra and around the nation amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Scott Morrison has moved to quash a push to set up new quarantine facilities as more cases leak out of the nation’s anti-COVID isolations hotels, saying he cannot see an alternative. After a positive case emerged in a quarantine worker at an Australian Open quarantine hotel, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said there could be a need for “bespoke” facilities.
Australia has secured an extra 10 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, taking the nation’s inoculation stockpile to 150 million doses.
Ben Packham 11.15pm: China to build $39bn city on our doorstep
A Chinese company says it wants to build a new $39bn city with a major seaport, industrial area and free-trade zone on Papua New Guinea’s south coast, just kilometres from Australian territory.
The “New Daru City” proposal will escalate concerns within Australian security agencies over China’s interest in PNG’s impoverished Western Province, where another Chinese company plans to build a $200m fisheries industrial park.
Hong Kong-registered WYW Holding, a developer of Myanmar’s New Yangon City, has asked PNG Prime Minister James Marape to approve the development under a “Build Operate Transfer” arrangement, where PNG would receive the assets after an unspecified period of Chinese ownership and management.
Rosie Lewis 10.30pm: MPs ‘can’t live on JobSeeker’
Coalition MPs have conceded they could not live on the current fortnightly JobSeeker rate of $715.70, amid divisions over whether Scott Morrison should permanently increase the welfare payment.
After Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe endorsed increasing JobSeeker, saying it was a “fairness issue” and not based on the potential economic impact of withdrawing support to the unemployed, Liberal and Nationals MPs were concerned a higher payment might discourage Australians from finding work.
However, Nationals MPs Anne Webster and Barnaby Joyce, from Victoria and NSW respectively, and Victorian Liberal MP Russell Broadbent acknowledged the existing rate is not liveable. “I can’t live on that number, I’d never even thought for a moment I could,” Mr Broadbent said.
“I’ve always believed it should be increased (from the pre-COVID rate of $40 a day).”
Mr Joyce, the former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister, said if he was in a decision-making position, he would extend the current rate beyond March but said compliance for jobseekers should be bolstered.
“If people don’t take a reasonable job that’s offered to them, send them back to food tickets and rent tickets, don’t put them on the street but say ‘It’s not the role of other people to work for you. Other people are not your slave,’ ” he said.
“I would never be so bold to say I could live on $715 a fortnight. If your rent is $250 a week, cheap rent is $300-400 a week, you won’t get by on that. You’d have to be living with other people.”
Rachel Baxendale 9.45pm: Opposition grows against gay conversion therapy bill
The Law Institute of Victoria is the latest organisation to express concern about the Andrews government’s gay conversion therapy bill, which appeared certain to pass the upper house of state parliament late on Thursday with the support of key crossbenchers Fiona Patten, Andy Meddick and Samantha Ratnam.
The legal peak body’s comments came as Liberal backbencher Bernie Finn — a factional ally of Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien — refused to rule out crossing the floor on the bill that the Coalition partyroom has resolved to amend but not oppose.
The institute joins a long list of organisations that have urged the Victorian government to amend the bill in recent weeks, including the Australian Medical Association, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Islamic Council of Victoria, Melbourne Catholic Archdiocese and Victorian Women’s Guild.
In a letter to the government sent earlier this week, Law Institute president Tania Wolff and chief executive Adam Awty said their members were concerned that the bill “may impose limitations on conversations between children and their parents or other family or caregivers on the issue of gender identify or sexual orientation”.
Greg Brown, Alice Workman 9.05pm: Albanese ‘backflip’ on mine visit
Anthony Albanese has been accused of backflipping on plans to visit a coalmine in his tour of Queensland next week as the Labor leader moves to put workers’ rights at the centre of his pitch in the resources-reliant state.
The Australian has been told the Opposition Leader is unlikely to fit a coalmine into his Queensland tour because it was not able to be aligned with the rest of his schedule, which includes announcing a key industrial relations policy in Brisbane.
But CFMEU NSW northern mining and energy president Peter Jordan said he had been told by union members that Mr Albanese was planning to go to BHP’s Goonyella Riverside Mine in the Bowen Basin.
Mr Jordan said he had been told Mr Albanese would visit the coalmine next Wednesday with Queensland resources spokesman Murray Watt and industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke.
“It would be pretty disappointing if the leader of the Labor Party doesn’t bother to find time in his schedule to visit a coalmine and correct what people have been saying: that Labor is not supportive of the coal industry,” Mr Jordan said.
“If they can’t find a mine in Queensland to visit I would be happy to see if we can organise a delegation to visit mines in the Hunter Valley.”
Sarah Elks 8.30pm: Coal, gas power plants slashed in value
Queensland’s state-owned energy generators have slashed the value of their coal and gas-fired power stations, dramatically decreasing returns to the state’s depleted coffers.
The value of the coal power stations, which would have been sold off or leased under the single-term Newman LNP government’s plan to privatise state assets, has been hit by declining electricity prices caused by reduced demand because of the pandemic, increased generation from renewables and lower gas prices.
In an audit of the state’s six government energy companies, Auditor-General Brendan Worrall found coal generators Stanwell and CS Energy wrote down the value of their power stations by $720m (or 19 per cent of total assets) and $353m (15 per cent of total assets) respectively.
The coal-fired power stations are forecast to remain profitable until they are retired over the next 26 years.
CleanCo, the Palaszczuk government’s new renewables generator and retailer, reduced the value of its Swanbank E gas-fired power station to zero: Mr Worrall said CleanCo was expected to earn “net losses from running this power station until its expected retirement in 2036”.
“Due to declining electricity prices, forecasted revenues will not be sufficient to cover the increasing costs to operate the power station,” he said.
The government restarted Swanbank in late 2017 after three years in cold storage to drive down wholesale electricity prices.
Patrick Commins 8pm: Trade surplus reaches ‘historic’ $73bn
Australia’s trade surplus reached a record $73bn in 2020, propelled by surging iron ore sales and a slump in demand for imported goods through the COVID-19 crisis.
Australia has recorded three years of uninterrupted monthly trade surpluses, notching $5bn more last year than in 2019, and more than triple the $22.5bn posted in 2018.
The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics also showed that net exports reached $6.8bn in December, an increase from the $5bn recorded in the previous month and the strongest since June.
Bumper winter crops following the break of drought on the east coast drove a 75 per cent jump in the export of cereal grains, which reached record levels in December. Wool exports also lifted 13 per cent for the month, while rural goods sales climbed 18 per cent overall.
Commonwealth Bank of Australia senior economist Belinda Allen said the “historic” trade numbers reflected soaring iron ore export earnings over the past two years, as well as the boost from the emergence of the liquefied natural gas export sector from around the middle of 2018.
“Trade surpluses are largely here to stay,” Ms Allen said.
Richard Ferguson, Greg Brown 7.15pm: Nats MPs want to recruit Kelly
Nationals MPs want their party to consider adopting Craig Kelly in a bid to gain a foothold in the outer suburbs, with the controversial Liberal MP fuelling speculation by saying he would need to “buy some RM Williams boots and an Akubra”.
The comment from Mr Kelly comes ahead of a serious preselection threat in his southern Sydney seat of Hughes, with Scott Morrison unlikely to intervene to save him after publicly rebuking him over comments pushing unorthodox COVID-19 treatments and theories.
On Thursday, however, Nationals senator Matthew Canavan said the party should expand its electoral map. “The Liberal Party has taken Nats members into their ranks in the past, so I don’t see any ban on the Nationals welcoming in members of other parties,” he said.
“The Nationals is the true home of the Australian worker and workers are everywhere.”
A proposal to bring Mr Kelly over to the Nationals was floated when he was last at threat of losing preselection at the 2019 election, but the Prime Minister intervened to save him. Some Nationals MPs believe the idea should again be revisited.
Rachel Baxendale 6.25pm: Infected quarantine worker’s 17 close contacts
Victoria’s Health Department says it has identified 17 social and household close contacts of the 26-year-old hotel quarantine worker who has tested positive for coronavirus.
Of these, nine have returned negative tests, with further results pending.
“Staff who worked at the Grand Hyatt during the period of concern and who are considered primary close contacts are being contacted,” the department said.
“They should immediately isolate and get tested and to remain isolated for 14 days from the 30 January, or their last day at the hotel, whichever is earlier.”
The department said more than 500 Australian Open players, officials and support staff who were staying at the Grand Hyatt were considered casual contacts and had been instructed to immediately isolate and get tested.
Approximately 300,000 residents in suburbs in Melbourne’s southeast which are home to 14 exposure sites visited by the worker over the weekend are expected to receive text messages ordering them to check the list of exposure locations and times, monitor for symptoms and get tested and stay home if necessary.
READ MORE: Full list of Victorian venues visited by confirmed coronavirus case
Ben Packham 6.10pm: ‘Help migrants dob in foreign agents’
A parliamentary committee has called for the government to make it easier for immigrant communities to dob in foreign agents who threaten and seek to co-opt them in foreign interference schemes.
The Senate’s inquiry on issues facing diaspora communities also urged the government to implement targeted “Magnitsky”-style sanctions to address human rights abuse, and called for a “new and comprehensive national anti-racism framework”.
The Senate inquiry heard “extremely troubling” evidence that foreign powers were targeting diaspora communities through “surveillance, monitoring and harassment”, threats against overseas-based family members, and disinformation through ethnic media outlets.
Committee chair Kimberley Kitching said some Chinese-Australian witnesses to the committee felt so threatened they did not feel safe enough to give evidence in open hearings.
The committee’s report said the National Security Hotline, which has been promoted as a way to report terror threats, should also be used to tip-off intelligence agencies to potential acts of foreign interference.
Richard Ferguson 5.35pm: Uni focus for intelligence, security committee
Liberal senator James Paterson will lead parliament’s powerful joint committee on intelligence and security, saying he will focus on extremism and national security issues at Australia’s universities.
Senator Paterson will succeed former SAS veteran Andrew Hastie as the PJCIS chairman, after Mr Hastie was promoted to the post of assistant defence minister in Scott Morrison’s December reshuffle.
The 33-year old Victorian said in a statement the PJCIS will work to ensure foreign influence on campus is controlled and extremism does “not take hold in Australia”.
“The PJCIS has ensured that Australia’s security agencies have the necessary resources and powers to combat the threat of terrorism whilst also safeguarding the rights and freedoms of all Australians,” he said.
In addition to the vital legislation that the committee will consider this year, the inquiries into extremist movements and radicalism, and national security in higher education will be particularly important.
“We must ensure that violent extremism does not take hold in Australia, and that our universities have robust policies in place to protect their researchers and students from foreign coercion and influence.”
David Swan 5pm: Google says meeting with Morrison ‘constructive’
A Google spokesman has described today’s meeting between Prime Minister Scott Morrison amd Google CEO Sundar Pichai as “constructive”.
The spokesman told The Australian the company would continue to meet with the government and news businesses on a ‘workable’ solution to the news media bargaining code, including technical amendments that could be made to the legislation without ‘breaking Google search’.
He also reiterated the company’s desire to bring News Showcase - the company’s standalone news product - to Australia. He said Google has agreements with 450 publications in a dozen countries for Showcase, and has offered similar deals in Australia.
READ MORE: Google ‘more positive’ about Ausstralian operations
Debbie Schipp 4.45pm: NT declares 10 Melbourne suburbs hot spots
The Northern Territory has declared 10 Melbourne suburbs Covid hots spots — effective immediately — as the southern city battles a hotel quarantine outbreak.
The suburbs are: Melbourne, West Melbourne, Noble Park, Keysborough, Springvale, Brighton, Brandon Park, Clayton South, Heatherton and Moorabbin.
Anyone who arrived in the NT who has been in a Victorian hot spot since January 29 must be tested.
Those who arrived after 3.30pm today will go to mandatory supervised quarantine at the Howard Springs quarantine facility.
Plane passengers already in the air will be met at the airport and interviewed, with those who have been in one of the hot spots offered a free stay at Howard Springs or the opportunity to catch the next flight back.
Those who arrived this morning must self-isolate and be tested.
NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner says he is confident the declaration — effective from 3pm — will not need to be in place for long.
He said while he had confidence in Victorian authorities ability to manage the situation, “it’s best to go hard and be extra cautious until we know more”.
“We are always cautious because we are the safest place in Australia and we want to stay that way,” he said.
The NT has one new case in quarantine: a returned traveller tested positive — the 100th case in the NT since the pandemic hit.
The woman returned from New Delhi on January 19.
David Swan 4.10pm: Apple’s conduct ‘unrestrained market power’
The tech giant’s monopoly has harmed consumers, according to a submission to Australia’s competition watchdog. Read more here
Paul Garvey 3.09pm: WA delays reopening border to Victoria
Western Australia will delay its reopening of its border with Victoria in light of the latest coronavirus infection in Melbourne.
Existing restrictions requiring Victorian arrivals to self-quarantine for 14 days upon entry into WA were scheduled to be lifted from midnight, but WA premier Mark McGowan said those plans have now been paused.
“I acknowledge this will cause inconvenience and frustration for many people. But we are in a high-risk situation and we need to be cautious,” he said.
He confirmed that WA had recorded no new cases of community transmission, keeping the state on track to lift the lockdown in place in Perth and WA’s South West from 6pm Friday.
WA’s State Disaster Council will meet later on Thursday to determine the restrictions that will remain in place once the lockdown is lifted.
“I need to stress it will be a little longer before things go back to the way we’ve become used to during the past 10 months, when WA has been COVID-free,” Mr McGowan said.
Two million West Australians have been in lockdown since Sunday after a quarantine hotel security guard tested positive.
Four high-risk close contacts of the infected man have again returned negative test results and remain in hotel quarantine.
In total, 191 close contacts of the confirmed case have now been identified. 156 of these have returned negative results. Another 258 casual contacts have also been identified, with 200 of these having returned negative results
Courtney Walsh 2.26pm: Organisers confident Australian Open will proceed
Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley said the Australian Open will proceed as scheduled on Monday provided those undergoing testing receive a clean bill of health.
He said of the 507 currently in isolation after being tested for COVID-19, 160 of them are players. Testing is expected to be concluded by 5pm.
But he said medical authorities said the probability of any testing positive was negligible.
“We are absolutely confident that the Australian Open is going to go ahead,” he said.
“The probability is very low that there is going to be an issue.”
A decision has been made to postpone the draw for the Australian Open, which was scheduled for 6pm, until Friday.
The Australian Open tournament director is also confident that despite the current situation, and the predictions of inclement weather on Friday, the six tournaments currently underway will also be completed.
“This does give us three days for the lead in events to complete,” he said.
“The intention is to start the Australian Open again on Monday. There is no intention of changing the time for the Australian Open.
“There will be many things on what have to be looked at and we will take the advice of health.
“A lot will depend on the results of the tests tonight and of course today, but the probability is low. We are planning (to be) running at full steam ahead.”
The schedule for Friday is expected to be released at 6pm, depending on those associated receiving a clean bill of health.
READ MORE: Players, officials in waiting game after mass testing
Paul Garvey 2.18pm: WA goes fourth day without a local transmission
Western Australia has recorded a fourth straight day of no new cases, keeping Perth on track to exit its lockdown by Friday.
Federal health minister Greg Hunt announced the news at a press conference on Thursday.
WA premier Mark McGowan has said the lockdown will be lifted if the state’s run of zero new cases continues.
Two million people in Perth and WA’s south-west have been under lockdown since Sunday night after a security guard at a Perth quarantine hotel contracted the highly contagious UK strain of the virus.
Mr McGowan is scheduled to begin his press conference shortly.
READ MORE: $270bn in infrastructure pipeline
Nicholas Jensen 2.09pm: Five isolating in NSW after Melbourne hotel stay
NSW Health has said there are five individuals in NSW currently isolating after staying at a Victorian quarantine hotel at the same time as guests who contracted the UK variant.
Victoria public health officials have indicated that viral particles exited the room of a family who later tested positive.
They have speculated that the virus either remained in the room’s airflow or attached to a hard surface, causing a woman in another room to be infected with same viral strain.
The five individuals were advised to get tested and self-isolate for 14 days regardless of the test results. They will be required to test again at the end of that period.
Deputy Chief Health Officer Jeremy McAnulty said in a virtual statement “NSW Health is closely monitoring the situation”.
READ MORE: 24 buildings available for student quarantine
Richard Ferguson 1.53pm: Google ‘more positive’ about Australia
Scott Morrison says Google is now “more positive” about continuing to operate in Australia, as he refuses to back down on media reforms aimed at making tech giants pay for news content.
The Prime Minister met with Google chief executive Sundar Pichai on Thursday morning after the search giant threatened to boycott Australia if the government’s proposed news media bargaining code was legislated.
After the meeting, Mr Morrison said that the best way forward for Google was to work with news organisations on paying for content, and that the media reforms will go ahead.
“It was a constructive meeting. I have been able to send them the best possible signals that should give them a great encouragement to engage with the process and see them conclude with the various news organisations,” he said in Canberra.
“That is the best way to enable that matter to be settled. We discussed some of the specifics of elements of the code. They raised those matters, I think, very respectfully.
“We have been able to get that into a much more positive space about the ability to continue to provide services here in Australia.
READ the full story here
Rachel Baxendale 1.46am: Remote quarantine might be useful: Andrews
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says quarantining returning international travellers in regional or remote areas will not completely mitigate the risk of community transmission, because “staff have lives”.
“I’m always happy to sit down with the Prime Minister and see whether there are some bespoke facilities that can be built,” Mr Andrews said.
“That might give you some greater capacity and that might be useful, not just for this pandemic but for events that could occur in the future: bushfires, all sorts of different reasons, emergency housing that’s fit for purpose and built for that purpose and can be opened and can get bigger and smaller as the needs call for.
“Just on the issue of risk though, you know, any facility will have to be staffed. Staff have lives, they have family.
“You can go and put it 50km from where we’re standing now, or 500km from where we’re standing now, but there’ll be people there too, and the virus spreads.
“So I think geographic location alone is not necessarily the biggest issue here, but we are always prepared to listen to the experts and if there’s things that can be done and decisions that can be made at a national level that would get the risk lower, never to zero but lower than it otherwise would be, we’ve always got an open mind.”
READ MORE: What the property industry wants from the budget
Richard Ferguson 1.23pm: PM moves to quash new quarantine facilities push
Scott Morrison has moved to quash a push to set up new quarantine facilities as more cases leak out of the nation’s anti-COVID isolations hotels, saying he cannot see an alternative.
After a positive case emerged in a quarantine worker at an Australian Open quarantine hotel, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday there could be a need for “bespoke” facilities.
The Prime Minister said on Thursday that federal health advice still backed hotel quarantine as the best alternative as he did not think quarantine centres — modelled after detention centres — were viable.
“It remains the case that the most effective way to deliver at the scale that Australia needs to deliver these arrangements, that hotel quarantine remains the most effective way to do that,” he said in Canberra.
“And that remains the advice I have from my experts. And the alternative is not that clear to me.
“I mean, we could go and try and rebuild the Labor Party’s immigration detention network that they put in place during the border protection crisis under their administration. And we all remember what a debacle that was.”
READ MORE: ‘Housing to be hit if borders stay shut’
Richard Ferguson 1.06pm: Pfizer to send extra 10m vaccine doses to Australia
Australia has secured an extra 10 million doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, taking the nation’s inoculation stockpile to 150 million doses.
The Pfizer vaccine was approved by Australian drug authorities last month and it is considered the coronavirus vaccine with the highest efficacy. The Pfizer rollout is due to start later this month.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Thursday the rollout remains on track for late February for Pfizer and late March for AstraZeneca, if that vaccine is approved.
“That’s (the additional Pfizer doses) important for Australia. It provides additional support over and above that which was already in place,” Mr Hunt
“A total of 150 million vaccines. 20 million Pfizer, 53.8 million Oxford-AstraZeneca, where we’ve seen some very positive results … 51 million Novavax – again, positive results in recent days.”
Everyone who lives in Australia — including temporary visa holders and people in detention centres — will be eligible to get a free coronavirus vaccine.
Mr Hunt said the government determined the vaccine rollout should expand from citizens and permanent residents to ensure the safety of Australians is built up further.
“That means the government will provide COVID-19 vaccinations free to all visa holders in Australia. And this will include refugees, asylum seekers, temporary protection visa holders, and those on bridging visas,” he said in Canberra.
“People currently residing in detention facilities will also be eligible, including those whose visas have been cancelled.
“So, that’s making sure that there is the maximum possible coverage in Australia. And today is another important step in the vaccine rollout and in building on that work that Australians have done, of keeping each other safe.”
READ MORE: Jim Courier — ‘I thought we were past the risk zone’
Richard Ferguson 1.02pm: Biden calls Morrison for first time
US President Joe Biden has called Scott Morrison for the first time since he took the White House, saying the Australia-US relationship is an anchor for peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Prime Minister and Mr Biden have talked about the coronavirus, security issues in the Indo-Pacific, and looked forward to the 70th anniversary of the ANZUS alliance this year.
Mr Morrison and Mr Biden also discussed the pathway towards net zero emissions, as the Australian leader says he would like to meet that climate action goal “preferably” by 2050.
“We talked about the stewardship we share, a stewardship that has been held by prime ministers and presidents over a very long time. And particularly this year. some 70 years of the ANZUS Alliance that we will celebrate in September of this year,” Mr Morrison said in Canberra.
“(We) spoke of the fact that Australia looks to the United States, but we never leave it to the United States. We do our share of the heavy lifting in this relationship, and that is absolutely respected by the President and appreciated.
“Whether it’s on COVID and whether it’s on the economic recovery, global and regional security issues, the multilateral initiatives and reforms that we are partnering in. But also, as we discussed today, achieving a net-zero pathway through technology, and the co-operation that is needed to do that, and the work that has already begun.”
READ the full story here
Richard Ferguson 12.39pm: Morrison, Hunt to provide vaccine update
Scott Morrison and Health Minister Greg Hunt are due to speak to the media on the coronavirus vaccine rollout.
Sky News reports the Prime Minister will announce Australia has secured more doses of the highly effective Pfizer vaccine – the first anti-COVID jab to be approved by Australian drug authorities.
Mr Morrison has been delayed by divisions in the House of Representatives.
The Mocker 12.22pm: NZ naivety now looks like opportunism
The Kiwis’ latest advice to Australia on China ‘diplomacy’ isn’t the first time New Zealand has fallen short on solidarity with its ally and closest friend.
Last year, the Financial Times’s Asian editor, Jamil Anderlini, reported that a senior Five Eyes intelligence official had warned New Zealand’s viability as a group member was in question because of its “supine” attitude towards China.
Presumably this timidity explains why New Zealand acts as if the Australia/China dispute centres on trade disagreements as opposed to Beijing’s hegemonic diplomacy.
READ The Mocker’s full commentary here
Sarah Elks 12.05pm: Qld won’t close border, or declare Victoria a hot spot
Queensland won’t declare Victoria a hot spot and close its border “at this time,” but people who have been to Victorian hot spots will be blocked from visiting the state’s aged care facilities.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said anyone in Queensland who had been to the locations listed by the Victorian health department should come forward, get tested, and quarantine for 14 days.
“We are not declaring Victoria a hot spot at this time,” Ms D’Ath said.
Ms D’Ath said Victoria had reacted swiftly to the hotel quarantine case in that state.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said anyone who had been in Greater Melbourne from January 29 onwards should come forward immediately, get tested and isolate until they get a negative result. However, anyone who had been at those specific venues, they needed to come forward, get tested, and quarantine for 14 days.
Dr Young said she believed Queensland could manage the Victorian situation without closing the border.
“They have not put a lockdown on their community in greater Melbourne at this stage…we need to see what transpires over the next 24 to 36 hours,” she said.
She recommended Queenslanders delay travel to Melbourne or Victoria until the situation was under control.
READ MORE: Hotels call for revamped wage subsidy
Nicholas Jensen 11.55am: SA has zero new coronavirus cases
South Australia has recorded zero locally acquired cases and zero hotel quarantine cases.
There were 3414 test results received across the state in the past 24 hours.
South Australia currently has two active cases.
In total, the state has recorded four COVID-19 deaths and conducted 975,113 tests, with 595 patients recovering from the virus.
The announcement comes as premier Steven Marshall said South Australia will remain open to Victoria despite the state recording a new COVID-19 case.
READ MORE: Relocation incentives fall flat
Rachel Baxendale 11.50am: Regional Victoria link to quarantine worker
Members of two regional Victorian Country Fire Authority brigades are among contacts of the state’s latest coronavirus case.
The Australian understands a member of the Wallan CFA, north of Melbourne, has been deemed a primary contact of the 26-year-old hotel quarantine worker, who is also a CFA volunteer.
The worker attended a social event over the weekend at which members of multiple CFA brigades were present.
A member of the nearby Kilmore CFA have been deemed secondary contacts, having had contact with a primary contact, while another two members of the Kilmore brigade are considered casual contacts.
READ MORE: The full list of at-risk venues
Nicholas Jensen 11.45am: Zero new Covid cases recorded in NSW
NSW Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr Jeremy McAnulty says NSW Health is “closely monitoring the situation in Victoria and will update its health advice accordingly”, as the state begins screening arriving passengers from Melbourne.
“These Melbourne cases are a timely reminder that COVID-19 can emerge at any time,” said Dr McAnulty.
“Anyone who arrives from Victoria must complete a passenger declaration. Anyone in NSW – who have recently been in Melbourne – should monitor the Victorian DHHS website for additional venues of concern and any updated health advice,” he said.
“You must also get tested again towards the end of the 14-day period [12 days after exposure] regardless of symptoms. If you develop any symptoms during that period, please get tested immediately.”
Regarding the state’s ongoing sewage surveillance program, Dr McAnulty said recent detections of the virus in the Liverpool catchment area raise concerns about possible undiagnosed cases.
He urged residents to attend local testing clinics if they show any symptoms.
READ MORE: Closed borders imperil key economic sector
Richard Ferguson 11.35am: Dutton condemns Kelly’s Pete Evans podcast
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says Liberal MP Craig Kelly’s podcast interview with anti-vax celebrity chef Pete Evans was “unacceptable” and labelled Mr Evans “beyond the fringes.”
After a public dressing down from Mr Morrison, Mr Kelly said on Thursday that he now fully backed the vaccine rollout and believed the spread of misinformation on COVID-19 was harmful.
Mr Dutton – the Morrison government’s most senior conservative – said any promotion of Mr Evans, who has said self-love and hugs could work as a COVID-19 vaccine, crossed the line.
“Pete Evans, you could say he’s on the fringes but he’s well beyond that. So any promotion of him is unacceptable,” Mr Dutton told Sydney’s 2GB radio.
“Craig’s accepted that and he’s clarified that. I hope we can move on.
“I hope now it (the public rebuking of Mr Kelly’s view) sends a message that the vaccine is safe.”
READ MORE: Time’s up on Craig Kelly sideshow
Courtney Walsh 11.24am: Australian Open players begin Covid testing
The COVID-19 testing of Australian Open players and officials ordered to isolate after a scare at the Grand Hyatt is underway in Melbourne.
Testing began in hourly windows, based on an alphabetical order, for those who were staying at the hotel from 9am and will proceed until early Thursday afternoon.
Tennis Australia made the decision to postpone the 62 matches scheduled for the day in the six events running concurrently at Melbourne Park in the lead in to the Australian Open.
Should players and officials receive clear results, play will resume on Friday, though there are complications in what is a compressed time frame.
Heavy rain and thunderstorms are predicted for Friday, which would wreak further havoc for tournament officials and players to negotiate.
The five ATP and WTA Tour events are only at the Round of 16 stage, which means players could potentially have to play four singles matches by Sunday in order to win the title.
The ATP Cup still has a day to play in the round-robin phase of the event. The final was due to be played on Saturday night, so there is a window on Sunday that could be used.
It is being played on Rod Laver Arena and John Cain Arena, so any rain on Friday will not be an issue for the event, provided participants receive a clean bill of health.
READ MORE: ‘Not playing’ — Kyrgios dummy spit returns
Nicholas Jensen 11.15am: Melbourne traveller alert as NSW records no local cases
NSW has recorded zero locally acquired cases and 3 hotel quarantine cases.
There were 10,551 test results received across the state in the past 24 hours.
NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) February 4, 2021
There were three cases acquired overseas, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,928. pic.twitter.com/HTu1cJuS71
NSW Health is currently handling 50 active cases.
NSW Deputy Chief Health Officer Jeremy McAnulty says NSW Health is “closely monitoring the situation in Victoria and will update its health advice accordingly”.
Anyone else in NSW who has recently been in Melbourne should continue to monitor the Victorian DHHS website for additional venues of concern and updated health advice and follow this advice.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) February 4, 2021
“These Melbourne cases are a timely reminder that COVID-19 can emerge at any time,” Dr McAnulty said. “Testing is one of our best defences against the virus.”
Regarding the state’s ongoing sewage surveillance program, Dr McAnulty said recent detections of the virus in the Liverpool catchment area raise concerns about possible undiagnosed cases.
He urged residents to attend local testing clinics if they show any symptoms.
Sarah Elks 11.02am: National cabinet to discuss federal role for quarantine
Queensland is asking arrivals from Victorian hot spots to get tested and isolate, and is calling for the federal government to take a greater role in hotel quarantine.
Acting Premier Steven Miles said the issue would be discussed at national cabinet on Friday, after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had pushed for the Morrison government to be more involved in hotel quarantine for overseas arrivals.
Mr Miles said the new, more-virulent strains of COVID-19 showed there needed to be “greater vigilance, greater protection and greater infection control”.
Queensland recorded zero new cases on Thursday with six cases active in the state.
More to come.
READ MORE: Aussies looking on the bright side of life
Richard Ferguson 10.51am: Facebook urged to review Craig Kelly’s Covid posts
Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler has written to Facebook and asked them to review controversial Liberal MP Craig Kelly’s posts on unorthodox COVID treatments and theories.
Scott Morrison is unlikely to save Mr Kelly from a preselection threat after he publicly rebuked him on Wednesday for promoting a slew of COVID theories contrary to government health advice.
The MP for the southern Sydney seat of Hughes has now pledged to restrict his social media posts and stick to government health advice.
On Thursday, Mr Butler wrote to Facebook and said Mr Kelly’s COVID posts were harmful.
“Mr Kelly’s Facebook posts are getting four times more engagement than the Australian Department of Health.
“Mr Kelly has spoken previously about his posts being removed due to misinformation.
“I urge Facebook to continue to monitor the harmful content that Mr Kelly is sharing and take appropriate action to protect public health.”
READ MORE: No protection for Kelly in seat of Hughes
Tessa Akerman 10.29am: Cars choke Melbourne’s drive through testing sites
Hundreds of cars have flooded Melbourne’s drive-through testing sites, blowing out waiting times within two hours of the sites opening.
In Keysborough, in Melbourne’s southeast, the Springers Leisure Centre was listed as overcapacity within 90 minutes of opening before being revised to a wait time of three hours.
As of 9.30am Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre had a wait time of 150 minutes, a testing site at Chadstone had a wait of 130 minutes and Swinburne University (Wantirna) was listed with a two-hour wait.
A further six drive-through sites had waiting times over one hour.
Under the new statewide restrictions, the limit on the number of people gathering in a household has been reduced from 30 to 15 and masks are now mandatory in public indoor spaces.
The health department strongly recommends masks are worn in homes if people are visiting.
Masks must be worn in indoor public spaces apart from when eating or drinking.
Nicholas Jensen 10.24am: Queensland records zero virus cases
Queensland has recorded zero locally acquired cases and zero hotel quarantine cases.
There were 8,226 test results received across the state in the past 24 hours.
Queensland currently has 6 active cases.
In total, the state has recorded six COVID-19 deaths and conducted 1,789,160 tests, with 1295 patients recovering from the virus.
Nicholas Jensen 10.22am: Melburnians required to test, isolate in South Australia
Steven Marshall has provided an update on South Australia’s approach to Victoria’s new COVID-19 case, saying that the border “will remain open, but will mean an increased requirement for testing”.
“If you have attended the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne at any time since January 28 you must come forward to health officials and be prepared to undertake hotel quarantine,’’ the Premier said.
Mr Marshall urged vigilance, saying “it is still early days and we don’t need to be alarmed”.
If you have attended any of the exposure locations cited by the Victorian government you are required to isolate and undertake tests on days one, five and 12 pending a negative test result after day one.”.
Mr Marshall said the state’s response is different to the hard border applied to West Australia because the states have different hotel quarantine facilities and testing programs.
READ MORE: Lifeline for locked-down businesses
Remy Varga 10.16am: Virus risk to Australian Open players ‘low’
Deputy Chief Health Officer Allen Cheng said the risk to hundreds of Australia Open players and their staff is low.
He said the last case at the hotel was on February 22 and the players and staffers were being asked to isolate “just to be sure”.
“We think the risk to other guests, the tennis players and accompanying staff is relatively low because they were in the room at the time,” he said.
Up to 600 tennis players, their support staff and officials who travelled to Melbourne for the Australian Open have been asked to isolate after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive.
Hotel Quarantine Minister Lisa Neville said the players were being isolated where they were and would be taken to testing sites.
Nicholas Jensen 10.12am: International arrivals depend on success of rollout
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says the government is open to welcoming international visitors earlier than expected if Australia’s vaccine rollout is successful.
Asked whether the government would consider opening borders sooner – after Health Department Secretary Professor Brendan Murphy indicated that international travel could resume earlier than expected – Mr McCormack said “we’ve followed the best medical advice all the way through and we want our international borders to be open as soon as possible.”
The move to open up borders earlier would be a positive development, Mr McCormack said, “because it means that seasonal workers can come in to do all the great jobs they do, particularly in regional Australia.”
“It means tourists can come back, but we’ll do it in the safest and most practical way and we’ll do it based on the best medical advice.”
READ MORE: Kiwi visa row a blow to cruise lines
Remy Varga 9.55am: Thousands may need to isolate: Andrews
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says thousands of people may have to isolate after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive for the coronavirus.
Mr Andrews acknowledged it was inconvenient to force “many hundreds perhaps thousands” into lockdown but said it was better than increasing restrictions on millions of people in the state.
Mr Andrews said the number of exposure sites had grown to 14, with 19 out of 20 close contacts contacted by the Department of Health.
“We will find that 20th person throughout the day,” he said.
Mr Andrews says it’s unclear if the hotel quarantine worker contracted one of the hyper infectious strains of COVID-19.
The Victorian Premier said two close contacts of the 26-year-old Noble Park man had tested negative and remained in isolation.
He said the “three rings” of close contacts meant “potentially thousands” of people could be asked to isolate over the one case.
COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said the health department had identified around 600 close contacts of the man had been asked to isolate, including his fellow hotel quarantine workers.
Mr Andrews said it was unknown how the man contracted the virus, saying a review of CCTV footage showed the man had been a model employee.
“There’s nothing obvious here,” he said.
Mr Andrews said the possibility the virus could spread via airborne transmission could not be ruled out.
Victorian deputy Chief Health Officer Allan Cheng said there had been six positive cases at the hotel where the man worked as resident support officer.
“It’s not rocket science he caught it at the hotel,” he said.
Professor Cheng said the man presented for testing after developing symptoms.
Mr Andrews was unapologetic about lengthy queues at testing sites, saying he did not want people “stampeding” hubs.
“There will be delays and there can be no other way,” he told reporters.
The state recorded two positive cases in hotel quarantine as well as the Noble park man.
Mr Weimar said about four or five additional testing sites would be established, including at Monash, Brighton and in Melbourne’s CBD.
Mr Andrews said he thought at least half the cases at the Grand Hyatt were the hyper infectious UK strain.
“I think four of the six … I think there might have been two that were not conclusive through the sequencing,” he said.
“I think rather than speculating I’d say let’s wait for the genomics that I think we’ll get tomorrow.”
READ MORE: Nick Scali profit soars amid Covid-fuelled furniture demand
Lilly Vitorovich 9.50am: Nine weighing plan B to replace tennis TV slots
Nine Network is tight-lipped on its TV program contingency plans should the Australian Open be delayed for the second time after the Victorian government imposes new statewide coronavirus restrictions after a hotel worker tests positive for COVID-19.
Tennis matches on Thursday have been cancelled and more than 600 players and tennis support staff have been ordered to isolate until they return a negative test
Nine’s top radio broadcaster Ray Hadley said on his radio show Thursday morning that if more people in Victoria test positive it could hit the Australian Open, which is scheduled to kick-off on Monday following a three-week delay.
The grand slam’s delay has already hit Nine’s first-quarter TV program line-up with rivals Seven and Ten targeting TV viewers with their new shows, Holey Moley and The Amazing Race, respectively, in a
Seven’s quirky minigolf show Holey Moley premiered on Monday night, attracting a national audience of 1.52m, making it Seven’s biggest launch in more than three years, and 983,000 viewers across the five major cities on Monday night.
It was the No 1 entertainment show around the country on Monday night, beating Nine’s second instalment of its Married At First Sight reunion special, in the absence of the Australian Open, and Ten’s new reality show The Amazing Race.
The second part of the MAFS reunion special was watched by nearly 1.06m people around the nation with 781,000 metro viewers. The debut of the first locally filmed series of Ten‘s The Amazing Race, hosted by former footballer Beau Ryan, attracted a national and metro audience of 678,000 and 501,000, respectively.
READ MORE: Hundreds of players, officials caught in positive test scare
David Swan 9.44am: PM to meet Google chief executive today
Scott Morrison will this morning meet Google chief executive Sundar Pichai after the search giant threatened to boycott Australia if the government’s proposed news media bargaining code was legislated.
The code, which followed a competition regular inquiry and is backed by the country’s largest news organisations including News Corp and Nine Entertainment, would force Google and Facebook to negotiate over payment for content.
The Prime Minister last week spoke to Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella, who told Mr Morrison that the company would never make similar threats to Google.
Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has also taken to directly lobbying the government, speaking with Josh Frydenberg last week. The Treasurer did not disclose details of that conversation, but said Mr Zuckerberg “didn’t convince me to back down”.
Mr Frydenberg directed the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with producing a mandatory code after the regulator concluded Facebook and Google have become unavoidable and had created an imbalance in bargaining power. A voluntary code was abandoned after the ACCC said it considered it unlikely that any agreement would be reached on payment for content.
READ MORE: Microsoft ready to step up on search
Nicholas Jensen 8.40am: Victoria records three cases amid quarantine infection
Victoria has recorded one new locally acquired case, with two new cases recorded in hotel quarantine.
Further cases may be recorded later in the day. A statement on the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services website reads: “We are currently in the process of upgrading COVID-19 reporting activities. It is anticipated there may be delays in the release of data during this crossover period.’’
Yesterday there were 3 new cases reported – 1 local, 2 in hotel quarantine. 13,675 test results were received. Got symptoms? Get tested, #EveryTestHelps.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) February 3, 2021
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/2JnR3ZjUze
There were 13,675 test results received across the state in the past 24 hours.
Victoria currently has 21 active cases.
More information will be provided by Victorian health authorities later today.
It comes as a hotel quarantine worker at the Grand Hyatt Hotel tested positive.
The confirmed diagnosis of the worker came just hours after Police Minister Lisa Neville revealed a mutant strain had jumped between rooms at another hotel.
Nicholas Jensen 8.11am: Hotels ‘not right venues for quarantine’
Leading epidemiologist and WHO adviser Marylouise McLaws has blamed Australia’s approach to hotel quarantine for the detection of a new COVID-19 case in Victoria.
“I think that most states and territories do a great job when they have a case in hotel quarantine,” said Professor McLaws. “However, this constantly reminds us that quarantine hotels are absolutely not the right venue for returned travellers, that we really do need a specific built environment.”
Professor McLaws emphasised the lack of airflow, resources and selected locations as being critical flaws in Australia’s hotel quarantine approach.
“The air flow change on a COVID-19 ward in a hospital is 12 complete air flow changes per hour. In a hotel, they’re not designed like that and you may have maybe six complete air flow changes.”
“If you have a large family of five or a number of people sharing a room, your room is not ventilating enough to dissipate very tiny particles called aerosols that suspend in the air.”
Regarding flaws in quarantine locations, Professor McLaws said “quarantine locations need to be put outside of the CBD or on the edge of a CBD, somewhere where they’re properly built for this sort of thing.”
READ MORE: Plea to ramp up protection for hotel, health staff
Nicholas Jensen 8.03am: ‘Diabolical consequences’ in industrial relations package
Opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers Jim Chalmers has attacked the government’s industrial relations reforms, saying they would have “diabolical consequences” and “strike at the core of wages and living standards”.
Asked about maintaining the Job Keeper scheme, Dr Chalmers said its withdrawal would have a “devastating impact on a lot of small business, workers and industries and towns which are still struggling.”
“Even though the recovery is underway many people are still struggling,” he told ABC’s Radio National. “If we rush to pull support, out of the economy that will make a difficult situation even worse.”
Dr Chalmers dismissed questions regarding a meeting of Labor’s Otis group in Canberra overnight, saying he was not interested in speculation and rumour.
“I want to be a Treasurer in an Anthony Albanese led government,” he said.
READ MORE: Crossbench cool on IR proposals
Nicholas Jensen 7.15am: Global air traffic fell 66 per cent in 2020
Global air passenger traffic plunged by 66 per cent in 2020 owing to travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic, The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said.
The organisation also warned that new, more transmissible variants could damage and delay prospects of a recovery this year.
As travel restrictions have been mainly applied to international travel, domestic passenger traffic fared better, falling by 49 per cent compared with 76 per cent for foreign passenger traffic.
Travel restrictions imposed during the first wave of the pandemic caused global passenger traffic to reach just five per cent of its normal level, with airlines parking planes on runways because no other space was available.
“Last year was a catastrophe. There is no other way to describe it,” said IATA Director General Alexandre de Juniac.
“What recovery there was over the Northern hemisphere summer season stalled in autumn and the situation turned dramatically worse over the year-end holiday season, as more severe travel restrictions were imposed in the face of new outbreaks and new strains of COVID-19.”
IATA economist Brian Pearce said: “Global kilometres flown were down two thirds, this is the biggest shock the industry of air travel has ever experienced.”
The organisation officially expects traffic to increase by 50 per cent from last year’s levels, but that would still represent just half of the result seen in 2019.
READ MORE: No asset bubbles to see here
Nicholas Jensen 7.05am: Germany endorses Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine
Germany has endorsed Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, offering support and possible production sites in the hope of accelerating the EU’s vaccine supply shortfall.
The unexpected news that the Russian vaccine is safe and effective marks a rare political win for President Vladimir Putin, forcing European capitals to consider any potential sanctions against Moscow over the jailing of Alexei Navalny.
Leading medical journal, The Lancet, announced that the Sputnik jab was 91.6 per cent effective against symptomatic COVID-19 cases, defying international scepticism.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel promptly declared that “every vaccine is welcome in the European Union” once it has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Mrs Merkel said she had already spoken to Mr Putin last month about how Germany could assist Russia’s vaccine efforts, offering the help of Germany’s Paul Ehrlich Institute with the EMA application process.
READ MORE: Pressure on as developed world champions net zero
Nicholas Jensen 6.55am: More Victoria site alerts
Update - Lululemon DFO Moorabbin is located in Moorabbin Airport (Shop G-039, 250 Centre Dandenong Road, Moorabbin Airport, VIC, 3194).
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) February 3, 2021
Friday January 29 2021
– Lululemon, DFO Shop G-039/250 Centre Dandenong Rd, Moorabbin VIC 3194, 5:00pm — 5:45pm
– Woolworths, 302 Springvale Rd, Springvale VIC 3171, 6.30pm — 7.30pm
Saturday January 30 2021
– Club Noble in Noble Park, 46-56 Moodemere St Noble Park VIC 3174, 14:36 – 15:30
– Aces Sporting Club, Cnr Springvale Rd and Hutton Rd, Keysborough, VIC 3173, 22:00 – 23:15
Sunday January 31 2021
– Northpoint Café Brighton, 2b North Road, Brighton VIC 3186, 08:10 – 09:30
– Kmart Keysborough, Parkmore Keysborough Shopping Centre, C/317 Cheltenham Rd, Keysborough VIC 3173, 16:00 – 17:00
– Kmart Brandon Park, Brandon Park Shopping Centre, Brandon Park, VIC 3170, 16:35 – 17:10
– Coles Springvale, 825 Dandenong Rd, Springvale VIC 3171, 17:00 – 18:00
Monday February 1 2021
– Bunnings Springvale, 849 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171, 11:28 – 12:15
– Melbourne Golf Academy, 385 Centre Dandenong Rd, Heatherton VIC 3202, 17:19 – 18:36
– Nakama Workshop, 85 Main Rd, Clayton South VIC 3169, 11:15am — 12:00pm
– Sharetea, 27C Buckingham Ave, Springvale VIC 3171, 6:45pm — 7:30pm
– Kebab Kingz, 438 Spencer St, West Melbourne VIC 3003, 11:24pm — 00:15am
– Exford Hotel, 199 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000, 11:00pm — 11:35pm
Nicholas Jensen 6.40am: Victoria site alerts after worker infected
The Victorian government has updated its COVID-19 restrictions after detecting a new case on Wednesday, with home gatherings to revert to no more than 15 people and masks again made mandatory in all indoor public places.
The reinstatement follows the discovery of a 26-year-old resident support officer in the Australian Open quarantine program who tested positive for COVID-19.
“The individual last worked at the Grand Hyatt on January 29, and he undertook a PCR test at the end of that shift, and returned a negative test result at that time,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Following the new case, Mr Andrews outlined the exposure sites the worker had visited, asking anyone who had been at the following venues to be tested.
Anyone who has visited these locations during the times below must immediately isolate, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and remain isolated for 14 days.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) February 3, 2021
For the full list of exposure sites and updates visit https://t.co/tkawOvqIid. (3/3)
Saturday 30th January 2021
– Club Noble in Noble Park, 46-56 Moodemere St Noble Park VIC 3174, 14:36 – 15:30
– Aces Sporting Club (Driving Range), Cnr Springvale Rd and Hutton Rd, Keysborough, VIC 3173, 22:00 – 23:15
Sunday 31st January 2021
– Northpoint Café Brighton, 2b North Road, Brighton VIC 3186, 08:10 – 09:30
– Kmart Keysborough, Parkmore Keysborough Shopping Centre, C/317 Cheltenham Rd, Keysborough VIC 3173, 16:00 – 17:00
– Kmart Brandon Park, Brandon Park Shopping Centre, Cnr Springvale & Ferntree Gully Rds, Brandon Park, VIC 3170, 16:35 – 17:10
– Coles Springvale, 825 Dandenong Rd, Springvale VIC 3171, 17:00 – 18:00
Monday 1 February 2021
– Bunnings Springvale, 849 Princes Hwy, Springvale VIC 3171, 11:28 – 12:15
– Melbourne Golf Academy, 385 Centre Dandenong Rd, Heatherton VIC 3202, 17:19 – 18:36
The Victorian restrictions came into effect as of 11.59pm February 3. They are the same as those put in place when the Black Rock outbreak occurred:
– The limit on the number of people gathering in a household will be reduced from 30 to 15, meaning the household members plus 15 visitors (excluding children under 12 months of age).
– Masks will be mandatory in public indoor spaces. If you have visitors in your home, it is strongly recommended that masks are worn during the visit. Masks must be worn in indoor public spaces apart from when eating or drinking. If you are planning to leave your home – take a mask.
– The 75 per cent ‘return to work’ cap in both public and private sectors scheduled for Monday 8 February will be paused and the current cap of 50 per cent will remain in place.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton is confident Victoria will suppress the new outbreak, citing the Black Rock cluster as an example of the state’s quick health response.
“This individual has given very detailed information about where he’s been and when,” he said.
READ MORE:
Nicholas Jensen 6.30am: More than 10 million vaccinated in UK
More than 10 million people have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine across Britain, according to new government figures.
A further 498,962 have had a second dose.
Boris Johnson, who has set a target of vaccinating 15 million of the most vulnerable by mid-February, hailed the “milestone”.
“There are many people and groups responsible for the UK’s vaccination program,” he said.
Despite his announcement that 90% of the population aged over 75 in England had received the first dose, Mr Johnson warned that the level of infection across the country is still “alarmingly high”.
He said although the number of people in hospital was beginning to fall, the NHS was still under “huge pressure”.
Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said recent statistics show that Britain’s third wave of the pandemic appears to have peaked. But cautioned that “doesn’t mean you could never have another peak, but at this point in time provided people continue to follow the guidelines, we’re on a downward slope of cases” he said.
Britain has been hit hard by the pandemic, recording a further 19,202 positive cases in the last 24 hours.
READ MORE: ‘Housing to be hit if borders stay shut’
Nicholas Jensen 6.25am: Aus Open warm-up matches cancelled on positive test
Today’s warm-up matches for the Australian Open in Melbourne have been cancelled after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive for COVID-19.
More than 600 players and tennis support staff will be forced to isolate until they have returned a negative COVID-19 test.
The cancellation comes as a quarantine worker at the Grand Hyatt Hotel tested positive for the virus.
Tennis officials have issued a statement about lead-up events for the Australian Open, amid concerns the virus could spread.
“We will work with everyone involved to facilitate testing as quickly as possible,” Tennis Australia said.
“There will be no matches at Melbourne Park on Thursday. An update on the schedule for Friday will be announced later today.”
“There’s a number of that are either players and officials and others who are casual contacts,” Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Dragons pull pin on Folau pursuit
Jenny Strasburg 6.15am: AstraZeneca single dose ‘dramatically curbs transmission
Researchers from the University of Oxford said Tuesday its COVID-19 vaccine could have a substantial effect on curbing virus transmission after one dose, and said that spacing doses apart by as long as three months improved effectiveness, according to data adding to previously published findings.
The data is preliminary and not peer reviewed, and some outside scientists said it wasn’t enough to draw definitive conclusions. Still, it is the first to show a vaccine might be able to slow the spread of the disease, not only prevent people from developing symptoms of it. All of the major Western vaccines now employed around the world have been shown to be effective at various levels at keeping people from getting sick. Scientists have hoped that they could reduce asymptomatic transmission, as well.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Wednesday it was “good news for the whole world” that the vaccine appeared to slow transmission.
Oxford said the vaccine may reduce symptomatic transmission of the virus by 67 per cent, based on positive swab tests of vaccinated trial volunteers after a single dose, though those swab tests were only done in the UK. The university, which developed the vaccine in partnership with AstraZeneca PLC, said the data, posted on the Lancet medical journal’s website, showed that effectiveness against symptomatic COVID-19 was well-sustained at 76 per cent from 22 days after the first dose and until 90 days later.
Dow Jones
READ MORE: Recovery still requires commitment to reforms
Rachel Baxendale 5.30am: Vic restrictions return after hotel worker infected
The Victorian government has imposed new statewide coronavirus restrictions after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive, but rejected the hardline approach adopted in Western Australia where two million Perth residents were locked down over a single case.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced late on Wednesday night that restrictions on gatherings would be tightened to 15, masks would be compulsory indoors again and planned increases to how many employees returned to workplaces would be delayed.
“This is one case. There’s no need for people to panic. There’s no need for people to be alarmed,” Mr Andrews said.
Victoria’s Health Department said it was investigating the hotel worker’s case and authorities were contacting all Australian Open players, officials and support staff who had stayed at the hotel in question, the Grand Hyatt, and informed them to isolate. As many as 600 people connected to the tournament will remain in isolation until they receive a negative test.
READ the full story
Paul Garvey 5.15am: Perth to face ongoing restrictions after Friday
Perth residents will face ongoing restrictions once the city’s hard lockdown ends on Friday, despite no new COVID-19 cases being recorded in three days, as the state’s health authorities struggle to explain how the coronavirus was transmitted to a quarantine hotel security guard.
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan would not detail what the likely ongoing restrictions in Perth would be, but said it was necessary because the virus could “linger” for up to a fortnight.
He expects hospitality venues to reopen on Friday, and schools to resume classes on Monday.
In a sign of a health system under strain, officials were unable to explain how the security guard contracted the virus and reversed a previous explanation that he had delivered medication to a room.
“His role was to monitor the floor to ensure no one left their room and, as I said, he was sitting on a chair near the stairwell a safe distance from the room in question,” Health Minister Roger Cook said on Wednesday.
“It may have been the case that the airflow situation of that particular floor wherever the person was sitting at several times that the door was opened … a chance event with that person became infected,” said Health Department communicable disease director Paul Armstrong. “That is our working hypothesis.”
READ the full story
Patrick Commins 5.00am: Loans plan for virus hit businesses
Treasury is considering a revenue-contingent business loan scheme as part of the Morrison government’s targeted, post-JobKeeper support package for industries that continue to suffer from restrictions associated with the global coronavirus pandemic.
The Australian can reveal Treasury is examining a HECS-style loan program for businesses, under which pandemic-affected firms can borrow money to be repaid once turnover returns to a predetermined level.
With the government weighing up options for ongoing financial support once JobKeeper expires on March 28, Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe said the end of the $86bn wage subsidy would likely prove an economic “blip” rather than a fiscal cliff that could derail the recovery.
In a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Dr Lowe said that when JobKeeper ended there would be “some job shedding” but that would take place “in the context of an economy that is otherwise recovering”. “It’s quite possible we have a month or two where the unemployment rate blips up,” Dr Lowe said.
READ the full story
More Coverage
Pesutto in last-ditch race to save role
Embattled Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto is facing a likely spill motion next week as foes mull how to engineer a bloodless coup.
Joy greets cardinal nod for Aussie-based Ukrainian
Bishop Mykola Bychok’s appointment to cardinal has come as ‘unexpected but wonderful news’.