Daily blog, May 5: New cases break streak

Tasmania has recorded new cases of COVID-19, breaking its four-day streak of no positive diagnoses.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Catholic schools will accept students ‘without question’
• What our road map to easing COVID-19 rules will look like
• What went wrong? Experts offer their views
• Independent review ordered into NW outbreak
• Was there an illegal dinner party?

READ: Everything we know about the cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania

8.30pm: TWO NEW CASES BREAK STREAK

TASMANIA has broken its four-day streak of no new coronavirus cases after recording two new cases.

Director of Public Health Mark Veitch said since 6pm on Monday night there had been two cases of coronavirus confirmed in the state.

This brings Tasmania’s total number of confirmed cases to 223.

One case was from the North-West, the other was from the North. One was a woman and one was a man.

One was aged in their 70s and the other was aged in their 40s.

“Any Tasmanian with cold or flu-like symptoms such as a cough, sore throat, runny nose or fever should contact their GP or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 to arrange testing for coronavirus,” Dr Veitch said.

The last confirmed case in the South of the state was identified on April 16.

The state did not record any new cases for four days running, with 44 active cases and 150 people in quarantine on Monday.

6.30pm: PPE REGISTER TO SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES

A NEW PPE register will help Tasmanian businesses continue operating through the COVID-19 crisis.

The register, established by the State Government, will ensure areas outside of frontline medical support and emergency personal will have access to protective equipment.

Michael Ferguson, Minister for State Growth said manufacturers and suppliers of PPE can list their business and products to help local businesses find the PPE they need.

“The register is being provided as a service to both businesses and suppliers to help everyone get through the difficulties caused by COVID-19, and anyone using the site should undertake due diligence to ensure products meet their requirements,” he said.

“Importantly, businesses purchasing PPE should ensure products meet the relevant standards and requirements of their industry as well as the guidance of health and work safety authorities before purchase.”

The register is temporary and will be removed when increased demand for PPE has subsided.

“We will continue to do all we can to help Tasmanian businesses get through these extremely challenging times,” Mr Ferguson said.

To access the list REGISTER HERE.

5.30pm: QANTAS EXTENDS FLIGHT SUSPENSION, BACKFLIPS ON POLICY

QANTAS has extended the suspension of most of its domestic and trans-Tasman flights until the end of June, and for international flights until the end of July.

But the airline said some capacity could be added back within a week if domestic and trans-Tasman restrictions eased earlier.

“The initial easing of government restrictions suggests some domestic travel may start to return before the end of July, though initial demand levels are hard to predict,” Qantas said.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

4.30pm: THE STRICT RULES AUSSIE WORKPLACES WILL FACE

NO MEETINGS in small rooms, limiting interstate travel and staggered start times will be the new normal for Australian workplaces as coronavirus restrictions ease.

Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said employers will need to enforce social distancing and hygiene procedures within the workplace for as long as the COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat.

“We don’t want everyone crowding in the lifts at the beginning of the day and the end of the day,” he said.

“We want staff to have a responsibility for hygiene. Hand sanitiser everywhere.

“People not shaking their hands.

“People not crowding into a small room for a meeting.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

3.05pm: PM: ‘WE NEED TO GET A MILLION AUSSIES BACK TO WORK’

SCOTT Morrison has said a million Australians must get back to work.

The Prime Minister said the incredible $4 billion a week cost to the economy outlined by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will continue “so long as we have Australians in a position where they are unable to open their businesses and go back to the offices, children unable to go back to school, and the many restrictions in place”.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

2.50pm: CROWDED BIG-BOX SHOPS A ‘CONCERN’ FOR PREMIER

PREMIER Peter Gutwein has expressed his disappointment at North-West residents who went shopping en masse just 12 hours after the additional restrictions placed on the region to control an outbreak were relaxed.

The North-West went into a more strict COVID-19 lockdown than the rest of the state for three weeks as health authorities tried to stamp out the significant cluster of infections associated with its hospital system.

Those trading restrictions were lifted at 12am on Monday.

“I saw the footage of lines outside shops in the region on Monday and was concerned,” Mr Gutwein said.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

11.10am: PREMIER REVEALS PLAN FOR TASSIE-NEW ZEALAND FLIGHTS

TASMANIA could be welcoming visitors from New Zealand by the end of the year as part of a “bubble” which could reignite limited tourism movements across the Tasman.

Premier Peter Gutwein said he had already spoken to Hobart Airport and Tourism Tasmania about the possibility of Tasmania opening its borders to New Zealand only as new coronavirus cases in both jurisdictions decline.

The issue will be talked about at today’s National Cabinet meeting at which NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be a guest.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

9.30am: THE STATE GOVERNMENT’S DAILY CORONAVIRUS UPDATE

6.30am: JOBKEEPER SPARKS MAYHEM AMONG AUSTRALIAN WORKERS

JOBKEEPER is pitting employer against employee and driving a wedge between colleagues as lack of clarity pushes businesses to opt out of the scheme and the one-size-fits-all payment creates inequality within teams.

Employsure managing director Edward Mallett said JobKeeper was “not as simple as it seems on the face of it”.

Some employers were choosing not to apply despite likely being eligible, creating tension with workers who could only receive the allowance if both they and their employer signed up.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

6am: BIG BATTLE FACING SPORT AND LIVE EVENTS

AUSTRALIA’S sporting and live entertainment industries will face huge challenges in filling seats after the lockdown period, with only about one in four people saying they are likely to attend public events.

Online research carried out by the Australian financial services app Humaniti over the weekend revealed just 28 per cent of the 967 respondents said they were likely to attend a sporting match even once restrictions are lifted.

Forty per cent of respondents said they were unlikely to attend and 20 per cent were unsure, while a further 21 per cent said they didn’t normally go to sporting events.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

10pm, Monday: NEW ENTRY POINT FOR HOBART HOSPITAL

WORK has begun on the new Liverpool St entrance to the Royal Hobart Hospital as part of the hospital’s redevelopment.

The existing Liverpool St entrance is closed and a new temporary entrance has opened about 10m away.

All approved visitors to the hospital must enter through the new temporary entrance.

In response to coronavirus, visiting restrictions still remain in place, with no visitors allowed except for a support person due to the birth of a child; a parent, carer or guardian for an ill child or dependent person; or for end of life support for patients.

All those arriving at drop off/pick-up zones must also enter through the new temporary entrance.

9pm, Monday: NO NEW CASES FOUR DAYS IN A ROW

TASMANIA has recorded no new cases of coronavirus for the fourth consecutive day.

The state’s total remains at 221 cases.

Processing of tests is continuing tonight.

A concerted effort is being made to identify any further cases of coronavirus in the North-West. Anyone who lives in the North-West who currently, or in the last few days has had respiratory symptoms like a cough, sore throat, runny nose, or fever should arrange testing through the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or their GP.

6pm, Monday: NW RESIDENTS HIT THE SHOPS AS STRICT COVID-19 RULES LIFTED

NORTH-WEST residents have enthusiastically taken to a lift in COVID-19 restrictions with lines of shoppers snaking out of Kmart and other big box retailers just 12 hours after the safety measures were eased.

Additional restrictions were placed on the region three weeks ago in the face of an outbreak of cases linked to Burnie’s public and private hospitals.

More than 140 patients and health care workers were infected, and almost 5000 people placed in quarantine in a bid to control the deadly outbreak.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE