Daily blog, May 12: Five days without a new case

Tasmania has recorded no new coronavirus cases for a fifth consecutive day, marking our longest clean sheet streak since the first positive test was confirmed in the state.

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• REVEALED: Tassie’s road map out of COVID-19 restrictions
• When do the pubs reopen?
• When do the kids go back to school?
• Cash boost to help pay rent amid pandemic
• What went wrong? Experts offer their views

READ MORE:

• Everything we know about the cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania
• Where each case of coronavirus occurred in Tasmania

7.20pm: FIVE DAYS WITHOUT A NEW CASE

TASMANIA has recorded no new coronavirus cases for a fifth consecutive day, marking our longest clean sheet streak since the first positive test was confirmed in the state.

“As of 6pm, there have been no new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Tasmania today,” Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said.

“The state’s total remains at 225 cases.”

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.

5.30pm: PANDEMIC’S DEVASTATING HIT TO LOCAL JOBS REVEALED

TASMANIA will emerge from the coronavirus crisis with a record $2 billion of government debt and 12 per cent unemployment, it has been revealed.

Just weeks ago, the state was leading the nation on a range of economic indicators, but Premier Peter Gutwein says he now faces the task of rebuilding the state’s economy for a second time after the most sudden and dramatic reversal of economic fortunes in generations.

The last time the state’s unemployment rate was above 12 per cent was in mid-1994.

Last year’s state budget predicted a surplus of $57 million and $284 million in net debt.

Last week Mr Gutwein revealed the budget deficit would be in excess of $500 million.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

2.46pm: CALL TO FAST-TRACK PROJECTS FOR PANDEMIC RECOVERY

KEY infrastructure projects should be fast-tracked while traffic volumes are lower in a move that would also aid Tasmania’s economic recovery from coronavirus, the state’s peak motoring body says.

The RACT has written to the State Government to suggest timelines be brought forward for a number of projects across the state.

In the South, they have listed the Hobart Airport Interchange, a park and ride at Huntingfield linking Kingston and the city, and River Derwent ferry service projects as priorities.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

11.15am: INSPECTORS TO SPOT CHECK BUSINESSES

BUSINESSES reopening from next week will be required to demonstrate compliance with safety standards as coronavirus restrictions are eased.

Premier Peter Gutwein said workplaces would have to comply with minimum safety standards and would need to display COVID-ready safety stickers.

Mr Gutwein said as restaurants and cafes reopen to diners from Monday next week, it was important customers and staff would feel safe in those environments.

He said WorkSafe inspectors and health officers would have a role to play, ensuring no more than 10 patrons are dining at these venues at any given time.

Mr Gutwein said he understood this would not suit everyone, but would enable some businesses to start trading again.

He said the easing of restrictions did not mean people had a “green light to party”.

“This is not over yet. There is still lots of work to be done,’’ he said.

“And the most important thing Tasmanians can do is that we all follow the rules.”

Mr Gutwein said Tasmanians needed to remember the virus was deadly and to be responsible as the state moved in stages to ease restrictions.

“We are in a good space but we need to get to a better space,’’ he said.

Tasmania has recorded four consecutive days of no new coronavirus cases, but Health Minister Sarah Courtney wants to see more Tasmanians get tested.

Ms Courtney said if anyone had symptoms of the disease, even if they were mild, to come forward and get tested.

11am: WATCH THE PREMIER’S DAILY UPDATE LIVE

9am: AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMY COULD TAKE TWO YEARS TO RECOVER

It will take nearly two years for Australia’s economy to recover from the impact of the coronavirus lockdown.

That’s according to a KPMG report, obtained by The Australian, which found the economy will not recuperate its losses until the September quarter of next year.

It will take two years for the hardest hit industries of hospitality, accommodation, air transport and retail trade to recover losses, the report found.

Other industries such as healthcare, public administration and civil engineering will get ahead by the end of this year.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

8am: A BREATH OF FRESH AIR AS RESTRICTIONS BEGIN TO EASE

TASMANIANS are starting to enjoy a renewed sense of freedom, with the first easing of coronavirus restrictions coming into effect this week.

From Monday, national parks and reserves were open to residents for exercise within 30km of their home, while limited visits to aged care homes were also now allowed.

One of the most popular venues to reopen was Hobart’s Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, after it was forced to close on March 30 due to measures to contain the spread of COVID-19.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

7am: SECOND WAVE FEARS FOR ASIA AS COUNTRIES EXIT LOCKDOWNS

WUHAN has reported its first cluster of coronavirus infections since a lockdown on the city, the epicentre of the outbreak in China, was lifted a month ago, stoking concerns of a larger resurgence.

The five new confirmed cases, all from the same residential compound, come amid efforts to ease restrictions across China as businesses restart and individuals get back to work.

“We must resolutely contain the risk of a rebound,” the health authority in Wuhan, a city with a population of about 11 million, said in a statement on Monday, local time.

New confirmed cases reported in China since April have been low compared with the thousands every day in February, thanks to a nationwide regimen of screening, testing and quarantine.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

6am: ‘THIS IS PAYBACK’: CHINA THREATENS AUSTRALIA

THE Chinese government has threatened to slap Australian barley producers with tariffs of up to 80 per cent as relations between Beijing and Canberra continue to sour.

China’s Ministry of Commerce has given the nation’s barley producers 10 days to respond to an anti-dumping investigation that’s been conducted into Australian grain imports since 2010.

China has alleged that Australian farmers produced barley at a price lower than its “normal” level between 2014 and 2016, and is now considering two separate tariffs of 73.6 per cent and 6.9 per cent on Australian barley exported to China.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

7.20pm, yesterday: FOUR DAYS WITHOUT A NEW CASE

TASMANIA’S streak of zero new coronavirus cases has continued tonight, with Public Health Services confirming the state’s total remains at 225.

It is the fourth consecutive day without a positive test recorded.

“There have been no new cases of coronavirus confirmed in Tasmania as of 6pm today,” Acting Director of Public Health Dr Scott McKeown said.

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.

7pm, yesterday: HOW YOU CAN HELP EMERGENCY ‘ANGELS’

A NATIONAL charity training emergency workers and saving lives has put out an appeal to raise urgent funds — and helping out is as easy as drinking a cuppa.

CareFlight’s aeromedical services have travelled to far-reaching and remote corners of Tasmania but, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the trauma care training workshops and rescue services have not visited the state since December.

CareFlight’s $2 million shortfall from cancelled fundraisers has prompted the team to put out a “Mayday” call, launching their #CuppaforCareFlight campaign to raise $150,000.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE