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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/mar/28/coronavirus-australia-live-nsw-qld-victoria-lockdown-restrictions-quarantine-ventilators-latest-updates
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| Coronavirus Australia live news: NSW records eighth death as premier says: 'We draw a line in the sand from midnight'– latest updates | Coronavirus Australia live news: NSW records eighth death as premier says: 'We draw a line in the sand from midnight'– latest updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| New South Wales on the brink of new restrictions with only essential services to remain open as department store Myer stands down 10,000 staff and closes all of its stores from Sunday. Follow all the latest news | New South Wales on the brink of new restrictions with only essential services to remain open as department store Myer stands down 10,000 staff and closes all of its stores from Sunday. Follow all the latest news |
| The deputy chief medical officer is speaking about how well Australia’s hospital system is prepared. There have been reports a peak is expected in hospitals on 10 April, but these reports were not true, Kelly says; | |
| The deputy medical chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, said isolation of returned travellers combined with physical distancing, and tracing contacts of known Covid-19 cases, are the key measures being focused on. | |
| Deputy medical officer Prof Paul Kelly is up. Apologies. Earlier I said the chief medical officer, Prof Brendan Murphy, would be giving the address. | |
| Kelly says: | |
| More clothing retailers have announced they will close. Country Road said on Facebook the closure will be temporary. heir statement says: | |
| Meanwhile Witchery will temporarily close stores as of Sunday 29 March until further notice. The online store will remain open for now. Cotton On will also still be available online, but announced on Saturday from 5pm Sunday 29 March that all Australian stores would temporarily close. | |
| Prof Brendan Murphy, the chief medical officer, is expected to give an update shortly. We’ll bring you that as it happens. The national death toll is now 15. | Prof Brendan Murphy, the chief medical officer, is expected to give an update shortly. We’ll bring you that as it happens. The national death toll is now 15. |
| Catholic Health Australia, the Australian Private Hospitals Association and Day Hospitals Australia have issued a joint statement warning crucial clinical staff will be stood down and private and non-profit hospitals closed in a matter of days after all category 2 and 3 non-elective surgeries were suspended. The statement says: | Catholic Health Australia, the Australian Private Hospitals Association and Day Hospitals Australia have issued a joint statement warning crucial clinical staff will be stood down and private and non-profit hospitals closed in a matter of days after all category 2 and 3 non-elective surgeries were suspended. The statement says: |
| Catholic Hospitals Association’s chief executive, Pat Garcia, said: | Catholic Hospitals Association’s chief executive, Pat Garcia, said: |
| Many thanks to Naaman Zhou for taking on the liveblog for a bit. Melissa Davey back with you now to take you through to about 4pm. | Many thanks to Naaman Zhou for taking on the liveblog for a bit. Melissa Davey back with you now to take you through to about 4pm. |
| Just a bit more on our post from earlier about community groups calling on the federal government to provide energy relief. The government has said it is working with state and territory governments, industry and stakeholders to ensure supply is maintained. | Just a bit more on our post from earlier about community groups calling on the federal government to provide energy relief. The government has said it is working with state and territory governments, industry and stakeholders to ensure supply is maintained. |
| The Australian Energy Regulator has set reasonable expectations of energy companies to protect householders and small business customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its statement of expectations sets out a range measures, including: | The Australian Energy Regulator has set reasonable expectations of energy companies to protect householders and small business customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Its statement of expectations sets out a range measures, including: |
| waiving any disconnection, reconnection and/or contract break fees for small businesses which have gone into hibernation, along with daily supply charges to retailers, during any period of disconnection until at least 31 July; | waiving any disconnection, reconnection and/or contract break fees for small businesses which have gone into hibernation, along with daily supply charges to retailers, during any period of disconnection until at least 31 July; |
| offering all households and small businesses who indicate they may be in financial stress a payment plan or hardship arrangement; | offering all households and small businesses who indicate they may be in financial stress a payment plan or hardship arrangement; |
| not disconnecting customers who may be in financial stress, without their agreement before 31 July and potentially beyond. | not disconnecting customers who may be in financial stress, without their agreement before 31 July and potentially beyond. |
| If you’re worried about paying your bill, you can find more information here. | If you’re worried about paying your bill, you can find more information here. |
| Some images from Queensland’s council elections and state byelections. | Some images from Queensland’s council elections and state byelections. |
| And here’s that full story on Perth Glory standing down its players and staff: | And here’s that full story on Perth Glory standing down its players and staff: |
| A coalition of community groups is calling on the government and energy retailers to provide energy bill relief to those vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic. | A coalition of community groups is calling on the government and energy retailers to provide energy bill relief to those vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic. |
| The Australian Council of Social Service, the Ethnic Communities Council, the Uniting Communities, St Vincent de Paul Society and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre have all joined to ask for funding for bill relief and energy efficiency programs. | The Australian Council of Social Service, the Ethnic Communities Council, the Uniting Communities, St Vincent de Paul Society and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre have all joined to ask for funding for bill relief and energy efficiency programs. |
| The group is also calling on energy retailers to employ Australians in call centres as they close overseas offices. | The group is also calling on energy retailers to employ Australians in call centres as they close overseas offices. |
| The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the ACT has risen to 71, up by nine from yesterday. | The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the ACT has risen to 71, up by nine from yesterday. |
| Of the new cases, six are men and three are women, all aged between 48 and 73, the ACT health department says. | Of the new cases, six are men and three are women, all aged between 48 and 73, the ACT health department says. |
| Seven of the new cases are “linked to overseas travel, including cruise ships”, one is a close contact of a confirmed case, and one is still under investigation. | Seven of the new cases are “linked to overseas travel, including cruise ships”, one is a close contact of a confirmed case, and one is still under investigation. |
| “There remains no evidence of local transmission in the ACT,” the department says. | “There remains no evidence of local transmission in the ACT,” the department says. |
| Also in sport, the football players’ union has said it is ready to take legal action against A-League club Perth Glory and its owner Tony Sage after he stood down the club’s players and staff. | Also in sport, the football players’ union has said it is ready to take legal action against A-League club Perth Glory and its owner Tony Sage after he stood down the club’s players and staff. |
| From AAP: | From AAP: |
| Less than a week after the FFA suspended the 2019-20 A-League season until at least 22 April due to the coronavirus outbreak, Sage has stood down all the club’s players and staff. | Less than a week after the FFA suspended the 2019-20 A-League season until at least 22 April due to the coronavirus outbreak, Sage has stood down all the club’s players and staff. |
| The outspoken club owner said the decision was “heartbreaking”. | The outspoken club owner said the decision was “heartbreaking”. |
| “I can’t remember sadder days except when my mum died and my brother died. It’s heartbreaking. Very, very sad,” Sage told the West Australian. | “I can’t remember sadder days except when my mum died and my brother died. It’s heartbreaking. Very, very sad,” Sage told the West Australian. |
| Professional Footballers Australia, however, says it will initiate legal proceedings against Sage if the players aren’t immediately reinstated. | Professional Footballers Australia, however, says it will initiate legal proceedings against Sage if the players aren’t immediately reinstated. |
| “A fortnight ago it was fine to relocate players to the east coast away from their families and expose them to a global pandemic,” PFA chief executive John Didulica said. “Now, when the opportunity arises, it is considered acceptable to stop paying them.” | “A fortnight ago it was fine to relocate players to the east coast away from their families and expose them to a global pandemic,” PFA chief executive John Didulica said. “Now, when the opportunity arises, it is considered acceptable to stop paying them.” |
| The Australian Rugby League commission’s chairman, Peter V’landys, will present his plan to slash costs from NRL headquarters on Monday in a move expected to hand players an additional $7m for this year. | The Australian Rugby League commission’s chairman, Peter V’landys, will present his plan to slash costs from NRL headquarters on Monday in a move expected to hand players an additional $7m for this year. |
| The Rugby League Players’ Association has been negotiating with the NRL for wage cuts to keep the game alive through the toughest financial challenge it has ever faced. | The Rugby League Players’ Association has been negotiating with the NRL for wage cuts to keep the game alive through the toughest financial challenge it has ever faced. |
| A model for an 87% drop in wages for the coming months due to the coronavirus suspension has already been presented, based on a worst-case scenario. | A model for an 87% drop in wages for the coming months due to the coronavirus suspension has already been presented, based on a worst-case scenario. |
| However, the rescue package to be presented by V’landys at Monday’s meeting is set to take the original offer of $12.4m for players for the rest of the season up to about $20m. | However, the rescue package to be presented by V’landys at Monday’s meeting is set to take the original offer of $12.4m for players for the rest of the season up to about $20m. |
| Hi everyone, it’s Naaman Zhou taking over the liveblog for a bit. | Hi everyone, it’s Naaman Zhou taking over the liveblog for a bit. |
| Queensland’s total cases of coronavirus have risen to 625, an increase of 70. | Queensland’s total cases of coronavirus have risen to 625, an increase of 70. |
| The state’s chief health officer, Jeannette Young, said this increase was “fairly steady”, AAP reports. | The state’s chief health officer, Jeannette Young, said this increase was “fairly steady”, AAP reports. |
| As of midnight, people transiting through Brisbane international airport will be sent to a hotel for a 14-day quarantine period. | As of midnight, people transiting through Brisbane international airport will be sent to a hotel for a 14-day quarantine period. |
| The state’s health minister, Steven Miles, said 1,047 people arrived in Brisbane from overseas yesterday, but that was down from about 7,000 a week ago. | The state’s health minister, Steven Miles, said 1,047 people arrived in Brisbane from overseas yesterday, but that was down from about 7,000 a week ago. |
| Let’s recap on the day so far, as Australian cases of Covid-19 hit 3,378. Another death has been reported in NSW, a 91-year-old woman. The national death toll is now 14. | Let’s recap on the day so far, as Australian cases of Covid-19 hit 3,378. Another death has been reported in NSW, a 91-year-old woman. The national death toll is now 14. |
| From midnight anyone arriving at an Australian airport from overseas will be taken straight to a hotel. The Victorian and NSW premiers have explained how this will work: travellers will be given health checks and taken straight by bus to hotel rooms. They will be monitored by authorities to ensure they are adhering to quarantine and so they can be given treatment if they become unwell. They will be provided with food. | From midnight anyone arriving at an Australian airport from overseas will be taken straight to a hotel. The Victorian and NSW premiers have explained how this will work: travellers will be given health checks and taken straight by bus to hotel rooms. They will be monitored by authorities to ensure they are adhering to quarantine and so they can be given treatment if they become unwell. They will be provided with food. |
| Another airline support package has been announced to support regional communities that depend on aviation for medical and food supplies. The additional $198m was announced by the deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, with about 140 communities relying on regional aviation. | Another airline support package has been announced to support regional communities that depend on aviation for medical and food supplies. The additional $198m was announced by the deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, with about 140 communities relying on regional aviation. |
| Victoria and South Australia have followed NSW in introducing on-the-spot fines for businesses and individuals breaching social distancing restrictions. | Victoria and South Australia have followed NSW in introducing on-the-spot fines for businesses and individuals breaching social distancing restrictions. |
| Total job losses across Australia have exceeded 75,000. | Total job losses across Australia have exceeded 75,000. |
| Queenslanders are heading to the polls for local government elections and two state byelections, with the state’s Covid-19 total now at 625. | Queenslanders are heading to the polls for local government elections and two state byelections, with the state’s Covid-19 total now at 625. |
| Melissa Davey with you, I’ll be handing over to my colleague Naaman Zhou shortly while I refill the coffee cup and prepare to take you through the afternoon liveblog coverage. | Melissa Davey with you, I’ll be handing over to my colleague Naaman Zhou shortly while I refill the coffee cup and prepare to take you through the afternoon liveblog coverage. |
| It’s tough to keep up with the multiple press conferences that happen every day from the federal government as well as the states and territories, plus the opposition. | It’s tough to keep up with the multiple press conferences that happen every day from the federal government as well as the states and territories, plus the opposition. |
| Thankfully our friends at AAP have filed this update on the press conference in South Australia earlier today. | Thankfully our friends at AAP have filed this update on the press conference in South Australia earlier today. |
| AAP reports: | AAP reports: |
| South Australians who breach self-isolation or quarantine orders will be slapped with a $1,000 on-the-spot fine under new regulations and $5,000 fines for companies and businesses that trade against the current rules. | South Australians who breach self-isolation or quarantine orders will be slapped with a $1,000 on-the-spot fine under new regulations and $5,000 fines for companies and businesses that trade against the current rules. |
| The SA police commissioner, Grant Stevens, said while most people were doing the right thing, some were not. | The SA police commissioner, Grant Stevens, said while most people were doing the right thing, some were not. |
| “The principal objective here is to ensure that people who are required to self-quarantine, who we believe are at risk of spreading the infection, comply with those obligations,” he said. | “The principal objective here is to ensure that people who are required to self-quarantine, who we believe are at risk of spreading the infection, comply with those obligations,” he said. |
| Before the new rules, police had to launch a formal prosecution and take the matter to court. | Before the new rules, police had to launch a formal prosecution and take the matter to court. |
| New regulations will also ban gatherings of more than 10 people. Gatherings of fewer than 10 would have to follow the one person per four square metres rule. | New regulations will also ban gatherings of more than 10 people. Gatherings of fewer than 10 would have to follow the one person per four square metres rule. |
| The premier, Steven Marshall, said the government understood the restrictions were changing people’s lives: “But they are not optional. Everyone needs to understand that from today failure to follow the directions to the letter of the law will leave individuals and businesses liable for significant on-the-spot fines. | The premier, Steven Marshall, said the government understood the restrictions were changing people’s lives: “But they are not optional. Everyone needs to understand that from today failure to follow the directions to the letter of the law will leave individuals and businesses liable for significant on-the-spot fines. |
| “The period of education regarding restrictions during this pandemic really has come to end and the period of enforcement has begun.” | “The period of education regarding restrictions during this pandemic really has come to end and the period of enforcement has begun.” |
| South Australia has 257 confirmed coronavirus cases with six being treated in intensive care. | South Australia has 257 confirmed coronavirus cases with six being treated in intensive care. |
| Gladys Berejiklian is asked whether NSW is going to move towards stricter shutdowns ahead of the other states and territories. She says: | Gladys Berejiklian is asked whether NSW is going to move towards stricter shutdowns ahead of the other states and territories. She says: |
| A reporter asks for some clarity because businesses are scared and confused. When will more of them have to close? | A reporter asks for some clarity because businesses are scared and confused. When will more of them have to close? |