This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/apr/04/coronavirus-australia-live-news-nsw-health-defends-handling-of-ruby-princess-as-more-cases-confirmed-latest-update
The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus Australia live news: NSW Health defends handling of Ruby Princess as more cases confirmed – latest update | Coronavirus Australia live news: NSW Health defends handling of Ruby Princess as more cases confirmed – latest update |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Department announces 342 Covid-19 cases linked to cruise ship, saying transmission ‘could not have prevented by NSW Health staff’ | Department announces 342 Covid-19 cases linked to cruise ship, saying transmission ‘could not have prevented by NSW Health staff’ |
| Just turning quickly to the US where once again, president Donald Trump is displaying hostility toward reporters in a press briefing. | |
| The US Centers for Disease Control has just recommended that US citizens wear non-medical cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (for example, in grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. | |
| However, Trump said he wouldn’t be taking this advice on board himself. | |
| “I won’t be doing it, personally,” he said, adding he doesn’t want to greet world leaders, “presidents, prime ministers, dictators, kings queens” while wearing a face covering. “I don’t know, somehow, I don’t see it for myself.” | |
| More on the Ruby Princess saga. The Australian reports that it has obtained emails between NSW Health and Australian Border Force that show health officials did not board the cruise ship to test passengers for Covid-19 even though the cruise liner’s on-board doctor told them explicitly in emails there were sick travellers on the ship. You can read the full report by The Australian’s Yoni Bashan here. | |
| The New South Wales health minister Brad Hazzard and NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant are due to give an update in a couple of hours, at 11am AEDT. I’ll bring you updates from that here when it happens. | |
| Australia’s national science agency CSIRO says zoonotic diseases - diseases which pass from animals to humans - such as Covid-19 and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome now account for almost 75% of human infectious diseases. | |
| This morning CSIRO announced that with the increasing threat of zoonotic diseases, $220m will be directed to upgrading CSIRO’s containment biosecurity research facility in Geelong, Victoria, which is currently testing vaccines to combat the disease. The facility’s rapid work on Covid-19 has also been supported by a further $10 million in funding from the Government. | |
| If you’re interested in learning more about the spread of Covid-19 from bats to humans, here is some great listening for your Saturday morning. In this podcast episode ABC reporter and Science Friction host Natasha Mitchell asks what is it about bats that makes them such exceptional incubators of viruses that – if they jump species - can be so darn deadly to humans. She also asks whether before we blame bats for Covid-19, we need to take a good look at our ourselves. | |
| In case you missed it the chair of the Australian Healthcare Reform Alliance, Jennifer Doggett has written that maximising the value of our health system resources should be important every day, not just in the middle of a health crisis, and that private hospitals should not be allowed to return to ‘business as usual’ once the pandemic ends. She says: | In case you missed it the chair of the Australian Healthcare Reform Alliance, Jennifer Doggett has written that maximising the value of our health system resources should be important every day, not just in the middle of a health crisis, and that private hospitals should not be allowed to return to ‘business as usual’ once the pandemic ends. She says: |
| You can read the full piece here, and can follow her on Twitter here. | You can read the full piece here, and can follow her on Twitter here. |
| The announcements are rolling in this morning. Following the release from the health minister outlined below, the department of agriculture has said temporary changes to visa arrangements are being made to help farmers get the workforce they need to secure Australia’s food and produce supply during the pandemic. | The announcements are rolling in this morning. Following the release from the health minister outlined below, the department of agriculture has said temporary changes to visa arrangements are being made to help farmers get the workforce they need to secure Australia’s food and produce supply during the pandemic. |
| The changes allow those within the Pacific Labour Scheme, Seasonal Worker Program and working holiday makers to continue to work in agriculture and food processing until the coronavirus crisis has passed. | The changes allow those within the Pacific Labour Scheme, Seasonal Worker Program and working holiday makers to continue to work in agriculture and food processing until the coronavirus crisis has passed. |
| Deputy prime minister Michael McCormack said the measure meant supporting businesses, providing job opportunities and securing food supply. He said: | Deputy prime minister Michael McCormack said the measure meant supporting businesses, providing job opportunities and securing food supply. He said: |
| Before moving to other parts of the country, working holiday makers will need to self-isolate for 14 days and register at the Australia.gov.au website. Those who do not comply will face having their visas cancelled. The National Farmers Federation has developed best practice guidance for farmers regarding requirements for the living and working arrangements for farm workers during the Covid-19 outbreak. | Before moving to other parts of the country, working holiday makers will need to self-isolate for 14 days and register at the Australia.gov.au website. Those who do not comply will face having their visas cancelled. The National Farmers Federation has developed best practice guidance for farmers regarding requirements for the living and working arrangements for farm workers during the Covid-19 outbreak. |
| The key points: | The key points: |
| Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme workers can extend their stay for up to 12 months to work for approved employers. | Seasonal Worker Programme and Pacific Labour Scheme workers can extend their stay for up to 12 months to work for approved employers. |
| Approved employers will need to continue to ensure recruitment of Australians first. | Approved employers will need to continue to ensure recruitment of Australians first. |
| Working Holiday Makers who work in agriculture or food processing will be exempt from the six month work limitation with the one employer and eligible for a further visa to keep working in these critical sectors if their current visa is due to expire in the next six months. | Working Holiday Makers who work in agriculture or food processing will be exempt from the six month work limitation with the one employer and eligible for a further visa to keep working in these critical sectors if their current visa is due to expire in the next six months. |
| Greg Hunt has just issued a statement saying the government is investing $1.5m into support for clinicians to ensure they are given the best advice on managing Covid-19 patients. | Greg Hunt has just issued a statement saying the government is investing $1.5m into support for clinicians to ensure they are given the best advice on managing Covid-19 patients. |
| The National Covid-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce will receive the funding from the Medical Research Future Fund to deliver guidelines on the clinical management of patients with suspected or confirmed cases. | The National Covid-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce will receive the funding from the Medical Research Future Fund to deliver guidelines on the clinical management of patients with suspected or confirmed cases. |
| The Taskforce, which includes a large coalition of peak health professional bodies, will analyse emerging national and international research and data on Covid-19 to provide frontline health care workers with the most up-to-date information and advice. Their recommendations will be continually reviewed and updated in near real-time. | The Taskforce, which includes a large coalition of peak health professional bodies, will analyse emerging national and international research and data on Covid-19 to provide frontline health care workers with the most up-to-date information and advice. Their recommendations will be continually reviewed and updated in near real-time. |
| The initial set of recommendations will be launched on Saturday and will address priority topics in urgent need of clear and unified guidance, including: | The initial set of recommendations will be launched on Saturday and will address priority topics in urgent need of clear and unified guidance, including: |
| Drug treatment of COVID-19 infection | Drug treatment of COVID-19 infection |
| Use of oxygen therapies | Use of oxygen therapies |
| Key elements of critical care, and | Key elements of critical care, and |
| Disease categories and monitoring. | Disease categories and monitoring. |
| The recommendations will be published in a mobile web app to make it easier for clinicians to access information at point of care. | The recommendations will be published in a mobile web app to make it easier for clinicians to access information at point of care. |
| Four residents of Darwin tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, and all cases are related to interstate or international travel, the Northern Territory chief minister said in a statement overnight. It brings the Territory’s total to 26 cases. | Four residents of Darwin tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, and all cases are related to interstate or international travel, the Northern Territory chief minister said in a statement overnight. It brings the Territory’s total to 26 cases. |
| A Darwin man, aged in his 40s, had been in self-quarantine after returning home from Africa when he became unwell. Another man, in his 50s, became unwell while in self-quarantine after returning from the United Kingdom. A woman, aged in her 50s, who had travelled to South America became unwell while in self-quarantine. | A Darwin man, aged in his 40s, had been in self-quarantine after returning home from Africa when he became unwell. Another man, in his 50s, became unwell while in self-quarantine after returning from the United Kingdom. A woman, aged in her 50s, who had travelled to South America became unwell while in self-quarantine. |
| Under national medical guidelines, contact tracing on flights is not required due to the delay between their return to Darwin and becoming unwell. | Under national medical guidelines, contact tracing on flights is not required due to the delay between their return to Darwin and becoming unwell. |
| The fourth case, a woman in her 20s, was in self-quarantine and is a close family contact of another Territorian already diagnosed with Covid-19 who had returned from overseas. | The fourth case, a woman in her 20s, was in self-quarantine and is a close family contact of another Territorian already diagnosed with Covid-19 who had returned from overseas. |
| All four people are now in the care of Royal Darwin Hospital. | All four people are now in the care of Royal Darwin Hospital. |
| Good morning, Melissa Davey joining you for another Saturday to bring you all of the Covid-19 updates for Australia throughout the day. If I miss anything, let me know at melissa.davey@theguardian.com or over at Twitter. | Good morning, Melissa Davey joining you for another Saturday to bring you all of the Covid-19 updates for Australia throughout the day. If I miss anything, let me know at melissa.davey@theguardian.com or over at Twitter. |
| Let’s recap the last 24 hours or so by starting with some good news. Australia’s chief health officer, Brendan Murphy, said he was “quietly pleased” with the numbers of new cases of Covid-19 slowing, with the rate of the number of new confirmed cases in single digits. However, community transmissions have been growing. There are now 300 community transmission cases in Sydney, 60 in Melbourne and 30 in Brisbane. Australia is now in the “suppression” phase of containing the virus, the prime minister said on Friday. | Let’s recap the last 24 hours or so by starting with some good news. Australia’s chief health officer, Brendan Murphy, said he was “quietly pleased” with the numbers of new cases of Covid-19 slowing, with the rate of the number of new confirmed cases in single digits. However, community transmissions have been growing. There are now 300 community transmission cases in Sydney, 60 in Melbourne and 30 in Brisbane. Australia is now in the “suppression” phase of containing the virus, the prime minister said on Friday. |
| In other updates: | In other updates: |
| Last night, New South Wales Health confirmed that to date, there have been 342 confirmed cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in NSW related to Ruby Princess cruise ship passengers. Defending their handling of the debacle, NSW Health said “Transmission of Covid-19 amongst these passengers could not have been prevented by NSW Health staff. No cases of Covid-19 were identified on board the ship before it docked. The vast majority of these passengers reported they did not develop symptoms until after leaving the Ruby Princess.” | Last night, New South Wales Health confirmed that to date, there have been 342 confirmed cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in NSW related to Ruby Princess cruise ship passengers. Defending their handling of the debacle, NSW Health said “Transmission of Covid-19 amongst these passengers could not have been prevented by NSW Health staff. No cases of Covid-19 were identified on board the ship before it docked. The vast majority of these passengers reported they did not develop symptoms until after leaving the Ruby Princess.” |
| Australia’s death toll for Covid-19 is now 28, after WA premier Mark McGowan said on Friday afternoon that a passenger from the Artania cruise ship, in his 60s, had died. | Australia’s death toll for Covid-19 is now 28, after WA premier Mark McGowan said on Friday afternoon that a passenger from the Artania cruise ship, in his 60s, had died. |
| My colleague, federal political reporter Daniel Hurst, wrote a handy explainer about what the government’s free childcare package in response to the virus means for you. Meanwhile, sociologist Eva Cox asks whether the announcement is too good to be true. | My colleague, federal political reporter Daniel Hurst, wrote a handy explainer about what the government’s free childcare package in response to the virus means for you. Meanwhile, sociologist Eva Cox asks whether the announcement is too good to be true. |
| Calls are growing for governments to support the evacuation of Aboriginal elders from remote and regional communities as Covid-19 spreads, indigenous affairs editor, Lorena Allam, reports. | Calls are growing for governments to support the evacuation of Aboriginal elders from remote and regional communities as Covid-19 spreads, indigenous affairs editor, Lorena Allam, reports. |
| Australia exceeded 5,300 confirmed cases on Friday. | Australia exceeded 5,300 confirmed cases on Friday. |
| After seemingly endless back and forth about whether Australia’s modelling on coronavirus will be made public, the prime minister said this information will be released by the government next week after more work, and review by the national cabinet. It is a complex data-set to release. | After seemingly endless back and forth about whether Australia’s modelling on coronavirus will be made public, the prime minister said this information will be released by the government next week after more work, and review by the national cabinet. It is a complex data-set to release. |
| Thanks for joining me this morning, and I hope everyone is coping okay with isolation, checking in on their neighbours, and managing to get out for fresh air and maybe even a cheeky kebab without copping a fine. | Thanks for joining me this morning, and I hope everyone is coping okay with isolation, checking in on their neighbours, and managing to get out for fresh air and maybe even a cheeky kebab without copping a fine. |