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| Coronavirus Australia live news: Australia death toll rises to 30 as NSW health minister under fire for handling of Ruby Princess – latest updates | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Brad Hazzard hits back at criticism of disembarkation of passengers while ACT announces second death in the territory. Follow all the latest news live | |
| Labor has welcomed some of those changes the government has announced for temporary visa holders and migrant workers. | |
| Labor had been calling for relaxed conditions for “trapped” temporary visa holders in Australia thrown into chaos by global travel bans and border closures. | |
| The conditions announced today include allowing backpackers to extend their visas and allowing temporary visa holders to access their superannuation. | |
| “The Government has implemented Labor’s calls to relax the requirements for fully qualified nurses in Australia on working holiday maker (WHM) visas to be able to continue working in hospitals rather than being forced to meet visa requirements – such as completing “specified work” often picking fruit,” Labor’s Kristina Keneally and Andrew Giles said in a statement. | |
| But they said the announcements today didn’t cover all temporary visa holders and migrant workers. | |
| “Labor remains concerned for the hundreds of thousands of temporary visa holders in Australia who are trapped here, who can’t go home, and are being forced out of their accommodation,” they said. | |
| The United Workers Union, representing workers for Australia’s largest out of hours school care provider, is calling for extra protection for staff and children. | |
| In a letter to management signed by 61 staff, Camp Australia workers called for increased access to hand sanitiser, temperature checks for children, and lower children-to-staff ratios so workers could properly care for children while also maintaining social distancing requirements. | |
| The United Workers Union says Camp Australia employees want staff currently not eligible for the jobkeeper payment under the government’s guidelines, “including international students and casuals who have been with the company for less than 12 months, to also receive the jobkeeper payment”. | |
| Good afternoon everyone, Lisa Cox, here, taking over the blog from Melissa Davey. | |
| The ABC is reporting about 50 Qantas and Jetstar staff, including pilots and cabin crew, have tested positive for coronavirus. | |
| The company’s medical officer Russell Brown yesterday told staff that, in addition to previously announced cases of baggage handlers, the airlines’ numbers included eight pilots and 19 cabin crew, according to the ABC. | |
| “Most of those were from overseas, but they were taking the precautions,” Dr Brown said via a webinar. | |
| “They are wearing masks when flying and being careful, and we’re still seeing these cases. | |
| “When you’re dealing with a community that has more spread, the risk goes up, and we have to start thinking about what’s going on here.” | |
| Thanks so much for joining me for Guardian Australia’s live coverage throughout the day. I am about to handover to my colleague Lisa Cox to take you through the afternoon. It has been quite an eventful Saturday, with a few key announcements. To recap: | Thanks so much for joining me for Guardian Australia’s live coverage throughout the day. I am about to handover to my colleague Lisa Cox to take you through the afternoon. It has been quite an eventful Saturday, with a few key announcements. To recap: |
| Cases in Australia have exceeded 5,500 and there are now 30 deaths after ACT Health reported on Saturday a man in his 80s died at Canberra Hospital. The ACT has had two deaths overall and 93 cases. | Cases in Australia have exceeded 5,500 and there are now 30 deaths after ACT Health reported on Saturday a man in his 80s died at Canberra Hospital. The ACT has had two deaths overall and 93 cases. |
| Amid being called on to resign the NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has strongly defended the handling of the Ruby Princess cruise ship saga by senior health department officials. | Amid being called on to resign the NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has strongly defended the handling of the Ruby Princess cruise ship saga by senior health department officials. |
| Changes to visa arrangements have been made. International students working in aged care, as nurses and in supermarkets have had the amount of hours they can work extended to support critical sectors. New Zealanders who are on 444 visas and arrived before 26 February 2001 will have access to welfare payments and the jobkeeper payment. Temporary skilled visa holders who have been stood down, but not laid off, will maintain their visa validity and businesses will have the opportunity to extend their visa as per normal arrangements. They will also be able to access up to $10,000 superannuation this financial year. | Changes to visa arrangements have been made. International students working in aged care, as nurses and in supermarkets have had the amount of hours they can work extended to support critical sectors. New Zealanders who are on 444 visas and arrived before 26 February 2001 will have access to welfare payments and the jobkeeper payment. Temporary skilled visa holders who have been stood down, but not laid off, will maintain their visa validity and businesses will have the opportunity to extend their visa as per normal arrangements. They will also be able to access up to $10,000 superannuation this financial year. |
| Stay safe, and inside. | Stay safe, and inside. |
| Some tragic news from the UK overnight, where two nurses have died after acquiring Covid-19. | Some tragic news from the UK overnight, where two nurses have died after acquiring Covid-19. |
| Areema Nasreen, a 36-year-old NHS nurse from Walsall in the West Midlands, who was believed to have had no underlying health issues, died shortly after midnight on Thursday in intensive care at Walsall Manor hospital, where she had worked for 16 years. Tributes were also paid to another NHS nurse, mother of three Aimee O’Rourke, who is is believed to have contracted the virus before she died. | Areema Nasreen, a 36-year-old NHS nurse from Walsall in the West Midlands, who was believed to have had no underlying health issues, died shortly after midnight on Thursday in intensive care at Walsall Manor hospital, where she had worked for 16 years. Tributes were also paid to another NHS nurse, mother of three Aimee O’Rourke, who is is believed to have contracted the virus before she died. |
| You can read more here. | You can read more here. |
| We are expecting the WA premier Mark McGowan to give an update at about 2.15pm AEDT, or 11.15am AWST. Here’s where the situation in WA was as of Friday evening: | We are expecting the WA premier Mark McGowan to give an update at about 2.15pm AEDT, or 11.15am AWST. Here’s where the situation in WA was as of Friday evening: |
| I put out a call asking for your home gardening projects that you’ve been working on in isolation and got some pretty lovely examples in response. While there are many tough aspects of having to stay home, it looks like some of you are using it as a chance to grow veggies and acquire a green thumb. Here are some of the best responses - thanks for sharing! | I put out a call asking for your home gardening projects that you’ve been working on in isolation and got some pretty lovely examples in response. While there are many tough aspects of having to stay home, it looks like some of you are using it as a chance to grow veggies and acquire a green thumb. Here are some of the best responses - thanks for sharing! |
| I put a call out on Twitter earlier asking people what hobbies they’ve picked up during isolation and the overwhelming response was “gardening”. There were reports over the past few weeks that some Bunnings stores had run out of seedlings as people rushed in to buy supplies for home garden projects. So for something a bit more positive, tweet your isolation gardening attempts good or bad at me @MelissaLDavey - I want to see your veggie patches, flower gardens and chickens. I’ll share some of your responses a little later on this live blog. | I put a call out on Twitter earlier asking people what hobbies they’ve picked up during isolation and the overwhelming response was “gardening”. There were reports over the past few weeks that some Bunnings stores had run out of seedlings as people rushed in to buy supplies for home garden projects. So for something a bit more positive, tweet your isolation gardening attempts good or bad at me @MelissaLDavey - I want to see your veggie patches, flower gardens and chickens. I’ll share some of your responses a little later on this live blog. |
| The week before Easter is traditionally very busy for supermarkets. AAP reports Coles and Woolworths have announced new measures to ensure their stores do not breach physical distancing rules during the expected surge next week. Both supermarkets will limit the number of customers allowed in-store, based on the size of the store. | The week before Easter is traditionally very busy for supermarkets. AAP reports Coles and Woolworths have announced new measures to ensure their stores do not breach physical distancing rules during the expected surge next week. Both supermarkets will limit the number of customers allowed in-store, based on the size of the store. |
| “Team members will be at store entrances to provide assistance and let you know when it is OK to come in,” Coles chief executive Steven Cain said. Woolworths managing director Claire Peters said: “Traditionally, the Thursday in the lead-up to Easter is one of our busiest times in-store. We ask our customers to pre-plan their Easter shopping to avoid the usual Thursday spike in numbers.” | “Team members will be at store entrances to provide assistance and let you know when it is OK to come in,” Coles chief executive Steven Cain said. Woolworths managing director Claire Peters said: “Traditionally, the Thursday in the lead-up to Easter is one of our busiest times in-store. We ask our customers to pre-plan their Easter shopping to avoid the usual Thursday spike in numbers.” |
| Woolworths also announced it would be switching on its pick-up service on Monday for Priority Assistance customers. Family members, neighbours or friends will be able to collect goods. | Woolworths also announced it would be switching on its pick-up service on Monday for Priority Assistance customers. Family members, neighbours or friends will be able to collect goods. |
| New South Wales opposition leader, Jodi McKay, has called for the NSW health minister Brad Hazzard to resign over the Ruby Princess cruise ship saga. She said: | New South Wales opposition leader, Jodi McKay, has called for the NSW health minister Brad Hazzard to resign over the Ruby Princess cruise ship saga. She said: |
| Australian Greens senator for NSW Dr Mehreen Faruqi has said that the federal government has abandoned international students to the risk of poverty and homelessness. Today the government confirmed it would provide no financial support for international student visa holders during the pandemic. Senator Faruqi has called for income support for international students during the Covid-19 crisis, saying: | Australian Greens senator for NSW Dr Mehreen Faruqi has said that the federal government has abandoned international students to the risk of poverty and homelessness. Today the government confirmed it would provide no financial support for international student visa holders during the pandemic. Senator Faruqi has called for income support for international students during the Covid-19 crisis, saying: |
| Tasmania has recorded six new cases overnight, including two regional hospital staff. The state government has announced an investigation into the situation. The tally in Tasmania is now 80. | Tasmania has recorded six new cases overnight, including two regional hospital staff. The state government has announced an investigation into the situation. The tally in Tasmania is now 80. |
| The total number of cases in Victoria is 1115 – an increase of 30 from yesterday. | The total number of cases in Victoria is 1115 – an increase of 30 from yesterday. |
| Last night a woman in her 70s died in hospital, taking the number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus to eight. The total number of cases in the state includes 587 men and 528 women. Cases range in age from babies to people in their early 90s. | Last night a woman in her 70s died in hospital, taking the number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus to eight. The total number of cases in the state includes 587 men and 528 women. Cases range in age from babies to people in their early 90s. |
| There are 73 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. More than 54,000 tests have been conducted to date. Currently 42 people are in hospital – including 10 patients in intensive care – and 527 people have recovered. Of the 1115 cases, there have been 894 in Melbourne and 209 in regional Victoria. A number of cases remain under investigation. | There are 73 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. More than 54,000 tests have been conducted to date. Currently 42 people are in hospital – including 10 patients in intensive care – and 527 people have recovered. Of the 1115 cases, there have been 894 in Melbourne and 209 in regional Victoria. A number of cases remain under investigation. |
| Over to Victoria now where health minister Jenny Mikakos is giving an update. She says police carried out 391 checks on return travellers and of those 99 people were not at home. She says: | Over to Victoria now where health minister Jenny Mikakos is giving an update. She says police carried out 391 checks on return travellers and of those 99 people were not at home. She says: |
| OK I’m going to leave that NSW Health press conference there because it’s going around in circles and there are sound issues, plus there are a few updates that have come through in the meantime from Queensland. We will have a full story on that NSW press conference up a bit later, where the health minister defended senior health staff over the handling of the Ruby Princess cruise ship, saying they had made difficult decisions under immense pressure. | OK I’m going to leave that NSW Health press conference there because it’s going around in circles and there are sound issues, plus there are a few updates that have come through in the meantime from Queensland. We will have a full story on that NSW press conference up a bit later, where the health minister defended senior health staff over the handling of the Ruby Princess cruise ship, saying they had made difficult decisions under immense pressure. |
| But in Queensland there have been 27 new cases overnight, raising the state total to 900. The majority of cases are from patients who have travelled overseas, or have had direct contact with a confirmed case who had travelled overseas. | But in Queensland there have been 27 new cases overnight, raising the state total to 900. The majority of cases are from patients who have travelled overseas, or have had direct contact with a confirmed case who had travelled overseas. |
| Meanwhile Palm Island police have arrested and charged five men with breaches of the Biosecurity Act and chief health officer Queensland directions. | Meanwhile Palm Island police have arrested and charged five men with breaches of the Biosecurity Act and chief health officer Queensland directions. |
| On March 26, a determination was made under the Biosecurity Act restricting non-essential travel to designated remote communities, which included the community of Palm Island. Police allege that five men departed Palm Island in a private dingy on March 30 and travelled to Townsville. Townsville police spoke to the men and advised them they were not permitted to return to Palm Island. | On March 26, a determination was made under the Biosecurity Act restricting non-essential travel to designated remote communities, which included the community of Palm Island. Police allege that five men departed Palm Island in a private dingy on March 30 and travelled to Townsville. Townsville police spoke to the men and advised them they were not permitted to return to Palm Island. |
| Police will allege all five men were located on Palm Island on April 3. | Police will allege all five men were located on Palm Island on April 3. |
| Three men aged 19 and two men aged 30 and 46 have been arrested and charged with one count each of failing to comply with an emergency requirement and failing to comply with Covid-19 public health directions. | Three men aged 19 and two men aged 30 and 46 have been arrested and charged with one count each of failing to comply with an emergency requirement and failing to comply with Covid-19 public health directions. |
| One of the 19-year-old men was also charged with possessing dangerous drugs and two counts of supplying dangerous drugs (methamphetamines and cannabis). The 30-year-old man was also charged with possession of cannabis. | One of the 19-year-old men was also charged with possessing dangerous drugs and two counts of supplying dangerous drugs (methamphetamines and cannabis). The 30-year-old man was also charged with possession of cannabis. |
| All five men have been denied police bail and are due to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court tomorrow. | All five men have been denied police bail and are due to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court tomorrow. |
| Townsville district disaster coordinator, acting chief superintendent Glen Pointing said: “The reckless actions of a few have placed the remainder of the Palm Island community at risk.” | Townsville district disaster coordinator, acting chief superintendent Glen Pointing said: “The reckless actions of a few have placed the remainder of the Palm Island community at risk.” |
| “It is even more disappointing given the great work undertaken by the Palm Island council and broader community in putting measures in place to ensure their island is protected,” he said | “It is even more disappointing given the great work undertaken by the Palm Island council and broader community in putting measures in place to ensure their island is protected,” he said |
| It’s also important to note that no ship has the capacity to test for Covid-19 on board. | It’s also important to note that no ship has the capacity to test for Covid-19 on board. |
| NSW health minister Brad Hazzard says New South Wales Health had assured him back on 14 February that they had stepped up their protocols. A when the new federal protocol came out, what New South Wales health was doing was actually far higher than those protocols. Under the federal protocol in place from 6 March, it was entirely discretionary as to whether those processes had to be followed. Hazzard says he’s: | NSW health minister Brad Hazzard says New South Wales Health had assured him back on 14 February that they had stepped up their protocols. A when the new federal protocol came out, what New South Wales health was doing was actually far higher than those protocols. Under the federal protocol in place from 6 March, it was entirely discretionary as to whether those processes had to be followed. Hazzard says he’s: |
| Given the risk assessment they did – regardless of federal advice they did not have to do an assessment – the NSW Health staff decided the ship was low risk as only flu was found, and at non-outbreak levels. However, they did order everyone to go home and self-isolate anyway, the chief health officer Kerry Chant says. | Given the risk assessment they did – regardless of federal advice they did not have to do an assessment – the NSW Health staff decided the ship was low risk as only flu was found, and at non-outbreak levels. However, they did order everyone to go home and self-isolate anyway, the chief health officer Kerry Chant says. |