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| Australia coronavirus updates live: Tasmanian man's death brings national toll to 64 – latest news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| 20 residents of aged care home in Sydney confirmed cases of Covid-19, as NSW considers roster system for return to face-to-face learning in schools. Follow all the latest news, live | |
| Kelly says that national cabinet will next week consider the issue of restarting some elective surgeries. | |
| As for other restrictions he says: “I would imagine that starting small and building up would be the general principle that would be taken.” | |
| He flags a potential lifting of 4 square metres per person rule, if the infection rate continues to slow. | |
| “Again it is a government decision, but if we look at what is happening in Europe at the moment and proposals in North America, they are sensing they are coming out of their much bigger and much more frightening epidemic then we have so fa experienced in Australia and they are the sort of approaches being done.” | |
| Kelly also said the app would be “based on what was used in Singapore”. | |
| “What the app adds to [contact tracing], would be totally a consent-based process. They would have to download it. That phone would through Bluetooth technology would be able to identify other phones who have gone through that consent process, who have been in close proximity with someone who becomes a case. | |
| “Again, with the consent process, that information could be uploaded immediately to the public health unit, where the person who normally would have asked those questions, sometimes taken several hours to ask that question.” | |
| Paul Kelly, the deputy chief medical officer, has just said that the downloading of a potential coronavirus tracking app would be “totally consent-based”. | |
| Earlier today, prime minister Scott Morrison did not rule out making it mandatory, but said his “preference” was for people to do so voluntarily. | |
| “I’ve always been a believer in the Australian people making the right decision so I think the voluntary approach at first is the way to go,” Kelly said. | |
| “We have work to do to make sure this is as good andsafe and cover of privacy concerns and so forth. We will start with voluntary and see where it goes.” | |
| He also said that the app was just the technological extension of what is “standard practice for public health practitioners” already. He says we have contact tracing doctors – “disease detectives” – in “every public health unit in every state and territory”. | |
| Deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly is speaking now. | |
| “We continue to be having less cases per day than in previous weeks,” he says. “We had the peak of the epidemic towards the end of last month” | |
| But he says the advice from the APPHC is “still to stay the course” when it comes to restrictions. | |
| “This is not the time for us to decrease the things that we have done so far to successfully flatten that curve,” he says. “The next four weeks gives us some time to increase the capacity we have to cope with this disease.” | |
| Hi all, Naaman Zhou here with the blog. Thanks to Amy Remeikis, as always, for her hard work. | |
| AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has spoken today to radio station 3AW about a potential “hub plan” to restart the league. That plan would split the league up into three groups, where teams are isolated in different states but can play each other. | |
| McLachlan said: “I don’t know where we’ll land on [hubs], there are a range of options.” | |
| AAP reports that McLachlan did attempt to dispel misconceptions about the potential plan. | |
| “But I do feel that hubs mean different things to different people and it can be applied differently,” he said. “People have thoughts of remote islands and different stuff but in its simplest form it’s enhanced quarantine measures for if and when we get back on the park.” | |
| It’s been a slower day than we have seen this week, with Australia well into the suppression stage of its response. | It’s been a slower day than we have seen this week, with Australia well into the suppression stage of its response. |
| Cases may be dropping, but we have seen how quickly flare ups can happen – such as the Newmarch Anglicare house in western Sydney, and north-west Tasmania. | Cases may be dropping, but we have seen how quickly flare ups can happen – such as the Newmarch Anglicare house in western Sydney, and north-west Tasmania. |
| I’ll hand you over to Naaman Zhou, who will take you through the afternoon briefing from Paul Kelly, who will give the national update in about 15 minutes. | I’ll hand you over to Naaman Zhou, who will take you through the afternoon briefing from Paul Kelly, who will give the national update in about 15 minutes. |
| I’ll be back next week. Thank you again for joining me this week. Take care of you. | I’ll be back next week. Thank you again for joining me this week. Take care of you. |
| WA is still running its trial of offering empty hotel rooms to the homeless and vulnerable. | WA is still running its trial of offering empty hotel rooms to the homeless and vulnerable. |
| Now it looks like NSW has a similar program underway. From AAP: | Now it looks like NSW has a similar program underway. From AAP: |
| Women and children fleeing domestic violence and those sleeping rough in NSW during the COVID-19 outbreak will now have greater access to temporary accommodation. | Women and children fleeing domestic violence and those sleeping rough in NSW during the COVID-19 outbreak will now have greater access to temporary accommodation. |
| Hotels can now register available rooms through a centralised online forum launched by Homelessness NSW, Y Foundations and Domestic Violence NSW. | Hotels can now register available rooms through a centralised online forum launched by Homelessness NSW, Y Foundations and Domestic Violence NSW. |
| It comes as support services and frontline workers warn the COVID-19 restrictions will result in a rise of domestic violence. | It comes as support services and frontline workers warn the COVID-19 restrictions will result in a rise of domestic violence. |
| Domestic Violence NSW said it received an overwhelming response from hotels offering accommodation. | Domestic Violence NSW said it received an overwhelming response from hotels offering accommodation. |
| “More resources and therapeutic supports have moved online, whilst refuges are safe, have vacancies and are providing intensive levels of wrap-around support,” spokeswoman Renata Field said in a statement on Friday. | “More resources and therapeutic supports have moved online, whilst refuges are safe, have vacancies and are providing intensive levels of wrap-around support,” spokeswoman Renata Field said in a statement on Friday. |
| Ms Field said the additional accommodation would help relieve pressure points while helping refuges and shelters that need more rooms to meet social distancing and self-isolation requirements. | Ms Field said the additional accommodation would help relieve pressure points while helping refuges and shelters that need more rooms to meet social distancing and self-isolation requirements. |
| Anyone seeking temporary accommodation who is not already in contact with a support service worker is advised to contact Link2Home, who will have access to the database of available rooms. | Anyone seeking temporary accommodation who is not already in contact with a support service worker is advised to contact Link2Home, who will have access to the database of available rooms. |
| The NSW opposition leader, Jodi McKay says the NSW government has a humanitarian responsibility to ensure that all members of the Ruby Princess crew are well, before the cruise ship is ordered to leave NSW waters. | The NSW opposition leader, Jodi McKay says the NSW government has a humanitarian responsibility to ensure that all members of the Ruby Princess crew are well, before the cruise ship is ordered to leave NSW waters. |
| Tasmanian man’s death brings national toll to 64. | |
| Yet another awful reminder of why Tasmania is going so hard with restrictions in its north-west coast, where a Covid-19 outbreak has the community under lockdown. | Yet another awful reminder of why Tasmania is going so hard with restrictions in its north-west coast, where a Covid-19 outbreak has the community under lockdown. |
| Australia is not entertaining the “herd immunity” option. | Australia is not entertaining the “herd immunity” option. |
| But that hasn’t stopped some people commenting on it, or wishing for it. | But that hasn’t stopped some people commenting on it, or wishing for it. |
| Perhaps they should read this, written by, as our opinion editor Bridie Jabour says, someone who actually has expertise on herd immunity (and if that is not enough, take a look at what is occurring in Sweden): | Perhaps they should read this, written by, as our opinion editor Bridie Jabour says, someone who actually has expertise on herd immunity (and if that is not enough, take a look at what is occurring in Sweden): |
| Tony Burke has weighed in on the fair work regulation change Christian Porter announced yesterday, which the ACTU is also against, despite the unlikely working friendship which has developed between Porter and Sally McManus. | Tony Burke has weighed in on the fair work regulation change Christian Porter announced yesterday, which the ACTU is also against, despite the unlikely working friendship which has developed between Porter and Sally McManus. |
| The regulation means employers just have to give employees one day’s notice of a change to enterprise bargaining agreements, instead of a week, before a vote occurs. | The regulation means employers just have to give employees one day’s notice of a change to enterprise bargaining agreements, instead of a week, before a vote occurs. |
| Burke says it’s not necessary. | Burke says it’s not necessary. |
| Researchers from the Royal Women’s hospital in Melbourne and Monash Health have created a national registry of pregnant women in Australia diagnosed with Covid-19. | Researchers from the Royal Women’s hospital in Melbourne and Monash Health have created a national registry of pregnant women in Australia diagnosed with Covid-19. |
| The registry includes 28 hospitals across Australia and will give health workers insight into how mothers and babies are impacted by this virus. | The registry includes 28 hospitals across Australia and will give health workers insight into how mothers and babies are impacted by this virus. |
| Clinicians at each participating hospital are collecting data on women who test positive in their care and entering it into a secure database. Researchers will seek follow up data on each woman’s pregnancy and baby outcomes and report on the impact of the virus on the mother’s health, as well as any risks to the baby in the womb or after birth. | Clinicians at each participating hospital are collecting data on women who test positive in their care and entering it into a secure database. Researchers will seek follow up data on each woman’s pregnancy and baby outcomes and report on the impact of the virus on the mother’s health, as well as any risks to the baby in the womb or after birth. |
| Dr Clare Whitehead from the Women’s said there was limited evidence on the impact of the novel coronavirus on mothers and babies. | Dr Clare Whitehead from the Women’s said there was limited evidence on the impact of the novel coronavirus on mothers and babies. |
| “We currently do not have a national platform that can collect information on pregnant women and report the information back to clinicians in a timely manner to help improve the management of pregnant women and their babies,” she said. | “We currently do not have a national platform that can collect information on pregnant women and report the information back to clinicians in a timely manner to help improve the management of pregnant women and their babies,” she said. |
| “We’ve been able to very quickly set this research up to capture as many pregnant women as possible during this pandemic.” | “We’ve been able to very quickly set this research up to capture as many pregnant women as possible during this pandemic.” |
| As part of the update yesterday, Scott Morrison and Brendan Murphy said that next week the national cabinet and medical expert panel will look at whether or not the elective surgery restrictions can be lifted (which would include IVF treatments). | As part of the update yesterday, Scott Morrison and Brendan Murphy said that next week the national cabinet and medical expert panel will look at whether or not the elective surgery restrictions can be lifted (which would include IVF treatments). |
| The Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) has urged that a return to non-urgent elective surgery proceeds with caution, in a statement it released today. | The Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) has urged that a return to non-urgent elective surgery proceeds with caution, in a statement it released today. |
| The ASA president, Dr Suzi Nou, says the group has spoken to the chief medical officer’s office about the concerns: | The ASA president, Dr Suzi Nou, says the group has spoken to the chief medical officer’s office about the concerns: |
| “All of the efforts to ‘flatten the curve’ in Australia are to be commended and have allowed healthcare workers much-needed time to more adequately prepare for the Covid-19 pandemic in our hospitals. Five weeks ago, the ASA called for a cessation of non-urgent surgery but as more health services have been able to undertake planning for the pandemic, we would like to see a relaxation of the restrictions and a safe return to elective surgery. | “All of the efforts to ‘flatten the curve’ in Australia are to be commended and have allowed healthcare workers much-needed time to more adequately prepare for the Covid-19 pandemic in our hospitals. Five weeks ago, the ASA called for a cessation of non-urgent surgery but as more health services have been able to undertake planning for the pandemic, we would like to see a relaxation of the restrictions and a safe return to elective surgery. |
| “We understand that people will be keen to have surgery and do not want to prolong any unnecessary delays but we do want surgery to proceed safely for individuals, their families and for healthcare workers. “We do not encourage elective surgery be performed unless the health service has completed scenario planning for Covid-19 patients and that all relevant staff have adequate supply of PPE and are proficient in its use. Only once these issues have been addressed should we consider performing elective surgery that cannot be safely deferred until the pandemic is over. | “We understand that people will be keen to have surgery and do not want to prolong any unnecessary delays but we do want surgery to proceed safely for individuals, their families and for healthcare workers. “We do not encourage elective surgery be performed unless the health service has completed scenario planning for Covid-19 patients and that all relevant staff have adequate supply of PPE and are proficient in its use. Only once these issues have been addressed should we consider performing elective surgery that cannot be safely deferred until the pandemic is over. |
| “An additional measure that will ensure the safety of healthcare workers and patients would see a defined perioperative quarantine period of 14 days prior to surgery. | “An additional measure that will ensure the safety of healthcare workers and patients would see a defined perioperative quarantine period of 14 days prior to surgery. |
| “The public have made a concerted effort to socially isolate and reduce transmission of Covid-19 in our community and in our healthcare system. We would hope that patients planning to undergo elective surgery would continue to protect themselves, their families and the healthcare workers looking after them with a period of quarantine before their surgery.” | “The public have made a concerted effort to socially isolate and reduce transmission of Covid-19 in our community and in our healthcare system. We would hope that patients planning to undergo elective surgery would continue to protect themselves, their families and the healthcare workers looking after them with a period of quarantine before their surgery.” |
| NBN Co is now publishing weekly updates on how the network is handling the additional load of so many people working and studying at home, before going to another room to stream content until the screaming in our minds can’t be heard (we are all Clarice now). | NBN Co is now publishing weekly updates on how the network is handling the additional load of so many people working and studying at home, before going to another room to stream content until the screaming in our minds can’t be heard (we are all Clarice now). |
| You’ll find those updates, here. | You’ll find those updates, here. |
| Weekly upload throughput peak of 1.06 Terabits per second (Tbps) recorded on Friday 10 April during the Evening Busy Hours. | Weekly upload throughput peak of 1.06 Terabits per second (Tbps) recorded on Friday 10 April during the Evening Busy Hours. |
| Weekly download throughput peak of 13.8Tbps recorded on Wednesday 8 April during the Evening Busy Hours. | Weekly download throughput peak of 13.8Tbps recorded on Wednesday 8 April during the Evening Busy Hours. |
| Download throughput peak of 11.6Tbps on 8 April recorded during the daytime business hours surpassed pre-Covid-19 baseline evening peak for the first time. | Download throughput peak of 11.6Tbps on 8 April recorded during the daytime business hours surpassed pre-Covid-19 baseline evening peak for the first time. |
| The deputy chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, will give today’s national update on the Covid situation. | The deputy chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, will give today’s national update on the Covid situation. |
| That will happen at 3.15. | That will happen at 3.15. |
| The Loki Foundation, which describes itself as Australia’s first privacy tech not for profit, has written an open letter on the issue of the tracing app the government wants people to download (and may, depending on download rates, make mandatory – something Scott Morrison did not rule out today, saying only it was “not my preference”). | The Loki Foundation, which describes itself as Australia’s first privacy tech not for profit, has written an open letter on the issue of the tracing app the government wants people to download (and may, depending on download rates, make mandatory – something Scott Morrison did not rule out today, saying only it was “not my preference”). |
| The foundation doesn’t have a problem with the model Apple and Google are working on. | The foundation doesn’t have a problem with the model Apple and Google are working on. |