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Australia coronavirus live: health minister backs calls for global investigation into Covid-19 spread – latest updates Australia coronavirus live: health minister backs calls for global investigation into Covid-19 spread – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
Greg Hunt supports foreign affairs minister Marise Payne’s call for an independent review that must not be run by WHO as fresh privacy concerns raised over government’s contact-tracing app. Follow the latest news liveGreg Hunt supports foreign affairs minister Marise Payne’s call for an independent review that must not be run by WHO as fresh privacy concerns raised over government’s contact-tracing app. Follow the latest news live
The New South Wales shadow minister for health, Ryan Park, is speaking in Port Kembla addressing the delayed departure of the Ruby Princess cruise ship.
Park, who is also the local MP in Port Kembla, says he wants to know where the ship’s crew will be taken if they are deemed too sick to remain on board.
Some joy!
The Guardian is live-streaming the first six(!) hours of the One World: Together At Home event, organised by the World Health Organisation and Global Citizen in collaboration with Lady Gaga.
The Guardian will be streaming the first six hours today. Stars appearing in the earlier part of the show include John Legend, Megan Rapinoe, the Killers, Samuel L Jackson, Jameela Jamil, Jennifer Hudson and many more.
When I turned it on a little earlier Keith Urban was playing, though, so, you know, timing’s everything I guess.
Some housekeeping:Some housekeeping:
This morning, we briefly reported that the national Covid-19 death toll was 70. It is actually 69.This morning, we briefly reported that the national Covid-19 death toll was 70. It is actually 69.
The mistake occurred because Queensland counts the death of any Queenslanders in its figures but two of those deaths have occurred in New South Wales and are counted there. On Saturday, both New South Wales and Queensland recorded deaths for the same person, an 83-year-old man who passed away in New South Wales after recently returning from the Celebrity Eclipse, an overseas cruise ship that docked in San Diego.The mistake occurred because Queensland counts the death of any Queenslanders in its figures but two of those deaths have occurred in New South Wales and are counted there. On Saturday, both New South Wales and Queensland recorded deaths for the same person, an 83-year-old man who passed away in New South Wales after recently returning from the Celebrity Eclipse, an overseas cruise ship that docked in San Diego.
On the government’s Covid-19 tracing app, Hunt is asked whether any rollback of lockdown measures will be affected if the government fails to meet its target of having 40% of the population download the app.On the government’s Covid-19 tracing app, Hunt is asked whether any rollback of lockdown measures will be affected if the government fails to meet its target of having 40% of the population download the app.
Greg Hunt backs foreign affairs minister Marise Payne’s call for an independent review of the global response to Covid-19, including the role of the World Health Organisation. He also takes a swipe at the WHO’s handling of the crisis in the process.Greg Hunt backs foreign affairs minister Marise Payne’s call for an independent review of the global response to Covid-19, including the role of the World Health Organisation. He also takes a swipe at the WHO’s handling of the crisis in the process.
Federal health minister Greg Hunt is speaking in Victoria. He says national cabinet will meet this week to discuss the resumption of elective surgery and IVF treatments after a boost of PPE supply.Federal health minister Greg Hunt is speaking in Victoria. He says national cabinet will meet this week to discuss the resumption of elective surgery and IVF treatments after a boost of PPE supply.
Hunt announced Australia has received a shipment of 60 million masks two weeks earlier than expected, which “opens up the possibility of elective surgery and in particular, IVF, recommencing at an earlier date than had previously been thought possible”.Hunt announced Australia has received a shipment of 60 million masks two weeks earlier than expected, which “opens up the possibility of elective surgery and in particular, IVF, recommencing at an earlier date than had previously been thought possible”.
National cabinet is meeting on Tuesday and Thursday.National cabinet is meeting on Tuesday and Thursday.
“The elective surgery decision was made on two grounds, one was PPE, of which masks were critical [and] the second was the concern that if the coronavirus had grown dramatically, our hospitals would have been under intense pressure.“The elective surgery decision was made on two grounds, one was PPE, of which masks were critical [and] the second was the concern that if the coronavirus had grown dramatically, our hospitals would have been under intense pressure.
“At this point, Australians have done magnificently and we are not facing a threat to our hospitals, now it is about securing the master and PPE and today is an important part of that and laying the foundation for this week on the road out.”Hunt says there are currently 6,586 cases of Covid-19 in Australia. Of those, 185 are in hospitals, 51 in ICU, 33 on ventilation.The rate of increase of new cases has been less than 1% for seven consecutive days.“At this point, Australians have done magnificently and we are not facing a threat to our hospitals, now it is about securing the master and PPE and today is an important part of that and laying the foundation for this week on the road out.”Hunt says there are currently 6,586 cases of Covid-19 in Australia. Of those, 185 are in hospitals, 51 in ICU, 33 on ventilation.The rate of increase of new cases has been less than 1% for seven consecutive days.
News Corp is reporting that a woman who was forcibly quarantined at a Sydney hotel after returning from overseas tested positive for coronavirus immediately after being cleared for release.News Corp is reporting that a woman who was forcibly quarantined at a Sydney hotel after returning from overseas tested positive for coronavirus immediately after being cleared for release.
News.com.au reports the woman, in her 20s, felt “weird” and suspected she had been infected with Covid-19 on her travels, but was refused access to testing while in police lockdown.News.com.au reports the woman, in her 20s, felt “weird” and suspected she had been infected with Covid-19 on her travels, but was refused access to testing while in police lockdown.
The woman said she had no contact with healthcare workers until she was contacted by a nurse in the second week of her quarantine. She told the nurse she was experiencing mild symptoms but was told she didn’t need to be inspected further.The woman said she had no contact with healthcare workers until she was contacted by a nurse in the second week of her quarantine. She told the nurse she was experiencing mild symptoms but was told she didn’t need to be inspected further.
After she left quarantine she arranged to be tested and received a positive result.After she left quarantine she arranged to be tested and received a positive result.
Health experts have expressed concerns about Australia’s policy of forcing returning travellers to quarantine inside hotels. One Sydney doctor who has been treating returned travellers ordered into forced hotel isolation in NSW told the Guardian the situation was a “disaster” and said people are in conditions “worse than prison”.Health experts have expressed concerns about Australia’s policy of forcing returning travellers to quarantine inside hotels. One Sydney doctor who has been treating returned travellers ordered into forced hotel isolation in NSW told the Guardian the situation was a “disaster” and said people are in conditions “worse than prison”.
In Western Australia an investigation was launched after a man ended up in an induced coma in intensive care despite his wife allegedly calling for a doctor nearly nine hours before he was admitted to hospital.In Western Australia an investigation was launched after a man ended up in an induced coma in intensive care despite his wife allegedly calling for a doctor nearly nine hours before he was admitted to hospital.
Speaking on the ABC right now Sydney Kings star Andrew Bogut says he wouldn’t want to return to playing in the near future, saying it could set the wrong example while Australians were still locked down in their homes.Speaking on the ABC right now Sydney Kings star Andrew Bogut says he wouldn’t want to return to playing in the near future, saying it could set the wrong example while Australians were still locked down in their homes.
Victoria police issued 65 fines for breaches of public health orders in the past 24 hours. Victoria have issued more than 1,000 fines since the lockdown rules came into place, far more than any other state. Since 21 March, police in Victoria have conducted a total of 24,102 spot checks of homes and businesses.Victoria police issued 65 fines for breaches of public health orders in the past 24 hours. Victoria have issued more than 1,000 fines since the lockdown rules came into place, far more than any other state. Since 21 March, police in Victoria have conducted a total of 24,102 spot checks of homes and businesses.
AAP reports that flu vaccine manufacturing is being ramped up this season in the hope higher public immunity to influenza will free up hospitals to focus on coronavirus.AAP reports that flu vaccine manufacturing is being ramped up this season in the hope higher public immunity to influenza will free up hospitals to focus on coronavirus.
Melbourne manufacturer Seqirus has partnered with the federal government to make an additional two million influenza vaccines for the 2020 flu season, with nine million vaccines in total to be distributed across the country.Melbourne manufacturer Seqirus has partnered with the federal government to make an additional two million influenza vaccines for the 2020 flu season, with nine million vaccines in total to be distributed across the country.
The company says there is already strong early demand for flu vaccines.The company says there is already strong early demand for flu vaccines.
“This is a positive trend, because we know that flu vaccination programs will be more important than ever due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Seqirus executive director Danielle Dowell told AAP.“This is a positive trend, because we know that flu vaccination programs will be more important than ever due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Seqirus executive director Danielle Dowell told AAP.
The additional vaccines will be available through GP clinics, pharmacies and immunisation providers.The additional vaccines will be available through GP clinics, pharmacies and immunisation providers.
Of Australians stranded overseas, Payne says that three flights returned from the Philippines this morning landing in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. She calls it “a mammoth effort”.Of Australians stranded overseas, Payne says that three flights returned from the Philippines this morning landing in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. She calls it “a mammoth effort”.
She says the government is working on further flights from India, where there are more than 6,000 Australians who have registered with the high commission there who want to come home.She says the government is working on further flights from India, where there are more than 6,000 Australians who have registered with the high commission there who want to come home.
Payne says it was “regrettable” that an Australian air force plane which was delivering supplies to Vanuatu after Cyclone Harold was unable to land because a Chinese plane would not move from the runway.Payne says it was “regrettable” that an Australian air force plane which was delivering supplies to Vanuatu after Cyclone Harold was unable to land because a Chinese plane would not move from the runway.
Speers asks Payne whether the Chinese plane had “deliberately” tried to prevent Australia from landing.Speers asks Payne whether the Chinese plane had “deliberately” tried to prevent Australia from landing.