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/world/live/2020/apr/21/australia-coronavirus-live-updates-oil-nsw-victoria-qld-schools-latest-news-update
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 22 | Version 23 |
|---|---|
| Morrison speaks to Bill Gates about future of WHO – as it happened | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| PM and philanthropist believed to have also discussed vaccines, while state and federal leaders lift some Covid-19 restrictions on elective surgery as Australia’s infection rate falls. This blog is now closed | PM and philanthropist believed to have also discussed vaccines, while state and federal leaders lift some Covid-19 restrictions on elective surgery as Australia’s infection rate falls. This blog is now closed |
| That will be that for our live coronavirus coverage for today. | That will be that for our live coronavirus coverage for today. |
| Thanks from me, Graham Readfearn, and from my colleagues Ben Smee, Michael McGowan and Matilda Boseley for staying with our live coverage over the past 13 hours. | Thanks from me, Graham Readfearn, and from my colleagues Ben Smee, Michael McGowan and Matilda Boseley for staying with our live coverage over the past 13 hours. |
| Guardian Australia will be back tomorrow with another live blog. | Guardian Australia will be back tomorrow with another live blog. |
| Here’s a summary of the day’s main events: | Here’s a summary of the day’s main events: |
| Australia recorded its 72nd death from coronavirus. A 92-year-old woman at an aged care home in western Sydney died this morning. | Australia recorded its 72nd death from coronavirus. A 92-year-old woman at an aged care home in western Sydney died this morning. |
| Australia reported 26 new cases of coronavirus, with numbers in the single digits for each state and territory. Of the 6,645 confirmed cases, 4,291 have recovered. | Australia reported 26 new cases of coronavirus, with numbers in the single digits for each state and territory. Of the 6,645 confirmed cases, 4,291 have recovered. |
| The Reserve Bank warned that the Australian economy faces “the biggest contraction in national output” since the Great Depression. | The Reserve Bank warned that the Australian economy faces “the biggest contraction in national output” since the Great Depression. |
| In the first easing of rules related to coronavirus, the national cabinet agreed to lift restrictions on some elective surgeries. | In the first easing of rules related to coronavirus, the national cabinet agreed to lift restrictions on some elective surgeries. |
| Virgin Australia entered voluntary administration, but the government was rejecting calls for any bailout. | Virgin Australia entered voluntary administration, but the government was rejecting calls for any bailout. |
| China accused Australia of “dancing to the tune” of the United States, after foreign affairs minister Marise Payne suggested there should be an inquiry into the origins of the virus and the handling of its outbreak. | China accused Australia of “dancing to the tune” of the United States, after foreign affairs minister Marise Payne suggested there should be an inquiry into the origins of the virus and the handling of its outbreak. |
| School students in NSW will return to the classroom one day a week from 11 May. | School students in NSW will return to the classroom one day a week from 11 May. |
| Some 49 crew members from the Ruby Princess cruise ship disembarked one by one from a dock at Port Kembla, south of Sydney. | Some 49 crew members from the Ruby Princess cruise ship disembarked one by one from a dock at Port Kembla, south of Sydney. |
| Just a reminder to treat yourselves and others with care. | Just a reminder to treat yourselves and others with care. |
| Keep doing all the hand-washing, the physical distancing and the social isolating. And if you want to find some positivity, you can always visit our Good Place. | Keep doing all the hand-washing, the physical distancing and the social isolating. And if you want to find some positivity, you can always visit our Good Place. |
| Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers has some commentary on the back of the dire summary of Australia’s economic outlook from Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe earlier today. | Shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers has some commentary on the back of the dire summary of Australia’s economic outlook from Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe earlier today. |
| He says the RBA’s expectations of high and persistent unemployment was not a sign the economy would “snap back” to normal in the six-month timeframe he said the prime minister had specified. | He says the RBA’s expectations of high and persistent unemployment was not a sign the economy would “snap back” to normal in the six-month timeframe he said the prime minister had specified. |
| Chalmers said Labor “appreciates the ongoing engagement with the Reserve Bank and the financial sector, as well as their coordinated approach to supporting liquidity, functioning of markets and the economy during this challenging time”. | Chalmers said Labor “appreciates the ongoing engagement with the Reserve Bank and the financial sector, as well as their coordinated approach to supporting liquidity, functioning of markets and the economy during this challenging time”. |
| He said the RBA’s update should prompt the Morrison government to release a full set of updated economic and budget figures and forecasts in the next month “in lieu of a full budget.” | He said the RBA’s update should prompt the Morrison government to release a full set of updated economic and budget figures and forecasts in the next month “in lieu of a full budget.” |
| It’s about that time of the evening when Jimmy Barnes drops a song from his lounge room. | It’s about that time of the evening when Jimmy Barnes drops a song from his lounge room. |
| Tonight it’s a cover of the 1987 Bruce Springsteen song Tougher Than the Rest. | Tonight it’s a cover of the 1987 Bruce Springsteen song Tougher Than the Rest. |
| Staff at Cairns Hospital are all being screened for Covid-19 after three people working in the hospital’s pathology lab tested positive for antibodies of the coronavirus. | Staff at Cairns Hospital are all being screened for Covid-19 after three people working in the hospital’s pathology lab tested positive for antibodies of the coronavirus. |
| Queensland Health has released a statement. Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said: | Queensland Health has released a statement. Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said: |
| She said all staff were now being screened. | She said all staff were now being screened. |
| The statement said the tests of the pathology workers were ordered after one pathology worker was diagnosed with Covid-19 on 16 April. | The statement said the tests of the pathology workers were ordered after one pathology worker was diagnosed with Covid-19 on 16 April. |
| A Brisbane-based technician who visited the lab on 19 and 20 March and was diagnosed with the disease when he returned home is believed to be the source of infection | A Brisbane-based technician who visited the lab on 19 and 20 March and was diagnosed with the disease when he returned home is believed to be the source of infection |
| Dr Young appealed for anyone in Cairns who had symptoms including a cough, shortness of breath, sore throat or fever to get tested and remain at home, even if they were essential workers. | Dr Young appealed for anyone in Cairns who had symptoms including a cough, shortness of breath, sore throat or fever to get tested and remain at home, even if they were essential workers. |
| Here’s a statement from Anglicare, confirming the death of a 92-year-old woman at its Newmarch House aged care home in western Sydney. | Here’s a statement from Anglicare, confirming the death of a 92-year-old woman at its Newmarch House aged care home in western Sydney. |
| Here are the numbers of new cases reported by health authorities across states and territories on Tuesday. | Here are the numbers of new cases reported by health authorities across states and territories on Tuesday. |
| Queensland – 6 | Queensland – 6 |
| NT – 0 | NT – 0 |
| Tasmania – 5 | Tasmania – 5 |
| New South Wales – 6 | New South Wales – 6 |
| South Australia – 2 | South Australia – 2 |
| Victoria – 7 | Victoria – 7 |
| Western Australia – 1 | Western Australia – 1 |
| ACT – 0 | ACT – 0 |
| Reports are coming in of a third death at Newmarch House, an aged care home in western Sydney where a quarter of residents have previously tested positive for coronavirus. | Reports are coming in of a third death at Newmarch House, an aged care home in western Sydney where a quarter of residents have previously tested positive for coronavirus. |
| Last weekend, Anglicare confirmed a 94-year-old man with Covid-19 had died at the home in Kingswood. | Last weekend, Anglicare confirmed a 94-year-old man with Covid-19 had died at the home in Kingswood. |
| “A coroner will be the person to confirm the cause of death,” a spokesman told AAP at the time. | “A coroner will be the person to confirm the cause of death,” a spokesman told AAP at the time. |
| A 93-year-old resident in the home died the previous day, also after testing positive for Covid-19. | A 93-year-old resident in the home died the previous day, also after testing positive for Covid-19. |
| AAP is reporting that Scott Morrison spoke with the philanthropist Bill Gates earlier today about the future of the World Health Organisation. | AAP is reporting that Scott Morrison spoke with the philanthropist Bill Gates earlier today about the future of the World Health Organisation. |
| The news agency says the conversation came just days after Gates used a global broadcast organised by the entertainer Lady Gaga to ask for support for the global health body. Here’s more from the report. | The news agency says the conversation came just days after Gates used a global broadcast organised by the entertainer Lady Gaga to ask for support for the global health body. Here’s more from the report. |
| Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner has announced that anyone caught coughing or spitting at any Territorian doing their job “in order to cause fear about the spread of the coronavirus” will get an on-the-spot fine of $5,495 and could face jail time. | Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner has announced that anyone caught coughing or spitting at any Territorian doing their job “in order to cause fear about the spread of the coronavirus” will get an on-the-spot fine of $5,495 and could face jail time. |
| Gunner said there had been “one incident, the other day, where an idiot threw his spit at some cops and said he had coronavirus”. | Gunner said there had been “one incident, the other day, where an idiot threw his spit at some cops and said he had coronavirus”. |
| He said the one incident was in contrast to Sydney, where, Gunner said, “there seems to be coughers and spitters on every corner”. | He said the one incident was in contrast to Sydney, where, Gunner said, “there seems to be coughers and spitters on every corner”. |
| Gunner said on Tuesday the NT had seen its 15th day without a new case of Covid-19 being recorded. | Gunner said on Tuesday the NT had seen its 15th day without a new case of Covid-19 being recorded. |
| The government is facing calls to extend its temporary suspension of welfare mutual obligations beyond next week, as Labor and the Greens warn of the risks of compulsory job-centre meetings during the coronavirus pandemic. | The government is facing calls to extend its temporary suspension of welfare mutual obligations beyond next week, as Labor and the Greens warn of the risks of compulsory job-centre meetings during the coronavirus pandemic. |
| But the employment minister, Michaelia Cash, has declined to say whether the government still intended to resume the requirements for jobseekers on 27 April. | But the employment minister, Michaelia Cash, has declined to say whether the government still intended to resume the requirements for jobseekers on 27 April. |
| The opposition on Tuesday joined calls from the Greens senator Rachel Siewert that welfare recipients should be spared obligations such as in-person appointments with employment service providers while most states remained in lockdown. | The opposition on Tuesday joined calls from the Greens senator Rachel Siewert that welfare recipients should be spared obligations such as in-person appointments with employment service providers while most states remained in lockdown. |
| Labor frontbenchers Brendan O’Connor, Linda Burney and Louise Pratt said in a statement: | Labor frontbenchers Brendan O’Connor, Linda Burney and Louise Pratt said in a statement: |
| Siewert wrote to Cash on Monday asking her to suspend Centrelink obligations for six months. She said: | Siewert wrote to Cash on Monday asking her to suspend Centrelink obligations for six months. She said: |
| The employment services system is likely to face near unprecedented strain in coming months after Scott Morrison revealed that more than 500,000 jobseeker payment claims had been processed during the Covid-19 pandemic. | The employment services system is likely to face near unprecedented strain in coming months after Scott Morrison revealed that more than 500,000 jobseeker payment claims had been processed during the Covid-19 pandemic. |
| Those new dole recipients likely add to an existing group of about 700,000 people who were receiving the equivalent payment, formerly known as Newstart, in December. | Those new dole recipients likely add to an existing group of about 700,000 people who were receiving the equivalent payment, formerly known as Newstart, in December. |
| The suspension of mutual obligations means welfare recipients do not have their payments cut off for failing to attend meetings with employment service providers or complete a certain number of job applications. | The suspension of mutual obligations means welfare recipients do not have their payments cut off for failing to attend meetings with employment service providers or complete a certain number of job applications. |
| Before temporarily suspending obligations in the middle of a Centrelink tech meltdown, Cash announced the requirements would be significantly relaxed. | Before temporarily suspending obligations in the middle of a Centrelink tech meltdown, Cash announced the requirements would be significantly relaxed. |
| A spokesman for Cash said on Tuesday: | A spokesman for Cash said on Tuesday: |
| Queensland senator Matt Canavan has also been commenting on the crisis facing Virgin Australia. The former resources minister reckons the government should “get its hands dirty”. | Queensland senator Matt Canavan has also been commenting on the crisis facing Virgin Australia. The former resources minister reckons the government should “get its hands dirty”. |