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Australia coronavirus updates live: restrictions on some elective surgery lifted – latest news Australia coronavirus updates live: restrictions on some elective surgery lifted – latest news
(32 minutes later)
As Australia’s infection rate falls, state and federal leaders will discuss lifting ban on elective surgery at meeting on Tuesday. Follow all the latest news, liveAs Australia’s infection rate falls, state and federal leaders will discuss lifting ban on elective surgery at meeting on Tuesday. Follow all the latest news, live
Roger Cook says the latest numbers in WA are a “terrific result” and that total case numbers have gone down due to eight confirmed recoveries.
The Western Australian health minister, Roger Cook, says the state has had one new case of Covid-19, a female healthcare worker.
Good afternoon to everyone from beyond Queensland’s closed borders. Looking forward to being with you for the next couple of hours as we digest some of the day’s events.
And that’s me done for today. I’m going to hand you over to my colleague Ben Smee who will be with you for the rest of the afternoon. Thanks as always for reading.
And that’s Morrison done. Here’s a quick recap of what came out of that press conference:
The government has announced that some elective surgeries, including some dental surgeries, colonoscopies, cancer reconstructive surgeries and IVF, can resume after the Anzac Day long weekend. The resumption will be based on need though, even in the private sector.
In cases where states have restricted all visitors to aged care homes they will be lifted to allow two visits per day by family or support people. Morrison said it was an issue of well-being, and that national cabinet had never recommended a full ban on visits.
On the government’s Covid-19 tracing app, Morrison says the states have given “in-principle support”. He says the app will be released in the “not-too-distant future” and insists no commonwealth agency will have access to its data.
On criticism from Beijing on Australia’s calls for an independent investigation into the spread of Covid-9, Morrison says: “We can respectively have a difference of view.”
On Virgin Australia, Morrison says he’s pleased to hear there have been in excess of 10 expressions of interest in the company after it entered voluntary administration today. He says the government believes “strong commercial viable competition between two carriers in Australia ... is very important”.
Morrison is asked whether the rosier than expected outlook on Covid-19 in Australia means the cost of the jobseeker and jobkeeper programs could be lower than expected. He says it’s too early too tell, then segues into talking about Virgin Australia. He calls the decision to enter voluntary administration “a road out and forward into the future”.
Morrison stonewalls a question about former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s interview on the ABC last night.Morrison stonewalls a question about former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull’s interview on the ABC last night.
On privacy concerns raised by the government’s Covid-19 tracing app, Morrison says the government is “moving to make sure they are addressed”.On privacy concerns raised by the government’s Covid-19 tracing app, Morrison says the government is “moving to make sure they are addressed”.
Morrison says there has been a “slowing” in the increase in the jobless rate since the beginning of Covid-19 restrictions.Morrison says there has been a “slowing” in the increase in the jobless rate since the beginning of Covid-19 restrictions.
“But the levels of claims are still very high-end they are obviously deeply concerning to me because every one of those half-a-million Australians who has processed for jobseeker claims is an Australian who has lost their livelihood,” he says. “But the levels of claims are still very high they are obviously deeply concerning to me because every one of those half-a-million Australians who has processed for jobseeker claims is an Australian who has lost their livelihood,” he says.
He’s now asked about China’s criticism of foreign minister Marise Payne’s calls for an investigation into the spread of the virus.He’s now asked about China’s criticism of foreign minister Marise Payne’s calls for an investigation into the spread of the virus.
Morrison is asked about an increase in racist attacks on Australians of Asian backgrounds in the wake of Covid-19 including what his message is to people who commit them and whether we need a new anti-racism campaign.Morrison is asked about an increase in racist attacks on Australians of Asian backgrounds in the wake of Covid-19 including what his message is to people who commit them and whether we need a new anti-racism campaign.
Given the low infection rate, Morrison is asked whether other restrictions, including on community sport, will be lifted.Given the low infection rate, Morrison is asked whether other restrictions, including on community sport, will be lifted.
He says not yet.He says not yet.
Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy says the resumption of elective surgery is a “gentle, carful start of normalising” the general healthcare of the community.Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy says the resumption of elective surgery is a “gentle, carful start of normalising” the general healthcare of the community.
Health minister Greg Hunt is now speaking. He says today is an important day on the road back after the announcement of a resumption of some elective surgery.
Morison says since 16 March the government has processed 517,000 jokseeker claims.
“By the end of this week we will have processed as many jobseeker claims in six weeks than we would normally do in the entirety of the year,” he says.
“There is still work to do but having now eclipsed more than half a million people, that is obviously of great concern, that is half a million people who need that payment and support.”
Morrison says national cabinet has provided “in principle” support for the government’s Covid-19 tracing app. He says it will be released in the “not too distant future” but doesn’t give a date.
He says that also relates to “older people” who are self-isolating in the community.
Morrison says in cases where states have imposed restrictions on all visits to aged care homes, they will be lifted so that there can be two visits per day by close relatives and support people.
Morrison says the lifting of those restrictions will see a re-opening of around 25% of activity in elective surgery in private and public hospitals.
Other areas where the restrictions will be lifted include post-cancer reconstructive surgeries, all procedures for children under the age of 18, all joint replacements, andcataract and eye procedures.
Morrison announces national cabinet has agreed to lift some restrictions on elective surgery, including IVF, after Anzac Day.
He says cases where states and territories have gone beyond the recommendations of the national cabinet in terms of restrictions could make decisions to ease them earlier.
Morrison starts by acknowledging the lockdown are testing the patience of Australians but we need to “stick to our plan”. He says restrictions will be eased once certain markers are met, including a rate of transmission of less than one.
Scott Morrison is speaking now.