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Australia coronavirus update live: Two more deaths reported in NSW as national death toll reaches 74 – latest news Australia coronavirus update live: Two more deaths reported in NSW as national death toll reaches 74 – latest news
(32 minutes later)
New South Wales chief medical officer says 231 people are now being treated for Covid-19, with 20 in intensive care. Follow liveNew South Wales chief medical officer says 231 people are now being treated for Covid-19, with 20 in intensive care. Follow live
A group of friends who gathered at one of their homes to play video games are among 95 people to be issued with a $1,600 on-the-spot fine for allegedly breaching Victoria’s social distancing laws in the past 24 hours.
Police in Victoria said they also fined three people who, they claim, “booked a short stay accommodation so they could hand out and take drugs”, as well as two people who were stopped in a car in Box Hill.
As we have seen in a number of these cases in recent weeks, police allege another offence was being committed at the same time – the driver of that car in Box Hill was unlicensed, the passenger was apparently brandishing a weapon.
The social distancing laws give police another reason to stop people and question their movements.
As Michael McGowan reported yesterday, a number of people fined in Victoria say the police were “intimidating” or “aggressive” and the laws were confusing.
But police have the discretionary power to issue on-the-spot fines and question people’s movements, and they are using that power.
The first suspension was always going to be too short:
The lifting of mutual obligations will continue until 22 May 2020 as a result of the impact of Covid-19.
During this time employment services remain open and available to support jobseekers to prepare for and find available jobs.
The government has a strong expectation that jobseekers will continue to work positively with their employment service provider and take advantage of all the support that is available.
To further assist jobseekers to prepare for and move quickly back into work, the Morrison government is also bringing forward the Employment Fund credit for the most job-ready jobseekers to be available immediately, rather than after 13 weeks, which is currently the case.
This change will apply to jobseekers who commence in jobactive from 4 May 2020.
The Employment Fund can be used by employment service providers to purchase work-related items including licences, equipment, training or qualifications to ensure workers are prepared and able to take up critical roles in the economy.
These arrangements by the Morrison government continue to support Australians through the challenges presented by Covid-19 and will be continually reviewed.
A few people have asked about the Newmarch House employee.
She was asymptomatic, meaning she was not showing any symptoms, when she went to work. She felt fine, but was tested after learning a contact of hers had been diagnosed with the virus.
The NSW Department of Health have been in contact with the woman and have reported she is “understandably distraught” over the situation.
Aged care workers in NSW are encouraged to get tested for the virus, given the danger it poses for the elderly.
Anglicare Sydney CEO Grant Millard has told the ABC the aged care sector has been in the eye of the storm of Covid-19.
It’s Newmarch centre, in western Sydney, has more than 40 cases of the virus after an employee unknowingly went to work while infected.
Three residents, who had been diagnosed with Covid-19, have died.
Millard:
Tim Pallas, the Victorian treasurer, has released some details on Victoria’s economic modelling:Tim Pallas, the Victorian treasurer, has released some details on Victoria’s economic modelling:
Queensland – 0Queensland – 0
NSW - fiveNSW - five
Victoria - 2Victoria - 2
The Victorian premier has once again warned that there will be no quick rush to remove the restrictions:The Victorian premier has once again warned that there will be no quick rush to remove the restrictions:
Dan Andrews is giving Victoria’s update:Dan Andrews is giving Victoria’s update:
This has been an issue which has been bubbling along since the childcare subsidy was announced.This has been an issue which has been bubbling along since the childcare subsidy was announced.
There have been reports of childcare centres struggling to stay open under the plan, because of cut incomes.There have been reports of childcare centres struggling to stay open under the plan, because of cut incomes.
Amanda Rishworth has released this statement:Amanda Rishworth has released this statement:
Canberra has still not seen much flow-on effect on petrol prices, despite the falling price of oil. It’s not alone, and the ACCC wants Australian retailers to address it:Canberra has still not seen much flow-on effect on petrol prices, despite the falling price of oil. It’s not alone, and the ACCC wants Australian retailers to address it:
The future of Virgin airlines in Australia continues to stoke a pre-Covid tit for tat between the major parties.The future of Virgin airlines in Australia continues to stoke a pre-Covid tit for tat between the major parties.
Bill Shorten was happy to stand in Melbourne’s cold pre-winter dark morning to chat about it with the ABC:Bill Shorten was happy to stand in Melbourne’s cold pre-winter dark morning to chat about it with the ABC:
Josh Frydenberg then weighed in.Josh Frydenberg then weighed in.
If you visit Coles or Woolworths online, you will probably find that many of the delivery restrictions have been loosened.If you visit Coles or Woolworths online, you will probably find that many of the delivery restrictions have been loosened.
The community shopping hour is still in place though.The community shopping hour is still in place though.
Also, there no longer seems to be a problem finding toilet paper*.Also, there no longer seems to be a problem finding toilet paper*.
*A sentence I could never have predicted I’d be writing in a news blog*A sentence I could never have predicted I’d be writing in a news blog
And Josh Taylor has had a chat to the podcast team about the tracing app the government wants you to download.
Our very clever colleagues, Nick Evershed and Andy Ball have created this explainer of how coronavirus spreads across a population:
While Australia has been focused on the Ruby Princess and its crew, it’s been easy to forget there are a bunch of Australians stranded on other cruise ships, which they helped crew, all over the world.
AAP has an update on the efforts to repatriate some of those Australians, who are sitting off the US:
The more than 100 Australian crew members stranded for weeks on cruise ships off the US coast following tough Trump administration coronavirus restrictions may finally be rescued.
The Australian government announced on Tuesday Australian crew may be allowed to join UK and European crew and be flown or take a cruise ship to England.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently aware of 128 Australian crew on 57 ships.
Australian officials are “optimistic” a good number of Australian crew will be able to disembark before the end of this month.
Queensland’s chief medical officer, Dr Jeanette Young, told a press conference this morning that as long as physical distancing restrictions were maintained, and unwell people stayed away, there was no reason to stop visits to aged care homes.
In NSW, the chief medical officer, Dr Kerry Chant, who is dealing with another outbreak at an aged care home after an employee unknowingly worked while ill, is once again encouraging all aged care workers to get tested.
This morning the deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth said people could keep their loved ones, and those around them safe, while also ensuring they remained in contact:
With the transmission rate in Australia sitting at about 1% and while testing rates have stayed high, authorities are stepping away from blocking visits to aged care homes.
Yesterday Scott Morrison said:
Queensland has recorded no new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours.
Great news.
Australia has undertaken the suppression method in response this pandemic. Lately though, as cases continue to drop, the word “elimination” has started to drip into press conferences. Scott Morrison has said elimination may be one of the side-effects of the suppression strategy.
Dr Nick Coatsworth says he is sticking with “suppression”.
The deputy chief medical officer Dr Nick Coatsworth has had a chat to the ABC this morning about loosening restrictions around Australia.
11 May is the date circled in the calendar at the moment. If the rate of infection stays at where it is (about 1%), then restrictions will be stepped back.
What does that look like? DCoatsworth isn’t entirely sure as yet:
Last night the Waverly council voted to open the water at Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beaches from Tuesday next week, but congregating on the sand or sunbathing will still be strictly off limits.
There will also be restrictions on when Sydneysiders can access the water. The beach will only open on weekdays between certain times and fences will be erected to guide swimmers and surfers in and out of the water. The council may also limit numbers during busier times.
The move comes after the council area to the south, Randwick, opened its water and sand to allow people to exercise on the beach.
Waverley’s mayor, Paula Masselos, previously said previous that allowing people on the sand at Bondi wasn’t an option as the area remains the most heavily infected in NSW.