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Australia coronavirus update latest: rescue flight from Argentina returns stranded travellers as death toll reaches 81 – live news Australia coronavirus update latest: Queensland to relax some restrictions from Friday midnight – live news
(32 minutes later)
More than 150 Australians and 20 New Zealanders are on the flight from Buenos Aires after being stranded in South America since the outbreak. Follow live Rescue flight from Argentina returns Australian and New Zealand travellers stranded in South America since the outbreak. Follow live
KIM JONG-UN WATCH: The whole “where is Kin Jong-un?” thing is getting quite a bit of online traction.
In this report by Reuters, we learn that the possibly the Korean Supreme Leader’s train has maybe been spotted at a resort town.
Remarkably, analysts looking at satellite photos think this because the train is parked at a “leadership station”, which is like the equivalent of an executive parking space, but for trains.
Does this mean he is on death’s door?
The short version: we don’t know.
“The train’s presence does not prove the whereabouts of the North Korean leader or indicate anything about his health but it does lend weight to reports that Kim is staying at an elite area on the country’s eastern coast,” the report by a North Korean monitoring project said.
Has to be stressed, the Queensland announcement doesn’t come into force until NEXT weekend.
So to be clear, don’t go shoe shopping until Saturday, May 2.
After that, you can head to your local Julius Marlow stockist.
Steven Miles, the Queensland health minister, says the changes will be monitored.
Queensland has announced “a very minor easing” of its restrictions.Queensland has announced “a very minor easing” of its restrictions.
The premier, Annastacia Palaszuczk, says she “will not hesitate to clam back down” if people begin to hold mass gatherings or take advantage of the changes. The premier, Annastacia Palaszuczk, says she “will not hesitate to clamp back down” if people begin to hold mass gatherings or take advantage of the changes.
Queensland will allow some forms of recreation, such as:Queensland will allow some forms of recreation, such as:
Going for a drive (within 50km of home)Going for a drive (within 50km of home)
Picnics (limited to groups of two, or people from the same household)Picnics (limited to groups of two, or people from the same household)
Shopping for non-essential items like clothes and shoesShopping for non-essential items like clothes and shoes
Some national park areas will be reopenedSome national park areas will be reopened
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, is speaking now.The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, is speaking now.
She says three new cases reported in the state overnight.She says three new cases reported in the state overnight.
She says from next Friday Queensland will lift some of the stay at home restrictions.She says from next Friday Queensland will lift some of the stay at home restrictions.
From the AAP newswire:From the AAP newswire:
The prime minister says Australia is on the road back from the impact of COVID-19, but Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton warns people not to be complacent.The prime minister says Australia is on the road back from the impact of COVID-19, but Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton warns people not to be complacent.
Scott Morrison believes Australia is on the “road back” from tackling the coronavirus with some restrictions starting to lift.Scott Morrison believes Australia is on the “road back” from tackling the coronavirus with some restrictions starting to lift.
The prime minister pointed to the reopening of elective surgery, schools starting to come back and says it won’t be long before some businesses are opening againThe prime minister pointed to the reopening of elective surgery, schools starting to come back and says it won’t be long before some businesses are opening again
“We are definitely on the road back now,” the prime minister told ABC radio on Sunday.“We are definitely on the road back now,” the prime minister told ABC radio on Sunday.
“We’ll try and get back to some type of normal.”“We’ll try and get back to some type of normal.”
However, he said until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, social distancing will remain in place and Australians need to make hand hygiene instinctive.However, he said until there is a vaccine for COVID-19, social distancing will remain in place and Australians need to make hand hygiene instinctive.
“There has never been more effort in finding a vaccine for this virus and we are hopeful that might mean they get a break through than otherwise might be the case,” he said.“There has never been more effort in finding a vaccine for this virus and we are hopeful that might mean they get a break through than otherwise might be the case,” he said.
The number of coronavirus cases, at around 6700, is small by international standards and is rising at an extremely slow rate compared to a few weeks ago.The number of coronavirus cases, at around 6700, is small by international standards and is rising at an extremely slow rate compared to a few weeks ago.
However, the death toll rose to 81 after an 83-year-old man, who resided at Newmarch House in Caddens, NSW died on Saturday, operator Anglicare Sydney said.However, the death toll rose to 81 after an 83-year-old man, who resided at Newmarch House in Caddens, NSW died on Saturday, operator Anglicare Sydney said.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton again warned Australians not to become complacent in trying to contain the virus, but concedes there is a level of frustration among people who want to get out and enjoy the good weather before winter starts.Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton again warned Australians not to become complacent in trying to contain the virus, but concedes there is a level of frustration among people who want to get out and enjoy the good weather before winter starts.
“But we need to very careful here, we have seen what has happened in Singapore and other jurisdictions at the moment where the second wave has taken place,” Mr Dutton told Sky News.“But we need to very careful here, we have seen what has happened in Singapore and other jurisdictions at the moment where the second wave has taken place,” Mr Dutton told Sky News.
“We want to make sure we can continue the success we have got.”The re-opening of schools remains a contentious issue between the federal and states and territory governments.“We want to make sure we can continue the success we have got.”The re-opening of schools remains a contentious issue between the federal and states and territory governments.
However, a study by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance here has found no evidence students at NSW schools have infected staff with COVID-19.However, a study by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance here has found no evidence students at NSW schools have infected staff with COVID-19.
“Our investigation found no evidence of children infecting teachers,” the chief investigator Professor Kristine Macartney told The Sun-Herald.“Our investigation found no evidence of children infecting teachers,” the chief investigator Professor Kristine Macartney told The Sun-Herald.
“We have seen an extraordinarily low rate of transmissions in schools,” Prof Macartney said.“We have seen an extraordinarily low rate of transmissions in schools,” Prof Macartney said.
The picture in this piece is utterly amazing.The picture in this piece is utterly amazing.
And in remarkable news, it seems Donald Trump is scaling back his incoherent, rambling, press-baiting daily briefings after suggesting that injections of disinfectant could be used to treat coronavirus.And in remarkable news, it seems Donald Trump is scaling back his incoherent, rambling, press-baiting daily briefings after suggesting that injections of disinfectant could be used to treat coronavirus.
For absolute clarity, disinfectant should not be ingested, injected or put inside your body via any means. Please don’t do that.For absolute clarity, disinfectant should not be ingested, injected or put inside your body via any means. Please don’t do that.
The question about whether kids and teachers go back to school is looming as a brawl that will escalate in the coming week.Two Labor-led states in particular, Queensland and Victoria, are on a different page of the textbook to the federal government, which wants schools to be open.The question about whether kids and teachers go back to school is looming as a brawl that will escalate in the coming week.Two Labor-led states in particular, Queensland and Victoria, are on a different page of the textbook to the federal government, which wants schools to be open.
In Victoria, the state opposition has begun to grumble about the extended remote learning arrangements.In Victoria, the state opposition has begun to grumble about the extended remote learning arrangements.
The education minister, James Merlino, says it is following the advice of health experts and keeping schools closed.The education minister, James Merlino, says it is following the advice of health experts and keeping schools closed.
In Queensland, independent schools have written to the premier, Annastacia Palszczuk, saying they want to reopen for Year 11 and 12 students.In Queensland, independent schools have written to the premier, Annastacia Palszczuk, saying they want to reopen for Year 11 and 12 students.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is today launching a nationwide campaign to make sure people don’t neglect health concerns while we’re all in lockdown.The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners is today launching a nationwide campaign to make sure people don’t neglect health concerns while we’re all in lockdown.
The key message is that your GP is still available, and that you really, really need to still seek medical advice, even during the lockdown. Doctors are doing consultations by video-conferencing platforms, telephone and, in some cases, face-to-face.The key message is that your GP is still available, and that you really, really need to still seek medical advice, even during the lockdown. Doctors are doing consultations by video-conferencing platforms, telephone and, in some cases, face-to-face.
The RACGP president, Dr Harry Nespolon, said that in these difficult times, people still needed to take care of their health and wellbeing.The RACGP president, Dr Harry Nespolon, said that in these difficult times, people still needed to take care of their health and wellbeing.
Also, don’t inject yourself with disinfectant. Please.Also, don’t inject yourself with disinfectant. Please.
Now that Insiders (and that bloody cringeworthy Tony Burke AC/DC segment) is finished, here’s another Sunday morning read, this time from my colleague Melissa Davey, who has taken an in-depth look at the coronavirus outbreak in Tasmania’s north-west.Now that Insiders (and that bloody cringeworthy Tony Burke AC/DC segment) is finished, here’s another Sunday morning read, this time from my colleague Melissa Davey, who has taken an in-depth look at the coronavirus outbreak in Tasmania’s north-west.
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Presented without comment.
Actually, I will make a comment.
Please, please don’t drink bleach.
AAP has filed on Peter Dutton, who spoke to Sky News shortly before to his opposite number addressed free-to-air viewers via Insiders. He says the border with NZ could open before others.
The report says:
Kristina Keneally, Labor’s home affairs spokeswoman, also spoke about jobkeeper and Labor’s desire to have “as many workers as possible” covered under the scheme, including casuals and those on temporary visas.
David Speers questions the added cost, which he says could be $20bn to $30bn to extend jobkeeper to another 2 million people.
Keneally said:
The controversial coronavirus tracing app “could be a great tool”, Keneally says, but Australians will only download it if they have confidence their privacy will be protected.
Labor wants privacy protections legislation “and that when this crisis is over that authorities ensure that that data is deleted”.
Should schools be open?
Keneally: “Listen to your premier of chief minister.”
On what the economic rebuilt might look like post-coronavirus, Keneally says we should remember “that the Australian economy was not a great place for the Australian worker prior to Covid-19”.
Lots of back and forth between Kristina Keneally and Insiders host David Speers about commonwealth and state responsibility for allowing Ruby Princess passengers to disembark.
Speers has tried hard to press the point that New South Wales Health had delegated authority to made decisions around the health of cruise ship passengers. KK is having none of that suggestion:
And later on :
Kristina Keneally is speaking on Insiders about stopping (or not) the boats. Actually, one particular boat, the Ruby Princess.
Expect the tracing app to be part of the Insiders discussion with Kristina Keneally this morning.
Overnight my colleague Josh Taylor has written a good analysis of the data security debate. He says the government has an “uphill battle” to convince us they can trust us with their data.