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| Coronavirus Australia update live: NRL announces 20-round competition restarting on 28 May – latest news | Coronavirus Australia update live: NRL announces 20-round competition restarting on 28 May – latest news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Current competition ladder will be in place when games resume and grand final will be held on October 25. Follow live | Current competition ladder will be in place when games resume and grand final will be held on October 25. Follow live |
| We will wrap up our Australian rolling coverage of Covid-19 developments now. Thank you for your company and correspondence. | |
| The Guardian’s international liveblog continues here: | |
| In summation: | |
| The global death toll from Covid-19 has surpassed 211,000. There are more than 3.05m confirmed cases worldwide. | |
| Australia recorded just 12 new cases in the last 24 hours, and 100 in the past seven days. Australia has had a total of 6727 confirmed cases. | |
| 88 people have died in Australia from Covid-19, including four more deaths on Tuesday at Sydney’s Newmarch House aged care home. | |
| More than 2.4m Australians have downloaded the government’s Covidsafe app. | |
| The NRL has said it has confirmed it will start playing matches on May 28, resuming a 20-round season. | |
| The deteriorating relationship between Canberra and Beijing worsened further over Australia’s proposal for an independent inquiry into China’s handling of the Covid-19 outbreak. | |
| We will return tomorrow as this country, and this world, continues to grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic. | |
| All of you, stay well, and stay safe. | |
| Coles and Woolworths have both pulled the April-May 2020 edition of What Doctors Don’t Tell You magazine from their stores, after concerns were raised about health conspiracy theories the magazine was promoting. | |
| Coles said it did not endorse the magazine’s content, in a statement to 2GB radio station. | |
| “What Coles was shown when they were originally shown the magazine is different content to what is in this edition. | |
| “Coles is removing it from all stories nationwide. We encourage everyone to listen to help authorities in regards to Covid-19.” | |
| Woolworths said it appreciated its customers’ concerns over the magazine. | |
| “We’ve informed the supplier we’ll be removing the magazine from sale. | |
| “As always, we would encourage our customers to seek and follow expert medical advice.” | |
| President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Dr Harry Nespolon, told The Guardian he applauded the decision of Coles and Woolworths “to exercise sound corporate responsibility”. | |
| The high-profile promotion of unproven Covid-19 ‘cures’ has been problematic in Australia. | |
| Australian celebrity chef Pete Evans was fined $25,000 by the Therapeutic Goods Administration last week for claiming a “subtle energy platform” could be used to treat coronavirus. | |
| Evans was selling the BioCharger NG Subtle Energy Platform – dismissed by the Australian Medical Association as a “fancy light machine” – for $14,990 on his website. | |
| Evans’ ad said the machine was a “subtle energy revitalisation platform”. | |
| Very subtle it seems. There is no evidence Covid-19 can be treated or cured by coloured lights. | |
| We’ve been reporting extensively on the plight of those in Australia left out of the government’s Covid-19 assistance packages, including hundreds of thousands of international students. | We’ve been reporting extensively on the plight of those in Australia left out of the government’s Covid-19 assistance packages, including hundreds of thousands of international students. |
| Now, more than 300 Australians have offered to open their homes to international students struggling during the coronavirus crisis without government support. | Now, more than 300 Australians have offered to open their homes to international students struggling during the coronavirus crisis without government support. |
| The Australian Homestay Network says more than 300 families have signed up in the past two weeks to become hosts of international students following a call-out. | The Australian Homestay Network says more than 300 families have signed up in the past two weeks to become hosts of international students following a call-out. |
| Founder David Bycroft says Australians have a responsibility to step up and look after the students, who aren’t getting federal government support during the pandemic. | Founder David Bycroft says Australians have a responsibility to step up and look after the students, who aren’t getting federal government support during the pandemic. |
| “The prime minister has told international students to return home if they can’t afford to support themselves but the reality of the situation is it isn’t that simple,” Bycroft said in a statement. | “The prime minister has told international students to return home if they can’t afford to support themselves but the reality of the situation is it isn’t that simple,” Bycroft said in a statement. |
| “For many students, going home is not an option.” | “For many students, going home is not an option.” |
| There are more than 500,000 international students in Australia and many of them have lost their jobs during the pandemic. | There are more than 500,000 international students in Australia and many of them have lost their jobs during the pandemic. |
| Some want to go home but can’t due to the lack of flights, funds or border restrictions, while others have built lives and families in Australia. | Some want to go home but can’t due to the lack of flights, funds or border restrictions, while others have built lives and families in Australia. |
| According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, international education contributed $37.6bn to the economy in the 2018/19 financial year and employs 240,000 people. | According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, international education contributed $37.6bn to the economy in the 2018/19 financial year and employs 240,000 people. |
| “When you hear someone saying Australians need to be looked after first, they don’t understand that international students actually support Australian livelihoods,” Bycroft said. | “When you hear someone saying Australians need to be looked after first, they don’t understand that international students actually support Australian livelihoods,” Bycroft said. |
| For a weekly fee of $160, students are provided with accommodation and three meals a day as part of the initiative. | For a weekly fee of $160, students are provided with accommodation and three meals a day as part of the initiative. |
| “We can connect vulnerable international students with Australian families who are willing and able to fulfil those needs, and help them get through these tough times,” he said. | “We can connect vulnerable international students with Australian families who are willing and able to fulfil those needs, and help them get through these tough times,” he said. |
| As minds in Australia turn to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, globally, there are concerns about the long-term ramifications of extended lockdowns. | As minds in Australia turn to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, globally, there are concerns about the long-term ramifications of extended lockdowns. |
| This story, from my colleague Liz Ford in London, makes for sobering reading. | This story, from my colleague Liz Ford in London, makes for sobering reading. |
| Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori says the Olympic Games, already postponed to 2021, would be “scrapped” if they could not take place next year. | Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori says the Olympic Games, already postponed to 2021, would be “scrapped” if they could not take place next year. |
| The International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government last month postponed the Games until July 2021 because of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. | The International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government last month postponed the Games until July 2021 because of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. |
| With the epidemic’s worldwide infection rate climbing and experts suggesting a vaccine is still a long way off, questions are being asked about whether the global sporting event might need to be delayed further. | With the epidemic’s worldwide infection rate climbing and experts suggesting a vaccine is still a long way off, questions are being asked about whether the global sporting event might need to be delayed further. |
| “No. In that case, the Olympics will be scrapped,” Mori said in the interview with Japanese sports daily Nikkan Sports, when asked if the Games could be postponed again until 2022. | “No. In that case, the Olympics will be scrapped,” Mori said in the interview with Japanese sports daily Nikkan Sports, when asked if the Games could be postponed again until 2022. |
| However Yori, a former prime minister, remained confident they would go ahead in 2021. | However Yori, a former prime minister, remained confident they would go ahead in 2021. |
| “We have delayed the Olympics until next summer after we will have won the battle,” he was quoted as saying. | “We have delayed the Olympics until next summer after we will have won the battle,” he was quoted as saying. |
| “The Olympics would be much more valuable than any Olympics in the past if we could go ahead with it after winning this battle. We have to believe this otherwise our hard work and efforts will not be rewarded.” | “The Olympics would be much more valuable than any Olympics in the past if we could go ahead with it after winning this battle. We have to believe this otherwise our hard work and efforts will not be rewarded.” |
| The Guardian’s Justin McCurry, in Tokyo, has filed on just how difficult getting the games up next year will be. | The Guardian’s Justin McCurry, in Tokyo, has filed on just how difficult getting the games up next year will be. |
| If the NRL restarts on May 28, it likely won’t be the first footballing competition in the world to resume: Germany’s Bundesliga is slated to return to competition on May 9, pending final approval from the German government. | If the NRL restarts on May 28, it likely won’t be the first footballing competition in the world to resume: Germany’s Bundesliga is slated to return to competition on May 9, pending final approval from the German government. |
| Germany is gradually easing social distancing restrictions, and the football league’s proposal is to limit crowds to just 300 people (perhaps the Sheffield Shield can restart here). | Germany is gradually easing social distancing restrictions, and the football league’s proposal is to limit crowds to just 300 people (perhaps the Sheffield Shield can restart here). |
| Australian Brandon Borrello plays for SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga. He spoke with the ABC here: | Australian Brandon Borrello plays for SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga. He spoke with the ABC here: |
| A little more detail on the restarting of the NRL. | A little more detail on the restarting of the NRL. |
| The rugby league is the first major code in Australia to announce its resumption: others will no doubt be watching with bated breath. | The rugby league is the first major code in Australia to announce its resumption: others will no doubt be watching with bated breath. |
| Australian Rugby League Commission Chair Peter V’landys confirmed the restart late Tuesday afternoon “after extensive consultation with broadcast partners, clubs, and key stakeholders”. | Australian Rugby League Commission Chair Peter V’landys confirmed the restart late Tuesday afternoon “after extensive consultation with broadcast partners, clubs, and key stakeholders”. |
| Else: | Else: |
| The first two rounds of the competition will be counted and the current competition ladder will be in place when games resume (this may be subject to prime ministerial appeal given the Sharks haven’t won a game yet). | The first two rounds of the competition will be counted and the current competition ladder will be in place when games resume (this may be subject to prime ministerial appeal given the Sharks haven’t won a game yet). |
| The draw for the rest of the season will be worked out in coming weeks, along with the timing of the State of Origin (which Queensland will win, because... ‘Queenslander’, ahh Billy Moore, those were the days). | The draw for the rest of the season will be worked out in coming weeks, along with the timing of the State of Origin (which Queensland will win, because... ‘Queenslander’, ahh Billy Moore, those were the days). |
| The 2020 season will be 20 rounds, with the grand final on October 25. | The 2020 season will be 20 rounds, with the grand final on October 25. |
| (Oh, and the first two rounds will count ... good news for some.) | (Oh, and the first two rounds will count ... good news for some.) |
| I am now handing over the blog to my colleague, Ben Doherty. Have a good evening, everyone. | I am now handing over the blog to my colleague, Ben Doherty. Have a good evening, everyone. |
| Anglicare has announced four more deaths at Newmarch House, taking the total number of deaths of residents who tested positive to coronavirus at the facility to 11. | Anglicare has announced four more deaths at Newmarch House, taking the total number of deaths of residents who tested positive to coronavirus at the facility to 11. |
| The Chinese embassy in Canberra has responded to reports about the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade raising the investigation of the source of Covid-19 with the ambassador. | The Chinese embassy in Canberra has responded to reports about the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade raising the investigation of the source of Covid-19 with the ambassador. |
| In a move clearly targeted at embarrassing the Morrison government, the statement claims Dfat has conceded it has no detail on the proposed investigation. | In a move clearly targeted at embarrassing the Morrison government, the statement claims Dfat has conceded it has no detail on the proposed investigation. |
| A spokesperson said: | A spokesperson said: |
| Here’s more on a third NRL player called in over alleged social distancing breaches. | Here’s more on a third NRL player called in over alleged social distancing breaches. |
| Good afternoon everyone.Just on the claims from Angus Taylor’s office that there is a difference between accessing a report and downloading it, that’s not entirely the case. | Good afternoon everyone.Just on the claims from Angus Taylor’s office that there is a difference between accessing a report and downloading it, that’s not entirely the case. |
| The City of Sydney website itself refers to links of the annual report file as a “download”. While technically his office may not have right-clicked and saved the file, it would have still recorded the access of the document as a download – it would have made a copy of it on Taylor’s or the staffer’s computer, albeit not permanently. | The City of Sydney website itself refers to links of the annual report file as a “download”. While technically his office may not have right-clicked and saved the file, it would have still recorded the access of the document as a download – it would have made a copy of it on Taylor’s or the staffer’s computer, albeit not permanently. |