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Coronavirus Australia update: Tasmania sets border reopen date as Victoria reports 30 new Covid-19 cases – live news Coronavirus Australia update: Tasmania sets border reopen date as Victoria reports 30 new Covid-19 cases – live news
(32 minutes later)
Premier Peter Gutwein says date could shift if conditions change; five of Victoria’s new cases are from hotel quarantine. Follow livePremier Peter Gutwein says date could shift if conditions change; five of Victoria’s new cases are from hotel quarantine. Follow live
Nightclubs will be among the businesses to re-open when Western Australia moves to phase four restrictions at the weekend.
Speaking on Friday, the health minister, Roger Cook, said people should use commonsense when restrictions ease at midnight.
“Police will not be out there tonight with a 1.5m ruler on the dance floor ensuring people stay apart,” Cook said.
The premier, Mark McGowan, said WA’s borders would remain closed for some time.
“We’ve got our economy open in part because of the fact that we have the hard border with the east and secondly because we have low infection rates,” he said.
WA recorded no new infections overnight but four active cases are in hotel quarantine, AAP reported.
KEY CHANGES UNDER PHASE FOUR IN WA:
[Cont from previous post]
AHPPC Statement on the review of physical distancing and person density restrictions including for smaller venues;
AHPPC Statement on Hotel Quarantine;
AHPPC Statement on risk management for boarding schools and school‑based residential colleges;
AHPPC Statement to update residential aged care facilities about minimising the impact of COVID-19;
AHPPC Statement on preliminary media reports of the results of a randomised trial of the use of dexamethasone;
AHPPC Statement on recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in Victoria;
AHPPC Statement on the safe return of crowds to stadiums, arenas and large theatres; and
Australian aviation industry’s protocol.
[Cont from previous post]
strengthening a formal surge plan for the public health response workforce and review the ongoing structure of the public health units;
progressing the national interoperable notifiable disease surveillance system (NINDSS) project and prioritise appropriate interfaces;
establishing a national training program for surge workforce;
better support the Communicable Disease Network of Australia (CDNA), including shared costs;
prioritising enhancing the public health physician workforce capacity; and
considering options for developing a formal public health workforce training program.
The PM’s office has issued a statement following today’s national cabinet meeting. I’m going to reproduce it for you in full:
The National Cabinet met today to further discuss Australia’s current Covid-19 response, easing restrictions in the coming months, helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a Covid-safe environment and getting the economy moving again.
The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, provided an update on the measures underway, the latest data and medical advice in relation to Covid-19.
Treasury Secretary, Dr Stephen Kennedy, provided an update on the labour market and current economic conditions.
There have been over 7,500 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 104 people have died. There are now around 500 active cases in Australia, and over the past week, daily infection rates have remained low. Testing remains high, with more than 2.2 million tests undertaken in Australia.
National Cabinet discussed the localised outbreaks in Victoria and the health response underway and committed to providing as much support as is necessary. Localised response plans are part of the Three-Step Framework for easing restrictions agreed by all jurisdictions. Victoria is responding well, including with testing and tracing, and the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions stand ready to assist where needed.
National Cabinet recommitted to the strategy of suppression of Covid-19 and to the Three-Step Framework to a Covid-safe Australia.
We need to continue to have the right controls in place to test more people, trace those who test positive and respond to local outbreaks when they occur. These are Precedent Conditions to enable Australia to relax baseline restrictions and enable Australians to live and work in a Covid-safe economy.
National Cabinet thanked Professor Murphy for his work on the Covid-19 response and wished him well in his new role as Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health.
National Cabinet will meet again on 10 July 2020.
Thanks Matilda! Luke Henriques-Gomes here. I’ll be with you into the evening. Get in touch on luke.henriques-gomes@theguardian.com or on Twitter @lukehgomes.Thanks Matilda! Luke Henriques-Gomes here. I’ll be with you into the evening. Get in touch on luke.henriques-gomes@theguardian.com or on Twitter @lukehgomes.
With that I will leave you for today, but don’t you worry for a moment, the magnificent (and award-winning) Luke Henriques-Gomes is here to guide you through the afternoon.With that I will leave you for today, but don’t you worry for a moment, the magnificent (and award-winning) Luke Henriques-Gomes is here to guide you through the afternoon.
From today Coles has introduced limits on purchasing toilet paper and paper towels across all stores nationwide and online.From today Coles has introduced limits on purchasing toilet paper and paper towels across all stores nationwide and online.
Customers are now allowed to buy only one packet of each per trip.Customers are now allowed to buy only one packet of each per trip.
In Victorian stores and NSW stores along the southern border, there are limits of two packs per customer on the following:In Victorian stores and NSW stores along the southern border, there are limits of two packs per customer on the following:
Hand sanitiserHand sanitiser
FlourFlour
EggsEggs
SugarSugar
MinceMince
UHT milkUHT milk
RiceRice
PastaPasta
Gutwein says the state will use an app to track those travelling across the Tasmanian border.Gutwein says the state will use an app to track those travelling across the Tasmanian border.
The Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, is speaking now regarding the state’s border.The Tasmanian premier, Peter Gutwein, is speaking now regarding the state’s border.
Another member of Papua New Guinea’s defence force has tested positive for coronavirus – only the country’s 11th case, but the third in just over a week which can be traced to Port Moresby’s Murray Barracks.Another member of Papua New Guinea’s defence force has tested positive for coronavirus – only the country’s 11th case, but the third in just over a week which can be traced to Port Moresby’s Murray Barracks.
The PNG government is considering imposing new restrictions on the PNG capital, concerned by new community transmission of the virus.The PNG government is considering imposing new restrictions on the PNG capital, concerned by new community transmission of the virus.
The ninth case in the country was detected at the end of last week – an Australian defence force officer who had been in PNG since January. That officer has since been repatriated to Australia.The ninth case in the country was detected at the end of last week – an Australian defence force officer who had been in PNG since January. That officer has since been repatriated to Australia.
The 10th case, of a 27-year-old soldier, came earlier this week as a result of mass testing of staff at the barracks.The 10th case, of a 27-year-old soldier, came earlier this week as a result of mass testing of staff at the barracks.
The latest case is a 26-year-old woman, who is being monitored by health workers in isolation at a sports centre that has been converted into a Covid-19 treatment facility.The latest case is a 26-year-old woman, who is being monitored by health workers in isolation at a sports centre that has been converted into a Covid-19 treatment facility.
PNG’s national pandemic response controller, the country’s police commissioner, David Manning, said he was considering whether new movement restrictions were necessary in Port Moresby, following two new cases in 48 hours.PNG’s national pandemic response controller, the country’s police commissioner, David Manning, said he was considering whether new movement restrictions were necessary in Port Moresby, following two new cases in 48 hours.
PNG lifted its state of emergency last week.PNG lifted its state of emergency last week.
Manning had said previously that the new cases in the capital were “evidence of local transmission in Port Moresby, and the risk is very high that more cases may be identified in the coming days”.Manning had said previously that the new cases in the capital were “evidence of local transmission in Port Moresby, and the risk is very high that more cases may be identified in the coming days”.
Now onto travel news: the prime minister has been asked if he agreed with Qantas head Alan Joyce’s comments that there may be no international travel for 12 months. Scott Morrison replied:Now onto travel news: the prime minister has been asked if he agreed with Qantas head Alan Joyce’s comments that there may be no international travel for 12 months. Scott Morrison replied:
Morrison was asked about the September cutoff date for jobkeeper payments. He said:Morrison was asked about the September cutoff date for jobkeeper payments. He said:
Scott Morrison addressed the news that Bain Capital agreed to buy Virgin Australia.Scott Morrison addressed the news that Bain Capital agreed to buy Virgin Australia.
Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has addressed the news that 30% of returned travellers in Victoria have been refusing Covid-19 testing in hotel quarantine.Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has addressed the news that 30% of returned travellers in Victoria have been refusing Covid-19 testing in hotel quarantine.
Scott Morrison also spoke on the AFP and Asio raids on a Labor MP’s Sydney home this morning, allegedly in relation to Chinese political interference.Scott Morrison also spoke on the AFP and Asio raids on a Labor MP’s Sydney home this morning, allegedly in relation to Chinese political interference.