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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 live | Premier Peter Gutwein says date could shift if conditions change; five of Victoria’s new cases are from hotel quarantine. Follow live |
| South Australia is likely to drop its blanket approach to border restrictions and look to target travellers from hot spots as it moves to further lift coronavirus measures, reports AAP. | |
| The SA premier, Steven Marshall, said the state was sticking to its plan to reopen all borders on 20 July and could consider lifting restrictions for the ACT, Broken Hill and western Victoria even sooner. | |
| What measures remain in place are likely to apply only to those places where Covid-19 cases have spiked. | |
| Marshall said on Friday: | |
| With 30 new cases reported in Victoria on Friday, Marshall said SA would continue to monitor its progress. | |
| SA has already lifted border restrictions for Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. | |
| On Monday, South Australia will move to stage 3 of lifting coronavirus measures, which includes relaxing density requirements for pubs, bars and restaurants, with one person allowed for every 2 square metres. | |
| Large venues such as Adelaide Oval will be free to cater for up to 50% of their normal capacity, provided health officials have approved their Covid-19 safety plans | |
| The Adelaide Casino will also reopen. | |
| On Friday, SA again reported no new Covid-19 cases, with the last confirmed infection about a month ago. | |
| Nightclubs will be among the businesses to reopen when Western Australia moves to phase 4 restrictions at the weekend. | Nightclubs will be among the businesses to reopen when Western Australia moves to phase 4 restrictions at the weekend. |
| Speaking on Friday, the health minister, Roger Cook, said people should use commonsense when restrictions ease at midnight. | Speaking on Friday, the health minister, Roger Cook, said people should use commonsense when restrictions ease at midnight. |
| The premier, Mark McGowan, said WA’s borders would remain closed for some time. | The premier, Mark McGowan, said WA’s borders would remain closed for some time. |
| WA recorded no new infections overnight but four active cases are in hotel quarantine, AAP reported. | WA recorded no new infections overnight but four active cases are in hotel quarantine, AAP reported. |
| Key changes under phase 4 in WA: | Key changes under phase 4 in WA: |
| [Cont from previous post] | [Cont from previous post] |
| AHPPC statement on the review of physical distancing and person density restrictions including for smaller venues | AHPPC statement on the review of physical distancing and person density restrictions including for smaller venues |
| AHPPC statement on hotel quarantine | AHPPC statement on hotel quarantine |
| AHPPC statement on risk management for boarding schools and school‑based residential colleges | 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 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 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 recent outbreaks of Covid-19 in Victoria |
| AHPPC statement on the safe return of crowds to stadiums, arenas and large theatres | AHPPC statement on the safe return of crowds to stadiums, arenas and large theatres |
| Australian aviation industry’s protocol. | Australian aviation industry’s protocol. |
| [Cont from previous post] | [Cont from previous post] |
| Localised health response | Localised health response |
| National cabinet discussed the outbreaks in Victoria and how best to ensure a coordinated, cross-jurisdictional response to localised health outbreaks going forward. | National cabinet discussed the outbreaks in Victoria and how best to ensure a coordinated, cross-jurisdictional response to localised health outbreaks going forward. |
| The national cabinet agreed to a new plan for Australia’s public health capacity and Covid-19. Under the plan developed by the AHPPC, six actions for state, territory and commonwealth governments will improve long-term sustainability of the public health workforce for the remainder of Covid‑19 and beyond by: | The national cabinet agreed to a new plan for Australia’s public health capacity and Covid-19. Under the plan developed by the AHPPC, six actions for state, territory and commonwealth governments will improve long-term sustainability of the public health workforce for the remainder of Covid‑19 and beyond by: |
| Strengthening a formal surge plan for the public health response workforce and review the ongoing structure of the public health units | 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 | Progressing the national interoperable notifiable disease surveillance system (NINDSS) project and prioritise appropriate interfaces |
| Establishing a national training program for surge workforce; | Establishing a national training program for surge workforce; |
| Better support the Communicable Disease Network of Australia (CDNA), including shared costs | Better support the Communicable Disease Network of Australia (CDNA), including shared costs |
| Prioritising enhancing the public health physician workforce capacity | Prioritising enhancing the public health physician workforce capacity |
| Considering options for developing a formal public health workforce training program. | Considering options for developing a formal public health workforce training program. |
| Hotel quarantine | Hotel quarantine |
| National cabinet confirmed that the current hotel quarantine arrangements remain in place. In addition, national cabinet agreed that further testing will be conducted for all those in hotel quarantine, including within the first 48 hours in quarantine and then on day 10-12 of quarantine. | National cabinet confirmed that the current hotel quarantine arrangements remain in place. In addition, national cabinet agreed that further testing will be conducted for all those in hotel quarantine, including within the first 48 hours in quarantine and then on day 10-12 of quarantine. |
| Roadmap for arts and entertainment venues | Roadmap for arts and entertainment venues |
| National cabinet asked AHPPC to develop a roadmap for reopening arts and entertainment venues, in particular to enable planning for productions to commence. | National cabinet asked AHPPC to develop a roadmap for reopening arts and entertainment venues, in particular to enable planning for productions to commence. |
| This will build on the AHPPC statement on the safe return of crowds to stadiums, arenas and large theatres. Under this plan the AHPPC advises that in step 3, seated and ticked events may take place with crowd limits – for example, stadiums with a capacity of up to 40,000 people may operate at 25% seating capacity and stadiums with a capacity of greater than 40,000 people may not have more than 10,000 people. In later steps, states and territories may allow all large venues to admit larger crowds provided there is no evidence of community transmission, the event is seated and ticketed, physical distancing and other public health measures are maintained, and all public health risks are managed. | This will build on the AHPPC statement on the safe return of crowds to stadiums, arenas and large theatres. Under this plan the AHPPC advises that in step 3, seated and ticked events may take place with crowd limits – for example, stadiums with a capacity of up to 40,000 people may operate at 25% seating capacity and stadiums with a capacity of greater than 40,000 people may not have more than 10,000 people. In later steps, states and territories may allow all large venues to admit larger crowds provided there is no evidence of community transmission, the event is seated and ticketed, physical distancing and other public health measures are maintained, and all public health risks are managed. |
| Small venues and physical distancing | Small venues and physical distancing |
| National Cabinet agreed that under step 3 of the framework for a Covid-safe Australia and based on AHPPC advice, states and territories can allow small premises to apply a one-person per 2-square-metre rule with a Covid-safe plan in place. | National Cabinet agreed that under step 3 of the framework for a Covid-safe Australia and based on AHPPC advice, states and territories can allow small premises to apply a one-person per 2-square-metre rule with a Covid-safe plan in place. |
| 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 PM’s office has issued a statement following today’s national cabinet meeting. I’m going to reproduce it for you in full: |
| 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 sanitiser | Hand sanitiser |
| Flour | Flour |
| Eggs | Eggs |
| Sugar | Sugar |
| Mince | Mince |
| UHT milk | UHT milk |
| Rice | Rice |
| Pasta | Pasta |
| 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. |