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| Coronavirus Australia update: Brendan Murphy expects country's borders will stay closed until Covid-19 vaccine found – live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Outgoing chief medical officer ‘confident’ a vaccine will be found, while Tasmania sets date to reopen borders. Follow live | |
| The Australian share market has rebounded from Thursday’s plunge, with the financial sector leading the charge after the easing of some regulations for American banks, reports AAP. | |
| The S&P/ASX200 benchmark index closed Friday up 86.4 points, or 1.49%, at 5,904.1 points, while the All Ordinaries index was up 83.8 points, or 1.41% higher, at 6,011.8. | |
| CMC Markets chief market strategist Michael McCarthy said: | |
| That sentiment turned positive after the US Federal Reserve eased capital requirements on banks while ordering them to suspend share buyback programs and keep dividend payments at current levels. | |
| McCarthy said: | |
| The financial sector was biggest gainer, up 2.7% with gains for all of the big four lenders. | |
| CBA rose 2.4% to $69.27, ANZ gained 3.0% to $18.80, NAB climbed 2.7% to $18.40 and Westpac added 3.3% to $17.99. | |
| Macquarie was more restrained, gaining 1.7% to $119.19, but other wealth managers shone. | |
| Magellan gained 5.4%, Challenger rose 4.3%, IOOF added 8.5%, Pendal Group gained 3.8% and AMP rose 4.8%. | |
| Also, insurance companies QBE and Suncorp were both up 3.9%, to $8.88 and $9.54, respectively. | |
| Qantas fell 9.1% to $3.81 after its shares returned to trade following a $1.4bn equity raising in which it sold shares for $3.89. | |
| Holders of Virgin Australia shares, which have been in a trading halt since the airline entered voluntary administration in April, were about lose everything, with the airline set to be sold to Bain Capital to pay off its creditors. | |
| Ending the interview, Probyn asks when Murphy thinks he will next be able to hug his two-year-old granddaughter. | |
| Murphy’s answer is a bit unclear. He says people are able to hug their family members, if they live with you, but notes he’s not living with his granddaughter. | |
| He says it will happen when there is no community transmission, which is the case in some parts of Australia. | |
| Asked about the criticism of the WHO, Murphy says he thinks the organisation is in a “difficult position”. | |
| Brendan Murphy says he believes Australia’s international borders will not fully open – that is without quarantining or some type of restrictions – until a vaccine is developed. | |
| Probyn notes it’s possible a vaccine will never be developed. | |
| Murphy concedes “that’s a possibility” but says he’s “getting more confident” that will happen. | |
| Murphy is asked if its premature for him to leave the role given the spike in cases in Victoria. | |
| He says there is “never a right time”. | |
| Murphy says he will still be involved as secretary of the Department of Health. | |
| Murphy tells Probyn there has not been a direction from the AHPPC that the national cabinet or the commonwealth government has ever rejected. | |
| He adds: | |
| Asked about early commentary from some critics and experts that authorities should have gone harder into lockdown, Murphy says the policy decisions are not just his, but the decision of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. | |
| Probyn asks Murphy if the earlier modelling – which was presented publicly and modelled possible deaths – was designed to shock the population. He replies: | |
| Murphy says that on 1 February he called the federal health minister, Greg Hunt, and told him the government should take tougher measures than those suggested by the WHO. That meant closing the borders. | |
| Australia’s chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, is on the ABC for an exit interview with Andrew Probyn. Murphy is set to take on a new role as the secretary of the Department of Health. | |
| Murphy says he was in Italy on holidays when he first learned of the coronavirus. | |
| Victoria’s opposition leader, Michael O’Brien, has seized on comments from state health authorities that only 70% of returned travellers were taking a Covid-19 test. | Victoria’s opposition leader, Michael O’Brien, has seized on comments from state health authorities that only 70% of returned travellers were taking a Covid-19 test. |
| First Dog on the Moon’s cartoon this week is about the ABC cuts. | First Dog on the Moon’s cartoon this week is about the ABC cuts. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | What measures remain in place are likely to apply only to those places where Covid-19 cases have spiked. |
| Marshall said on Friday: | Marshall said on Friday: |
| With 30 new cases reported in Victoria on Friday, Marshall said SA would continue to monitor its progress. | 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. |