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| Coronavirus Australia: Brendan Murphy expects country's borders will stay closed until Covid-19 vaccine found – as it happened | Coronavirus Australia: Brendan Murphy expects country's borders will stay closed until Covid-19 vaccine found – as it happened |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Outgoing chief medical officer ‘confident’ a vaccine will be developed, while Tasmania sets date to reopen borders. This blog is now closed | |
| We will leave you for now. Thank you for reading. Have a great Friday night. | We will leave you for now. Thank you for reading. Have a great Friday night. |
| Let’s take a look at the main developments from today. | Let’s take a look at the main developments from today. |
| Victoria recorded another 30 new cases, as its confirmed clusters continued to grow. Authorities also confirmed only 70% of return travellers were accepting a Covid test. | Victoria recorded another 30 new cases, as its confirmed clusters continued to grow. Authorities also confirmed only 70% of return travellers were accepting a Covid test. |
| Six new cases were confirmed in NSW. | Six new cases were confirmed in NSW. |
| Woolworths and Coles reinstituted purchase limit on toilet paper amid reports of panic buying. | Woolworths and Coles reinstituted purchase limit on toilet paper amid reports of panic buying. |
| The Northern Territory said it would block people from Covid “hotspots” when its borders opened on 17 July. | The Northern Territory said it would block people from Covid “hotspots” when its borders opened on 17 July. |
| Tasmania said it would open its borders 24 July. | Tasmania said it would open its borders 24 July. |
| Virgin administrators have asked creditors to approve a bid from Bain Capital. | Virgin administrators have asked creditors to approve a bid from Bain Capital. |
| Outgoing chief medical officer Brendan Murphy confirmed his belief international borders would not fully reopen until a vaccine was found. | Outgoing chief medical officer Brendan Murphy confirmed his belief international borders would not fully reopen until a vaccine was found. |
| 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 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. | 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: | 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. | 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: | McCarthy said: |
| The financial sector was biggest gainer, up 2.7% with gains for all of the big four lenders. | 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. | 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. | 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%. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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”. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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”. | He says there is “never a right time”. |
| Murphy says he will still be involved as secretary of the Department of Health. | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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: | 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. | 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. |