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Coronavirus live news: pubs reopen in England, as Victoria announces 'hard lockdown' Coronavirus live news: pubs reopen in England, as Victoria announces 'hard lockdown'
(32 minutes later)
Fourth of July holiday weekend set to start with continued rise in infections; Brazil cases pass 1.5m; Boris Johnson defends decision to reopen pubs on Saturday. Follow all the developments liveFourth of July holiday weekend set to start with continued rise in infections; Brazil cases pass 1.5m; Boris Johnson defends decision to reopen pubs on Saturday. Follow all the developments live
The decision to lock down nine public housing towers in Melbourne has been heavily criticised by activists, lawyers, and public health advocates.
Paul Kidd, a HIV+ activist, described the decision to lock down the towers as “a powderkeg, a disaster”.
Kidd says many living in the tower are recovering drug addicts on the methadone program, and need to attend a health service every day to receive their injection.
The decision to put police in charge of the lockdown has been widely criticised.
Meanwhile photos from journalist Margaret Simons show armed police officers, wearing gloves and facemasks, guarding the door to one of the largest towers at 120 Racecourse Road, Flemington.
Russia has reported 6,632 new cases of the coronavirus, raising the nationwide tally of infections to 674,515.
The authorities said that 168 people had died in the last 24 hours, bringing the official death toll to 10,027.
Good morning from London. I’m Lucy Campbell, joining the blog for the next hour. As I’m sure you’ve heard, pubs are reopening here in England today after three months of lockdown and we’re all on edge in anticipation of how busy they may or may not be throughout the day.
Even with “Covid-secure” measures in place, there is some trepidation about how safe it is to head to your local pub when people might get carried away, but there’s also a desire to support businesses that have faced long periods of closure. We will be bringing you more on this throughout the morning.
This is from our Rob Davies who was at the Moon Under Water pub from 7:45am. It’s now 8:20am and he appears to still be the only one there.
Journalist Margaret Simons lives in Flemington in Melbourne, and says she is concerned about her neighbours living in public housing towers.
The police have already arrived.
Tokyo confirmed about 130 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, a third consecutive day with more than 100 new cases, public broadcaster NHK reported.Tokyo confirmed about 130 new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, a third consecutive day with more than 100 new cases, public broadcaster NHK reported.
From Reuters:From Reuters:
Cases in Tokyo have risen to a two-month high, driven by the spread of the virus in the capital’s night spots.Cases in Tokyo have risen to a two-month high, driven by the spread of the virus in the capital’s night spots.
Tokyo on Friday reported 124 new cases, up from 107 the day before, partly due to increased testing among night life workers in the Shinjuku and Ikebukuro districts.Tokyo on Friday reported 124 new cases, up from 107 the day before, partly due to increased testing among night life workers in the Shinjuku and Ikebukuro districts.
Kelly says he has called an emergency meeting of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee for 6pm.Kelly says he has called an emergency meeting of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee for 6pm.
Still in Australia, the acting chief medical officer, Professor Paul Kelly, is giving the national update.Still in Australia, the acting chief medical officer, Professor Paul Kelly, is giving the national update.
Australia has now had 8,362 cases and has conducted more than 2.6m coronavirus tests, including more than 50,000 in the past 24 hours.Australia has now had 8,362 cases and has conducted more than 2.6m coronavirus tests, including more than 50,000 in the past 24 hours.
That’s 113 new cases in the past 24 hours. That’s 108 in Victoria and five in NSW.That’s 113 new cases in the past 24 hours. That’s 108 in Victoria and five in NSW.
Kelly says they also added 189 historic cases added to the NSW total. They are mostly Ruby Princess cruise ship crew members, who never actually set foot on Australian soil but were ill in Australian waters.Kelly says they also added 189 historic cases added to the NSW total. They are mostly Ruby Princess cruise ship crew members, who never actually set foot on Australian soil but were ill in Australian waters.
They have been added to the Australian total in order to ensure an accurate report to the World Health Organisation.They have been added to the Australian total in order to ensure an accurate report to the World Health Organisation.
Guardian Australia’s data editor, Nick Evershed, noted that the daily total number of cases for Victoria on 28 March was revised down from 111 to 106 due to duplicate tests.Guardian Australia’s data editor, Nick Evershed, noted that the daily total number of cases for Victoria on 28 March was revised down from 111 to 106 due to duplicate tests.
It is not uncommon for a daily total to be revised down due to duplicates. That could happen to today’s figure of 108. But it means that today is possibly the highest daily coronavirus total in Victoria since the start of the pandemic.It is not uncommon for a daily total to be revised down due to duplicates. That could happen to today’s figure of 108. But it means that today is possibly the highest daily coronavirus total in Victoria since the start of the pandemic.
Victoria’s deputy chief health officer, Dr Annaliese van Diemen, said that those 23 cases had hundreds of close contacts.Victoria’s deputy chief health officer, Dr Annaliese van Diemen, said that those 23 cases had hundreds of close contacts.
She acknowledged that living in very close quarters — some of these small units house families of eight or nine people — would increase the risk of transmission. But she said those families were already living in very close quarters and already had that risk of transmission, and if the units were not locked down it risked an “explosion” of new cases.She acknowledged that living in very close quarters — some of these small units house families of eight or nine people — would increase the risk of transmission. But she said those families were already living in very close quarters and already had that risk of transmission, and if the units were not locked down it risked an “explosion” of new cases.
Also, in a figure that looks very small on global measures but worryingly high in Australia, the number of cases attributed to untraced community transmission in Victoria jumped by 26 overnight.Also, in a figure that looks very small on global measures but worryingly high in Australia, the number of cases attributed to untraced community transmission in Victoria jumped by 26 overnight.
The trigger for the public housing towers being locked down is the report of 23 new coronavirus cases, across 12 households, in public housing estates in Flemington and North Melbourne.The trigger for the public housing towers being locked down is the report of 23 new coronavirus cases, across 12 households, in public housing estates in Flemington and North Melbourne.
These are the general kind of towers we are talking about.These are the general kind of towers we are talking about.
Andrews warns that Victoria will not return to life as normal until a vaccine is developed and administered to the whole community. So: we don’t know when.Andrews warns that Victoria will not return to life as normal until a vaccine is developed and administered to the whole community. So: we don’t know when.
He says returning to business as usual before a vaccine is developed “will only see us finish up with wave after wave after wave of unacceptably high case numbers and on and off restrictions for the foreseeable future. We don’t want to get to that.”He says returning to business as usual before a vaccine is developed “will only see us finish up with wave after wave after wave of unacceptably high case numbers and on and off restrictions for the foreseeable future. We don’t want to get to that.”
He urges anyone who is a close contact of a known coronavirus case, and anyone who has symptoms, or has tested positive to the virus, to remain at home.He urges anyone who is a close contact of a known coronavirus case, and anyone who has symptoms, or has tested positive to the virus, to remain at home.
There will be shifts of 500 police officers assigned to ensuring the nine towers remain under a hard lockdown.There will be shifts of 500 police officers assigned to ensuring the nine towers remain under a hard lockdown.
That’s 500 police at any one time.That’s 500 police at any one time.
Andrews has been using the term a “hard lockdown,” but not really defined it.Andrews has been using the term a “hard lockdown,” but not really defined it.
It means a lockdown where you really cannot go outside for any reason.It means a lockdown where you really cannot go outside for any reason.
This order is the first time Australia has implemented that kind of lockdown, anywhere and at any stage in the pandemic. The lockdowns Australia has experienced to date have ordered that people stay at home unless they are leaving the house for exercise, work or study that cannot be done remotely; care or caregiving; or essential grocery shopping. In Victoria, that’s officially called stage three stay-at-home orders.This order is the first time Australia has implemented that kind of lockdown, anywhere and at any stage in the pandemic. The lockdowns Australia has experienced to date have ordered that people stay at home unless they are leaving the house for exercise, work or study that cannot be done remotely; care or caregiving; or essential grocery shopping. In Victoria, that’s officially called stage three stay-at-home orders.
In Melbourne, as of right now, we have 10 postcodes under those stage-three stay-at-home orders, two more postcodes that will be under those orders from midnight tonight, and nine public housing towers that are under the “hard lockdown” and cannot go out at all for any reason.In Melbourne, as of right now, we have 10 postcodes under those stage-three stay-at-home orders, two more postcodes that will be under those orders from midnight tonight, and nine public housing towers that are under the “hard lockdown” and cannot go out at all for any reason.
Andrews is asked if he should take responsibility for this outbreak, given the link to the mismanagement of hotel quarantine.Andrews is asked if he should take responsibility for this outbreak, given the link to the mismanagement of hotel quarantine.
He says he won’t comment on that — he’s called an inquiry and is now “exclusively focused on, is dealing with this challenge”.He says he won’t comment on that — he’s called an inquiry and is now “exclusively focused on, is dealing with this challenge”.
He repeats that if this strategy of localised lockdowns does not work, the alternative is to lock down the entire state again.He repeats that if this strategy of localised lockdowns does not work, the alternative is to lock down the entire state again.
As well as pubs, hair salons have reopened in England. Many of them let customers back in on the stroke of midnight for those desperate to have some personal grooming after months of lockdown.As well as pubs, hair salons have reopened in England. Many of them let customers back in on the stroke of midnight for those desperate to have some personal grooming after months of lockdown.
Here’s a full report:Here’s a full report:
Victoria police are in charge of managing the lockdown, informing residents and ensuring they return home as soon as possible. Andrews says they are the most appropriate people to be doing that work, and says they played a similar role in the bushfires.Victoria police are in charge of managing the lockdown, informing residents and ensuring they return home as soon as possible. Andrews says they are the most appropriate people to be doing that work, and says they played a similar role in the bushfires.
Although that supposes that those living in inner-city public housing towers have the same relationship to police as do the mainly white coastal communities affected by bushfire this summer. I’d suggest they don’t.Although that supposes that those living in inner-city public housing towers have the same relationship to police as do the mainly white coastal communities affected by bushfire this summer. I’d suggest they don’t.
Daniel Andrews is explaining how the hard lockdown for those nine towers will work. He says it will be similar to how an outbreak in an aged care home is managed.Daniel Andrews is explaining how the hard lockdown for those nine towers will work. He says it will be similar to how an outbreak in an aged care home is managed.
Wynne said earlier:Wynne said earlier:
Victorian housing minister Richard Wynne is listing the nine towers subject to the hard lockdown.Victorian housing minister Richard Wynne is listing the nine towers subject to the hard lockdown.
In Flemington, they are:In Flemington, they are:
12 Holland Court12 Holland Court
120 Racecourse Road120 Racecourse Road
126 Racecourse Road126 Racecourse Road
130 Racecourse Road130 Racecourse Road
Says Wynne:Says Wynne:
In North Melbourne:In North Melbourne:
12 Sutton Street12 Sutton Street
33 Alfred Street33 Alfred Street
76 Canning Street76 Canning Street
159 Melrose street159 Melrose street
9 Pampus Street9 Pampus Street
Says Wynne:Says Wynne: