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| Crossroads Hotel cluster in NSW rises to 30 cases as Victoria reports two more deaths – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| South Australia to keep border closed to NSW as Queensland introduces quarantine rule for parts of Sydney. This blog is now closed | |
| That’s where I will leave you for now. Thanks as always for reading. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow. | That’s where I will leave you for now. Thanks as always for reading. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow. |
| Here’s what we learned today: | Here’s what we learned today: |
| Victoria has recorded 270 new cases of Covid-19, which brings the national total to more than 10,000. Victoria’s Chief health officer Brett Sutton said the state could have could have hundreds of Covid-19 patients in hospital in the next few weeks. | Victoria has recorded 270 new cases of Covid-19, which brings the national total to more than 10,000. Victoria’s Chief health officer Brett Sutton said the state could have could have hundreds of Covid-19 patients in hospital in the next few weeks. |
| Victoria recorded two new Covid-19 deaths, after a man and woman in their 80s both died in hospital. They mark the 25th and 26th deaths from the virus in the state, and the 109th and 110th nationally. | Victoria recorded two new Covid-19 deaths, after a man and woman in their 80s both died in hospital. They mark the 25th and 26th deaths from the virus in the state, and the 109th and 110th nationally. |
| The cluster from the Crossroads Hotel in Casula in Sydney’s south-west rose to 30 cases after two men in their 20s who attended a gym next door tested positive. A previous positive case had visited the gym, and the NSW Health Department has now directed anyone who visited between 4 and 10 July to get tested and self-isolate. | The cluster from the Crossroads Hotel in Casula in Sydney’s south-west rose to 30 cases after two men in their 20s who attended a gym next door tested positive. A previous positive case had visited the gym, and the NSW Health Department has now directed anyone who visited between 4 and 10 July to get tested and self-isolate. |
| The New South Wales government announced new rules for venues including a cap on 300 patrons. Any business found to be in breach of the public health orders could face penalties of up to $55,000, with further $27,500 penalties to apply for each additional day an offence continues. | The New South Wales government announced new rules for venues including a cap on 300 patrons. Any business found to be in breach of the public health orders could face penalties of up to $55,000, with further $27,500 penalties to apply for each additional day an offence continues. |
| Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned there was a “risk that there’s been a level of community transmission in New South Wales for some time”. | Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned there was a “risk that there’s been a level of community transmission in New South Wales for some time”. |
| The Australian Rugby League Commission called an urgent meeting to see if the NRL should be moved to Queensland for the rest of the season, to stave off another mid-season halt. It came as Queensland announced new quarantine requirements for travellers from the Liverpool and Campbelltown local government areas in southwest Sydney. | The Australian Rugby League Commission called an urgent meeting to see if the NRL should be moved to Queensland for the rest of the season, to stave off another mid-season halt. It came as Queensland announced new quarantine requirements for travellers from the Liverpool and Campbelltown local government areas in southwest Sydney. |
| Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary, Sally McManus, has spoken to Radio National Drive about the need for paid pandemic leave, and the unions’ position on extending income support. | Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary, Sally McManus, has spoken to Radio National Drive about the need for paid pandemic leave, and the unions’ position on extending income support. |
| McManus said that even though some MPs believe people can be “weaned off” wage subsidies or “somehow it will be OK and we have to let some businesses die because they’re going to die” - that the government is planning to extend jobkeeper. | McManus said that even though some MPs believe people can be “weaned off” wage subsidies or “somehow it will be OK and we have to let some businesses die because they’re going to die” - that the government is planning to extend jobkeeper. |
| She said: “I think surely there’s an attitude change because of what’s happening in Victoria. Unfortunately what will happen is, if they pull it away, that’s exactly what will happen [business closures] - and it will happen on mass, and it will happen also because of public health measures. I think the is listening to all of this and we’re hoping for a good announcement.” | She said: “I think surely there’s an attitude change because of what’s happening in Victoria. Unfortunately what will happen is, if they pull it away, that’s exactly what will happen [business closures] - and it will happen on mass, and it will happen also because of public health measures. I think the is listening to all of this and we’re hoping for a good announcement.” |
| McManus said there were “fair enough arguments” to make businesses requalify for jobkeeper payments (rather than once at the start of the program), because who knows what they economic position will be in January. So unions would not oppose that proposed change to jobkeeper, she said. | McManus said there were “fair enough arguments” to make businesses requalify for jobkeeper payments (rather than once at the start of the program), because who knows what they economic position will be in January. So unions would not oppose that proposed change to jobkeeper, she said. |
| The ACTU is calling for paid pandemic leave. McManus argues it is “human nature” to disregard a sore throat or dismiss it as a cold when staying home and rejecting a work shift has a financial penalty. | The ACTU is calling for paid pandemic leave. McManus argues it is “human nature” to disregard a sore throat or dismiss it as a cold when staying home and rejecting a work shift has a financial penalty. |
| McManus says people who stay home to self-isolate are “actually our protectors - they’re protecting the rest of us, saving our jobs and saving lives”. “And that’s a collective responsibility so we all need to support every one of us when we do that because that’s the only way we’re going to get through it.” | McManus says people who stay home to self-isolate are “actually our protectors - they’re protecting the rest of us, saving our jobs and saving lives”. “And that’s a collective responsibility so we all need to support every one of us when we do that because that’s the only way we’re going to get through it.” |
| The New South Wales Health department has confirmed the discovery of two new cases of Covid-19 at a gym next door to the Crossroads Hotel in Casula. | The New South Wales Health department has confirmed the discovery of two new cases of Covid-19 at a gym next door to the Crossroads Hotel in Casula. |
| Just now the state’s health department has issued a directive to anyone who attended the Planet Fitness Gym at Casula from 4 to 10 July to “immediately self-isolate and come forward for testing” after the discovery. | Just now the state’s health department has issued a directive to anyone who attended the Planet Fitness Gym at Casula from 4 to 10 July to “immediately self-isolate and come forward for testing” after the discovery. |
| In a statement, NSW Health said the additional cases two men aged in their 20s, came forward for testing after it was established a confirmed case from the Crossroads Hotel attended the gym, which was subsequently closed for testing. | In a statement, NSW Health said the additional cases two men aged in their 20s, came forward for testing after it was established a confirmed case from the Crossroads Hotel attended the gym, which was subsequently closed for testing. |
| These new cases bring the total number linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster to 30. | These new cases bring the total number linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster to 30. |
| The state’s Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was vital that anyone who attended the gym on the dates specified get tested and self-isolate for 14 days since they were last on the premises even if they return a negative result. They should also continue to monitor for symptoms. | The state’s Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was vital that anyone who attended the gym on the dates specified get tested and self-isolate for 14 days since they were last on the premises even if they return a negative result. They should also continue to monitor for symptoms. |
| “We now have three confirmed cases associated with this gym and we are identifying the close contacts of these new cases to ensure they are also isolating and getting tested,” Chant said. | “We now have three confirmed cases associated with this gym and we are identifying the close contacts of these new cases to ensure they are also isolating and getting tested,” Chant said. |
| Earlier this afternoon former opposition leader Bill Shorten stood outside an aged care home in his electorate and called for it to be evacuated. | Earlier this afternoon former opposition leader Bill Shorten stood outside an aged care home in his electorate and called for it to be evacuated. |
| SLAPPED. | SLAPPED. |
| So many Simpsons jokes to be made here... | So many Simpsons jokes to be made here... |
| The Nationals senator Matt Canavan admits the government’s Covidsafe app hasn’t worked “as advertised”. | The Nationals senator Matt Canavan admits the government’s Covidsafe app hasn’t worked “as advertised”. |
| Some numbers from Victoria released just now: | Some numbers from Victoria released just now: |
| 752 cases may indicate community transmission. | 752 cases may indicate community transmission. |
| 1,803 cases are currently active in Victoria. | 1,803 cases are currently active in Victoria. |
| 85 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including 26 in intensive care. | 85 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including 26 in intensive care. |
| 2,395 people have recovered from the virus. | 2,395 people have recovered from the virus. |
| Of the total cases, 3,799 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 298 are from regional Victoria. | Of the total cases, 3,799 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 298 are from regional Victoria. |
| Total cases include 2,213 men and 2,001 women. | Total cases include 2,213 men and 2,001 women. |
| More than 1,170,300 tests have been processed. | More than 1,170,300 tests have been processed. |
| Cases currently linked to public housing in North Melbourne, Flemington and Carlton: | Cases currently linked to public housing in North Melbourne, Flemington and Carlton: |
| 242 cases are residents of various public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington. Investigations are continuing into how these cases are linked. | 242 cases are residents of various public housing towers in North Melbourne and Flemington. Investigations are continuing into how these cases are linked. |
| 32 cases are residents of various public housing towers in Carlton. | 32 cases are residents of various public housing towers in Carlton. |
| A moment ago I told you a man in his 80s had died in Victoria. Now we hear another person, a woman in her 80s, has died in hospital. That brings Victoria’s death toll from the virus to 26 and Australia’s national toll to 110. | A moment ago I told you a man in his 80s had died in Victoria. Now we hear another person, a woman in her 80s, has died in hospital. That brings Victoria’s death toll from the virus to 26 and Australia’s national toll to 110. |
| Speaking on the ABC just now, the former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says there is “merit” in the idea of Australia pursuing an eradication strategy over suppression for the virus. | Speaking on the ABC just now, the former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says there is “merit” in the idea of Australia pursuing an eradication strategy over suppression for the virus. |
| For the first time since the pandemic began the New South Wales police have shut down a venue in Jindabyne, in the state’s Snowy Mountains, for breaches of public health rules. | For the first time since the pandemic began the New South Wales police have shut down a venue in Jindabyne, in the state’s Snowy Mountains, for breaches of public health rules. |
| NSW police announced this afternoon the closure of a pub following “serious concerns and breaches of public health and safety during the Covid-19 pandemic”. | NSW police announced this afternoon the closure of a pub following “serious concerns and breaches of public health and safety during the Covid-19 pandemic”. |
| “Between Tuesday 5 May 2020 and Saturday 11 July 2020, police issued a premises in Jindabyne with three formal and several informal warnings relating to intoxication levels and public health and safety issues, including large groups of people failing to social distance,” NSW police said in a statement. | “Between Tuesday 5 May 2020 and Saturday 11 July 2020, police issued a premises in Jindabyne with three formal and several informal warnings relating to intoxication levels and public health and safety issues, including large groups of people failing to social distance,” NSW police said in a statement. |
| At about 7.30pm on Saturday officers attended the premises and forced the closure of the venue. It was closed for a 72-hour period and has since been spoken to by police regarding its Covid-19 safety plan. | At about 7.30pm on Saturday officers attended the premises and forced the closure of the venue. It was closed for a 72-hour period and has since been spoken to by police regarding its Covid-19 safety plan. |
| Earlier today police issued the venue with a $5,000 fine. | Earlier today police issued the venue with a $5,000 fine. |
| A man in his 80s from Victoria has died in hospital from Covid-19. He is the 25th death in the state, and the 109th across Australia since the beginning of the pandemic. | A man in his 80s from Victoria has died in hospital from Covid-19. He is the 25th death in the state, and the 109th across Australia since the beginning of the pandemic. |
| The federal education minister, Dan Tehan, says the government will “continue to monitor” whether students in Victoria between prep and year 10 who could find themselves again learning from home for an extended period could suffer compared to students in the other states. | The federal education minister, Dan Tehan, says the government will “continue to monitor” whether students in Victoria between prep and year 10 who could find themselves again learning from home for an extended period could suffer compared to students in the other states. |
| Dr Kirsty Short, a virologist at the University of Queensland, is speaking to the ABC. Short’s department is the main group working on a vaccine for Covid-19 in Australia. She says she feels “optimistic” they will have “something” at the start of 2021. | Dr Kirsty Short, a virologist at the University of Queensland, is speaking to the ABC. Short’s department is the main group working on a vaccine for Covid-19 in Australia. She says she feels “optimistic” they will have “something” at the start of 2021. |
| Here’s our afternoon update of the situation in Victoria, by my colleague Melissa Davey. | Here’s our afternoon update of the situation in Victoria, by my colleague Melissa Davey. |