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Coronavirus Australia live update: NSW rules out lockdown over Crossroads cluster as Victoria hospital numbers grow – live news Coronavirus Australia live update: NSW rules out lockdown over Crossroads cluster as Victoria hospital numbers grow – live news
(32 minutes later)
Another shutdown ‘is an option we don’t want to take in NSW’, premier Gladys Berejiklian says as cases linked to Sydney pub reach 30Another shutdown ‘is an option we don’t want to take in NSW’, premier Gladys Berejiklian says as cases linked to Sydney pub reach 30
Another pub in southwest Sydney has reported a positive case of coronavirus. Victorian premier Daniel Andrews and police minister Lisa Neville will give a press conference at 11am. The same time as the NSW update.
The McArthur Tavern in Campbelltown says it was notified by NSW Health that a person who was at the pub on Saturday 11 July, between 9pm and midnight, has since tested positive for the virus. The AFL has asked Queensland to host more AFL teams due to coronavirus restrictions in Victoria.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced, in a Facebook post that was then posted as a screenshot on Twitter, that she spoke this morning to AFL CEO Gil McLachlan, who is looking to “book accommodation for hundreds of players and officials at Queensland hotels for two months”.
Palaszczuk said:
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews was not impressed by the offer of the NSW government to take some of its flagship sporting events off its hands, including the AFL grand final and Melbourne Cup. I’m sure he’ll be asked about Queensland’s offer today.
Surfers Paradise electorate worst-hit by unemployment
A new Parliamentary Library paper looks at the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on jobseeker claimants by electorate.
The research finds the worst-hit electorate is Moncrieff, a safe Liberal seat based around Surfers Paradise, where the number of jobseeker recipients increased by 9,000 between December and May. There were 15,000 jobseeker recipients in Moncrieff in May.
The Labor held seats of Blaxland, in Sydney’s west, and Calwell, in Melbourne’s north-west, were the next worst-affected electorates, both adding about 8,000 new jobseeker recipients during the pandemic.
By percentage increase, the worst-hit electorates were the wealthy Sydney seats of Wentworth and Warringah, which saw their numbers of jobseeker recipients increase by four times and three times respectively. However, as the paper noted, both began from a much lower base of unemployment.
Another pub in south-west Sydney has reported a positive case of coronavirus.
The Macarthur Tavern in Campbelltown says it was notified by NSW Health that a person who was at the pub on Saturday 11 July, between 9pm and midnight, has since tested positive for the virus.
The pub is closed this morning for deep cleaning.The pub is closed this morning for deep cleaning.
In a Facebook post, the business said:In a Facebook post, the business said:
They said the advice they received from NSW health was that there was “no requirement for the premises to shut down or for any member of staff or patron to self-isolate”. But they said both patrons and staff would need to remain vigilant for any respiratory symptoms and self-isolate and get tested immediately should symptoms develop.They said the advice they received from NSW health was that there was “no requirement for the premises to shut down or for any member of staff or patron to self-isolate”. But they said both patrons and staff would need to remain vigilant for any respiratory symptoms and self-isolate and get tested immediately should symptoms develop.
The Queensland government’s new hotspot declaration has caused further delays at the border, because it requires more intense checking of cars with NSW numberplates.The Queensland government’s new hotspot declaration has caused further delays at the border, because it requires more intense checking of cars with NSW numberplates.
It has also led to an update on the border declaration passes and meant that even valid passes will be invalid from tomorrow. Passes are issued for seven days.It has also led to an update on the border declaration passes and meant that even valid passes will be invalid from tomorrow. Passes are issued for seven days.
Cathy Border, reporting from the NSW/QLD border, told the ABC earlier:Cathy Border, reporting from the NSW/QLD border, told the ABC earlier:
Have you been following the mystery of the car that has been abandoned in the staff carpark at Adelaide airport since at least February or March, bearing the numberplate COVID19?Have you been following the mystery of the car that has been abandoned in the staff carpark at Adelaide airport since at least February or March, bearing the numberplate COVID19?
The ABC reports that the car is registered until September 26, 2020. Car rego can be taken out for either three or 12 months.The ABC reports that the car is registered until September 26, 2020. Car rego can be taken out for either three or 12 months.
So, working backwards, that means the car was either registered on 26 September, 2019, which is terrifying, or it was first registered in March for 3 months and renewed again — without being moved — in June.So, working backwards, that means the car was either registered on 26 September, 2019, which is terrifying, or it was first registered in March for 3 months and renewed again — without being moved — in June.
Or, third alternative, it’s a perfectly innocent homage to Covi Dig, the owner’s childhood pet.Or, third alternative, it’s a perfectly innocent homage to Covi Dig, the owner’s childhood pet.
New South Wales will give its coronavirus update at 11am.New South Wales will give its coronavirus update at 11am.
Our new global coronavirus blog is live, you can follow that coverage here.Our new global coronavirus blog is live, you can follow that coverage here.
He was also asked about comments Alan Jones made on Sky News last night, which I won’t link to here but which repeat the song that Jones has been singing all pandemic long: the majority of people recover from the virus therefore we should not be locked down.He was also asked about comments Alan Jones made on Sky News last night, which I won’t link to here but which repeat the song that Jones has been singing all pandemic long: the majority of people recover from the virus therefore we should not be locked down.
Morrison said:Morrison said:
But he added that many do die, and that death rates are considerably higher for older and vulnerable people. He says it’s impossible to just lock down those most vulnerable and let everyone else carry on.But he added that many do die, and that death rates are considerably higher for older and vulnerable people. He says it’s impossible to just lock down those most vulnerable and let everyone else carry on.
He referred to the high death rates seen in some other countries – more than half a million people have died worldwide from the virus, 138,000 in the United States alone – and said “to think that can’t happen here is just not the case”.He referred to the high death rates seen in some other countries – more than half a million people have died worldwide from the virus, 138,000 in the United States alone – and said “to think that can’t happen here is just not the case”.
He added:He added:
Asked whether Australia should have pursued an elimination strategy, Morrison said:Asked whether Australia should have pursued an elimination strategy, Morrison said:
Morrison was asked if the CovidSafe app was working as designed, given it has not actually been used to provide new information on any contact tracing endeavour.Morrison was asked if the CovidSafe app was working as designed, given it has not actually been used to provide new information on any contact tracing endeavour.
Morrison suggested that the app would be used more by contact tracers if more people downloaded it (it has 6m downloads so far). He said it was never intended to work in isolation but to be a support to human contact tracers, and said:Morrison suggested that the app would be used more by contact tracers if more people downloaded it (it has 6m downloads so far). He said it was never intended to work in isolation but to be a support to human contact tracers, and said:
What a review.What a review.
Morrison criticised people for “undermining” the app.Morrison criticised people for “undermining” the app.
Prime minister Scott Morrison has been talking to Triple M’s Hot Breakfast and dodged a question about a rumour circulating on social media that Victoria could go into stage-four lockdown.Prime minister Scott Morrison has been talking to Triple M’s Hot Breakfast and dodged a question about a rumour circulating on social media that Victoria could go into stage-four lockdown.
Among those circulating the rumour – and we’re calling it a rumour because it has not been confirmed by a credible source – were state Liberal MPs.Among those circulating the rumour – and we’re calling it a rumour because it has not been confirmed by a credible source – were state Liberal MPs.
Morrison said:Morrison said:
Andrews was asked at a press conference on Monday about whether he would rule out placing Melbourne into stage-four lockdown and he said he would not rule anything out, but would tell people if that’s what the government was considering.Andrews was asked at a press conference on Monday about whether he would rule out placing Melbourne into stage-four lockdown and he said he would not rule anything out, but would tell people if that’s what the government was considering.
Morrison began the interview by “thanking all Melburnians for the amazing job they have been doing, just responding to what’s been asked of them in the past week or so”.Morrison began the interview by “thanking all Melburnians for the amazing job they have been doing, just responding to what’s been asked of them in the past week or so”.
Host Eddie McGuire, in turn, thanked Morrison for “not falling into political nitpicking” and for attending the football on the weekend.Host Eddie McGuire, in turn, thanked Morrison for “not falling into political nitpicking” and for attending the football on the weekend.
The Northern Territory government is expected to make an announcement today on whether it will allow travel from NSW, when it lifts border restrictions on Friday.
The territory is due to drop its mandatory 14-day quarantine period for domestic travellers, excepting those from hotspot areas. To date, that just means people from Victoria. But it could follow Queensland in declaring parts of NSW to be virus hotspots.
The NT health minister, Natasha Fyles, told AAP that officials are watching case numbers in NSW closely, particularly those involving community transmission.
She says any decisions on border restrictions will be based on putting the lives of Territorians first.
If you have been wondering why televisions reporters have not been wearing masks on camera, Paul Kennedy on ABC News Breakfast offered this explanation:
The advice around face masks in Victoria – which is the only state to recommend their use – is that you should wear a mask in circumstances where you cannot socially distance, such as on public transport or in the supermarket. It is not compulsory to wear a mask, it’s just encouraged in those circumstances.
You might note that the premier and chief health officer also aren’t wearing face masks when they give press conferences, even though those conferences are often indoors.
In case you missed this one last night.
NSW deputy premier, John Barilaro, told Sunrise on Channel Seven that the Covid-19 cluster linked to the Crossroads Hotel in Sydney’s southwest has been linked, through genomic testing, to the outbreak in Victoria.
According to AAP, the number of cases linked to that outbreak now stands at 30.
Barilaro told Sunrise:
He continued:
Barilaro said NSW had boosted its intensive care capacity from 530 beds at the start of the pandemic to 2,000, adding:
Australia is pursuing a suppression strategy, not an elimination strategy, against Covid-19. Except, in six states and territories, the result (and the apparent intent from policy decisions, like border controls) has been elimination.
The outliers are Victoria, where the chief health officer, Brett Sutton, has suggested he may be interested in an elimination strategy but the community transmission rates are currently too high to contemplate it, and NSW, where the premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has said elimination was never an option.
Dr Stephen Duckett, a health economist with the Grattan Institute, sounded fairly unimpressed by Berejiklian’s views on the subject. He told Radio National:
Duckett said the suppression strategy was “a yo-yo”, sending the community in and out of lockdown as outbreaks pop up. But he said other states managed to achieve what is basically an elimination result under the same lockdown conditions that Victoria is currently under.
He added that while a lockdown has an economic cost, “the economic cost of that yo-yo strategy is something people forget about”.
Queensland’s health minister, Steven Miles, was also asked for his opinion:
Miles was also asked about Dannii Minogue, who flew into Queensland from the United States and is undergoing her mandatory 14-day quarantine in her luxury Gold Coast home, rather than in a hotel with the rest of the plebs.
He says that option is open to anyone – if they are able to pay for a level of security, testing, and health monitoring that is equal or greater to that provided in hotel quarantine.
The application is assessed and approved by the chief health officer. Radio National breakfast host Fran Kelly suggested that would mean there was one rule for the rich and one for the poor. Miles said that as punishment is not the object of the overseas quarantine policy, that’s a moot point.
Queensland is also increasing the maximum penalty for breaching its public health rules to a possible six-month jail term, bringing it into line with New South Wales.
Miles said that penalty would only be considered by police, who enforce the public health rules, for “really outrageous breaches and flouting, really serious flouting”.
That penalty could be imposed on people crossing the state border without a border declaration pass, from a restricted area, or who provide false information on their border pass. Miles said police had in some cases checked people’s phones to ensure they had not been in hotspot areas.
The Queensland health minister, Steven Miles, says it is possible that additional areas of NSW could be declared a hotspot, and have travel restrictions imposed upon them, if levels of apparent community transmission increase.
Queensland yesterday declared the local government areas of Campbelltown and Liverpool in south-west Sydney to be hotspost areas, meaning non-Queenslanders who had been in those areas in the past 14-days would be turned around at the border and Queenslanders would have to quarantine, at their own expense, for 14 days. Those rules came into force at midday yesterday, and some people who arrived in Cairns on a flight from Sydney just after the rule came into force were told to turn around and get back on the plane.
On adding further hotspots, Miles told Radio National:
On the Crossroads Hotel, which Miles had never heard of (you’re not alone there, mate), he said that 11 of the 18 Queenslanders who had been at the pub during the period of concern had now tested negative to Covid-19. The remaining seven are still awaiting their results.
We still haven’t solved the problem of how to feed international students who are not able to work during lockdown.
With Melbourne back in stage-three lockdown, many international students are back relying on emergency food packages delivered by charities, as Luke Henriques-Gomes reports. He spoke to Angelina Sukiri, the founder of Kasih, one of the organisations providing emergency food boxes.
Good morning.
The New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has ruled out returning her state to lockdown at this stage, telling the ABC that is “is an option we don’t want to take in NSW”.
It comes as the number of cases connected to the Crossroads Hotel, surely the busiest pub in Sydney, rises to 30.
Meanwhile, a pizza place in Belfield, Mancini’s Original Woodfired Pizza, has been closed for deep cleaning after a customer who ate their on Friday, and spent an hour there with a group of people, tested positive for Covid-19.
In a Facebook post, the restaurant said:
Meanwhile, in Victoria, authorities are planning to train up bank call centre staff to undertake contact tracing phone calls, to prevent the current contact tracing taskforce from burning out. Premier Daniel Andrews said yesterday that they may not be needed, but if the number of infections continue to grow they will have to be stood up quickly.
Two people in their 80s died yesterday after testing positive to the virus, and chief health officer Prof Brett Sutton has warned that the death toll will grow, with “hundreds” expected to be hospitalised from the current wave of infections in the next few weeks. As of yesterday there were 85 people in hospital with Covid-19 – an increase of 13 from Monday – with 26 people in intensive care and 21 on ventilators. Sixteen of those in intensive care were over 60 years of age.
And if you’re one of those who thinks it does not affect you, the youngest person in ICU is a man in his 30s.
It brings the Victorian death toll to 26 and the national toll to 110. Australia also passed the grim landmark of 10,000 coronavirus cases yesterday. According to the health department’s tally, it’s now at 10,251.
You can follow me on Twitter at @callapilla or email me at calla.wahlquist@theguardian.com.