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Coronavirus Australia live update: Victoria reports 238 new Covid-19 cases and one death as NSW records 13 cases Coronavirus Australia live update: Victoria reports 238 new Covid-19 cases and one death as NSW records 13 cases
(32 minutes later)
Victorian premier announces death of woman in her 90s as 10 new NSW cases linked to Crossroads Hotel cluster in south-western Sydney suburb of CasulaVictorian premier announces death of woman in her 90s as 10 new NSW cases linked to Crossroads Hotel cluster in south-western Sydney suburb of Casula
Other venues associated frequented by people in the Crossroads Hotel cluster are:
Bankstown YMCA in Revesby,
Woolworths in Bowral,
Milky Lane in Parramatta,
Bavarian Macarthur in Campbelltown,
Macarthur Tavern in Campbelltown,
West Leagues Club in Campbelltown,
Kmart in Casula
More details on the times of most concern for those venues here.
And you can find the full list of all testing clinics in NSW here.
Let’s go back to the new NSW cases.
Ten of the 13 cases reported today (figures from 8pm Monday to 8pm Tuesday) were connected to the Crossroads hotel cluster, and the remaining three were in hotel quarantine.
The new Crossroads cases are:
31 year old male who attended Crossroads Hotel on 3 July
42 year old female who attended Crossroads Hotel on 3 July
27 year old female who attended Crossroads Hotel on 3 July
14 year old female close contact of Crossroads Hotel staff case
27 year old male who attended Planet Fitness gym, Casula
24 year old male who attended Planet Fitness gym, Casula
53 year old male who attended Crossroads Hotel on 3 July
22 year old male tertiary case from Crossroads Hotel
33 year old female who is a close contact of a previously reported case in the Blue Mountains, who attended Crossroads Hotel on 3 July
17 year old male tertiary case from Crossroads Hotel
There is also one other case, recorded after 8pm last night (so it will be added to tomorrow’s tally, we’ve figured out how it works now).
That case is a man in his 20s who is a close contact of a previously reported Crossroads Hotel case. That brings the number of cases in this cluster to 34.
So, you need to self isolate for 14 days even if you do not have symptoms, and get tested, if you attended the Crossroads Hotel from 3 to 10 July, and if you attended the Planet Fitness gym in Casula from 4 to 10 July.
Guardian Australia understands that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has announced job cuts including 50 positions to go from Canberra, and 10 from eight international posts.
The cuts are at the senior executive service, executive levels one and two, and Dfat will aim to achieve them through natural attrition with no redundancies.
The Community Public Sector Union deputy national secretary, Beth Vincent-Pietsch, said:
Danny Hill, the general secretary of the Victorian Ambulance Union, has told ABC that six paramedics have tested positive to coronavirus and about 16 others have been identified as close contacts and are self-isolating.
That’s why the Victorian government has arranged for ADF members to possibly pair up with paramedics, to ensure they can continue to staff ambulances.
Hill said that paramedics are exposed due to processes such as patient transfer, and said if the outbreak continues to grow as many as 40% of the paramedic taskforce in Victoria could be unable to work due to testing positive to Covid-19 or being quarantined as a close contact.
Finally, Hunt was asked about contact tracing downloads from the CovidSafe app.
He said 200 cases had been “identified” and that “in addition to that 300 downloads”.
On aged care, Hunt said there were 32 aged care facilities in Victoria affected by coronavirus outbreaks.
Of those, eight facilities have residents who have tested positive to Coivd-19, and in the remaining 24 only staff have tested positive to date.
Hunt said Menarock Life aged care facility in Essendon was of “particular importance”.
He said there would be “full cohorting” of residents in the affected aged care facilities in Melbourne — which basically means the isolation of all positive cases and moving to hospital if necessary. Seventy-five hospital beds have been set aside for aged care residents.
Hunt said the federal government would provide additional military support to Victoria in the form of specialist logistics support.
I am not sure if this is part of the 1,000 ADF personnel already promised to Victoria, or an additional deployment.
Hunt said the team of logisticians would be headed by Commodore Mark Hill from the Australian Navy, which is a one-star equivalent rank, supported by a logistics specialist from the ADF. They will be helping with the contact tracing task.
Hunt said they will be in place in the next 24-hours.
He also said 1m Australians have now completed infection control training.
Health minister Greg Hunt is speaking to the media in Mount Martha in Victoria. He has brought his backdrop with him, which is probably because the pretty Mornington Peninsula backdrop would send the wrong message. (Mount Martha is in Hunt’s electorate.)Health minister Greg Hunt is speaking to the media in Mount Martha in Victoria. He has brought his backdrop with him, which is probably because the pretty Mornington Peninsula backdrop would send the wrong message. (Mount Martha is in Hunt’s electorate.)
Hunt says he spoke to the acting chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, a short time ago about the situation in NSW, and Kelly said it was a “stable situation, and heartening that NSW has been able to confine the spread of cases to only those from the Crossroads”.Hunt says he spoke to the acting chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, a short time ago about the situation in NSW, and Kelly said it was a “stable situation, and heartening that NSW has been able to confine the spread of cases to only those from the Crossroads”.
Hunt said:Hunt said:
He said the federal health department would provide 5,000 face masks to aged care homes in Western Sydney, identified as centres of most concern and most in need of the use of mandatory PPE.He said the federal health department would provide 5,000 face masks to aged care homes in Western Sydney, identified as centres of most concern and most in need of the use of mandatory PPE.
Federal court judge John Middleton has warned administrators of Virgin Australia that they need to be “full and frank” with creditors to avoid putting the sale of the stricken airline at risk.Federal court judge John Middleton has warned administrators of Virgin Australia that they need to be “full and frank” with creditors to avoid putting the sale of the stricken airline at risk.
Middleton last week refused a request from some of the bondholders in Virgin, who in total are owed some $2bn, for access to a sale agreement the administrators, partners at accounting firm Deloitte, have struck with US private equity group Bain Capital.Middleton last week refused a request from some of the bondholders in Virgin, who in total are owed some $2bn, for access to a sale agreement the administrators, partners at accounting firm Deloitte, have struck with US private equity group Bain Capital.
The bondholders wanted to use the documents in a takeovers panel proceeding — which they have since dropped — and to help them prepare an alternative offer for Virgin Australia to be put before creditors at a meeting next month.The bondholders wanted to use the documents in a takeovers panel proceeding — which they have since dropped — and to help them prepare an alternative offer for Virgin Australia to be put before creditors at a meeting next month.
In written reasons handed down today, Middleton said creditors should be told about the Bain Capital proposal in a report that they are to be given before the meeting.In written reasons handed down today, Middleton said creditors should be told about the Bain Capital proposal in a report that they are to be given before the meeting.
He said:He said:
Gunner also told reporters that the ban on people travelling to the NT from Sydney would be reviewed in four weeks, but he will not make any promises on lifting it at that stage. It will depend on the NSW numbers.Gunner also told reporters that the ban on people travelling to the NT from Sydney would be reviewed in four weeks, but he will not make any promises on lifting it at that stage. It will depend on the NSW numbers.
Back to the Northern Territory briefly, where the chief minister, Michael Gunner was asked if he’s stressed out by all this.Back to the Northern Territory briefly, where the chief minister, Michael Gunner was asked if he’s stressed out by all this.
“I’ve been stressed all the way through this,” says Gunner. “There is no exit plan... there is no manual for this. We don’t know if or when there will be a vaccine so we’re having to adjust ourselves to that reality. For me the stress has been constant and it’s going to stay constant. The best way I can serve you as your chief minister is to be stressed every day and worry about these things every day.”“I’ve been stressed all the way through this,” says Gunner. “There is no exit plan... there is no manual for this. We don’t know if or when there will be a vaccine so we’re having to adjust ourselves to that reality. For me the stress has been constant and it’s going to stay constant. The best way I can serve you as your chief minister is to be stressed every day and worry about these things every day.”
He laughs a little. “I will maintain a high level of anxiety all the way through this.”He laughs a little. “I will maintain a high level of anxiety all the way through this.”
He says the excision of some areas gives him “some degree of comfort” but what is causing the most anxiety is the possibility of people getting complacent.Gunner said hard borders “only reduce the risk”.He says the excision of some areas gives him “some degree of comfort” but what is causing the most anxiety is the possibility of people getting complacent.Gunner said hard borders “only reduce the risk”.
“I have got a permanent concern that it’s not if but when coronavirus gets here.”“I have got a permanent concern that it’s not if but when coronavirus gets here.”
He says what stops it becoming a superspreader is how Territorians behave with hygiene, social distancing, and sticking “in your bubble”.He says what stops it becoming a superspreader is how Territorians behave with hygiene, social distancing, and sticking “in your bubble”.
“We’ve got to maintain this level of excellence for a very long time”.“We’ve got to maintain this level of excellence for a very long time”.
A few more details on those fines issued by Victoria Police to people allegedly breaching Melbourne’s stage three stay-at-home orders.A few more details on those fines issued by Victoria Police to people allegedly breaching Melbourne’s stage three stay-at-home orders.
Police say that 63 fines were issued in the past 24 hours, 21 of which were issued at vehicle checkpoints.Police say that 63 fines were issued in the past 24 hours, 21 of which were issued at vehicle checkpoints.
Since the restrictions were introduced at midnight last Wednesday, police have issued 546 fines, of which 151 were issued at vehicle checkpoints. They’ve checked 85,886 vehicles at main arterial roads out of Melbourne, and 16,046 spot checks in peoples homes within greater Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire.Since the restrictions were introduced at midnight last Wednesday, police have issued 546 fines, of which 151 were issued at vehicle checkpoints. They’ve checked 85,886 vehicles at main arterial roads out of Melbourne, and 16,046 spot checks in peoples homes within greater Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire.
Fines issued last night include:Fines issued last night include:
Ten people who were drinking while sitting on stoles around a gas fire, set up in the driveway and across the footpath. They reportedly told police that they thought if they remained 1.5m apart it would be ok.Ten people who were drinking while sitting on stoles around a gas fire, set up in the driveway and across the footpath. They reportedly told police that they thought if they remained 1.5m apart it would be ok.
Four people who lived in different suburbs — including Cranbourne, Collingwood, and Cranbourne North — who were found at a home in Alphington, and told police they were all their to charge their phone.Four people who lived in different suburbs — including Cranbourne, Collingwood, and Cranbourne North — who were found at a home in Alphington, and told police they were all their to charge their phone.
Six people attending a party in Collingwood.Six people attending a party in Collingwood.
Five people who gathered at a home in Box Hill to celebrate a friend’s graduation.Five people who gathered at a home in Box Hill to celebrate a friend’s graduation.
The Northern Territory has announced it will keep its borders closed to all of Sydney, as well as to Victoria, when it allows domestic travel to resume on Friday.The Northern Territory has announced it will keep its borders closed to all of Sydney, as well as to Victoria, when it allows domestic travel to resume on Friday.
Borders are due to lift to other states on Friday.Borders are due to lift to other states on Friday.
But the NT’s chief minister, Michael Gunner, told reporters in Darwin a short time ago that anyone entering the Territory from Victoria or greater Sydney — all 30 local governments in the broad metro area — will still have to complete a full 14-days of quarantine.But the NT’s chief minister, Michael Gunner, told reporters in Darwin a short time ago that anyone entering the Territory from Victoria or greater Sydney — all 30 local governments in the broad metro area — will still have to complete a full 14-days of quarantine.
Gunner said the hard borders would remain in place “indefinitely” and other hotspots would be declared when necessary.Gunner said the hard borders would remain in place “indefinitely” and other hotspots would be declared when necessary.
Police will direct people to quarantine if they are from hotspot areas, Gunner said.Police will direct people to quarantine if they are from hotspot areas, Gunner said.
Here is some more detail on that potential shift of AFL clubs to Queensland:Here is some more detail on that potential shift of AFL clubs to Queensland:
Final few comments from Victoria.Final few comments from Victoria.
Sutton said the most important thing people could do to minimise their risk was to minimise face-to-face interactions with other people.Sutton said the most important thing people could do to minimise their risk was to minimise face-to-face interactions with other people.
He was asked about people needing to support a family member in palliative care, and said that palliative care had always been an exemption to the lockdown rule. It’s a risk, but the risks have to be weighed.He was asked about people needing to support a family member in palliative care, and said that palliative care had always been an exemption to the lockdown rule. It’s a risk, but the risks have to be weighed.
NSW Health contact tracer Jennie Musto has explained the genomic link between Victoria and the NSW outbreak as a man travelling from Melbourne to Sydney at the end of June.
She said he travelled on 30 June, and works in the freight industry.
Musto said this case was linked to six colleagues who have been diagnosed.
Kerry Chant adds more about the potential spread of NSW’s current outbreaks.
Chant also thanked a Covid-19 case in Blue Mountains who came forward for testing, and a clinician at Liverpool, who detected a link to the Crossroads cluster.
Musto said the Melbourne freight worker is not the Blue Mountains man, but that they both attended the Crossroads Hotel on 3 July.
Sutton says he “would not discourage” construction workers and other employees who cannot work from home to wear a mask.
On the ongoing debate between elimination and suppression, Sutton says:
But he says that as Australia has a national plan to deal with coronavirus, that conversation about shifting the strategy from suppression to elimination would need to happen through the AHPPC and national cabinet.
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant announces the number of cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel cluster has reached 34, noting an updated on figures released since yesterday.
She is now urging staff and patrons who attended the Planet Fitness gym in Casula between 4 July and 10 July to self-isolate and seek testing as they are considered close contacts. Two further cases were linked to the gym last night, which had its first case from a patron from the Crossroads Hotel. Three cases are linked to the gym.
Self-isolation and testing is advised for anyone who visited the crossroads hotel between 3 July and 10 July.
She has also lists several new venues of concern where Crossroads Hotel cases have visited. They include the YMCA Revesby, the Western Sydney leagues club, Woolworths Bowral and Casula Kmart.
State health minister Brad Hazzard began the NSW update by urging more citizens to come forward for testing. He lists several new popup clinics operating in Sydney’s south west, and says 3,297 people have come forward for testing in that area over the last day.
He explains that updated daily figures will come later in the afternoon, as the state has moved away from the 24 hour reporting period.
Sutton is asked, again, about the possibility of Victoria moving to stage-four restrictions, which as we reported has been subject to some pretty strong rumours in the past 24 hours.
He says:
That means, he says, that if they saw a surge in cases linked to a particular activity they may try to restrict that activity.
What about making it mandatory to wear a face mask, rather than just recommending their use?
Sutton was asked how many cases have been found in Victoria due to the CovidSafe app.
He repeats, as he said yesterday, that due to the stay at home orders in Victoria
He says 300 people who have tested positive for coronavirus in Victoria had also downloaded the CovidSafe app.
Sutton says the fact that the daily numbers have not consistently fallen yet, despite the hotspot postcodes being locked down for two weeks now, does not necessarily mean the lockdowns have not worked.
But he again called on people to limit their outings. So, if one person in a family can do the weekly supermarket shop then they should do it alone.
He said it is possible that restrictions could be “stepped up”.
He said that with the rates of community transmission this time around, it will be much harder to get the daily case numbers down.
Usually, he said, people’s clinical signs from coronavirus get worse in their second week of symptoms. Which is why we could see those hospitalisation rates grow.
Chief health officer Prof Brett Sutton has warned that there will be more deaths from the current wave of coronavirus cases in Victoria.
He said the numbers appear to be stabilising right now, but said there is “no guarantee of a drop off” in case numbers. Whether it happens will depend on how well people are obeying the stay at home orders, he says.
Deputy police commissioner Rick Nugent is talking now, about the checkpoints police have put in place at the edges of the Greater Melbourne lockdown area.
He says police have checked more than 85,000 vehicles at those checkpoints since midnight last Wednesday, and issued 151 fines for people not complying with stage 3 restrictions.
He said they have issued 351 fines for people breaching other restrictions, including holding parties.
They include fines for people not leaving a restaurant when asked to.
Who knew people were so committed to KFC. Nugent says there are four clear reasons for leaving your home.
They have also issued 40 infringement notices to people visiting massage parlours or sex work premises, and fines to two businesses for breaching restrictions.
He says an ongoing concern for police is people holding parties, despite stage three lockdown rules not allowing anyone to have friends or family over.
Back in Victoria, Andrews said that most people are doing the right thing and obeying the stage three restrictions, but that if people do not follow the rules those restrictions could tighten.
If the rules are not followed, Andrews said, “we will have to move to additional restrictions being put in place and we will have to prolong the period that the restrictions were put in place”.
He says he is concerned about the situation Melbourne is in.