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Coronavirus Australia live update: Victoria records nine deaths and 295 new cases with 19 in NSW – latest news Coronavirus Australia live update: Victoria records nine deaths and 295 new cases with 19 in NSW – latest news
(32 minutes later)
Schools and aged care homes closed after two women who returned to Brisbane from Melbourne test positive. Almost 20% of aged care facilities in Victoria affected as crisis deepens. Follow liveSchools and aged care homes closed after two women who returned to Brisbane from Melbourne test positive. Almost 20% of aged care facilities in Victoria affected as crisis deepens. Follow live
The aged care minister, Richard Colbeck, is on the ABC with Patricia Karvelas. A third case has been identified in Queensland, a few hours after two cases were recorded.
He rejects suggestions that the issue in aged care is specific to the private sector – which is a point the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has made. The first two cases related to two women, both 19, who travelled from Melbourne and returned to Brisbane’s southside. Authorities are furious and allege the women provided false information on a border declaration.
“It is aged care across the board, there is no difference between any form of facility as to the infection rate in Victoria at the moment, particularly in Metro Melbourne,” he says. Queensland Health said in a statement on Wednesday that a third case had now been reported.
“It is aged care that is suffering and aged care as a victim of the community transmission.” That person is a 22-year-old woman who is a close contact who works at YMCA Chatswood Hills Outside School Hours Care. The school is now closed temporarily.
Shorten says pandemic leave, which has been offered to aged care workers through the Fair Work Commission, should be extended to all workers. Queensland’s chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young, said people who live in the areas of Logan, South Brisbane or Springfield should stay home if they are feeling unwell and get tested.
“Why should a low-paid worker who does valuable work have to choose between being ill or being paid?” he says. People will need to self-isolate if they have visited locations listed here by Queensland Health.
He also says he thinks there is a “proportion of the population who shrug their shoulders” at the deaths of older people due to Covid. Important question. Is there a national plan to deal with similar outbreaks in other states?
Shorten says these people think, “Oh well, they are old and going to die anyway, what is the problem?” Here is Colbeck’s answer:
“I don’t share that view and I think most Australians realise that older people are people’s mothers and fathers and grandparents,” he says. Quite significant pushback here from Colbeck on the issue of whether the aged care issues in Victoria are related to the fact the homes in question are privately owned.
“You judge your society by how you treat your most vulnerable, not how you treat the most well off.” “I think this is a bit of a line that is being run and I think it is a furphy,” he says. “I do not agree with that and I think it is an unfortunate way to try and characterise the aged care sector.
“Look, we all know there are issues with aged care and that is why we called the royal commission.”
Colbeck says Daniel Andrews comments on the issue were “really unfortunate”. He says his aunt is in aged care in Devonport.
In response to a question from a journalist, Andrews said yesterday he would not want his mum to be living in some privately run aged care homes in Victoria.
Colbeck says the government as a whole has to “take responsibility” for what the secretary of the Department of Health, Brendan Murphy, called serious deficiencies of care in aged care homes in Victoria:
Richard Colbeck stresses though that families “can have confidence in the sector more broadly across Victoria”:
Colbeck says the government is “looking at” providing any emergency home care packages or assistance for families who now want to take their loved one out of aged care.
Colbeck is asked repeatedly whether the Victorian government took steps quickly enough to suspend elective surgery (which allows aged care residents to be moved to hospital).
He dodges the question, saying he doesn’t want to “get into an argument with the Victorian government”.
But he says the decision is already having results.
The aged care minister, Richard Colbeck, is on ABC radio talking to Patricia Karvelas.
He rejects suggestions that the problems in aged care are specific to the private sector – which is a point the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has made. Colbeck says:
Bill Shorten says pandemic leave, which has been offered to aged care workers through the Fair Work Commission, should be extended to all workers:
He also says he thinks there is a “proportion of the population who shrug their shoulders” at the deaths of older people owing to Covid.
Shorten says these people think: “Oh well, they are old and going to die anyway, what is the problem?”
The Labor MP Bill Shorten is on the ABC as we speak. He’s talking about Theo Makridis, a resident at St Basil’s aged care home in Melbourne who has died. Theo used to live next door to Shorten.The Labor MP Bill Shorten is on the ABC as we speak. He’s talking about Theo Makridis, a resident at St Basil’s aged care home in Melbourne who has died. Theo used to live next door to Shorten.
It’s an awful story.It’s an awful story.
Shorten says that for five days, Theo’s daughter, Rita, couldn’t get a straight answer about what had happened:Shorten says that for five days, Theo’s daughter, Rita, couldn’t get a straight answer about what had happened:
In Victoria, five people between 20 and 39 years old are in intensive care.In Victoria, five people between 20 and 39 years old are in intensive care.
The new Queensland border restrictions have forced Super Netball to reshuffle round one and rush the two Sydney teams to Brisbane to play their round one match.The new Queensland border restrictions have forced Super Netball to reshuffle round one and rush the two Sydney teams to Brisbane to play their round one match.
The Sydney Swifts and Giants will rush to Queensland this week with the opening round of Super Netball reshuffled due to tightened border restrictions, AAP reports.The Sydney Swifts and Giants will rush to Queensland this week with the opening round of Super Netball reshuffled due to tightened border restrictions, AAP reports.
The Giants were set to host West Coast Fever on Saturday in Sydney, while the Swifts and Adelaide Thunderbirds were slated to play on Sunday, also at Ken Rosewall Arena.The Giants were set to host West Coast Fever on Saturday in Sydney, while the Swifts and Adelaide Thunderbirds were slated to play on Sunday, also at Ken Rosewall Arena.
But Wednesday’s announcement that Queensland will close its borders to all residents of greater Sydney, from 1am on Saturday because of rising coronavirus infections, has forced a round one reshuffle.But Wednesday’s announcement that Queensland will close its borders to all residents of greater Sydney, from 1am on Saturday because of rising coronavirus infections, has forced a round one reshuffle.
The two Sydney outfits will fly north on Thursday to begin their campaigns in Brisbane.The two Sydney outfits will fly north on Thursday to begin their campaigns in Brisbane.
They will square off on Sunday at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena, while the Thunderbirds and Fever will bypass Sydney and meet in a round one match on Saturday in a double-header.They will square off on Sunday at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena, while the Thunderbirds and Fever will bypass Sydney and meet in a round one match on Saturday in a double-header.
The president of the Australian Medical Association has called on the federal government to “pursue a more ambitious emissions reductions target” to protect people’s health during bushfires.The president of the Australian Medical Association has called on the federal government to “pursue a more ambitious emissions reductions target” to protect people’s health during bushfires.
Dr Tony Bartone told a senate inquiry that the summer’s horror bushfires were a health crisis which could have “decades” of health impacts for Australians.Dr Tony Bartone told a senate inquiry that the summer’s horror bushfires were a health crisis which could have “decades” of health impacts for Australians.
He said the government needs to “commit to a national strategy for health and climate change”, and reduce carbon emissions.He said the government needs to “commit to a national strategy for health and climate change”, and reduce carbon emissions.
He said the AMA’s “key recommendation” was that GPs be more involved in fire response plans.He said the AMA’s “key recommendation” was that GPs be more involved in fire response plans.
Some good news for NDIS participants that was announced by the minister, Stuart Robert, today.Some good news for NDIS participants that was announced by the minister, Stuart Robert, today.
While much attention has rightly been paid to the 419 aged care staff in Victoria with Covid-19, it is important to note there are now 502 health care workers in the state, including doctors and nurses who have active cases of infection. That’s 81 more health workers than Tuesday.While much attention has rightly been paid to the 419 aged care staff in Victoria with Covid-19, it is important to note there are now 502 health care workers in the state, including doctors and nurses who have active cases of infection. That’s 81 more health workers than Tuesday.
It comes at a time when residents from aged care are urgently being moved into the state’s private and public hospitals.It comes at a time when residents from aged care are urgently being moved into the state’s private and public hospitals.
The state government has been providing data on which aged care homes are affected including the number of residents and aged care staff with the virus. I have asked the office of the premier, health minister and the department of health for the same data relating to hospitals for weeks. They have not provided it. Health workers themselves want the data so they can better understand how the infections are occurring, and where. While some hospitals provide daily updates to staff, in other hospitals this information only goes to the executives.The state government has been providing data on which aged care homes are affected including the number of residents and aged care staff with the virus. I have asked the office of the premier, health minister and the department of health for the same data relating to hospitals for weeks. They have not provided it. Health workers themselves want the data so they can better understand how the infections are occurring, and where. While some hospitals provide daily updates to staff, in other hospitals this information only goes to the executives.
I just spoke to the president of the Victorian branch of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Julian Rait, who is also struggling to get a hold of the data to keep his members informed. The Association represents registered medical practitioners and medical students of Australia. Rait told me:I just spoke to the president of the Victorian branch of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Julian Rait, who is also struggling to get a hold of the data to keep his members informed. The Association represents registered medical practitioners and medical students of Australia. Rait told me:
If you’re a health care worker in Victoria with information, feel free to contact me melissa.davey@theguardian.com.If you’re a health care worker in Victoria with information, feel free to contact me melissa.davey@theguardian.com.
The Australian government says it will work with the US to help countries across the Indo-Pacific region respond to infectious disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.The Australian government says it will work with the US to help countries across the Indo-Pacific region respond to infectious disease outbreaks and other health emergencies.
While a lot of the initial media reporting of yesterday’s Ausmin talks in Washington focused on defence cooperation and policies towards China, the meeting also resulted in an agreement on health security.While a lot of the initial media reporting of yesterday’s Ausmin talks in Washington focused on defence cooperation and policies towards China, the meeting also resulted in an agreement on health security.
The Ausmin Global Health Security Statement says there “has never been a more vital time to strengthen global health security” because Covid-19 “is just one example of the rising trend of diseases caused by viruses that have jumped from animal hosts into the human population”:The Ausmin Global Health Security Statement says there “has never been a more vital time to strengthen global health security” because Covid-19 “is just one example of the rising trend of diseases caused by viruses that have jumped from animal hosts into the human population”:
The allies want to strengthen public health emergency operations centres and conduct simulation exercises in countries including Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. They are also planning to virtually co-convene a second Southeast Asia Health Security Donor Coordination Meeting later this year.The allies want to strengthen public health emergency operations centres and conduct simulation exercises in countries including Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. They are also planning to virtually co-convene a second Southeast Asia Health Security Donor Coordination Meeting later this year.
They will explore ways “to collaboratively build Indo-Pacific partner capacity in biosecurity, biosafety, and bio-surveillance to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks caused by especially dangerous pathogens, through laboratory placements for participants from the Greater Mekong Subregion in Australian research institutions, as well as joint biosafety training”.They will explore ways “to collaboratively build Indo-Pacific partner capacity in biosecurity, biosafety, and bio-surveillance to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks caused by especially dangerous pathogens, through laboratory placements for participants from the Greater Mekong Subregion in Australian research institutions, as well as joint biosafety training”.
In a press release issued this afternoon, Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Marise Payne, said the allies would also “work with countries in the region to improve hygiene conditions, and mitigate zoonotic disease and pandemic risks associated with wildlife wet markets”.In a press release issued this afternoon, Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Marise Payne, said the allies would also “work with countries in the region to improve hygiene conditions, and mitigate zoonotic disease and pandemic risks associated with wildlife wet markets”.
Nick Kyrgios is not letting this issue go.Nick Kyrgios is not letting this issue go.
In case you don’t know what this is all about, see here:In case you don’t know what this is all about, see here: