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Coronavirus Australia live update: Victoria records nine deaths and 295 new cases as Queensland closes border to Sydney Coronavirus Australia live update: Victoria records nine deaths and 295 new cases as Queensland closes border to Sydney
(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
I mislead you earlier – the chief health officer, Prof Brett Sutton, is here. Closing the Queensland border to greater Sydney does, of course, have an impact on professional sport.
More details on that, and what it will mean for the ever-changing AFL and NRL hubs, here:
Gladys Berejiklian has taken a swipe at Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to close Queensland’s border Sydney, telling reporters it “hurts the smaller states” to shut themselves off from New South Wales and saying “it would have been nice if she told me” about the decision.
In her press conference earlier today, Palaszczuk announced Queensland would declare all of greater Sydney a Covid hotspot and close its border to anyone from the city from 1pm on Saturday, saying “we must protect Queensland”.
Speaking at the same time in Sydney, Berejiklian confirmed she had not been given prior warning of the decision but said it was a matter for Queensland.
Asked if she was informed of Queensland’s decision prior to the announcement Berejiklian said:
Finally, Andrews was asked about prime minister Scott Morrison calling the outbreak the “Victorian wave,” not a second wave.
This is a comment that came in the context of both Morrison and Andrews saying they had boundless respect for each other.
Said Andrews:
He ended the press conference by thanking all Victorians, “whether you are in Melbourne, Mitchell shire, the smallest country town at the farthest point from Melbourne, thank you so much for doing the right thing, thank you so much for the contribution you are making”.
Andrews was asked if parliament was returning next week and in what form, and laughed at something said in the room before apologising for laughing.
I think it can be forgiven.
On the outbreak in Colac, in southwest Victoria, which is the largest regional outbreak, Sutton said the vast majority of cases have been traced back to the abattoir outbreak.
A very difficult question for chief health officer, Brett Sutton. Can families see a loved one who died after testing positive to Covid-19 when they are laid out? Or is there a risk?
Sutton:
He added that people would not have to wear that level of PPE at a funeral. I’m reasonably certain the face covering rule would still apply, though.
Premier Daniel Andrews is back at the podium now, talking about the aged care response.
On St Basil’s home for the aged in Fawkner, he said the federal and state governments stepped in because a significant number of staff had tested positive and “there was not confidence that they could be contained, they could not infect residents that didn’t have the virus”.
Asked if it would have been more appropriate to bring in additional nursing staff and then transition back to aged care staff, Andrews replied:
Not if staff were not wearing protective equipment.
He added:
Sutton said on Monday, when Victoria recorded the record high of 532 Covid-19 cases, that the modelling indicated that could be the peak of the second wave.
He says he will not say outright that Victoria has passed that point, as it reaches the halfway point of the initial six-week lockdown period.
Sutton was asked about the Ausmat teams, which will begin arriving in Victoria tomorrow.
Sutton said there were 55 community transmission cases recorded overnight, and that has been the daily average – about 50 new cases from community transmission each day.
I misled you earlier – the chief health officer, Prof Brett Sutton, is here.
Apologies, Suttonites.Apologies, Suttonites.
He says that community transmission numbers in Victoria “have remained relatively stable” in recent days.He says that community transmission numbers in Victoria “have remained relatively stable” in recent days.
On today’s numbers being considerably lower than the high recorded on Monday – about 240 fewer cases reported – Andrews said he was “not reading into numbers each day”.On today’s numbers being considerably lower than the high recorded on Monday – about 240 fewer cases reported – Andrews said he was “not reading into numbers each day”.
He added:He added:
It is odd that we’re now in a situation the reaction is “only 295!” not “oh no, 295”. Not so long ago, these kind of numbers would have been unthinkable.It is odd that we’re now in a situation the reaction is “only 295!” not “oh no, 295”. Not so long ago, these kind of numbers would have been unthinkable.
The Australian chief scientist Alan Finkel has been in contact with the Victorian public health team to help cut down the time to get test results, Andrews said.
He said Victoria had one of the highest testing rates in the world.
Andrews was asked about the stop work protest at the JBS abattoir in Brooklyn yesterday, supported by United Voice.
He said he would not comment on that particular business, or the stop work action, “other than to say that as a result of that, there has been changes made there and I think they are doing staggered breaks and not crowding into a very small space when they are having downtime”.
Andrews said WorkSafe has done “a couple of hundred of inspections” at meatworks and other high risk workplaces.
Andrews said there is a “special and urgent response” in place whenever an outbreak is reported in an aged care setting, even if it’s just one case.
More on the fight that he’s not having with the federal government:
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, also said at his press conference a short time ago how much respect he has for Andrews and the respect they have for each other. Such a lot of respect is gratifying, I am sure.
Andrews was asked about reports that the secretary of the federal health department, Prof Brendan Murphy, first requested Victoria cancel its non-urgent elective surgery on 15 July but it did not happen until yesterday.
Andrews:
Andrews said there were discussions with the federal government about it on Sunday night and the Victorian cabinet made a decision on Monday.
He added:
The commentary is that Andrews fired the first shots in his press conference yesterday, heaping issues in aged care on the federal government. Which he did. But it’s still a distraction.
Before we get to questions I want to apologise for saying the chief health officer, Prof Brett Sutton, would be here. He is not, the health minister Jenny Mikakos is.
Andrews also went through a list of employers and industry groups, which he thanked for telling their staff or members not to go to work when sick.
They are:
Trades Hall, the MasterBuilders, HIA, the Property Council, Trades Hall, Bunnings, the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Australian Industry Group, VCOSS, too many meatworks and abattoirs to mention, Coles, Woolworths, Aldi, the Australian Hotels Association and Australian Retailers Association.
Andrews said 80 residents have been transferred out of the facility at St Basil’s home for the aged. At Epping Gardens, 34 residents have been transferred out, and Kirkbrae aged care has had 30 residents moved to hospital. Another 21 aged care residents have been transferred out from other facilities.
Andrews said nurses from the Victorian public hospital system, and ADF medics, have already filled in 400 shifts in aged care.
He said that at the Heritage Care Epping Gardens aged care home, nurses from Austin Health, Ramsay Health, as well as ADF medics are helping with the aged care response.
Andrews said he will increase the number of people out knocking on doors as part of the contact tracing effort from 58 people, across 18 teams, to 90 people.
Except that the chief health officer, Brett Sutton, revealed yesterday that the Victorian public health orders cannot legally stop someone from going out to exercise – they’re just asked to do it at home wherever possible. Something to keep in mind.