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Coronavirus Australia live update: anxiety grows over NSW mystery cases as curve begins to flatten in Victoria – latest news Coronavirus Australia live update: anxiety grows over NSW mystery cases as curve begins to flatten in Victoria – latest news
(32 minutes later)
NSW authorities are concerned about a number of Covid-19 cases in the past six weeks where the source was unknown. Follow liveNSW authorities are concerned about a number of Covid-19 cases in the past six weeks where the source was unknown. Follow live
Behind each of those daily death reports, is a whole life. New Zealand has recorded another Covid case, shutting down a school -
After Australia recorded it’s (newest) deadliest day in the pandemic yesterday (a grim record indeed) Scott Morrison didn’t hold a press conference. A Mount Albert Grammar School student has tested positive. They were a close contact of the family who have tested positive with no known source. That came after more than 100 days with no cases.
Genome-sequencing of the family’s virus is being done to see if it links back to any of the known cases in quarantine.
It’s not all doom and gloom, thankfully.
It was rolled out really quickly but it’s been a massive help for a lot of people. Now the AMA wants Medicare-subsidised telehealth sessions to continue. As AAP reports:
Australia’s peak medical group has urged the federal government to extend Medicare-subsidised telehealth services until March as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
The service is due to end September 30, but the government has said it will consider an extension upon the advice of a panel of chief medical officers.
Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid says that’s the way to go because the September deadline was decided when there was optimism the nation would be over the worst of coronavirus by then.
“We now know that the virus will be with us well past the end of September,” Dr Khorshid said.
“Victoria is in the midst of a second wave of infections and NSW is increasingly struggling in its daily battle to reduce its daily infection numbers. Most other states have also seen new infections, albeit at very low levels.
“Telehealth remains fundamental to our national efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, and ending the temporary Medicare arrangements in September would be premature.”
Dr Khorshid says the scheme is vital to ensure Australians who are self-isolating can still access medical care.
The AMA said a March 2012 end date would align with the cessation of the government’s wage subsidy program.
Behind each of those daily death reports is a whole life.
After Australia recorded its (newest) deadliest day in the pandemic yesterday (a grim record indeed) Scott Morrison didn’t hold a press conference.
Instead, he posted this video to his social media feed:Instead, he posted this video to his social media feed:
The ACT has been included as a hotspot by Queensland, despite having no (known) active Covid cases, after the Queensland government (which goes to the polls on 31 October) was worried NSW residents were using the Canberra airport to bypass the sunshine state’s border closure.The ACT has been included as a hotspot by Queensland, despite having no (known) active Covid cases, after the Queensland government (which goes to the polls on 31 October) was worried NSW residents were using the Canberra airport to bypass the sunshine state’s border closure.
Andrew Barr says he hopes that situation is resolved soon, but says in a pandemic, things tend to move quickly, and everyone is just reacting as best they can: Andrew Barr says he hopes that situation is resolved soon but says in a pandemic, things tend to move quickly, and everyone is just reacting as best they can:
Asked about federal MPs who have been able to make the journey with no hassle, Andrew Barr says:Asked about federal MPs who have been able to make the journey with no hassle, Andrew Barr says:
ACT residents have four days to make the journey (to give time for those who have not yet reached the border to get there - some stayed in self isolation, while they waited for the mess to be sorted out) and can travel with police escort from 9am to 3pm. ACT residents have four days to make the journey (to give time for those who have not yet reached the border to get there some stayed in self-isolation while they waited for the mess to be sorted out) and can travel with a police escort from 9am to 3pm.
In about an hour or so, the Canberrans stranded at the Victoria/NSW border can begin the 3.5 hour journey home to the ACT, after a deal was struck between the Barr and Berejiklian governments. In about an hour or so the Canberrans stranded at the Victoria/NSW border can begin the three-and-a-half-hour journey home to the ACT after a deal was struck between the Barr and Berejiklian governments.
Andrew Barr spoke about the negotiations, which have been going on since Friday, with ABC News Breakfast this morning:Andrew Barr spoke about the negotiations, which have been going on since Friday, with ABC News Breakfast this morning:
Speaking to ABC radio news, Dan Tehan says it is a “common sense” change. Speaking to ABC radio news, Dan Tehan says it is a “commonsense” change.
Asked about his Nationals colleague and minister for regional education, Andrew Gee’s public opposition to the changes, Tehan says the legislation is open to consultation: Asked about his Nationals colleague and minister for regional education Andrew Gee’s opposition to the changes, Tehan says the legislation is open to consultation:
The other news sneaking in today, is this change to university fee funding, announced by Dan Tehan - students who fail 50% of their subjects risk having their Hecs-Help funding access revoked. The other news sneaking in today is this change to university fee funding announced by Dan Tehan students who fail 50% of their subjects risk having their Hecs-Help funding access revoked.
Given you do pay back that funding, with interest, and university isn’t always a ball for people who are financially disadvantaged, have mental health issues, including ADHD or other issues, or are just coping with the shock of being out of home for the first time - regional and rural teenagers living in the city included, this just seems like another burden for the disadvantaged. Given that you do pay back that funding, with interest, and university isn’t always a ball for people who are financially disadvantaged, have mental health issues, including ADHD or other issues, or are just coping with the shock of being away from home for the first time regional and rural teenagers living in the city included this just seems like another burden for the disadvantaged.
I can’t tell you how many emails I have had from people on that very issue Elias is reporting on. I can’t tell you how many emails I have had from people on the issue Elias is reporting on.
The ability to just jump on a plane and fly home while living overseas is something we should never take for granted again.The ability to just jump on a plane and fly home while living overseas is something we should never take for granted again.
The ACCC has been moved to investigate the behaviour of international airlines when it comes to people who have been trying to fly home to Australia. The ACCC has been moved to investigate the behaviour of international airlines when it comes to people who have been trying to fly home to Australia. As Elias Visontay reports:
As Elias Visontay reports: We awake to some very nervous NSW authorities the Tangara School for Girls cluster in Sydney’s north-west has some anxious eyes on it at the moment.
We awake to some very nervous NSW authorities - the Tangara School for Girls cluster in Sydney’s north-west has some very nervous eyes on it at the moment. The Cherrybrook school is closed, but has at least 19 cases linked to it.It’s the reason Gladys Berejiklian warned schools, particularly non-government schools to cool it on the extra-curricular activities. But there have also been a couple of mystery cases of Covid popping up in the NSW case numbers - infections with no known source - which points to community transmission, which also has NSW worried. Masks are not yet mandatory, but Berejiklian warned of stronger measures coming, if social distancing wasn’t properly observed - and that included wearing masks when in close quarters with other people. The Cherrybrook school is closed but has at least 19 cases linked to it. It’s the reason Gladys Berejiklian warned schools, particularly non-government schools, to cool it on the extra-curricular activities.
In Victoria, there are still questions over the hotel quarantine program and whether the ADF was offered up. We’ll learn more about where the Victorian curve is headed today - with early indications showing its pointing down. Let’s hope the number of deaths are down as well. Those numbers have been just heartbreaking. But there have also been a couple of mystery cases of Covid popping up in the NSW numbers infections with no known source which points to community transmission, which also has the state worried. Masks are not yet mandatory but Berejiklian warned of stronger measures coming if social distancing wasn’t properly observed and they include wearing masks when in close quarters with other people.
And the July labour force figures will be released today, but they won’t paint the whole picture - not just because the ABS accounts for people who are on Jobkeeper, but who might not have jobs to go back to, but also because the jobs were counted at a time before the Victorian lockdown came into effect. So once again, we will see an official rate - but the unofficial rate will be much higher. In Victoria, there are still questions about the hotel quarantine program and whether the ADF was offered up. We’ll learn more about where the Victorian curve is headed today with early indications showing its pointing down. Let’s hope the number of deaths are down as well. Those numbers have been just heartbreaking.
And the July labour force figures will be released today but they won’t paint the whole picture – not just because the ABS accounts for people who are on jobkeeper, but who might not have jobs to go back to, but also because the jobs were counted at a time before the Victorian lockdown came into effect.
So once again we will see an official rate – but the unofficial rate will be much higher.
We’ll cover all the news as it comes. You have Amy Remeikis with you today. Hit me up with your questions here and here and I’ll do my best to answer them.We’ll cover all the news as it comes. You have Amy Remeikis with you today. Hit me up with your questions here and here and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Ready?Ready?