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Coronavirus live news: cases surge in Europe; easing of restrictions in Victoria in doubt Coronavirus live news: cases surge in Europe; easing of restrictions in Victoria in doubt
(32 minutes later)
France, Italy, Austria and Greece report record increases in Covid-19 cases; Melbourne cluster grows. Follow the latest updates liveFrance, Italy, Austria and Greece report record increases in Covid-19 cases; Melbourne cluster grows. Follow the latest updates live
Victoria’s commander of testing and community engagement, Jeroen Weimar, says almost 2,500 tests were conducted in the northern suburbs of Melbourne yesterday. He said there had been a “strong community response”.
Testing numbers are up 60% on last week, and he urged anyone in the northern suburbs with any symptoms, and anyone connected with the two schools even without symptoms, to get tested.
He added:
Weimar said they had set up a special testing station at Croxton Specialist school, in partnership with the Royal Children’s Hospital specialist paediatric team, to help test its 120 students.
Andrews did announce some changes for regional Victoria, which is already several steps ahead of Melbourne in terms of easing of restrictions.
From 11.59pm on Tuesday:
Gyms in regional Victoria will be open to a maximum of 20 people, with space rules applying.
A maximum of 20 people, again with spacing rules, will be allowed to attend a religious service with one faith leader.
Outdoor funerals will be allowed to have 50 attendees.
Indoor non-contact community sport for people under the age of 18 will be allowed.
Indoor swimming pools will be open for all ages, to a maximum of 20 people.
Greater Shepparton, which had a coronavirus outbreak earlier this month, will be brought back in line with the rest of regional Victoria from midnight tonight.
Daniel Andrews said they had found “linkages” and “chains of transmission” between new cases in the northern suburbs.
He also said hundreds who were under self-isolation orders have now been allowed to leave their home after testing negative.
He added:
Andrews said he was not in a position to announce an easing of restrictions today, as promised for several weeks, because they are awaiting at least 1,000 Covid-19 test results from contacts of the outbreak in northern Melbourne.
He said:
He said he hoped to be in a position to make an announcement in “a couple of days” and said he knew the delay would be frustrating.
Andrews says there are now 100 active cases in Victoria, that’s seven new cases since yesterday.
Eight of those active cases are in healthcare workers, four are in aged care.
There are seven people in hospital, none in ICU.
12,894 tests were conducted yesterday.
Back on the UK’s test and trace system quickly. PA reports:
The Australian health minister, Greg Hunt, says the only reason the Victorian government would hold off opening up would be if the state did not have confidence in its contact tracing system.
He made the comments just before the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, is due to announce (or not announce) a change in restrictions. Andrews is due to begin speaking in a few minutes.
After months of increasing tension between the two levels of government – and with the state premier due to front the media shortly – Hunt said the case levels in Victoria were low enough to justify an easing of restrictions.
At a press conference in Canberra this morning, Hunt was asked what his reaction would be if the Victorian state government did not announce a significant easing of restrictions today. He said:
It could take up to a year for Australian biotech company CSL to develop the capability to make a Covid-19 vaccine depending on the type required, the country’s industry minister has said.
Karen Andrews, the minister for industry and science, said CSL would be able to immediately start making a vaccine if a protein-based candidate proved to be safe and effective.
However, she said “significant work” would be required if it was another type known as an mRNA vaccine. Pressed during an interview with the ABC’s Insiders program to give a timeframe to get production up and running if it was an mRNA vaccine, Andrews said:
Andrews said the government would give support to CSL to help it ramp up its capability and roll out technical upgrades.
In the United Kingdom, a senior conservative MP has called for Baroness Harding, the Tory peer who leads the UK government’s test and trace program, to be removed and replaced.In the United Kingdom, a senior conservative MP has called for Baroness Harding, the Tory peer who leads the UK government’s test and trace program, to be removed and replaced.
Sir Bernard Jenkin, MP for Harwich and chair of the powerful parliamentary liaison committee, called for her to be given a “well-earned rest” and moved on to focus on “lessons learned”.Sir Bernard Jenkin, MP for Harwich and chair of the powerful parliamentary liaison committee, called for her to be given a “well-earned rest” and moved on to focus on “lessons learned”.
Jenkin, a former deputy chairman of the Conservative party, is the most senior Tory to call into question the government’s running of test and trace, as concerns over its operations mount. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he said:Jenkin, a former deputy chairman of the Conservative party, is the most senior Tory to call into question the government’s running of test and trace, as concerns over its operations mount. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, he said:
You can read more on this story here.You can read more on this story here.
The Australian health minister, Greg Hunt, has urged the Victorian government to ease restrictions to bring the state in line with neighbouring New South Wales.The Australian health minister, Greg Hunt, has urged the Victorian government to ease restrictions to bring the state in line with neighbouring New South Wales.
Hunt, whose electorate is in Victoria, was speaking in Canberra ahead of Victorian premier Daniel Andrews’s announcement. He urged the state:Hunt, whose electorate is in Victoria, was speaking in Canberra ahead of Victorian premier Daniel Andrews’s announcement. He urged the state:
Moreland City Council, which covers an area of Melbourne’s northern suburbs, this morning sent an alert to residents warning that coronavirus cases had been identified in the suburbs of Fawkner, Preston, West Heidelberg, Dallas, Roxburgh Park and Broadmeadows.Moreland City Council, which covers an area of Melbourne’s northern suburbs, this morning sent an alert to residents warning that coronavirus cases had been identified in the suburbs of Fawkner, Preston, West Heidelberg, Dallas, Roxburgh Park and Broadmeadows.
Anyone who lives or works in that area is urged to gets tested if they experience even mild symptoms.Anyone who lives or works in that area is urged to gets tested if they experience even mild symptoms.
The council alert also urged anyone connected to the East Preston Islamic College and the Corxton school in Northcote to get a test even if they had no symptoms. Fifteen testing sites have been set up in the area.The council alert also urged anyone connected to the East Preston Islamic College and the Corxton school in Northcote to get a test even if they had no symptoms. Fifteen testing sites have been set up in the area.
It added that Sirius College (Meadow Fair campus), Ilim College, and Dallas Brooks primary school “have also been identified as potential risk sites. Anyone from these school communities who is a close contact or who is experiencing symptoms needs to get tested and stay home”.It added that Sirius College (Meadow Fair campus), Ilim College, and Dallas Brooks primary school “have also been identified as potential risk sites. Anyone from these school communities who is a close contact or who is experiencing symptoms needs to get tested and stay home”.
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, and health minister Martin Foley, will give a press conference at 10.30am Melbourne time (so in 30 minutes).The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, and health minister Martin Foley, will give a press conference at 10.30am Melbourne time (so in 30 minutes).
A reminder that according to the roadmap released back in September – which has since been significantly re-written – Melbourne was due to get the following freedoms from tomorrow if the rolling 14-day average had fallen below five and there were no more than three “mystery cases” in that period. As of today, the rolling 14-day average in metropolitan Melbourne is 4.6, and there were nine cases with an unknown source in the 14 days to 22 October.A reminder that according to the roadmap released back in September – which has since been significantly re-written – Melbourne was due to get the following freedoms from tomorrow if the rolling 14-day average had fallen below five and there were no more than three “mystery cases” in that period. As of today, the rolling 14-day average in metropolitan Melbourne is 4.6, and there were nine cases with an unknown source in the 14 days to 22 October.
So, according to that roadmap, there would from tomorrow be no restrictions on reasons to leave your home, no travel limit (Melbournians are currently not allowed more than 25km from their home without a permit), up to five visitors from another nominated household allowed in your home, and a reopening of retail stores and hospitality for outdoor seated service.So, according to that roadmap, there would from tomorrow be no restrictions on reasons to leave your home, no travel limit (Melbournians are currently not allowed more than 25km from their home without a permit), up to five visitors from another nominated household allowed in your home, and a reopening of retail stores and hospitality for outdoor seated service.
Let’s wait to see what’s actually announced.Let’s wait to see what’s actually announced.
Good morning,Good morning,
Welcome to our ongoing live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. France reported a record 45,422 cases in one day on Sunday and 138 new deaths. The country has now recorded 1.08 million cases. Italy has also set a new daily record, with 19,644 cases, and Luxembourg has also recorded a record rise, with 862 new cases.Welcome to our ongoing live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. France reported a record 45,422 cases in one day on Sunday and 138 new deaths. The country has now recorded 1.08 million cases. Italy has also set a new daily record, with 19,644 cases, and Luxembourg has also recorded a record rise, with 862 new cases.
The United Kingdom recorded 23,012 new cases and 174 deaths, as anti-lockdown protests were held in London.The United Kingdom recorded 23,012 new cases and 174 deaths, as anti-lockdown protests were held in London.
In Australia, the focus is on Melbourne where the premier, Daniel Andrews, is scheduled to make an announcement on the easing of restriction. On Friday, he said there would be “significant” changes. On Saturday, he backtracked and said “I just want to caution people from banking that tomorrow I’ll be making a whole series of detailed announcements about opening up.” The Victorian government has reportedly been briefing that changes will be delayed.In Australia, the focus is on Melbourne where the premier, Daniel Andrews, is scheduled to make an announcement on the easing of restriction. On Friday, he said there would be “significant” changes. On Saturday, he backtracked and said “I just want to caution people from banking that tomorrow I’ll be making a whole series of detailed announcements about opening up.” The Victorian government has reportedly been briefing that changes will be delayed.
The reason for the change is an outbreak in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, including a number of cases connected to the East Preston Islamic College. Victoria recorded seven new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday and seven on Saturday, up from one on Friday. Almost 10,000 tests have been conducted in the area and hundreds are under self-isolation orders. Andrews has said that they will need to see those tests results, and see whether new cases can be connected to known outbreaks, before the changes are finalised. Importantly for Victorians the rolling 14-day average has now dropped below five cases per day – the milestone set back in September for easing restrictions – but that might not be enough. Andrews has said decisions will be made on where the cases are and whether they are linked, not on numbers alone.The reason for the change is an outbreak in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, including a number of cases connected to the East Preston Islamic College. Victoria recorded seven new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday and seven on Saturday, up from one on Friday. Almost 10,000 tests have been conducted in the area and hundreds are under self-isolation orders. Andrews has said that they will need to see those tests results, and see whether new cases can be connected to known outbreaks, before the changes are finalised. Importantly for Victorians the rolling 14-day average has now dropped below five cases per day – the milestone set back in September for easing restrictions – but that might not be enough. Andrews has said decisions will be made on where the cases are and whether they are linked, not on numbers alone.
Let’s crack on. You can follow me on Twitter at @callapilla or email me at Calla.Wahlquist@theguardian.comLet’s crack on. You can follow me on Twitter at @callapilla or email me at Calla.Wahlquist@theguardian.com