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| Coronavirus Australia live updates: Scott Morrison gives Covid-19 update – latest news | Coronavirus Australia live updates: Scott Morrison gives Covid-19 update – latest news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sydney aged care home reports 13th coronavirus-related death as three more residents test positive. Follow live | Sydney aged care home reports 13th coronavirus-related death as three more residents test positive. Follow live |
| Murphy also comments: | |
| Morrison says an independent investigation would look at what happened and why it happened. | |
| Scott Morrison is asked to comment on Donald Trump’s claim to have evidence to substantiate a theory that the coronavirus originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Trump’s comment was made despite US intelligence agencies concluding that the virus was “not manmade or genetically modified”. | |
| Morrison says he has not seen any evidence to suggest that’s the case, but says Australia is still pushing for an independent investigation into the origin of the disease. | |
| He says the virus did originate in Wuhan, but “the most likely scenario that has been canvassed related to wildlife wet markets”. | |
| That is why Australia wants an “objective independent” investigation, he says. | |
| Guardian Australia’s Daniel Hurst asks if the free childcare policy will be extended past the initial three months. | |
| Morrison says it’s too early to say. | |
| A reporter asks if the easing of restrictions next week is contingent on more people downloading the CovidSafe app. Morrison says it is. | |
| He says if you want to go to the pub, you have to download the app. | |
| There will not be any additional restrictions. | |
| Morrison says the principles agreed to for restarting sport and recreational activities are based heavily on the Australian Institute of Sport’s plan. | |
| He says national cabinet has not made a decision on when and in what way sport can resume. That will be made next week. | |
| Among the principles are that outdoor activities are lower risk, and that there should be a staged resumption of sport. Possibly with smaller groups, less than 10 people in a non-contact sport, being allowed out first. | |
| Again, no decisions made yet: | |
| Richard Colbeck is also the minister for sport. He says the return will be staged. We are currently in stage A – no sport. The next stage is stage B – outdoor, non-contact sports in groups of 10 or less. Then it’s stage C – all sport. He makes another plug for the app | |
| Both Scott Morrison and Brendan Murphy are asked for their opinion on Victoria’s deputy chief health officer, Dr Annaliese van Diemen, making a tweet. The state opposition has called for her to resign and reported her to Victoria’s public health commission. | |
| Morrison made some remarks on that earlier, and said he won’t comment further. | |
| Murphy defended van Diemen’s ability to do her job. | |
| A question on how people living in densely populated areas should deal with the easing of restrictions. | |
| Journalist: People are told “don’t do a Bondi”. What if people go down to the beach and see it’s really busy. Do they go home? | |
| Morrison says people need to “exercise commonsense”. Physical distancing, the requirement to remain 1.5 metres apart, will not lift when the restrictions lift. | |
| Morrison says people should be motivated by their own desire not to get sick. | |
| Murphy: | |
| Murphy is asked if the cohort testing of asymptomatic people will include testing of schoolchildren. He says no, but it will include testing of teachers. | |
| He says there has been cohort testing of asymptomatic schoolchildren, when a school reports an outbreak. | |
| What about the NRL? | |
| Morrison says it’s a matter for state jurisdictions to clear or not clear any particular sporting codes. But the health advice to the states will be consistent and provided by the AHPPC. | |
| So each state should be saying the same thing to each code. | |
| In relation to the New Zealand Warriors being given permission to travel, Morrison says “no amount of reporting” will change that outcome. It has been received and is being considered. | In relation to the New Zealand Warriors being given permission to travel, Morrison says “no amount of reporting” will change that outcome. It has been received and is being considered. |
| Will employers be requiring people to download the app, or will the government require businesses to require employees to download the app, before restrictions are lifted? | Will employers be requiring people to download the app, or will the government require businesses to require employees to download the app, before restrictions are lifted? |
| Morrison says it cannot be required under law “but we are encouraging it”. | Morrison says it cannot be required under law “but we are encouraging it”. |
| Morrison is also asked about the strained relationship with China. | |
| To questions. I think Morrison just suggested he will try out Barre class, which is a joke that has run the length of this lockdown period and proved that we truly are starved for information. | To questions. I think Morrison just suggested he will try out Barre class, which is a joke that has run the length of this lockdown period and proved that we truly are starved for information. |
| The question was asking for an indication of the kind of restrictions that might be lifted. Morrison says he won’t predict what national cabinet will decide. He says it will also be a matter of figuring out what mitigation measures can be introduced. | The question was asking for an indication of the kind of restrictions that might be lifted. Morrison says he won’t predict what national cabinet will decide. He says it will also be a matter of figuring out what mitigation measures can be introduced. |
| Murphy is outlining the plan to ensure enough testing is done to detect any possible second wave of coronavirus. Australia will do cohort testing, identifying particular groups and testing asymptomatic people to ensure the virus isn’t undetected. Those cohorts include aged care workers, healthcare workers and hospital patients. (If they consent, of course.) | Murphy is outlining the plan to ensure enough testing is done to detect any possible second wave of coronavirus. Australia will do cohort testing, identifying particular groups and testing asymptomatic people to ensure the virus isn’t undetected. Those cohorts include aged care workers, healthcare workers and hospital patients. (If they consent, of course.) |
| Says Murphy: | Says Murphy: |
| He says that the case data shows that most people who transmit the virus do still have symptoms, so anyone with any symptoms should get tested. | He says that the case data shows that most people who transmit the virus do still have symptoms, so anyone with any symptoms should get tested. |
| Murphy says case numbers in Australia are now so low “that we can examine each case, each cluster, and get really detailed epidemiological information on what’s happening”. | Murphy says case numbers in Australia are now so low “that we can examine each case, each cluster, and get really detailed epidemiological information on what’s happening”. |
| Murphy shows a slide using data given to the government from Apple and Google, showing how many people are on the roads. It has fallen substantially, showing people are obeying stay at home orders. | Murphy shows a slide using data given to the government from Apple and Google, showing how many people are on the roads. It has fallen substantially, showing people are obeying stay at home orders. |
| A quip: | A quip: |
| Murphy says Australia has beaten the modelling in terms of the number of new cases of Covid-19 reported. | Murphy says Australia has beaten the modelling in terms of the number of new cases of Covid-19 reported. |
| There are now only two states on the graph showing the effective reproduction number. Last week the ACT and NT had dropped off the graph, because their case numbers were so low. | There are now only two states on the graph showing the effective reproduction number. Last week the ACT and NT had dropped off the graph, because their case numbers were so low. |
| Brendan Murphy is going through the requirements that need to be in place before restrictions can be eased. | Brendan Murphy is going through the requirements that need to be in place before restrictions can be eased. |
| Australia now has enough testing kits and a secure supply line. We have enough masks and a good supply line, and the supply line for other PPE is being restored. | Australia now has enough testing kits and a secure supply line. We have enough masks and a good supply line, and the supply line for other PPE is being restored. |
| The public health workforce needed to be ready to respond to an outbreak. Murphy says Australia has excelled in that space. | The public health workforce needed to be ready to respond to an outbreak. Murphy says Australia has excelled in that space. |
| Murphy says that the requirement for improved contact tracing was almost there, “accept for the app uptake”. | Murphy says that the requirement for improved contact tracing was almost there, “accept for the app uptake”. |