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Coronavirus Australia live news: Queensland agrees to NRL's plan for 28 May restart – latest updates Coronavirus Australia live news: Queensland agrees to NRL's plan for 28 May restart – latest updates
(32 minutes later)
Sydney aged care home reports 13th coronavirus-related death as three more residents test positive. Follow liveSydney aged care home reports 13th coronavirus-related death as three more residents test positive. Follow live
The NSW government has released a statewide Covid-19 ‘heat map’, showing pandemic information by postcode. The map details the number of active cases, testing rates, and number of recovered cases in each local community.
“This new way of showing NSW Health data will help communities understand the numbers of people being tested, and encourage more people with symptoms to come forward for testing when they see the impact COVID-19 is having on their local area,” NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
“It also provides encouraging data showing how people are bouncing back from the virus.”
It’s accessible here.
Cholera has largely been beaten in the west, but it still kills tens of thousands of people in poorer countries every year. As we search for a cure for coronavirus, we have to make sure it will be available to everyone, not just to those in wealthy nations.
This is a fine piece by Dr Neil Singh.
For coronavirus is not the only pandemic the world faces. There is another one raging right now. Since cholera first spread across the globe, two centuries ago, it has killed about 50 million people. In the time it takes you to read this article, another five people will have died from it. It is now mostly ignored in the west, but in other parts of the world, it has never gone away.
The chief of Australia’s Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, has written to the families of ADF members, thanking them “for the continuous sacrifices that you and your family make in supporting us”.
He said the role of Defence in Australia’s Covid-19 response was critical, “and I thank every Australian Defence Force member, their parents, partners and children for the patience, resilience, understanding and support they continue to provide so that we can continue to serve”.
The ADF has established Operation Covid Assist, deploying military personnel within Australia to assist state and territory governments with contact tracing, planning and logistics, and working alongside police to enforce mandatory quarantine arrangements for international arrivals.
Five members of the Australian Defence Force have caught Covid-19 while serving in the Middle East.
On that note I am going to hand over to Ben Doherty.On that note I am going to hand over to Ben Doherty.
Stay safe, stay warm, and if you have any respiratory symptoms or a fever, however mild, please do get a Covid-19 test. My nephew (a reliable source) had one today and says they “tickle”. So I imagine adults can manage it.Stay safe, stay warm, and if you have any respiratory symptoms or a fever, however mild, please do get a Covid-19 test. My nephew (a reliable source) had one today and says they “tickle”. So I imagine adults can manage it.
A reminder:A reminder:
In other news, if you, like me, are in Melbourne, you may have noticed that it is quite cold. Almost record-breakingly cold for the first of May, in fact, although the dial did just inch above 12C this afternoon.In other news, if you, like me, are in Melbourne, you may have noticed that it is quite cold. Almost record-breakingly cold for the first of May, in fact, although the dial did just inch above 12C this afternoon.
There has been significant snowfall across the alpine resorts, which just a few months ago were on fire or close to it. The ski season doesn’t officially start until next month so it’s possible coronavirus restrictions could by then be eased to allow some skiing.There has been significant snowfall across the alpine resorts, which just a few months ago were on fire or close to it. The ski season doesn’t officially start until next month so it’s possible coronavirus restrictions could by then be eased to allow some skiing.
In the mean time, check out these beautiful photos.In the mean time, check out these beautiful photos.
Here are a few more details on that study on the potential spread of the coronavirus in schools, which the WA government announced earlier in partnership with the Telethon Kids Institute.Here are a few more details on that study on the potential spread of the coronavirus in schools, which the WA government announced earlier in partnership with the Telethon Kids Institute.
It will be conducted across 80 public schools, education support centres and residential colleges across WA, covering a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds.It will be conducted across 80 public schools, education support centres and residential colleges across WA, covering a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds.
Participation in the study is voluntary, and requires the consent of both teachers and the parents of all children involved. That doesn’t mean you have to give consent if your child attends one of the 80 schools, only if they specifically are part of the study.Participation in the study is voluntary, and requires the consent of both teachers and the parents of all children involved. That doesn’t mean you have to give consent if your child attends one of the 80 schools, only if they specifically are part of the study.
The first part of the study involves surveillance testing of a sample of staff and students across 40 schools over three months, potentially longer depending on the number of cases detected. Parents will be advised of the outcome of tests and the tests used will be different to those at a Covid clinic. It’ll be a less invasive swab.The first part of the study involves surveillance testing of a sample of staff and students across 40 schools over three months, potentially longer depending on the number of cases detected. Parents will be advised of the outcome of tests and the tests used will be different to those at a Covid clinic. It’ll be a less invasive swab.
That will start next week.That will start next week.
Any positive tests will be subject to contact tracing, and any close contacts identified will “undergo multiple tests for Covid-19 at intervals over two weeks, irrespective of whether they show symptoms”, a WA government statement said.Any positive tests will be subject to contact tracing, and any close contacts identified will “undergo multiple tests for Covid-19 at intervals over two weeks, irrespective of whether they show symptoms”, a WA government statement said.
Close contacts will also be required to keep a diary during that period. This is intended to identify any onward transmission and “provide a greater understanding of the role schools play in the transmissibility of Covid-19 between students and staff, and the wider community via household members and other non-school contacts”.Close contacts will also be required to keep a diary during that period. This is intended to identify any onward transmission and “provide a greater understanding of the role schools play in the transmissibility of Covid-19 between students and staff, and the wider community via household members and other non-school contacts”.
The third part of the study is about the psychosocial impacts of the pandemic.The third part of the study is about the psychosocial impacts of the pandemic.
Also below the line folks, we will be switching comments off soon as our hardworking moderator is about to clock off.Also below the line folks, we will be switching comments off soon as our hardworking moderator is about to clock off.
While we’re talking about sport, Mark McGowan was just asked about the prospect of AFL returning (they aren’t interested in rugby league in Western Australia).While we’re talking about sport, Mark McGowan was just asked about the prospect of AFL returning (they aren’t interested in rugby league in Western Australia).
He said players would be subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine, just like everyone else entering the state.He said players would be subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine, just like everyone else entering the state.
The difference in the NRL seems to be that they plan to keep players permanently quarantined, apart from games. That’s why Queensland has granted them a free pass through the border.The difference in the NRL seems to be that they plan to keep players permanently quarantined, apart from games. That’s why Queensland has granted them a free pass through the border.
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, says she had a phone conference following national cabinet with the NRL chairman, Peter V’Landys, and the CEOs of the Broncos, Cowboys and Titans, and told them they could resume training for the season reopener on 28 May.The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, says she had a phone conference following national cabinet with the NRL chairman, Peter V’Landys, and the CEOs of the Broncos, Cowboys and Titans, and told them they could resume training for the season reopener on 28 May.
In a statement, Palaszczuk said:In a statement, Palaszczuk said:
She also demanded assurances that the NRL will enforce home quarantine, after reports of some players breaking restrictions this week.She also demanded assurances that the NRL will enforce home quarantine, after reports of some players breaking restrictions this week.
The decision means players have permission to travel across the Queensland border to play, effectively making them essential workers.The decision means players have permission to travel across the Queensland border to play, effectively making them essential workers.
South Australia has recorded no new cases of Covid-19 for the ninth day in a row. That’s no new cases since 22 April.South Australia has recorded no new cases of Covid-19 for the ninth day in a row. That’s no new cases since 22 April.
Cook is outlining a plan for a study, which will be done with the Telethon Kids Institute, to monitor and track any transmission of Covid-19 in schools.
It will involve a random sample of staff and students who volunteer to be tested for Covid-19 over a period of three months. Any positive tests will be contact traced, and participants are required to keep a diary. The study will examine whether any of the transmission occurred at school.
Cook says “all available evidence indicates that schools are safe and our commitment to this study should provide the community further assurance that we are taking all available steps” to ensure that schools are safe, and that any undetected spread at school is discovered.
And a clarification on that earlier figure re the number of tests. Cook says the WA figures related to the number of people tested (which to date is more than 41,000), not the number of tests done.
That’s why WA’s test figures could appear low compared to other states, because some states report the number of tests done and there can be multiple tests done per person.
The Western Australian health minister, Roger Cook, says WA has the highest rate of tests per community transmission of the virus. Which seems to be quite an esoteric way to measure it.
Still, a high rate of testing.
Cook makes the point that the overwhelming majority of WA’s cases are imported. They’ve had a few cruise ships land.
McGowan says WA recorded no new Covid-19 cases overnight. There are now only 32 active cases in the state, 23 locals and 11 from elsewhere.
Only three of those active cases are in regional areas, in the Goldfields. Eleven patients remain in hospital, with three in ICU.
More than 41,000 tests have been conducted.
The Western Australian premier, Mark McGowan, is addressing the media in Perth.
He starts by talking about a fatal police shooting that happened at the South Hedland shopping centre, which is about 1,500km north of Perth, a few hours ago. More on that here.
McGowan says he would “like to thank everyone who has dealt with that situation ... those police officers. I would like to thank them all.”
An Aboriginal woman, Joyce Clarke, died after being shot by police in Geraldton in September. A police officer has been charged with murder.
Just after Scott Morrison’s press conference ended, the government announced another tweak to its childcare package to ease concerns about some services facing funding shortfalls. Under the temporary “free childcare” policy, parents are spared from paying any fees, but providers have been crunching the numbers and finding problems.
While the general funding under the relief package was intended to work together with the jobkeeper wage subsidy of $1,500 per worker per fortnight, some services do not meet the test for the payment and those that do qualify cannot claim it for some casuals or work visa holders.
The education minister, Dan Tehan, issued a statement this afternoon saying the government had expanded the eligibility for extra payments to childcare services that miss out on the jobkeeper wage subsidy.
It says:
Tehan said the government would also help family day care and in-home care providers that were not eligible for jobkeeper and apply for an ABN by 1 June.
You can read more about that here:
Some more details on that one-off $205m payment to the aged care sector. It’s intended to facilitate testing by ensuring centres have adequate staff.
The payment is linked to the number of residents at a facility.
Providers will receive about $900 per resident in major metropolitan areas and $1,350 per resident everywhere else.
The aged care Code of Conduct on Pandemic Procedures sets out the requirements for aged care centres to facilitate family visits. It can be viewed here. (This is the link the PMO provided, even though it says ‘draft’.)
It comes after the aged care sector received criticism for, in some cases, shutting down facilities and not allowing visitors even when no outbreak was present. When there is a Covid-19 outbreak, a lockdown is allowed but communication with family members and residents must be swift and extensive.
The code says that visits to residents should be short unless the person being visited is dying, or the resident has an established pattern of receiving visits that help in their care or support.
When it comes to residents who are dying or in their final weeks, the code says, homes should be flexible with regards to the number of visitors at any one time and the length and frequency of visits.
Where visitors have an established pattern of always coming at a set time to help their loved one, for example coming to help with meals, “the length, frequency, and nature of the visits should reflect what is needed for the person to be cared for appropriately and consistent with established practices and routines”.
While we are talking about sport, Scott Morrison, a keen Cronulla Sharks fan, refused to comment in that press conference on whether the NRL had been or would be given permission to resume its 2020 season. The league has set a return to play date of 28 May.
More on that issue here:
The national principles for the resumption of sport and recreation activities are 15 points long, so I won’t go through all of them.
Point 13 is that sport, if resumed, will be spectator-free for the foreseeable future.
The principles say the resumption of sport will be based on “objective health information” and that while the Australian Institute of Sport’s Framework for Rebooting Sport in a Covid-19 Environment will provide a “general guide” the final decisions will be made by state and territory governments.
Other key points:
Outdoor activities are considered lower risk.
Community sporting activities involving 10 or fewer participants in a “non contact fashion” will be able to resume first before sport involving larger groups and full-contact sports. Physical distancing will have to be maintained. That will also apply to children’s sport.
Golf, fishing, bushwalking, swimming etc will also be required to stick to physical distancing rules.
“Significantly enhanced risk mitigation” must be applied to all indoor activities associated with outdoor sorts. So no shaking hands in the change rooms.
The AIS framework is the minimum baseline standard required to be met before the resumption of training or match play of professional sports.
Sports seeking specific exemptions must seek approvals from the relevant state or territory governments, or local public health authorities.
At all times, sporting organisations must respond to the directives of public health authorities, including if ordered “quarantine of a whole team or large group, and close contacts, for the required period”.
“For the foreseeable future, elite sports, if recommenced, should do so in a spectator-free environment with the minimum support staff available to support the competition.”