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NationalCoronavirus pandemic

This was published 6 years ago

As the day unfolded: Boris Johnson tests positive for COVID-19, Scott Morrison upgrades self-isolation restrictions for travellers

If you suspect you or a family member has coronavirus you should call (not visit) your GP or ring the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.

Natassia Chrysanthos, Mary Ward and Latika Bourke
Updated ,first published

Summary

  • Australia’s death toll stands at 13 with 3166 Australians testing positive to the coronavirus. In NSW there are 1405 cases, Victoria 574, Queensland 555, South Australia 257, Western Australia 255, ACT 62, Tasmania 46 and Northern Territory 12.
  • Prime Minister Scott Morrison said all arrivals to Australia will now be quarantined in hotels in the city they arrive in for 14 days. State and territory governments will foot the bill.
  • Sydneysiders will be banned from Coogee Beach and eight eastern suburbs ocean pools from tomorrow. Myer will close stores and stand down 10,000 staff from Sunday.
  • The state’s 2400 barristers have asked  for financial assistance as the justice system is disrupted, while energy giants will defer bills and disconnections amid job losses.
  • The United States has overtaken China with the most confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 85,000 cases and about 1300 deaths. Italy’s cases topped 80,000.

Summary of the day's events

By

Goodnight and thank you for following the Herald's live coronavirus coverage. The United States became the new world leader in coronavirus cases and posted its biggest spike in unemployment claims in history, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tested positive for COVID-19, and Australia's number of cases surpassed 3000.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said COVID-19 cases in NSW are still increasing, and authorities are most concerned about community transmission. She reinforced reports that NSW was prepared to go it alone with tougher lockdown measures.

Randwick City Council will close Coogee Beach and eight eastern suburbs ocean pools from tomorrow, while Myer announced tonight it will close stores after this weekend and stand down 10,000 staff for at least four weeks.

Senior economics correspondent Shane Wright writes that Australia faces a deep recession or even a depression unless the Morrison government super-sizes any support package, with economists warning not enough money is being poured into the economy to save jobs.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus

By Bevan Shields

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has tested positive for coronavirus and has been forced into isolation during the worsening emergency in the United Kingdom.

In a video posted to Twitter, Johnson, aged 55, said he had developed mild symptoms and was tested on the advice on the country's chief medical officer.

He vowed to continue leading Britain's response to the pandemic via teleconferencing, however the diagnosis will raise questions about his recent contact with other officials and cabinet ministers.

Johnson is the first world leader to contract the virus. Prince Charles also tested positive earlier this week and is self-isolating in Scotland. Read more here.

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South Korea to block travellers with fever, South Africa announces first deaths

By

Here are some of the latest developments from around the world:

  • South Korea says it will block any passenger with even a mild fever from entering the country starting next week.
  • A World Health Organisation representative in the East Mediterranean has warned coronavirus will be "catastrophic" in the region's war-torn countries.
  • A 16-year-old French schoolgirl has become the youngest person in the country to die from COVID-19.
  • Police in southern Finland began to block access and exit from the region, which includes capital city Helsinki.
  • Russia's coronavirus caseload surpassed 1000 after it initially reported comparatively low numbers.
  • Chinese leader Xi Jinping has told President Donald Trump that China "understands the United States' current predicament over the COVID-19 outbreak and stands ready to provide support within its capacity.
  • Hungary's Prime Minister says restrictions on people leaving their homes will be enforced for two weeks.
  • South Africa has announced its first two deaths from the coronavirus as the country's cases rise above 1000.

AAP

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NSW nurse association says 600 stood down after government flip on surgery

By

The NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association has said more than 600 private hospital nurses have been stood down over the past 24 hours, and hundreds more could follow, after the federal government’s "bungled announcement" about non-urgent elective surgery.

Mr Morrison announced non-elective surgery would be suspended on Wednesday morning to preserve personal protective equipment, but national cabinet then decided to extend the deadline until April 1 after Health Minister Greg Hunt met with the private hospital sector that afternoon.

NSWNMA General Secretary, Brett Holmes, said the sector now had a situation where "more than 600 nurses are being forced to take accrued leave, or are scrambling to find another job elsewhere, before needing to join the queue for benefits".

Private hospitals will continue to perform non-urgent elective surgeries for another week.Glenn Hunt

"Wednesday’s announcement by the Federal Government to suspend all elective surgery, other than category 1 and urgent category 2 cases, sent shockwaves through private hospital sector nursing staff," he said.

"By Wednesday evening, the Federal Government conceded it had rushed the decision and subsequently postponed the changes until midnight on 1 April, but the damage was already done.

"With little time to negotiate logistics around the distribution of any resources to the public hospital sector, private hospital employers have taken the drastic step of laying off their highly skilled, lifesaving workforce in the middle of a global health crisis. It’s unspeakable."

Charity sector set to receive $100 million bail-out package

By Angus Thompson

Charities are set to receive more than $100 million in federal relief as Social Services Minister Anne Ruston announces she is working on a package to bail out the sector.

Not-for-profit organisations say they are stretched to breaking point, with volunteer bases decimated due to health concerns as demands on their services continue to grow under the pressure of the coronavirus outbreak.

Dozens of Vinnies op-shops have closed their shops down.Dean Sewell

Food delivery charity OzHarvest is among a coalition of non-profits who have called for a government bail-out of the sector, which makes up 10 per cent of the workforce, and 8000 organisations handling emergency and relief services, such as housing and mental health crisis intervention.

A spokesperson for Ms Ruston said the minister was developing a package to support charities and other community organisations. Government sources speculate the relief will be valued at more than $100 million.

Sixteen-year-old girl dies from COVID-19 in France

By

A 16-year-old French schoolgirl from the Essonne region has become the youngest person in the country to die from COVID-19.

The girl, called Julie and whose surname has not been revealed, was hospitalised Monday and died Tuesday evening at the Necker children's hospital in Paris.

Her older sister, Manon, spoke to the French press to warn that "we must stop believing that this only affects the elderly. No one is invincible against this mutant virus."

Manon said that Julie had no pre-existing illness before contracting coronavirus.

She recounted that Julie had a "slight cough" last week and when it worsened this weekend, they saw a doctor - from when the virus accelerated at a "violent" pace.

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There are calls for Australia to follow the UK's 80% wage subsidy. How could it work?

By

As the country's peak business body today joined the trade union movement, Labor and the Greens in backing an 80 per cent wage subsidy for workers whose jobs are at risk because of the coronavirus pandemic, you might be wondering: how does it work?

The subsidy proposed by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is modelled on a similar scheme introduced in the United Kingdom.

Europe correspondent Bevan Shields explains how it works, and why British Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister Boris Johnson stunned the country when they revealed the plan. The scheme is so huge in scope and generous by comparison that it would even win praise from self-declared socialist Bernie Sanders and some of Britain's most influential union leaders.

Pubs have been forced to close and cafes and restaurants are take-away only, prompting businesses to stand down thousands of staff.Edwina Pickles

The British government would cover 80 per cent of the wages of millions of affected workers – provided companies keep staff on the books rather than fire them as the pandemic worsens and a government-enforced lockdown strangles the economy.

Stimulus packages announced amid rise in South East Asia cases

By

Singapore and Malaysia have launched economic stimulus packages to shore up their economies from the devastating impact of the fast-spreading coronavirus.

And Indonesia has reported 153 new infections, its largest single-day rise, with the total number of cases reaching 1046 people and the number of deaths reaching 87, which is the highest for any country in the region.

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat annoucing a major new economic stimulus package.EPA

Singapore's $55 billion stimulus package, the second the country has announced after $9 billion in measures last month, mean the government is spending close to 11 per cent of GDP to keep the island nation running, while Malaysia's Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced a package worth $95 billion.

The number of coronavirus cases in Singapore has risen to 594, which includes 422 active cases and 172 people who have been discharged.

Myer to close all stores from end of this weekend

By Sarah Danckert

Department store owner Myer has announced that it will shut all of its stores from Sunday and will focus on online sales only.

The company said in a statement to the stock exchange on Friday evening that it would stand down 10,000 staff.

Myer will close all stores for four weeks.Eamon Gallagher

It said the shut down of its stores will take place over an initial period of four weeks until April 27, 2020.

“As team members will not be working they will not be paid during this period of imposed closure. Full time and part time members have greater flexibility to access their annual leave and long service entitlements in addition to government assistance measures,” the company said in its statement.

Myer has been struggling financially for a couple of years and the shut down of its stores follow the closures of a range of retail outlets, most notably those owned by billionaire Solomon Lew’s Premier Investments – which includes the Just Jeans, Dotti, Peter Alexander and Smiggle brands.

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'Stay at home': Council closes Coogee Beach and eight eastern suburbs ocean pools

By

Sydneysiders will be banned from Coogee Beach and eight eastern suburbs ocean pools from tomorrow as the local council tries to limit public gatherings to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Randwick City Council will indefinitely close Coogee Beach, 57 outdoor playgrounds, all its ocean pools, basketball courts and skate parks from Saturday onwards.

Mayor Danny Said said that the full closure of nearby Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte breaches was likely contributing to the increased attendance of beach-goers at Coogee.

People sit beside a closed Bondi Beach on Friday afternoon.Cole Bennetts

Other beaches including Clovelly and Maroubra will remain open and be monitored daily, but the council will close them if the number of people exceeds or is expected to exceed 500.

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