The Sydney Morning Herald logo
Advertisement

This was published 5 years ago

As the day unfolded: Donald Trump to halt US WHO payments as global COVID-19 cases surpass 1.9 million, Australian death toll stands at 63

Matt Bungard, Michaela Whitbourn and Megan Levy
Updated ,first published

Summary

  • US President Donald Trump has announced a halt to payments to the World Health Organisation over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic
  • The number of coronavirus cases around the world is now more than 1.9 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. More than 126,000 people have died, with more than 485,000 having recovered
  • The Australian death toll from coronavirus is 63, after the ACT recorded its third death. The woman in her 60s had been a passenger on the Ruby Princess cruise ship.
  • The world economy in 2020 will suffer its worst year since the Great Depression, according to the International Monetary Fund
  • The national cabinet will consider school closures when it meets on Thursday, as the rift deepens between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and states including Victoria and NSW on face-to-face learning

We are closing the blog for the evening

By

Thanks for following along today. Here are today's main developments:

We'll continue our live coverage overnight and into Thursday in a new blog, which you can read here.

Thanks for joining us today.

Dodgy builders warned against exploiting coronavirus construction push

By Angus Thompson and Matt O'Sullivan

The state's building industry watchdog has warned phoenix operators against trying to exploit the NSW government's construction push as the state seeks to keep the economy running.

The NSW Government is moving to fast-track planning processes to boost construction in response to the COVID-19 crisis.James Brickwood

With developers lining up to pitch potential projects, NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes has also sought to reassure the public that the government's moves to fast track planning processes is not about "approving projects without merit".

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler said the government's plans to improve building quality, a separate legislative reform, would ensure there would be no "lessening of standards" in the sector while it sought to push through development applications during the COVID-19 crisis.

"I see all of this as terribly complementary," Mr Chandler said.

Read the full story here

'Great reluctance': More doubts over Twenty20 World Cup

By Andrew Wu

Victoria's sports minister has cast further doubt on the men's Twenty20 World Cup being staged as planned this year, as Australian cricket officials explore potential scenarios should India not be able to play next summer.

Victoria's sports minister has cast doubt on fans being able to attend matches in the Twenty20 World Cup.AAP

Though Cricket Australia was able to stage almost its whole international schedule before the pandemic struck, there is uncertainty over the 2020-21 season.

Officials are tight-lipped regarding details of their scenario planning in respect for their staff but an industry source has said at least one state is broadly planning for a disrupted season, a normal season and no season at all.

Read the full story here

Advertisement

Tour de France postponed until end of August

By

The Tour de France has been postponed to now run from August 29 to September 20, the International Cycling Union (UCI) said on Wednesday.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that no public event would take place in the country until mid-July as part of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected over two million people worldwide.

This year's Tour de France will now begin at the end of August.Reuters

The Tour was due to be held from June 27 to July 19.

The UCI added that Italy's Giro and Spain's Vuelta would follow the Tour in a revised calendar and the men's road race at the world championships in Martigny, Switzerland, would go ahead as scheduled on Sept 27.

Amazon threatens to halt all activity in France

By

Amazon threatened Wednesday to suspend all activity in France after a French court found it wasn't doing enough to protect its workers.

The online giant also announced plans to appeal Tuesday's emergency ruling, which requires Amazon to stop selling nonessential goods for a month while it works out new worker safety measures.

Sales of food, medicine and hygiene supplies are still allowed under the ruling. However, Amazon France said in a statement Wednesday that the decision is so disruptive that it could prompt the company to suspend all activity at its six French warehouses.

The company stressed the importance of its services to the "thousands of French companies that sell on Amazon" and "millions of people around the country who want to have access to products they need during the crisis."

Amazon insisted that it is providing adequate security measures for staff, noting the implementation of temperature checks and mask distribution.

But the court found Amazon didn't do enough to enforce social distancing, to ensure that turnstiles and locker rooms were virus-free, or to increase cleaning of its warehouses. Unions say one worker infected with the virus is in intensive care.

AP

Tasmanian Premier lashes health worker critics

By

Tasmania's Premier Peter Gutwein has lashed keyboard-warrior criticism of health staff in the state's northwest, where a COVID-19 outbreak has shut two hospitals.

Mr Gutwein on Wednesday announced a "testing blitz" in the region and urged anyone with flu or virus symptoms to contact the public health hotline or a GP.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has called on sick people to seek COVID-19 testing.AAP

He also pledged to get to the bottom of the outbreak, which Australia's chief medical officer had previously linked to a dinner party of medical workers.

Professor Brendan Murphy told a New Zealand parliamentary committee nearly 50 staff attended an "illegal party" at the weekend.

Advertisement

'They cross in front of the car': Surge in Sydney food couriers raises safety concerns

By Sarah Keoghan

Food couriers are concerned about the number of new and inexperienced riders on Sydney's roads, with many cyclists signing up to delivery apps for the first time amid increased unemployment.

Menulog said they have been able to provide an additional 2000 couriers jobs Australia-wide in metro and regional areas over the COVID-19 period.James Brickwood

Menulog said it had been able to provide an additional 2000 couriers jobs nationally over the COVID-19 period, with Deliveroo reporting a 2.5 per cent rise in the number of riders over the past four weeks.

But with more delivery cyclists on the roads, many Sydney couriers are concerned for their own safety.

The 94-year-old woman who recovered from coronavirus

By

Here is the Nine News report on Maureen Appleby, the 94-year-old Victorian woman who has made a full recovery from coronavirus.

You can see the moment she was wheeled out of the hospital to a standing ovation from Austin Hospital staff.

Loading

'Duty of care': Calls for improved mental health screening in quarantine

By Dana McCauley and Jenny Noyes

Former Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry has raised concerns about the safety of quarantine hotels for mentally unwell returned travellers, saying care must be taken to ensure they are not at risk of self harm.

Pat McGorry says people quarantined in hotels must have adequate mental health support.Kathryn Junor

Professor McGorry, a psychiatrist and youth mental health expert who is among a group advising the federal government on its coronavirus pandemic recovery plan, said those in quarantine should be screened for suicide risk and adequate mental health support provided for those who needed it.

Read the full story here

Advertisement

Lockdowns should be lifted in two-week stages: WHO

By

Countries that ease restrictions imposed to fight the spread of the coronavirus should wait at least two weeks to evaluate the impact of such changes before easing again, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Wednesday.

In its latest Strategy Update, the UN agency said that the world stands at a "pivotal juncture" in the pandemic and that "speed, scale, and equity must be our guiding principles" when deciding what measures are necessary.

Loading

Every country should implement comprehensive public health measures to maintain a sustainable steady state of low-level or no transmission and prepare its surge capacity to react rapidly to control any spread, the WHO said.

Some of the countries hardest-hit by the virus are now considering lifting lockdowns and beginning the transition toward a resumption of normal life. The WHO update said any such steps should be taken gradually, with time to evaluate their impact before new steps are taken.

Advertisement