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As it happened: Victoria records a dozen 'doughnut days' with no new COVID-19 cases, Queensland on track to welcome Sydneysiders, Victorians by Christmas

Updated November 11, 2020 — 9:08pm,first published November 11, 2020 — 7:25am

Summary

Victoria has recorded a dozen 'doughnut days' with no COVID-19 cases and no further deaths. Australia is on track to record its fourth day without a locally acquired case.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says Australia could have a COVID-19 vaccine approved and ready to roll out across the country as early as March. But, so far, Australia has secured access to only enough doses of Pfizer's promising vaccine for a fifth of Australians.
NSW has reached its fourth day without a local COVID case, although four returned travellers in hotel quarantine have tested positive. Queensland has recorded 57 days with no community transmission.
Both Sydney and Victorian residents are on track to be welcomed to Queensland without having to quarantine by Christmas. A decision is expected by the end of the month. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she would be 'mortified' if Victorians could visit Queensland before Sydneysiders.
Melbourne Central and Melbourne Airport have been listed as high-risk coronavirus exposure sites after a woman, who previously had the virus, tested positive again. The woman flew from Melbourne to Adelaide where she tested positive, but her case is suspected to be an instance of 'viral shedding'.

Pinned post from 9.08pm on Nov 11, 2020

That's all for the blog today

It's getting late, so I think it's about time to put the blog to bed for the day. Thanks for joining me. The blog will back again at 7am tomorrow.

Here's a quick summary of the main updates today:

Health Minister Greg Hunt has said Australia could have a COVID-19 vaccine ready to be rolled out across the country as early as March.

Consumer confidence has surged to its highest level since the early months of the Abbott government in 2013, with shoppers buoyed by falling coronavirus infections and the reopening of Victoria.

South Australia has recorded one new coronavirus case, a South Australian woman in her 20s who tested positive for COVID-19 upon arriving in Adelaide on a flight from Melbourne. Health authorities believe the woman, who works in the aged care sector and was infected in August, is likely shedding dead virus and more tests will be carried out, but for now she is being treated as an active case.

Victoria recorded its 12th straight day of no new coronavirus cases while in NSW it was the fourth straight day of no new cases.

More than 18,500 residents in Sydney's west are being urged to get tested for COVID-19 after virus fragments were found in sewage at two local pumping stations.

The Tasmanian government has announced that travel restrictions with Victoria will ease later this week, and by the end of this month, Victorians who visit Tasmania may not be required to spend two weeks in quarantine upon arrival.

A restaurant in Sydney's inner west has been slapped with a $10,000 fine after CCTV showed multiple large groups of patrons "mingling and dancing" throughout the venue.

In an interview with ABC's 730, US infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci has said he expects COVID vaccinations will start taking place around Christmas and that Americans would be resistant to the idea of further coronavirus lockdowns.

Actor Liam Neeson was spotted in Melbourne today, where he is filming $42 million action thriller Blacklight. He seemed to be quite Taken by the state's coronavirus response.

And it was Remembrance Day today:

Pinned post from 12.51pm on Nov 11, 2020

Go to latest

What you need to know today

If you're just joining us, here are the day's key developments thus far:

Victoria has recorded a dozen 'doughnut days' with no COVID-19 cases and no further deaths.
Melbourne Central shopping centre and Melbourne Airport have been listed as high-risk coronavirus exposure sites after a woman who flew from Melbourne to Adelaide tested positive for COVID-19. But her case may be an instance of "viral shedding", authorities say.

Australia is on track to record its fourth day without a locally acquired case. NSW has reached its fourth day without a local case, although four returned travellers in hotel quarantine have tested positive. It's now 57 days since Queensland had a locally-acquired case.
Both Sydney and Victorian residents are on track to be welcomed back into Queensland by Christmas, without having to quarantine. A decision is expected by the end of the month. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she would be 'mortified' if Victorians were allowed visit Queensland before Sydneysiders.

Less than 1 per cent of Sydney's population was infected with the COVID-19 virus during the first wave of the epidemic, but new data suggests more than 5000 infected people went undetected.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says Australia could have a COVID-19 vaccine approved and ready to roll out across the country as early as March under the government's four-vaccine strategy.
Pfizer's promising vaccine could be delivered to Australia in sophisticated eskies, overcoming the challenge of keeping the vaccine below minus 70 degrees.
And, there could be some Christmas joy for retailers, with consumer confidence surging to its highest level since the early months of the Abbott government in 2013.

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8.23pm on Nov 11, 2020

Fauci says COVID vaccinations will likely start taking place around Christmas holidays

America's top infectious diseases expert says it is very likely that COVID-19 vaccinations will start taking place around the Christmas holidays.

Anthony Fauci said the Pfizer vaccine had about a 95 per cent efficacy rate, which would help overcome resistance some in the United States had towards getting vaccinated.

"I think those types of numbers, with no concerning safety signal, hopefully will get many many more people than you would have predicted get vaccinated," Dr Fauci said in an interview with ABC's 730.

Pfizer is one of the first pharmaceutical companies to carry out a successful large-scale clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine and is expected to seek US emergency use authorisation later this month.

Dr Fauci declined to comment on US President Donald Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, but said the immediate priorities of the new COVID taskforce under President-elect Joe Biden should be emphasising basic infection control measures such as universal mask-wearing, social distancing, avoiding crowds and indoor congregations, and hand washing.

He praised Australia's achievement in driving down case numbers through extended lockdowns but said this approach should be "almost the last resort".

"We know there's a considerable amount of COVID-19 fatigue globally and certainly in the United States. I don't think that that (lockdown) would be well received," Dr Fauci said.

"I don't think you need to lock down, I think people have a misperception that when you say 'wear masks', 'avoid crowds', 'keep your distance' it means locking down. It doesn't. You can keep businesses open so long as you implement certain fundamental public health practices."

Dr Fauci admitted the coronavirus pandemic had been a stressful time for him, adding some of the extreme criticism he has attracted for his efforts was "noise" to which he gave little attention.

"When you have public figures like [former White House chief strategist Steve] Bannon calling for your beheading, that's really kind of unusual, that's not the kind of thing you think about when you're going through medical school to become a physician."

"But I've gotten through it by really focusing like a laser beam on exactly what my goal is. I'm a scientist, and I'm a physician, and my goal is to help develop vaccines, and I think we've been quite successful in that."

He said his other priorities were improving treatments of the virus and to ensure messaging around public health measures was accepted by the American public.

7.32pm on Nov 11, 2020

Liam Neeson declares Melbourne a beaut place to make a film during the end of the world

By Karl Quinn

Sixty-one years after Ava Gardner supposedly said Melbourne was the perfect place to make a film about the end of the world while shooting On The Beach, Liam Neeson seems rather more Taken by our city, seemingly judging it a terrific place to make a film during the end of the world.

“The last time I was here was 24 years ago,” the 68-year-old action star said on Wednesday. “It's stunning. I'm not just saying that because there's a camera. It's absolutely stunning. I thought it would be much smaller. That was my memory of it.”

Liam Neeson on the set of Blacklight, the $42 million action thriller being filmed in Melbourne.Eddie Jim

It was the first official appearance of the Northern Irish actor, who is in Melbourne to shoot the $42 million action thriller Blacklight, since he emerged from quarantine in Sydney on the weekend. And he was coaxed out of his trailer outside Lollipops Playland, a children’s indoor play centre in Noble Park, to lend his considerable weight to the news that the Victorian government had made an immediate $33.8 million injection into the screen sector “to allow more international and local productions to be shot here”.

Announced by creative industries minister Danny Pearson, the immediate injection includes state support of $19.2 million to attract interstate and foreign productions such as Blacklight as Australia looks to capitalise on its position as a COVID-safe alternative to the US, UK and Europe.

“Global demand for movies, TV shows and games continues to skyrocket and we are ensuring Victoria is ready to capture our share of that huge market,” said minister Pearson. “This will support thousands of jobs in an industry that’s been hit hard by the pandemic – and create a pipeline of work for the future.”

Masked men: Neeson, left, with Creative Industries minister Danny Pearson. Eddie Jim

But Victoria is far from alone in making a play for a piece of the international action. On the weekend, New South Wales quietly announced a massive injection of an additional $175 million across four years to try to lure foreign production to the state.

The federal government is also trying to lure foreign productions here through its location offset, a tax refund of 16.5 per cent of local expenditure, and its location incentive fund. That was first announced in May 2018, with an allocation of $140 million. In July, it was extended with an extra $400 million.

Little wonder Neeson is so impressed with what he has seen of how the country has tackled COVID, and the efforts it has made to get film productions like his up and running.
“You guys are so unbelievable,” he said. “The medical establishment, the police, the army, the air force. And not only doing their jobs incredibly proficiently, but they're treated with respect.”

7.11pm on Nov 11, 2020

More than 18,500 western Sydney residents urged to get tested after sewage testing detects COVID-19 fragments

By Sarah Keoghan

More than 18,500 residents in Sydney's west are being urged to get tested for COVID-19 after virus fragments were found in sewage at two local pumping stations.

The area served by one pumping station includes around 5,860 residents in North Kellyville and Rouse Hill, while the other serves around 12,650 people across Rouse Hill, Box Hill, The Ponds, Kellyville Ridge, Parklea, Quakers Hill and Acacia Gardens.

People in Sydney's west are being urged to get tested for COVID-19. Kate Geraghty

Anyone living and/or working in these areas must be tested if they appear to have any symptoms.

The COVID-19 fragments were detected as part of the state’s ongoing sewage surveillance program. Detection of the virus in sewage samples could be the presence of older cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in these areas, but residents are still being urged to get tested is symptoms occur.

5.39pm on Nov 11, 2020

What are the differences between hay fever symptoms and coronavirus symptoms?

Our hay fever explainer has been updated for 2020, and features a new question that Hanna Mills Turbet and I certainly would not have included on the previous year's version: what is the difference between hay fever symptoms and COVID-19 symptoms?

Here's the answer:

While there are some similar symptoms: a cough, runny nose, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, there is no evidence of a link between the two.

This diagram sets out the similarities and differences in symptoms between the two.

Grass pollen is believed to be the main cause of hay feverFairfax Media

Connie Katelaris, professor of immunology and allergy at Western Sydney University and head of unit at Campbelltown Hospital says there is plenty of evidence to show that when the nasal lining is inflamed, it is easier to catch any virus. So those suffering from allergies should try to keep symptoms in check: seek medical advice on treatments, avoid touching your eyes and nose at all times and head straight for the nearest COVID-19 testing station if you experience allergic symptoms for the first time.

Professor Douglass says if it's just hay fever, it's highly unlikely you'll experience the fevers, sore throats and general aches and pains associated with COVID-19. "[They] are more typical of a respiratory infection than hay fever … sneezing, an itchy throat and eyes are more typical of allergic symptoms," she says.

Read more: Why do some people get hay fever and what can they do about it?

5.08pm on Nov 11, 2020

FDA allows first emergency use of a COVID-19 antibody drug

US health officials have allowed emergency use of the first antibody drug to help the immune system fight COVID-19, an experimental approach against the virus that has killed more than 238,000 Americans.

The Food and Drug Administration cleared the experimental drug bamlanivimab from Eli Lilly for people 12 and older with mild or moderate COVID-19 not requiring hospitalisation. It's a one-time treatment given through an IV.

The therapy is still undergoing additional testing to establish its safety and effectiveness. It is similar to a treatment US President Donald Trump received after contracting the virus last month.

Newly confirmed infections in the US are running at all-time highs of well over 100,000 per day, pushing the total to more than 10 million and eclipsing 1 million since October 31.

Read more: FDA allows first emergency use of a COVID-19 antibody drug

5.03pm on Nov 11, 2020

Travel restrictions between Victoria and Tasmania to ease this month

From this Friday, people who travel to Tasmania from Victoria will still have to quarantine for 14 days, but may be allowed to do so from home.

Tasmania's beautiful East Coast. Victorians may be able to visit here without having to first quarantine for 14 days from later this monthTourism Tasmania

But from November 27, provided Victoria's case numbers remain low, Victorians will be allowed to visit Tasmania without having to undergo the mandatory two weeks of quarantine, bringing the state into line with the rest of Australia and New Zealand.

Victoria is currently classed by the Tasmanian government as a high-risk area for coronavirus.

Read the official news release on the Tasmanian government's website.

4.54pm on Nov 11, 2020

Sport stars, bosses tell all in doco shot inside Queensland COVID hub

By Jocelyn Garcia

Australia's sporting elite will share the highs and lows of living in the Queensland hub amid COVID-19 in a documentary that follows the industry's comeback from the brink of collapse.

Peter Dickson, the documentary producer behind Nine's The Sporting Bubble, said some players went "a bit crazy in the hub" at times as his film crew followed the codes and conducted zoom interviews.

He said delicate topics, including outrage that erupted after AFL players' wives and girlfriends and officials were caught sipping cocktails by the pool while in quarantine in September, were also raised.

"The actions of some of the people were putting their code at risk across the board," he said.

The documentary features interviews with sports identities including Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys, AFL chief Gillon McLachlan, Supercars chief Sean Seamer and Netball Australia boss Marne Fechner.

The Sporting Bubble will be on Nine after the second game of State Origin on Wednesday. It will also air at 3pm on Sunday.

4.26pm on Nov 11, 2020

How are mystery cases and the 14-day average tracking in Victoria

Victoria has recorded 12 days in a row of no new coronavirus cases, so if the next two days continue this trend the 14-day average will drop to zero on Friday morning.

The 14-day average is currently 0.3; this time last month it was sitting at 9.6.

There has been one mystery case confirmed in Victoria over the past fortnight, a person who tested positive for the virus on October 29. Because of the state's dozen zero days, there are no recent cases being investigated over their infection source.

3.54pm on Nov 11, 2020

South Australia records one new coronavirus case

South Australia has recorded one new coronavirus case, a South Australian woman in her 20s who tested positive for COVID-19 upon arriving in Adelaide on a flight from Melbourne.

The state's Chief Health Officer Nicola Spurrier said the woman, who wore a face mask on the flight, was not symptomatic and was currently in hotel quarantine.

"I do need to stress we are doing testing to absolutely confirm the situation," she said. "But at this point in time we are saying we have a new case."

Professor Spurrier said the woman had previously contracted the virus while working in Victoria's aged care sector in August and later recovered, which meant the test result could be because of viral shedding.

"We are trying to sort out whether this is an old infection or a new infection," she said.

She said that "out of an abundance of caution", the woman was being treated as an active case and four close contacts had been asked to self-isolate.

Two close contacts of the woman, who were sitting near her on the Jetstar JQ776 flight from Melbourne to Adelaide on November 9, are currently in hotel quarantine, while two casual contacts of the woman are in home quarantine.

There are currently 17 active cases in South Australia.