Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says not enough is known about COVID-19 to provide a 12-month strategy on relaxing restrictions.
He provided an update about the coronavirus response after today’s National Cabinet meeting.
Earlier this afternoon, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia needed to get 1 million people back to work in a COVID-19 safe workplace.
Follow the latest updates in our live coronavirus blog.
Live updates
By Daniel Colasimone
Ah, random hugging. As in the closing moments of the Freo craft beer festival? It seems like YEARS ago now, packed away as a find memory of the glorious golden preCovid19 era
-Shell
I’ve never heard of the Freo craft beer festival, Shell, but a single tear just rolled down my face for all the things we’ve lost.
By Daniel Colasimone
Hi guys, thanks for all the amazing coverage today. Lots of press conferences and announcements to keep on top of! Just wondering whether the graphs the PM spoke to in today’s conference have been released?
-AM
No problem at all. We’ll definitely get you the graphs as soon as they land in my hands.
By Daniel Colasimone
13 days straight with no new cases in SA
South Australia has recorded a 13th day with no new coronavirus cases.
Only five active cases remain with two people in hospital.
429 people have recovered from the virus.
The Premier Steven Marshall says SA is in a unique position for a COVIDSafe return to normal with the fewest cases, a zero rate of infection and the highest number of students back at school.
By Daniel Colasimone
BREAKING: Another Newmarch House resident dies
Another resident has died from COVID-19 at Sydney nursing home Newmarch House, bringing the total number of coronavirus deaths at the home to 16.
The operators of the nursing home have not revealed the age or identity of the latest victim.
Anglicare Sydney has released a statement:
Anglicare Sydney is deeply saddened to announce that a resident at Newmarch House who had tested positive for COVID-19 has passed away this morning. The family has been contacted and all relevant authorities have been notified. We extend our sincere condolences to the family for whom this is both distressing and tragic.
The incredibly contagious nature of the virus is evidenced by the fact that in the last 24 hours three staff members of Newmarch House have tested positive. They are now selfisolating. The positive test results were discovered during our daily, rigorous testing regime which is now being applied to all staff working at Newmarch House prior to the commencement of their shifts.
Anglicare Sydney appreciates the expertise being provided by infection control specialists which have been generously provided by government.
Our team are working tirelessly to contain this virus which continues to have a devastating effect on residents, families and staff at Newmarch House.
By Daniel Colasimone
‘I don’t think we will be shaking hands for a long time’
Brendan Murphy:
“I think it is unlikely that we will be able to have very large, close-packed crowds until we have got rid of this virus. So unfortunately I can’t see 100,000 people packing a grand final of football but I think we can do a lot – but as we get more and more confident and as people start behaving differently, we can start to do more.
“So I wouldn’t want a crystal ball too far ahead but I don’t think we will be shaking hands and randomly hugging and getting crowded in rooms for a long time.”
I’m going to miss random hugging.
By Daniel Colasimone
We don’t know why, but children are not transmitting this virus, Murphy says
“There is now an increasing amount of data that, particularly younger kids, don’t seem to get the infection, and even when they do there is now a number of studies that show they do not seem to be transmitting to their fellow classmates in the school. We don’t know why. It is a very unusual feature of this virus but all of the data that we’ve seen, both in Australia an in other parts of the world suggest that children are not transmitting this virus, which is a wonderful thing.”
By Daniel Colasimone
Here’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy
He says he is just going to give a brief general health update today.
The numbers:
- Current number of cases in Australia is 6,849
- There have been 96 deaths
- There was an increase of 25 cases over the last 24 hours
- The slight increase in the number of cases is mostly related to the Victorian meatworks outbreak
- There are still 27 people in intensive care, with 20 on ventilators
- 665,000 tests have been carried out
Mr Murphy says Australia has a good supply line of tests now.
“We have a diversified supply line, we have enough tests to do all of the expansions that we want to do, certainly we’ve got sufficient supply over coming months and we are diversifying our supply lines. So we want to continue to increase our testing numbers. We’re still not at the level we want to be at. The challenge with this virus is that nobody really knows what the long-term future holds. Our strategy at the moment is to keep Australians safe over the next