The global death toll from coronavirus has hit 300,000, a “case out of nowhere” has been confirmed in central Queensland, and National Cabinet is meeting to discuss the economic and mental health impacts of the crisis.
This story is being updated throughout Friday. You can also listen to the latest episode of the Coronacast podcast.
Friday’s top stories
- Central Queensland aged-care nurse tests positive, 21 new cases in Victoria
- National Cabinet to be presented with mental health plan
- Coronavirus detected in Bangladesh refugee camp
- People with guns protest at Michigan’s Capitol building
- Brazilian President says more will die if economy not saved
Global death toll passes 300,000
The global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 300,000 as of Friday morning according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
These are the countries with highest individual tolls:
- United States (85,489)
- United Kingdom (33,692)
- Italy (31,368)
- France (27,428)
- Spain (27,321)
The US, UK and Italy alone account for half of all fatalities worldwide.
Eight new cases in NSW as restrictions ease, Victoria adds 21
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New South Wales health authorities have confirmed eight new coronavirus infections from 12,212 tests.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said five of those cases were from known sources while the remaining three were “community transmission but from existing hotspots”.
She said the eased restrictions from today came with added personal responsibility.
People in the state can now go to restaurants, pubs and clubs, as well as churches and pools, but restrictions still apply.
In Victoria, 21 new cases were confirmed overnight, with three of those cases linked to the Fawkner McDonald’s and Cedar Meats outbreaks in Melbourne.
One earlier case in the state has been reclassified, meaning Victoria’s tally has only gone up by 20.
Two cases were added to Queensland’s coronavirus tally overnight, including a nurse at an aged care facility in Rockhampton.
The State Government says a rapid-response team from Brisbane has been sent to Rockhampton to quarantine staff and residents who may be contacts of the nurse.
Before today, the last confirmed case in Rockhampton was on March 30. Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young, called it a “case out of nowhere”.
National Cabinet to consider economic and mental health impacts of crisis
Australia’s federal and state and territory leaders will today be briefed on the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Yesterday, Australia recorded its largest ever monthly jump in unemployment. Nearly 600,000 people lost their jobs, while a further 600,000 saw their working hours cut back.
The leaders will also compare notes on the easing of restrictions across the country.
Also on the agenda for National Cabinet is the mental health impact of the crisis, with experts calling for hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funding for services.
Experts have warned the pandemic could claim more deaths by suicide than from the virus itself. Australia’s leaders will today be presented with a mental health pandemic response plan.
Fears of humanitarian disaster after coronavirus detected in refugee camp
Coronavirus has been detected for the first time in one of the southern Bangladesh camps that are home to more than a million Rohingya refugees.
Bangladesh’s Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner said the individual who tested positive had been taken to a “an