Australia & New Zealand - COVID-19 Coronavirus

[PrimeSuspect]

Australia's coronavirus peak could be a week away; Death toll rises in Australia, Gold Coast beaches to close; Casual workers may miss out on wages help

A woman in her 30s has tested positive to COVID-19 after returning from North America, bringing the NT's tally to 28.
NT Health authorities say she had been in self-quarantining since returning to Darwin on QF840 from Sydney to Darwin on March 28.
The latest case comes after a two-year-old girl tested positive yesterday, marking the NT's youngest patient.
......
Queensland has recorded just 14 new confirmed cases of coronavirus overnight, bringing the state's tally to 921.
"That 14 positive figure overnight is another great result for Queensland," Health Minister Steven Miles said.
"Of the 921 cases so far, we consider 743 of those to be active, meaning that 173 are confirmed to have recovered. 43 remain in hospital. Of those, 12 are in intensive care and ten are ventilated."
........

Two more cases of coronavirus have been linked to an outbreak at a hospital in northwest Tasmania.
The state's Premier Peter Gutwein confirmed a health worker and patient at the North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) in Burnie returned positive COVID-19 tests yesterday.
The patient had been transferred on April 2 to the Mersey Community Hospital, in Latrobe in the north, before showing symptoms.

Coronavirus live updates: Australia's coronavirus peak could be just one week away

 

[ZoriahNZ]

Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy declared "essential workers" by NZ PM.

Covid 19 coronavirus: Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy deemed 'essential services' by Jacinda Ardern

 

[Darling136]

EDIT: i see my opening is gone... i just wanted to bring something easy to brighten up for a second in these days

 

[MajorHoople]

I'll have to admit - that's funny. Thanks

 

[PrimeSuspect]

EDIT: i see my opening is gone... i just wanted to bring something easy to brighten up for a second in these days

LOL My daughter posted this on fb, I know which one identifies me.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Supermoon coming to our skies tonight could be the perfect distraction from lockdown

If you're struggling for things to do in lockdown, there's something big happening in the sky tonight that could be just thing you need.
A supermoon will be visible in Australian skies this evening and Brad Tucker from the Australian National University says it's the perfect opportunity to shake off your isolation blues.

Tonight's supermoon could be the perfect lockdown distraction

It's a very cloudy day today, I hope it'll be visible tonight, it's something we can all share and enjoy.

 

[PrimeSuspect]

A 62-year-old Adelaide woman who was a passenger on the Ruby Princess cruise ship has become Australia's 50th COVID-19 death.
Earlier today an adult and a child from the same family tested positive for coronavirus in Sydney, after being taken to hospital from a hotel where they were being held in quarantine.

Today's key headlines

• One person in Victoria and one person in South Australia have died, bringing Australia's coronavirus death toll to 50.
• Parliament is expected to pass the Government's $130 billion JobKeeper support package.
• New York City's coronavirus death toll has surpassed the September 11 terrorist attacks.
• UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is still in intensive care.
• After 76 days of lockdown, Wuhan is beginning to lift its coronavirus restrictions.

Live: Adelaide woman who was on board Ruby Princess becomes Australia's 50th COVID-19 death

..................

Police will increase patrols in Tasmania's northwest over Easter where an outbreak of coronavirus has infected 12 staff at the one hospital.

Fifteen COVID-19 cases in total have been linked to the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie, with Premier Peter Gutwein describing the outbreak as greatly concerning.

He said police will be out in force in coming days to make sure people follow social distancing and stay-at-home rules.

Coronavirus updates: Australia's death toll hits 50

 

[ZoriahNZ]

Covid 19 coronavirus: Auckland's Spark Arena becomes huge foodbank during lockdown

Converting a stadium to a foodbank to help the community.

 

[ZoriahNZ]

NZ's response getting international praise:

Covid 19 coronavirus: Washington Post - 'New Zealand isn't just flattening the curve, it's squashing it'

 

[ZoriahNZ]

NZ update:

Covid 19 coronavirus: 29 new cases, Jacinda Ardern announces quarantine

Only 29 new cases today. Also, tougher quarantine for returning kiwi travellers to go into effect.

 

[ZoriahNZ]

Sadly our death toll has now risen to four people. Three more of our elderly population have unfortunately succumbed to Covid-19.

While the overall total is low for our small nation, each loss is still great. My heart goes out to those families in mourning, and those with loved ones currently in hospital or the ICU.

 

[musicaljoke]

Greg Hunt promises 10 million masks to be distributed to healthcare workers immediately, as death toll climbs to 35 with four deaths from Ruby Princess


The key moments from today

• Health Minister Greg Hunt says 30 million masks have arrived in Australia, with 10 million to be distributed immediately
• NSW records four more COVID-19 deaths, including four former passengers of the Ruby Princess cruise ship
• 20 new cases in Victoria, down from 30 yesterday, while Victorian Government commits $20 million to pay for hotel rooms for healthcare workers
• Homicide detectives launch criminal probe into Ruby Princess ship deaths
• Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy 'increasingly confident' Australia can stay on top of coronavirus
• WA Premier says change to citizens' lives is 'similar to a war'
• SA declares 'best results in three weeks' with two new coronavirus cases in 24 hours
• Tasmanian hospital stops admissions after three health workers test positive

Government to distribute 10 million more masks to healthcare workers

Nice to see that the Victorian Government is paying for hotel rooms for health care workers who have to isolate! Take note, Doug Ford, Ontario, Canada!

 

[musicaljoke]

Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy declared "essential workers" by NZ PM.

Covid 19 coronavirus: Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy deemed 'essential services' by Jacinda Ardern

From the article which made me smile:

[...] there is a chance the bunny might not be able to visit everyone.

"As you can imagine at this time they're going to be potentially quite busy at home with their own bunnies and so I say to the children of New Zealand: If the Easter Bunny doesn't make it to your household, we have to understand it's a bit difficult at the moment for the bunny to get everywhere," Ardern said.

However, the Prime Minister suggested that "maybe in lieu of the bunny being able to make it to your home, you can create your own Easter hunt for all the children in your neighbourhood".

"Maybe draw an Easter egg and pop it on your front window and help the children in your neighbourhood with their own Easter egg hunt because the Easter Bunny might not make it everywhere this year."

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Australia to test sewage for coronavirus as testing net widens

Health Minister Greg Hunt has said Australia's sewage will soon be monitored for the presence of coronavirus, acting as an early warning sign for future outbreaks.
Research published by the journal Nature Medicine recently found people shed or excrete COVID-19 viral material two to three days before they get symptoms.

The information means governments could potentially identify COVID-19 hotspots, before people even know they're sick.

Australia to test sewage for coronavirus as testing net widens

 

[they'll get you]

Coronavirus: Californian man becomes first overseas victim of Ruby Princess cruise
A Californian man has become the first overseas death- and the 20th in total- linked to the Ruby Princess cruise ship



https://www.9news.com.au/videos/cor...uby-princess-cruise/ck937c05g000p0hplm2tfo96x

 

[imstilla.grandma]

How to survive the art-pocalypse: A daily arts online guide

 

[ZoriahNZ]

Sorry for not keeping up the NZ updates. Here's the latest:

Coronavirus lockdown in New Zealand to end in a week as nation will shift into COVID-19 alert level 3

Covid 19 coronavirus: One new virus death, six additional cases, PM gives update on level 3

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The Latest: Guterres: Pandemic nearing "human rights crisis”
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Officials announced just three new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday as the number of new infections in New Zealand continues to trend downward.

Health officials also announced two additional deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 1,451 and total deaths to 16. The country has been in a strict lockdown for the past month, which officials plan to begin easing a little next week.

The government also announced measures to help news media companies which have seen advertising levels plummet since the coronavirus outbreak. The measures totaling 50 million New Zealand dollars ($30 million) include temporarily cutting transmission fees for broadcasters and increased spending on news subscriptions.

Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi said there would likely be a second round of media support measures announced in May. Earlier this month, German company Bauer Media announced it was closing its New Zealand operation and would no longer publish many of the country’s magazines.

The country also marked an unusual milestone on Wednesday when no commercial flights arrived from abroad, the first time that has happened in decades, according to a report by news outlet RNZ. A handful of international flights are continuing to arrive and leave each week but their number has been dwindling since the country closed the border to everyone but citizens and residents.
___

 

[dixiegirl1035]

Coronavirus 'currently eliminated' in New Zealand

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that coronavirus has been “currently” eliminated in the country.

There were just five new Covid-19 cases reported on Monday with no widespread community transition.

Ardern said the country has so far managed to avoid the worst scenarios for an outbreak and would continue to hunt down the last few cases.

 

[BUF]

Coronavirus 'currently eliminated' in New Zealand

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that coronavirus has been “currently” eliminated in the country.

There were just five new Covid-19 cases reported on Monday with no widespread community transition.

Ardern said the country has so far managed to avoid the worst scenarios for an outbreak and would continue to hunt down the last few cases.

Good news...hope it continues!!

New Zealand locked down right away which made a difference.