Australia & New Zealand - COVID-19 Coronavirus

[PrimeSuspect]

One of Melbourne's biggest hospitals has revealed a COVID-19 cluster that emerged in its cancer ward has claimed the life of a third patient, bringing the national toll to 24.


On Thursday, Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton confirmed on Twitter that a woman aged in her 60s died in a Melbourne hospital last night.
The woman was one of several inpatients and staff at The Alfred's haematology and oncology ward who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
The hospital revealed the first two patient deaths on Friday, as it urgently investigated the source of the infections.
Today, the hospital announced a third patient from the ward had died after contracting COVID-19.

Key points:

• Two women with COVID-19 died in Victorian hospitals on Wednesday
• Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said more than 4,000 retired healthcare workers had registered their interest in returning to work
• She announced pharmacists would be able to administer the flu vaccine to free up nurses

Melbourne hospital's COVID-19 inpatient cluster worsens as national death toll rises to 24

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Prime minister Scott Morrison stresses Australia's will live with coronavirus restrictions for at least six months

The prime minister said that the government's framework of six months was based off modelling done early in the pandemic, and that he continued to use this figure to emphasise to Australians that the crisis and measures to contain it will be a long-term fixture.
"There's no quick fix to this," he said.

Prime minister stresses Aussies in it for at least six months and 'it could be longer'

 

[imstilla.grandma]

With thousands of kids around Australia now learning remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic, a “second silent enemy” has been creeping in.

This morning (Tuesday), the NSW Police Force urged parents and carers to remember to speak to their children about online safety.

As Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott said at a press conference this morning, “people who want to do our children harm will take advantage” of the fact that kids are spending more time online doing schoolwork.

“We are in the midst of a pandemic, and as a government we don’t want to add to the fear in the community, but we need to ensure children who are attending school online are not being exposed to this insipid risk,” Mr Elliott said.

“Don’t let your guard down, we need to continue being vigilant.

“Just because your kids are at home doesn’t mean they aren’t exposed to evil and danger.”
Police warn parents about the 'second silent enemy' your kids are facing

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Coronavirus Australia live news:

Australia records 26th COVID-19 death as global cases passes 1 million mark

A 74-year-old woman with COVID-19 dies in Albury, taking Australia's coronavirus-related death toll to 26 as global cases top 1 million.

Breaking: 75yo man becomes Australia's 27th coronavirus death

NSW Health has confirmed another coronavirus death, taking Australia's total to 27.

In a statement, it said a 75-year-old man who had been a passenger on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship died in Wollongong Hospital.
It brings the number of COVID-19 deaths in NSW to 12.

Live: Australia registers 26th coronavirus-related death as global cases top 1 million
.........


Frontline NSW domestic violence workers report sharp increase in new clients

This week’s results have just come in and reveal the impact of COVID-19 is on the rise with a higher percentage of frontline domestic violence workers reporting:

• An increase in client numbers overall (50% up from 41% last week) • Increasing complexity of client needs (75% up from 70.8% last week)
• Escalating or worsening violence (50% up from 44.9% last week)
• Violence specifically relating to COVID-19 (50% up from 36.2% last week)
• A sharp increase in violence being reported for the first time (47.5% up from 15.9% last week).

https://www.womenssafetynsw.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/03.04.20_New-Domestic-Violence-Survey-in-NSW-Shows-Impact-of-COVID-19-on-the-Rise.pdf

 

[PrimeSuspect]

A chain of emails prove NSW Health knew about the risk of coronavirus aboard the Ruby Princess, the cruise ship which has become Australia's COVID-19 epicentre.
Seven of the ship's passengers are now dead, and more than 600 infected with the coronavirus.
And hundreds of sick crew members are awaiting test results.
9News has obtained emails between the ship's senior physician and NSW Health.
Two days before it reached Sydney, NSW Health emailed the vessel.

Emails show NSW health knew of COVID-19 risk on Ruby Princess
Yep, they dropped the ball on this one.

These cruise ships seem to exasperate the spread of a virus more than any other venue, imo, compounded by the great number of passengers are over 70.

 

[PommyMommy]

Worldwide coronavirus cases could be 5 to 10 times higher than reported, says top Australian health official

Australia's Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy addresses the media and the nation during a news conference at Parliament House on March 24 in Canberra, Australia.
The true number of coronavirus cases across the world could be "five to 10 times" higher than the 1 million confirmed Covid-19 infections that have already been confirmed globally, Australia's Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said at a news conference Friday.

[...]

Australia reported 248 new patients on Friday, bringing the countrywide total to 5,224, including 23 deaths. As of April 2, Australia had conducted over 270,000 tests, according to the Department of Health.

Coronavirus live updates: Cases top 1 million globally - CNN

 

[tmar]

Anti-parasitic drug kills COVID-19 in lab

Christine McGinn
6 hrs ago
...



© Shutterstock Representational Image An anti-parasitic drug available throughout the world has been found to kill COVID-19 in the lab within 48 hours.

A Monash University-led study has shown a single dose of the drug Ivermectin could stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus growing in cell culture.

"We found that even a single dose could essentially remove all viral RNA (effectively removed all genetic material of the virus) by 48 hours and that even at 24 hours there was a really significant reduction in it," Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute's Dr Kylie Wagstaff said on Friday.


While it's not known how Ivermectin works on the virus, the drug likely stops the virus dampening the host cells' ability to clear it.

The next step is for scientists to determine the correct human dosage, to make sure the level used in vitro is safe for humans.
"In times when we're having a global pandemic and there isn't an approved treatment, if we had a compound that was already available around the world then that might help people sooner," Dr Wagstaff said.

"Realistically it's going to be a while before a vaccine is broadly available."

Before Ivermectin can be used to combat coronavirus, funding is needed to get it to pre-clinical testing and clinical trials.

Ivermectin is an FDA-approved anti-parasitic drug also shown to be effective in vitro against viruses including HIV, dengue and influenza.
The study is the joint work of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Peter Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity.

The study findings have been published in Antiviral Research.

 

[tmar]

Qantas confirms 50 staff have tested positive for coronavirus - including six baggage handlers - but claim 'wiping down your suitcase won't prevent contagion'


Claudia Poposki For Daily Mail Australia
5 hrs ago

Qantas has confirmed 50 staff members have tested positive for coronavirus in the past week.
Since then, at least 19 flight attendants, 14 baggage handlers and eight pilots have test positive, as well as five staff members from Jetstar, according to The Australian.

Six baggage handlers from Adelaide airport tested positive for the virus on Tuesday before staff who had come into contact with them were tested.
...

 

[tmar]

SA premier signals 'new phase' of coronavirus outbreak


9News Staff
9 hrs ago.
...
South Australia Premier Steven Marshall says caution is still needed but that the growth of coronavirus cases around Australia is slowing.

"We are moving into a phase now, where the numbers are not moving in an exponential growth rate," Mr Marshall said.

But he warned that the state had been home now to three "very significant" clusters of the virus - from cruise ships, in the Barossa, and at Adelaide Airport.

South Australia has had a "relatively low" 11 new cases overnight, bringing the state total to 396.
...
tate Chief Health Officer Dr Nicola Spurrier said three of the new cases had come from the Ruby Princess cruise ship, bringing the total to 84.

All of the new cases were found in adults, with victims aged from 20 to 60.

So far, 18 people are being treated in hospitals, with eight aged 52-74 in intensive care units.

Border control measures are still in place, with police having checked about 9500 people entering the state to date.

About half have been ordered to self-quarantine, with the other half found to be essential travellers.

Mr Marshall said despite the optimistic news about the low growth in new cases, it was "no time for complacency" and people needed to continue to follow social distancing and self-isolation orders.

 

[tmar]

Oddest photos of the week

Dave Lucas
1 day ago

• 

 

[PrimeSuspect]

Oddest photos of the week
Dave Lucas
1 day ago

• 

that guinea pig is soooo adorable! it's nice to see something sweet among the overwhelming sad and tragic news, thanks tmar.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Costume-themed bin outings go viral as people look for laughs during coronavirus isolation

Costume-themed 'bin outings' are going viral – in a good way

 

[otto]

One of Melbourne's biggest hospitals has revealed a COVID-19 cluster that emerged in its cancer ward has claimed the life of a third patient, bringing the national toll to 24.


On Thursday, Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton confirmed on Twitter that a woman aged in her 60s died in a Melbourne hospital last night.
The woman was one of several inpatients and staff at The Alfred's haematology and oncology ward who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
The hospital revealed the first two patient deaths on Friday, as it urgently investigated the source of the infections.
Today, the hospital announced a third patient from the ward had died after contracting COVID-19.

Key points:

• Two women with COVID-19 died in Victorian hospitals on Wednesday
• Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said more than 4,000 retired healthcare workers had registered their interest in returning to work
• She announced pharmacists would be able to administer the flu vaccine to free up nurses

Melbourne hospital's COVID-19 inpatient cluster worsens as national death toll rises to 24

My son went to Melbourne on January 29 2020. He was so excited about Australia, applied for work visa on Christmas day last year, saved for 2 years.

Two weeks after he arrived, he was sicker than he'd ever been in his entire life. That was mid-February. I was thinking the virus, but he said it was allergies, and he worked as a chef in Melbourne as he developed bronchitis for another 4 weeks. When he returned home he was processed and put in isolation for virus. He is still coughing after completion of isolation.

I initially joked about him being a super spreader, flying through 5 airports on January 29, through the hotbed of infections, getting sick 2 weeks later, still sick a month later.

If my son is any indication of what happened in Melbourne, he has been home now for 2 weeks - just completed isolation. Melbourne should be ready for a surge.

I cannot thank the Australian government enough for putting him on a plane home with every second seat empty for lowest price.

 

[ZoriahNZ]

New Zealand update:

Covid 19 coronavirus: Has it peaked? New Zealand has 82 new Covid 19 cases; total now 950

 

[otto]

New Zealand update:

Covid 19 coronavirus: Has it peaked? New Zealand has 82 new Covid 19 cases; total now 950

The only indicator that every country is using for "back to work" in 2 months is China, and at the same time China is being discredited for false information.

No country has "peaked" although China claims that Wuhan peaked in 2 months.

Italy is in deep trouble, as in Spain. The USA is in deep trouble but doesn't yet know it.

I'm surprised that Islands didn't manage it better. They had the advantage as every other country became polluted with the virus - even New Zealand reduced flight costs to keep the economy going before they had infections - inviting the virus.

Where was common sense as the virus spread around the world?

 

[tmar]

Coronavirus cases sweep through schools and a CHILDCARE centre is identified as a hotspot for the virus - as pressure builds for the government to shut them down

Sahar Mourad For Daily Mail Australia
3 hrs ago
...
The coronavirus has started to sweep through schools - prompting more pressure for the government to step in and shut them down.

NSW Health has confirmed there have been multiple cases at education facilities across the state, including a student at Bankstown Senior College and a teacher at Kambala School.

There has also been a second case at TAFE Ultimo, which is unrelated to the first one.

A childcare centre in Blacktown, in western Sydney, has been identified as a hotspot for the virus with seven staff and six children infected.

There were also 12 others who were infected after coming close contact with one of the staff members. The centre has now closed.
...
What schools have confirmed coronavirus cases:

A Blacktown childcare centre, Rose of Sharon has confirmed 7 cases in staff, 6 in children and 12 in close contacts. The centre has now shut.

Woodport Early Learning Centre has also confirmed one case in a child, with an ongoing investigation.

In Belfield, St Michael’s Catholic Primary School has confirmed one case in a student.

TAFE Ultimo has recorded a second case, unrelated to the first confirmed case. A student at Bankstown Senior College has also tested positive.

A teacher at Kambala School is confirmed to have the virus. The school is closed and Investigations are ongoing

A teacher at Wiley Park Girls High School has tested positive and the school has since re-opened following investigations.

Gloucester Primary School has had one staff member test positive. The school remains open, as the staff member had not attended school for over two weeks.

 

[tmar]

Australian airlines initiate repatriation flights

Sky News Australia
1 hour ago
...
Qantas and Virgin Australia have joined forces with the Federal Government to establish a network of international flights helping Australians return home.

Flights to four destinations: London, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Auckland, will run for the next four weeks.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says these locations were chosen based on their accessibility for overseas Australian’s, and to provide freight capacity for Australian exporters and importers.

 

[tmar]

State weighs housing front-line healthcare workers in hotels

Benjamin Preiss and Zach Hope
55 mins ago
...
Doctors and nurses on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic would be housed in hotels or other accommodation to protect their families and prevent spreading the disease, under a plan being considered by the state government.


The government confirmed it is actively considering the plan and is examining how it would fund accommodation for front-line workers.
...
The move to accommodate healthcare workers separately comes after 100 staff were forced to self-isolate at The Alfred hospital following a COVID-19 outbreak.

Healthcare workers at three other hospitals have also gone into self-isolation after being exposed to the virus.

Federal Labor has described the living arrangements of many health professionals as "untenable" and written to the federal government expressing its concerns.

The association representing doctors also wants healthcare professionals to be able to stay away from their families to allay fears among the medical profession - some of whom are already living apart from their households due to concerns about vulnerable family members.
...

 

[ZoriahNZ]

Our Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern: "Conversations about coping with the psychological effects of Covid-19 lockdown."

This video is via Facebook.

Conversations on COVID-19: Nigel Latta

 

[PrimeSuspect]

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