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Seven Victorian officers test positive for COVID
By Erin Pearson
Seven officers from Frankston police station, in Victoria, have now tested positive to COVID-19 after a further three received positive test results this week.
Of the seven, two are members of the Transit and Public Safety Command. An additional officer at Carrum Downs police station has also tested positive.
A police spokeswoman said Frankston police station will now be closed for the short term with counter service available at Mornington police station.
Carrum Downs police station reception remains closed to limit unnecessary face-to-face contact with the general public, with members of the community advised to use the Police Assistance Line (131 444) or the Online Reporting service at this time.
"The community can be assured that service delivery will remain unaffected during this time, with resources to be used from other locations where needed," the spokeswoman said.
"Victoria Police’s priority first and foremost is to ensure the safety of its people and the community."
It follows positive cases among police at Broadmeadows, Werribee and 313 Spencer Street stations in recent days.
NSW Police investigating claims people linked to Thai Rock restaurant cluster were not self-isolating
NSW Police officers are continuing to investigate reports people linked to the Thai Rock Wetherill Park COVID-19 cluster were not self-isolating as required.
Police have conducted numerous compliance checks, including repeated home visits, to ensure that anyone who has been direct to self-isolate by NSW Health is doing so. No offences have been detected at this time and the investigation is ongoing.
The Thai Rock restaurant at Stocklands Mall in Wetherill Park has been linked to several coronavirus cases.Credit:Steven Siewert
NSW Health is directing everyone who attended the Thai Rock restaurant in Stockland Mall Wetherill Park on 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14 July to immediately be tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of symptoms.
On Tuesday, cases linked to the restaurant outbreak in south-west Sydney swelled to 26, and a NSW Health spokeswoman said the source of that cluster remained under investigation.
JobKeeper and JobSeeker to help Victorians more than others: Frydenberg
By Paul Sakkal
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says Victorians are likely to make up a greater proportion of JobKeeper and JobSeeker recipients post-September due to the lasting economic effects of the reimposed lockdown in the state.
Mr Frydenberg said the government would not provide targeted relief to Victoria because the built-in turnover test in the JobKeeper scheme meant businesses in more depressed economies would receive a larger share of the outlay.
In October, and again in January, businesses will need to prove their revenue was down by 30 per cent on pre-pandemic levels in order to keep receiving the wage subsidy.
"Victorian businesses will find themselves better placed to benefit from those programs because of the lockdown we find ourselves in," he said on Melbourne radio station 3AW. "The point of these programs in the way it's structured, it will be of particular benefit to Victoria."
"As the virus has got under control in other states, they are seeing the benefits while in Victoria we're obviously paying a heavy price … Certainly, Victoria is behind the pack."
Mr Frydenberg will provide a budget update on Thursday where he is expected to unveil a $200 billion deficit.
"There's nothing to celebrate, they're eye-watering numbers and they reflect the dire economic environment created around the world by the coronavirus."
Photographs capture Australia's response to COVID
The Herald and The Age's photographers continue to capture Australia's response to COVID-19: from snaking queues of people waiting for testing to people commuting around the city.
Western Sydney residents undergo COVID-19 testing in the wake of a cluster of cases linked to the Crossroads Hotel. Credit:Dean Sewell
Sydneysiders are urged to wear face masks if they find themselves in a situation where they cannot follow social distancing measures. Credit:Kate Geraghty
Police are patrolling the streets in Melbourne as the number of cases continues to climb. Credit:Joe Armao
On Sunday, hundreds of people flocked to Bondi Beach. Credit:Edwina Pickles
185 people missing from COVID-19 quarantine after lying to QLD border cops
By Toby Crockford and Matt Dennien
The hunt is on for almost 200 people who have disappeared from their COVID-19 quarantine after lying to police officers at Queensland's interstate and international boundaries.
Authorities discovered 185 people were missing after police officers conducted compliance checks on those supposed to be in mandatory self-quarantine after coming into Queensland.
Police said most of the 2322 people officers have checked up on since April 18 were doing the right thing, but 387 people, equating to almost 17 per cent, had caused concern.
In a statement, the Queensland Police Service provided a breakdown of what happened in each of the 387 cases where self-quarantined individuals were not at their designated addresses.
Painting, Zoom and Netflix are helping Jane Seymour through hotel quarantine
By Garry Maddox
Painting, script read-throughs and catch-ups on Zoom, watching Netflix and an unexpected visit to a hospital intensive care unit.
Jane Seymour has made the most of her first 10 days of quarantine in Sydney, before she begins shooting a new Australian film under strict COVID-19 regulations next week.
Making the most of quarantine: actor Jane Seymour, who took this photo of herself, has been painting in her Sydney hotel room after arriving from Los Angeles. She starts shooting new Australian film Ruby's Choice the morning after she gets out. Credit:Jane Seymour
The British-American actor, who kickstarted her international career playing Solitaire in the Bond movie Live and Let Die then went on to play the likes of Marie Antoinette, Maria Callas, Wallis Simpson and Dr Michaela Quinn, Medicine Woman, is grateful for the chance to shoot a film during the pandemic.
"Nobody is able to make anything right now and California has got worse since I came here so I consider myself extraordinarily fortunate to be making such a beautiful movie, with really talented Australians, on the outskirts of Sydney," she said.
But quarantine was tough initially. And in a small hotel room, certainly not glamorous
Turbocharge economy today, worry about debt tomorrow, says former Treasury boss
By Paul Sakkal
Former Treasury Secretary Ken Henry says the federal government should take advantage of low interest rates to fund productivity-enhancing economic reforms to turbocharge the Australian economy out of the pandemic-induced recession.
The former public servant and economist, who backed a permanent rise in the unemployment benefit, said the government should embark on reforms that boost long-term growth and put the country in a better position to pay back debt in the future.
With low international and local interest rates, which make the cost of borrowing cheaper, Mr Henry said the government should not be scared of incurring significant debt in the short-term to stimulate the economy.
"Now is not a time to be worrying about debt and deficit, but there will come a time when we do have to worry about debt and deficit and so we should be thinking about how we shape the economy for a recovery, which makes it easier for the debt to be managed," he said.
"We need to boost the productive potential of the economy … I'm really not sure that people understand the enormity of the challenge."
Meanwhile, Mr Henry said it was "quite extraordinary" the Newstart payment rate had not been reviewed since 1994 and said it could be increased by 50 per cent and not create a disincentive to work.
The JobSeeker coronavirus supplement will continue for another three months but fall from $550 to $250 a fortnight, meaning people on the program, which replaced the Newstart payment, will receive $815 a fortnight after September.
The government has not committed to a permanent increase in the rate, which was about $287 a week pre-pandemic.
Mr Henry said the growing gap between the Newstart rate and the Disability Support Pension was concerning.
The Australian Medical Association calls for meeting of National Cabinet to adopt position on masks
By Dana McCauley
The Australian Medical Association is calling on Prime Minister Scott Morrison to convene an urgent meeting of the national cabinet to adopt a nation-wide position on masks and strengthen domestic border controls.
AMA President Tony Bartone said on Wednesday morning that mask use in areas of community transmission was now essential and that authorities should respond to the now strong scientific evidence that they can reduce transmission of COVID-19.
"Physical distancing is not always being followed in many areas," Dr Bartone said. "The uptake of mask use will need community education and nationwide product supply, and misinformation must be challenged and corrected."
He said while the Victorian and NSW governments "are to be commended for encouraging mask use" but that a consistent national cabinet-backed approach was needed.
"It is now clear that masks reduce virus spread when worn in areas where there is community transmission," Dr Bartone said.
"Every Australian in current areas of community transmission must make mask use part of their daily routines."
The AMA is also calling for the national cabinet to release its community transmission modelling "to inform the community about virus spread patterns", commit to a target of zero healthcare worker deaths from COVID-19 and develop a national contact tracing network, ready to be deployed to assist with outbreaks.
Dr Bartone said the national cabinet should also "strengthen controls at all domestic borders" and that "if existing border closures were relaxed, it would create a risk of the virus returning."
"We may need to accept that continued border closures will be needed for months ahead," he said. "The international border must remain closed, and state and territory borders also need to be managed."
Almost 100 NFL players have tested positive to COVID-19: NFLPA
There are 95 players across the NFL who have had a known positive COVID-19 test, according to information the NFL Players Association posted on its website.
The number marked an increase of 23 positive tests, or 31.9 per cent, since July 10, although the total number of tests administered has not been released.
Thousands of tests are expected to be administered before the end of the month, as rookies and quarterbacks – and eventually full rosters – report to teams for training camp.
The union also noted that all 32 teams have submitted infectious disease emergency response plans, with eight approved and 24 under review.
Reuters
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian: cluster concern but testing rates pleasing
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said while the growing clusters around NSW were concerning, the number of people coming forward for testing was pleasing to see.
In regards to face masks, she said when social distancing measures cannot be followed, masks should be worn.
"I have to follow the health advice," Ms Berejiklian told The Today Show earlier this morning. "Our health experts are monitoring the situation very closely, they give me their timely advice all the time and their advice is, if you can't guarantee social distancing... well you should wear a mask."
Ms Berejiklian urged communities who had seen a number of cases to restrict their movements and come forward for testing.
"My strongest message is, if you have been asked to stay home for 14 days, please make sure you do that because you might have tested negative, but the virus can still be infectious in you or it may emerge over a two week period."
The NSW Premier, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant will provide a COVID-19 update at 11am today.
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2020-07-22 00:06:00Z
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