Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says 'it's far too early' for social distancing restrictions to be eased despite the downward trend of COVID-19 cases in Australia.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy says "it's far too early" for social distancing restrictions to be eased despite the downward trend of COVID-19 cases in Australia. Thirty-three cases of coronavirus were confirmed overnight, bringing the national total to 6,322 cases.
But the top doctor warned Australians should not be complacent, telling Sky News it could be at least another four weeks before restrictions are eased. "There's no possibility of large scale relaxation in the short term," Mr Murphy said. "At the moment, the sort of discussions we're having with National Cabinet is the need to stay the current course for some weeks. "If we see that fade away to almost nothing, it may be possible to have discussions.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
COVID-19 economic crisis will be most ‘far reaching and catastrophic’ since Depression | Sky News AustraliaSky News contributor Campbell Newman says among the reforms Australia needs to implement to kick start the economy after COVID-19 is environmental reform with the “prime objective being reliable, and affordable energy”.\n\nMr Newman said this will be achieved “via our newfound bipartisanship” which has seen state and federal governments from both parties come together to form the National Cabinet, and economic stimulus packages passed in Parliament with support from all major parties.\n\n“The Federal Environment Act needs to be amended to ensure that the environment is protected, but projects can achieve approvals within reasonable time frames,” he said.\n\nEducation reform is a necessity in the post-COVID-19 economy with the “cultural and funding bias against vocational education [needing] to be eliminated”.\n\nMr Newman also suggested broad economic reforms are required which would focus on “eliminating burdensome regulation, increasing competition and generating real wages growth for workers”.\n\n“COVID-19 may have started as a health crisis but the economic crisis is more far reaching and catastrophic than any downturn since the Great Depression”.\n\nImage: Getty
Read more »
The questions that can’t be answered around herd immunityAustralia is looking for its exit strategy from tough restrictions introduced to stop the spread of COVID-19 but one controversial option is severely dividing opinions.
Read more »
Over 100 cruise ship passengers will return to Australia infected with COVID-19 | Sky News AustraliaMore than 100 Australian and New Zealand citizens rescued from a cruise ship off the coast of Uruguay will soon arrive in Melbourne.\n\n96 Australians and at least 15 Kiwis have been stuck on the Aurora Expeditions ship for more than 2 weeks after travelling to Antarctica on March 15.\n\nThe group is on its way to Melbourne on a chartered flight at the steep cost of $15,000 dollars each and the ship's operator has asked the federal government to help with expenses. \n\nUp to 70 percent of the passengers on board the ship have reportedly contracted the coronavirus.\n\nHealth authorities say they are prepared to handle the influx of cases.\n\nImage: Getty
Read more »
Drug therapy program to aid distribution of COVID-19 vaccine | Sky News AustraliaQueensland Health Minister Steven Miles says “we are very confidant that we will one day have a vaccine and it will be incredibly important that we get that vaccine out as quickly as we can”.\n\nThe health minister announced on Saturday the state would be amending its drug therapy program which would allow people easier access to emergency medications as well as widening the circumstances under which community pharmacists could substitute medications. \n\nMr Miles said the move was “most importantly” about making sure pharmacists will be able to, when we have a COVID-19 vaccine, be able to deliver that vaccine”.\n\n“That means that communities right across the state, everywhere in this state, will have very quick access to the vaccine when it comes,” he said. \n\n“We are very confident that we will one day have a vaccine and it will be incredibly important that we get that vaccine out as quickly as we can. \n\n“By using our network of community pharmacists that will be the fastest way to get that vaccine out and help keep our Qld community safe'.
Read more »
WHO warns of a 'deadly resurgence' of COVID-19 across the globe | Sky News AustraliaThe World Health Organisation has warned of a 'deadly resurgence' of the coronavirus if strict controls are lifted prematurely. \n\nOverseas governments are extending lockdowns and stimulating their economies with huge financial packages in a bid to soften the impact of the coronavirus. \n\nThe World's death toll has surged past 100,000 according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. \n\nItaly narrowly remains the worst affected country with nearly 19,000 deaths, which is approximately 200 more than the deaths recorded in the United States. \n\n980 people have lost their lives in the United Kingdom in just 24 hours, taking the death toll to 8,958.\n\nUnited States President Donald Trump announced he'll listen to the medical experts before deciding whether to relax social distancing measures. \n\nImage: Getty
Read more »
'Essentially overnight we have come together as Australians' to fight COVID-19 | Sky News AustraliaDeputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth says the “reform of medicare to expand telehealth” has had significant benefits for Australians as “telehealth to date has had over three million consultations with 2.4 million patients”.\n\nMr Coatsworth confirmed on Saturday afternoon there were 231 Australians being treated in hospitals for COVID-19 with 75 of those in intensive care units and nearly 40 patients supported by ventilators. \n\n “We have asked you to change the way we live as Australians essentially overnight, and essentially overnight we have come together as Australians and done just that,” he said. \n\n“It is because of that reason we can continue to give you for several days now, and including today, good news about the number of cases that are occurring.\n\n“We need to sustain those gains, we need to keep those number of cases low, we need to have that opportunity now to chart our way through and out the other side of this COVID-19 epidemic.”\n\nImage: Getty
Read more »