Good evening, and welcome to our daily roundup of the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in Australia. This is Michael McGowan bringing you the main stories on Sunday 19 April.
Australia records two new Covid-19 deaths
The national death toll has risen to 71, after a 94-year-old New South Wales man who was a resident at the Newmarch House aged care facility in western Sydney, died. It is the second death from the aged care facility after a significant outbreak. There are now 39 cases from the facility, including 13 staff. A man in his 80s from Victoria also died overnight.
Government calls for global investigation
The foreign affairs minister, Marise Payne, has called for an independent international investigation into the spread of Covid-19. Payne says she does not think the World Health Organisation should run the investigation, saying she shares some of the concerns expressed by the US about the agency’s handling of the pandemic. Payne, who was interviewed on ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday morning, was also reluctant to answer questions about whether she “trusts” China in terms of its response to the virus.
Elective surgery and IVF could resume within days
The federal health minister, Greg Hunt, said elective surgery and IVF could resume sooner than previously expected, thanks to an increase in personal protective equipment equipment available to Australia’s healthcare system. Hunt also took a swipe at the World Health Organisation, saying its response to the crisis “didn’t help the world”.
Some Sydney eastern suburbs beaches to open
Beaches in some parts of the Sydney’s eastern suburbs will reopen from Monday. Randwick mayor Danny Said announced that Clovelly, Coogee and Maroubra beaches would reopen for exercise only. That means jogging on the sand, walking, swimming, surfing and other exercise activities will now be permitted. But ocean pools in Randwick council area will remain closed until further notice as they are subject to a public health order to close. Beaches in the neighbouring Waverley council area – Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte – remain closed for now. On Saturday Waverley mayor Paula Masselos said the area remained “a hotspot for coronavirus cases and we have no intention of reopening our beaches at this time”.
$5,000 fines for spitting
The New South Wales health minister, Brad Hazzard, announced anyone who spat on a worker could receive a $5,000 fine. It’s an expansion of a previous decision to allow the fines for people who spat on health workers or police.
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Lives saved in NSW
Brad Hazzard also said NSW had avoided some 700 deaths, based on projections during the peak of the outbreak.
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