With a constant stream of information and misinformation about COVID-19 (coronavirus) circulating, Echonetdaily will endeavour to update this page as news comes to hand.
UPDATED April 30, 7.30am
NNSWLHD COVID-19 Update: No new cases
Since our update yesterday there have been no new cases recorded of COVID-19 in residents of NNSWLHD.
Other figures are the same as yesterday. Still a total of 56. 1 patient in hospital, none in ICU. 46 have recovered.
5332 tests have now been conducted in NNSWLHD.
Yesterday’s update is here and includes some statements on expanded testing. https://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/blog/2020/04/28/covid-19-update-28-april/
For the latest updates and info: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/stats-lhd.aspx
Queensland coronavirus (COVID-19) update – 29 April
Queensland Health’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said currently, 971 of the 1,034 confirmed cases had recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.
‘Even though Queensland has recorded very low numbers of cases this week, Queenslanders are reminded to continue staying home as much as possible, and stay in their suburb when undertaking essential activities such as going to the supermarket or exercising,’ she said.
| HHS* | Active cases | Recovered cases | Deaths | Total confirmed cases to date |
|
| Cairns and Hinterland | 5 | 29 | 0 | 34 | |
| Central Queensland | 1 | 7 | 0 | 8 | |
| Central West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Darling Downs | 1 | 39 | 2 | 42 | |
| Gold Coast | 19 | 173 | 0 | 192 | |
| Mackay | 2 | 13 | 0 | 15 | |
| Metro North | 29 | 282 | 3 | 314 | |
| Metro South | 24 | 228 | 0 | 252 | |
| North West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| South West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sunshine Coast | 5 | 86 | 1 | 92 | |
| Torres and Cape | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Townsville | 2 | 22 | 0 | 24 | |
| West Moreton | 2 | 35 | 0 | 37 | |
| Wide Bay | 4 | 20 | 0 | 24 | |
| Overseas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 94 | 934 | 6 | 1034** |
* HHS level case data may include a patient’s residential address, Public Health Unit managing or location where test was ordered.
** Changes may occur in the number of notifications reported from day to day. This is due to ongoing maintenance and update of notification details as new information becomes available, or where discrepancies are detected through data quality assurance activities.
Dr Young said a total of 104,950 tests for COVID-19 have been undertaken in Queensland, with 3,250 tests undertaken in the previous 24 hours.
Queensland’s testing criteria has now been expanded so that anyone in the state who has a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms can get tested.
If you are unwell and you meet the above criteria, you should contact a doctor immediately. Your doctor will decide if you need to be tested for COVID-19.
Before your appointment, please call ahead and tell them about your symptoms so they can prepare for your visit.
Most Queenslanders who have contracted COVID-19 have experienced mild symptoms. Currently, 12 of the 94 active confirmed cases are in hospital, with six of these in intensive care. The remainder of active cases are currently recovering at home.
A total of 934 Queenslanders (90% of total cases) have now recovered from COVID-19.
Contact tracing continues for recent cases. Queensland Health will notify the community if any other public health alerts are required.
We want everyone to continue playing their part to protect themselves and the more vulnerable in our community. Please continue to follow the recommended advice from us and our federal counterparts in regards to social distancing, public gatherings and general wellbeing.
Critically, make sure you are practising good hygiene and staying home, especially if you’re sick. Washing your hands properly and often is the gold standard of health advice that can help prevent viruses from entering your body.
The most up-to-date reliable information is available on the Queensland Health website at www.health.qld.gov.au/
The Queensland Health website now includes detailed information by Local Government Area on the number of active and recovered COVID-19 cases, likely source of infection, age and gender breakdowns of confirmed cases and number of self-quarantine notices. You can access this information at www.health.qld.gov.au/covid-
NSW Government rolls out webinars to help small businesses
Small businesses doing it tough due to the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged to sign up for free-of-charge webinars funded by the NSW Government.
The webinars are being run by small business advisory program Business Connect, and address key subjects to help deal with COVID-19, including how to create a ghost kitchen and how to maximise cashflow.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said there were more than 60 Business Connect webinars and they will provide invaluable information for businesses that are facing unprecedented conditions.
‘We know small businesses are struggling at the moment and the impacts of drought, bushfires and now coronavirus have been significant,’ he said.
‘These webinars are run by small business expert presenters and they will give business owners insights into how they can make it through the current situation.
‘A number of businesses have successfully managed to pivot their operation and some of these webinars will provide advice on how to do that.’
The webinar topics include:
- turn your restaurant into a profitable ghost kitchen
- maximising cashflow
- business disruption – innovation
- diversify your creative income
- reinvent your business in troubled times
- marketing to pivot your business
Some of the webinars are targeted at businesses in regional areas and some are in foreign languages to cater for multicultural businesses.
Business Connect advisors have assisted more than 28,000 businesses over the past three years, providing advice and skills training for small businesses.
As a result, business owners have reported increased confidence and stronger finances. Those businesses have also created and supported more than 15,000 new jobs since 2017.
The NSW Government announced on April 19 it was injecting more than $14 million into Business Connect to help small and medium businesses navigate this challenging time.
As part of the funding boost, $4.6 million was allocated to engage an additional 30 advisors to support businesses on top of $9.8 million to ensure the program continues for another 12 months.
For more information, and to register, visit Business Connect.
From the Prime Minister
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison held a press conference yesterday in the Blue Room at Parliament house in Canberra.
‘What does success look like in a COVID-19 world?’ he began. ‘It doesn’t just look like having a low number of cases. That is welcome.
‘But if we were to consider our success on COVID-19 as just having a low number of cases, that is not good enough. And that is not what our Government is seeking to achieve and I don’t believe it is what the National Cabinet is seeking to achieve either.
‘We have had great success in flattening our curve, that is obvious. But having a low number of cases, but having Australians out of work, having a low number of cases and children not receiving in-classroom education, having a low number of cases and businesses not being open, having a low number of cases and Australians not able to be going about their as normal lives as possible, that is not what success looks like.
‘This is the success we’re seeking, to be able to have the protections in place, to enable Australians to go back to as normal a life and an economy as possible. And to be able to achieve that as soon as we possibly can and so it is important that we remain focused on the challenge ahead.
‘We don’t want to just win the battle against COVID-19 but lose a broader conflict when it comes to our economy and the functioning of our society.
‘That is why we remain focused on the road ahead. The road back, the restoration of key elements of our economy and to ensure that the broader health needs of Australians are also being addressed… READ TRANSCRIPT
UPDATED April 28, 7.30am
NSW COVID-19 statistics*
Note: The definition of a confirmed case is a person who tests positive to a validated specific SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test or has the virus identified by electron microscopy or viral culture, at a reference laboratory. Data reported at 8pm daily. Case counts reported for a particular notification date may vary over time due to ongoing investigations and the outcome of cases under review thus the underlying historical data being visualised on these graphs is subject to change on a daily basis.
*Last updated 8pm, 26 April 2020. Source NSW Health.
UPDATED April 27, 4.40pm
Queensland has three new confirmed cases of novel coronavirus
| HHS* | Active cases | Recovered cases | Deaths | Total confirmed cases to date |
|
| Cairns and Hinterland | 5 | 29 | 0 | 34 | |
| Central Queensland | 1 | 7 | 0 | 8 | |
| Central West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Darling Downs | 1 | 39 | 2 | 42 | |
| Gold Coast | 21 | 171 | 0 | 192 | |
| Mackay | 2 | 13 | 0 | 15 | |
| Metro North | 31 | 280 | 3 | 314 | |
| Metro South | 23 | 228 | 0 | 251 | |
| North West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| South West | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sunshine Coast | 8 | 83 | 1 | 92 | |
| Torres and Cape | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Townsville | 3 | 21 | 0 | 24 | |
| West Moreton | 2 | 35 | 0 | 37 | |
| Wide Bay | 4 | 20 | 0 | 24 | |
| Overseas | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 101 | 926 | 6 | 1033** |
* HHS level case data may include a patient’s residential address, Public Health Unit managing or location where test was ordered.
** Changes may occur in the number of notifications reported from day to day. This is due to ongoing maintenance and update of notification details as new information becomes available, or where discrepancies are detected through data quality assurance activities.
Queensland Health’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said currently, 966 of the 1,033 confirmed cases had recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case, such as their partner or flatmate.
“Even though Queensland has recorded very low numbers of cases this week, Queenslanders are reminded to continue staying home as much as possible, and stay in their suburb when undertaking essential activities such as going to the supermarket or exercising,” she said.
Dr Young said a total of 99,527 tests for COVID-19 have been undertaken in Queensland, with 1,105 tests undertaken in the previous 24 hours.
Queensland’s testing criteria has now been expanded so that anyone in the state who has a fever (or history of fever) or acute respiratory symptoms can get tested.
If you are unwell and you meet the above criteria, you should contact a doctor immediately. Your doctor will decide if you need to be tested for COVID-19.
Before your appointment, please call ahead and tell them about your symptoms so they can prepare for your visit.
Most Queenslanders who have contracted COVID-19 have experienced mild symptoms. Currently, 15 of the 101 active confirmed cases are in hospital, with six of these in intensive care. The remainder of active cases are currently recovering at home.
A total of 926 Queenslanders (almost 90% of total cases) have now recovered from COVID-19.
Contact tracing continues for recent cases. Queensland Health will notify the community if any other public health alerts are required.
We want everyone to continue playing their part to protect themselves and the more vulnerable in our community. Please continue to follow the recommended advice from us and our federal counterparts in regards to social distancing, public gatherings and general wellbeing.
Critically, make sure you are practising good hygiene and staying home, especially if you’re sick. Washing your hands properly and often is the gold standard of health advice that can help prevent viruses from entering your body.
The most up-to-date reliable information is available on the Queensland Health website at www.health.qld.gov.au/
The Queensland Health website now includes detailed information by Local Government Area on the number of active and recovered COVID-19 cases, li
Queensland – online form to report Covid-19 breaches
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) set-up the online form to allow people to easily report breaches of the Chief Health Officer’s (CHO) public health directions from their computer or smartphone during the COVID-19 event.
State Disaster Coordinator Steve Gollschewski said the community response to the unprecedented measures to reduce the spread of the virus had been very positive.
‘The vast majority of Queenslanders recognise the importance of following the public health directions and doing the right thing to keep everyone safe,’ said Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski.
‘We will continue to educate and show compassion when dealing with the public, however, we can take enforcement action if necessary to ensure we are limiting the spread of the virus.
‘We encourage members of the public to use the online form to report any blatant breach of the Chief Health Officer’s public health directions.
‘This includes large gatherings such as house parties and events where people are obviously ignoring social-distancing rules.’
Deputy Gollschewski said police would take follow-up action when complaints were received through the online form.
‘To date, we have received a lot of information from the public and we will continue to work with our community to keep everyone safe,’ he said.
‘The reason why Queensland is achieving promising outcomes is because of what measures we have put in place, not in spite of them, so this is not the time to be complacent.’
The QPS has issued more than 1,400 infringement notices for breaches of the public health directions.
The online form is located www.police.qld.gov.au/
UPDATED April 27, 7.40am
Government app to keep the community ‘COVIDSafe’
The Australian Government launched the new voluntary coronavirus app, COVIDSafe yesterday.
Prime Minsiter Scott Morrison said the app is an important public health initiative that will help keep you, your family, and your community safe from further spread of coronavirus through early notification of possible exposure.
‘Australians are doing an extraordinary job to flatten the curve and contain the spread of the coronavirus, but we cannot be complacent,’ he said.
‘The Chief Medical Officer’s advice is we need the COVIDSafe app as part of the plan to save lives and save livelihoods. The more people who download this important public health app, the safer they and their family will be, the safer their community will be and the sooner we can safely lift restrictions and get back to business and do the things we love.’
COVIDSafe will speed up the process of identifying people who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus
Scott Morrison said the health initiative uses technology to automate and improve what state and territory health officials already do manually. ‘COVIDSafe will speed up the process of identifying people who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus, quickly stopping further spread of the virus in the community.’
Minister for Health, Greg Hunt thanked Australians for their actions during the pandemic, and said the app is part of the three key requirements for easing restrictions: Test, Trace and Respond.
‘We thank Australians for their help in adhering to the difficult but life-saving social distancing measures,’ he said.
‘We are now calling on all Australians to download the COVIDSafe app to help protect you, your family and your community from further spread of COVID-19. This will be necessary if we are to start easing some of the difficult social distancing restrictions we have had to put in place.
‘It will be one of the critical tools we will use to help protect the health of the community by quickly alerting people who may be at risk of having contact with COVID-19. If you’d been exposed, you’d want to know, wouldn’t you?’
The Prime Minister said the app has received strong support from states and territories and the health sector, which he says recognises it is a valuable tool that will enhance the ability to respond rapidly to local outbreaks, and the confidence to know the virus is not silently spreading throughout communities.
A new determination issued by the Minister for Health under the Biosecurity Act will ensure information provided voluntarily through the App will only be accessible for use by authorised state and territory health officials. Any other access or use will be a criminal offence.
The App is being developed with one purpose: to stop the spread of coronavirus
Minister for Government Services, Stuart Robert described the App as being developed with one purpose: to stop the spread of coronavirus.
‘Once installed and running, the COVIDSafe app uses Bluetooth to look for other phones that also have the app installed,’ he said.
‘To be effective, users should have the app running in the background when they are coming into contact with others. Your phone does not need to be unlocked for the app to work.
‘It then securely makes a digital “handshake”, which notes the date and time, distance and duration of the contact. All information collected by the app is securely encrypted and stored in the app on the user’s phone. No one, not even the user, can access it.
‘Unless and until a person is diagnosed with COVID-19, no contact information collected in the app is disclosed or able to be accessed. Then, once the person agrees and uploads the data, only the relevant state or territory public health officials will have access to information. The only information they are allowed to access is that of close contacts – when a person has come within approximately 1.5 metres of another app user for 15 minutes or more – in their jurisdiction,’ he said.
Welcoming the announcement, Australian Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy said COVIDSafe is set to be a major tool in streamlining the process of identifying contacts after a person tests positive for coronavirus.
‘Finding out quickly means you can quarantine yourself or be treated much faster, protecting your family and friends from possible infection, and slowing the spread of the virus,’ he said.
‘Without this technology, health officials have to rely on people being able to remember who they have been around, and being able to provide contact details for those people.’
‘It is important to note that only state and territory health officials will be able to use the information.
‘COVIDSafe only keeps contact information for 21 days. This covers the maximum incubation period for the virus and the time it takes for someone to be tested for COVID-19.’
Minister Hunt said once the coronavirus pandemic is over, and Australia no longer needs the app, the app and the information on it will be deleted permanently. ‘No virus, no app.’
The App can be downloaded from the App stores.
QPS COVID-19 response statistics
The following preliminary statistics are current as at: 12.01am Monday, April 27.
|
|
Last 24hrs | Cumulative total since March 27 |
| Breach of public health directions infringement notices | 53 | 1,468 |
| Compliance checks conducted on individuals in quarantine | 9 | 4,567 |
| Compliance checks conducted on non-essential businesses | 54 | 6,806 |
| Vehicles intercepted at state borders | 2,479 | 121,160 |
| Vehicles turned around at state borders | 25 | 1,819 |
| People directed to quarantine at state road borders | 105 | 4,410 |
| Domestic airport passengers arriving into Queensland | 0 | 19,163 |
| Domestic airport passengers directed to quarantine | 0 | 3,205 |
| People refused entry to Qld at domestic airports | 0 | 58 |
COVID-19 (coronavirus) world stats updated April 27, 6am AEST
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