Daily News Roundup

 

MONDAY JULY 27

Australia has recorded its biggest case spike today, with 532 cases added to Victoria’s tally and another six deaths.    

The latest cases are the worst total recorded anywhere in the nation since the pandemic began. 

The previous highest tally was 484 on Wednesday, July 22. It follows the state’s deadliest day on Sunday when 10 people lost their lives to the virus.

It comes as a grieving son has issued a powerful plea to Victorians on national television after saying goodbye to his coronavirus-stricken father on FaceTime.

Nicholas Barboussas lost his 79-year-old father Paul to the disease on Sunday afternoon. 

His father had been living at St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Melbourne, which has now seen 78 cases of COVID-19. The situation was made even worse by the fact that he thought his father was out of harm’s way less than 72 hours ago.

“Put on your mask, listen to the Premier, to the chief health officer,” he told the Today show. 

“A lot of people that are currently active are between the ages of 20 and 40. You are not invincible. And if you think you are invincible … please think of your grandparents, your parents, your co-workers, the lady in front of you in the checkout at the local supermarket and before you take that first step out of your front door, put on your mask.”

Health authorities in New South Wales warn the coming weeks will be “critical” in avoiding a Victorian-style second wave of coronavirus infections.

There are 17 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, with almost half of those in hotel quarantine, but the level of community transmission remains a concern.

People in Sydney are being urged to maintain good social distancing and hand hygiene practises, and to “consider the use of masks when you can’t keep your distance”, chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said.

“This is an anxious time. I think this is a critical time where we need the community to modify their behaviours, engage with public health messaging and come forward for testing.”

On masks, they’re recommended when people use public transport, Dr Chant said.

“We ask you to keep gatherings as small as possible,” she added. “Don’t travel for non-essential reasons.

“This is a critical time over the next three to four weeks. We need to all play our part.”

After recording no new cases of coronavirus overnight, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she will “slam the borders shut” to New South Wales if widespread community transmission of coronavirus occurs.

Ms Palaszczuk said she will act on any future health advice regarding the border given her state has just five active cases.

“Every single day we are monitoring what is happening in NSW,” she said.

“We will not hesitate to declare hot spots or if it gets out of control, to slam the border shut.”

Police in Queensland have ramped up new restrictions on travellers from NSW, adding more council areas considered as “hotspots” to the state’s banned travel list.

From today, travellers from Fairfield – or anyone who has visited the suburbs within the council area – will be turned away from the border.

Currently, Sydney’s Campbelltown and Liverpool council areas as well as the state of Victoria are on Queensland’s hotspot list. It is reported that the current travel restrictions will impact more than 600,000 Sydney residents from entering the state.

“We will not hesitate to declare hot spots or if it gets out of control, to slam the border shut.”

Queensland recorded no new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours, she announced, and there are just five active cases in the state.

“Complacency is our enemy,” the Premier warned.

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A woman who refused to wear a mask in Bunnings, and was later briefly arrested for the altercation, hasn’t just been slammed around Australia, she’s also garnering attention globally.

The Melbourne woman filmed posted footage of her trying to enter Bunnings without a mask, which is against store policy, to a private conspiracy group.

However, the footage was later posted on Twitter and has since gone viral.

The Bunnings staff who dealt with the woman were also showered in praise with the CEO of Wesfarmers, the company that owns the hardware giant, even giving them a shout out.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews earlier took aim at the “selfish” people who refuse to follow the new rules around masks as the state recorded its deadliest day on Sunday with 10 deaths.

“If those directions are not followed, police are able to fine you. It is a $200 fine. It should never come to that,” Mr Andrews said.

“If it was a genuine error, a sense of any confusion – police use good judgement. But if you are just making a selfish choice that your alleged personal liberty, quoting something you‘ve read on some website – this is not about human rights.

“There are 10 families that are going to be burying someone in the next few days. Wear a mask! It‘s not too much to ask.”