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Summary
- The global death toll from coronavirus has passed 297,000 and there are 4.3 million known cases of infection, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the $130 billion JobKeeper program was brought together "at a very quick pace" and some "anomalies and issues" needed to be addressed
- US President Donald Trump says the coronavirus pandemic showed he was "right" about the importance of US manufacturing and moving supply chains out of China, as he blamed that country anew for not doing enough to slow the pandemic
- UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top team of ministers agreed on Thursday that Britain will not give up its rights as an independent state by bending to the demands of the European Union in its talks on a future relationship
- Australian unemployment hit 6.2 per cent in April. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned the impending economic recession will be worse than the GFC
City of London curbs cars to aid social distancing
London's "Square Mile" financial district said it will close some streets to cars to create more space for pedestrians and cyclists so that workers can observe social distancing when the coronavirus lockdown is lifted.
Britain began easing restrictions this week but said people who can work from home should continue to do so, as most financial sector staff have been doing since March.
A London cyclist.Credit:Getty Images
The financial district is home to the Bank of England, the London Stock Exchange and Lloyd's of London insurance market, and many of its pavements are too narrow for the 522,000 people who work there to maintain safe social distancing, a report for City of London councillors said.
It proposed widening pavements, and shutting some roads to cars completely or during business hours, which a panel of the City's councillors approved on Thursday.
"While most people who work in the Square Mile can work from home it is likely that people will begin travelling to work over the coming weeks," the report said.
"Any meaningful return to the workplace will need to be primarily by walking, cycling and public transport."
But 74 per cent of commuter journeys to the City are longer than 10km (6 miles), making public transport the only feasible option for many, the report said.
Separately, London's transport system said it was increasing services over the next week but capacity would be cut to about 15 per cent to maintain social distancing for passengers.
Furthermore, Britain's Financial Conduct Authority reiterated this week that only a limited number of staff designated "key workers" can go to the office for now.
Bankers said this week that some staff could be working from home for up to a year before they return to the City or Canary Wharf, London's other financial district.
Reuters
Thirty six million have sought US unemployment aid since virus hit
Washington: Nearly 3 million laid-off workers applied for US unemployment benefits last week as the viral outbreak led more companies to slash jobs even though most states have begun to let some businesses reopen under certain restrictions.
The wave of layoffs has heightened concerns that more government aid is needed to sustain the economy through the deep recession caused by the viral outbreak.
Republicans in Congress are locked in a stand-off with Democrats, who have proposed trillions more in aid, including for struggling states and localities, beyond the nearly $US3 trillion ($4.6 trillion) already given to individuals and businesses. Republican leaders say they want to first see how previous aid affects the economy and have expressed scepticism about approving much more spending now.
Roughly 36 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the two months since the coronavirus first forced millions of businesses to close their doors and shrink their workforces, the Labour Department said on Thursday. An additional 842,000 people applied for aid last week through a separate federal program set up for the self-employed and gig workers.
Mayor says 'just stay away' from the Bay Run as restrictions ease
By Garry Maddox
As restrictions on exercising outside ease, Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne has stern advice for walkers, runners and cyclists: stay away from the Bay Run.
Despite police patrols and signs encouraging social distancing, regular runners report the popular seven kilometre loop around Iron Cove has become even busier at peak times in the past month, prompting regular complaints about lack of respect for other exercisers.
Shelley Casey and dog Hugo on the Bay Run at Lilyfield. Credit: Louise Kennerley
On a sunny late afternoon this week, there were scores of runners and walkers on narrow stretches of path while two seemingly inexperienced cyclists rode fast laps.
With outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people allowed from Friday, Cr Byrne believes the congestion makes the scenic loop a risk for a COVID-19 outbreak.
IOC expects costs of up to $800 million for delayed Tokyo Olympics
The International Olympic Committee expects to bear costs of up to $US800 million ($1.25 billion) for its part in the organisation of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, now due to be staged next year, IOC President Thomas Bach said on Thursday.
IOC president Thomas Bach.Credit:AP
In March, the International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government decided to delay the Games, due to start this July, for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"We anticipate we will have to bear costs of up to $800 million for our part and responsibilities in the organisation of the postponed Games Tokyo 2020," Bach told a conference call at the end of the executive board meeting.
Reuters
Security report reveals some COVIDSafe information could go overseas
By Max Koslowski
A secret security assessment into government agencies reveals some information stored on Amazon servers may be sent overseas, despite the federal government's assurances COVIDSafe data remains local.
The government agency assessment, completed by cyber consultancy Foresight in December last year, suggested Amazon Web Services (AWS) may rely on tools that send some stored information throughout parts of its global, 700-server network.
A wide range of organisations including those in the university, banking and public sectors expect stored data to remain in Australia - but that may not be the case.Credit:AAP
While the data shared does not include concrete personal data - with likely only metadata being shared through the global network - the assessment raises questions about a wide range of other contracts Amazon holds for Australian government data services, including those in the university, banking and public sectors.
"Foresight notes that some services in scope of this assessment are not restricted to the AP-Southeast-2 region. By design and due to the type of function, some services are globally distributed," an excerpt from the December 2019 report, obtained by Labor backbencher Ed Husic and provided to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, reads.
Russian science minister catches virus
Moscow: Russian science minister Valery Falkov has recovered after contracting the coronavirus, Russian President Vladimir Putin says.
The country's prime minister, culture minister and construction minister, as well as Putin's spokesperson, have also reported contracting the virus.
Falkov has "suffered from the coronavirus and has overcome it," Putin said during a video chat with the science minister and other senior officials, according to comments carried by state media.
PA
We will not give up our independence to EU, UK cabinet agrees
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's top team of ministers agreed on Thursday that Britain will not give up its rights as an independent state by bending to the demands of the European Union in its talks on a future relationship.
Boris Johnson speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday.Credit:AP
At a cabinet meeting, Johnson's team was updated on the talks by negotiator David Frost who told them that Britain was not asking for "anything special, bespoke or unique" in the talks, just a free-trade agreement.
"Cabinet agreed that we won't agree to demands for us to give up our rights as an independent state, especially when the EU has shown through their agreements with other countries like Canada that these controls are not necessary," Johnson's spokesman told reporters.
Reuters
Federal government spent $10 million on inaccurate antibody tests
By Liam Mannix
The Australian government spent almost $10 million on 500,000 antibody tests that have been found to be inaccurate at testing for COVID-19.
The federal government confirmed on Thursday it had spent $9.9 million buying 500,000 OnSite antibody tests from MD Solutions, an Australian distributor. It said the tests could still be used in conjunction with further laboratory tests.
An antibody test being used in the US.Credit:Bloomberg
The Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity ran lab tests on the antibody test kits and found they were far less accurate than claimed, and were not sensitive enough to diagnose an acute COVID-19 case.
Earlier, the government received separate official advice saying the tests could not be used at all in Australia.
'Dysfunctional' mental health system needs boost in wake of pandemic: Experts
By Dana McCauley
Experts are warning the current mental health system is ill-equipped to respond to a forecast 30 per cent spike in mental illness in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, calling for a boost to services, similar to the response provided for COVID-19 patients.
Psychiatrist Ian Hickie, co-director of the University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre, said the "dysfunctional" public mental health system, in which patients cycle in and out of emergency rooms, was not equipped to respond to the crisis.
Professor Patrick McGorry said decision-makers need to treat mental health with the same seriousness as the physical health challenge of COVID-19.Credit:AAP
Former Australian of the Year and psychiatrist Patrick McGorry said there was "no shortage of solutions" to the crisis if decision-makers were willing to treat mental health with the same seriousness as the physical health challenge of the coronavirus, which sparked more than $2.4 billion in federal funding.
"What we're asking for is the same sort of response [that] they did for COVID-19, in other words, beefing up the health system to deal with it - the equivalent of ventilators and [intensive care unit] beds, but in much more community-based responses," he said.
Death toll now exceeds 297,000
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic for Friday, May 15, 2020.
Matt Bungard here, taking you through developments overnight.
The global death toll from coronavirus has passed 297,000. There are more than 4.35 million known cases of infection but more than 1.55 million people have recovered, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally.
In Australia, the death toll stands at 98 and there are 6989 confirmed cases.
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2020-05-14 17:02:00Z
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