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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
US lacks vaccine plan, whistleblower says
Whistleblower Rick Bright says the US lacks a plan to produce and fairly distribute a coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available.
The country could face "the darkest winter in modern history" unless leaders act decisively, he told a congressional panel on Thursday.
Whistleblower: Dr Rick Bright.
Bright alleges he was ousted from a high-level scientific post after warning Donald Trump's administration to prepare for the pandemic.
Bright said, "We don't have (a vaccine plan) yet, and it is a significant concern." Asked if lawmakers should be worried, he responded, "absolutely."
Bright, a vaccine expert who led a bio-defence agency in the Department of Health and Human Services, said the country needs a plan to establish a supply chain for producing tens of millions of doses of a vaccine, and then allocating and distributing them fairly.
Appearing before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Bright said one of his lowest moments came when his repeated efforts to jump-start US production of respirator masks went nowhere.
Bright recalled getting emails in late January from Mike Bowen, an executive at a medical supply company called Prestige Ameritech, indicating that the N95 mask supply was "completely decimated".
"And he said, 'We're in deep s***. The world is. And we need to act,"' Bright said. "And I pushed that forward to the highest levels I could in HHS and got no response. From that moment I knew that we were going to have a crisis for our health care workers because we were not taking action. We were already behind the ball."
Republican lawmakers on the panel for the most part were careful not to attack Bright directly. But Representative Markwayne Mullins criticised Bright for continuing to collect his $US285,000 ($A443,031) salary while first on sick leave for a spike in blood pressure and now on holiday as he tries to straighten out his work situation.
"You're too sick to go into work, but you're well enough to come here while getting paid," said Mullin. "I have a hard time understanding that."
A federal watchdog agency has found "reasonable grounds" that Bright was removed from his post as head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority after sounding the alarm at the Department of Health and Human Services.
AP
Cartwright 'overjoyed' after gaining medical exemption for flu shot
By Sam Phillips and Adrian Proszenko
Queensland’s chief health officer has granted Bryce Cartwright a medical exemption from having the flu vaccination.
The Gold Coast Titans forward produced a medical certificate to validate his claim he had previously suffered a bad reaction to a vaccination and was subsequently granted an exemption on medical grounds by Queensland CHO Jeanette Young.
Cartwright was ‘‘overjoyed’’ with the decision, according to Gold Coast chairman Dennis Watt. ‘‘He’s ready to go. He’s in the clear,’’ Watt said. ‘‘He’s overjoyed. He’s really pleased it’s all behind him.’’
Cartwright will rejoin Titans training on Friday along with teammate Brian Kelly, who had the flu shot on Thursday. Cartwright’s exemption brings an end to the saga which dragged on for a week, but it does not mean players refusing the flu shot at interstate clubs are in the clear.
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.
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2020-05-14 17:54:00Z
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