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Coronavirus updates LIVE: Further COVID-19 case spike expected in Victoria as NSW faces anxious wait; national cabinet to review hotel quarantine system - The Sydney Morning Herald

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WA's sell-out AFL derby unlikely to go ahead if state delays reopening

A ticketing nightmare is looming for the AFL with the state government likely to delay loosening COVID-19 restrictions, halving the capacity of the sell-out "western derby" scheduled next weekend.

Western Australia was scheduled to move to Phase 5 of its Roadmap to Recovery on July 18, however Premier Mark McGowan on Monday warned the recent outbreak in Melbourne was becoming an increasing public health issue for other states, Heather McNeill reports.

The western derby is due to be played at Optus Stadium on July 19.

The western derby is due to be played at Optus Stadium on July 19.

Phase 5 would have seen the removal of the two-square-metre and 50 per cent capacity rules, allowing the Fremantle Dockers to host a sell-out 60,000-strong crowd against West Coast at Optus Stadium on July 19.

But if restrictions are not eased, the capacity of the stadium will remain at 30,000.

Victorians reach out to mental health services in record numbers

Victorians are reaching out to mental health services for support in record numbers as the state enters its second lockdown.

Lifeline is reporting a 22 per cent surge in calls in Victoria since Sunday compared with the same time last year, while calls from Victoria to Beyond Blue’s support services have doubled in the past fortnight.

Lifeline Australia's chairman John Brogden said the service received almost 90,000 calls since March, which amounts to a call every 30 seconds. This was a sign the state's strict lockdown measures were taking a toll on the mental health of Victorians, he said.

"Lockdown means many of the important opportunities for people to connect with each other and do things they enjoy are being stopped. For someone who is already struggling, this can be a huge blow," Mr Brogden said.

"We are asking people to look out for those who may struggle through isolation, especially if they live on their own. If you can’t knock on their door, be imaginative in how you can connect- give someone a call, write them an email, put a note under their door.

"By reaching out to someone who may be struggling and letting them know you care, you can send a really powerful message of hope."

Victorian calls to Beyond Blue accounted for almost half of all calls recorded nationwide last week.

Calls increased 66 per cent in April and 60 per cent in May compared to the same period in 2019. In June, calls were up 47 per cent on June 2019.

Beyond Blue's chief executive Georgie Harman said many people concerned about the coronavirus pandemic were seeking support for the first time.

“Early on in the coronavirus pandemic, people were reporting feeling worried, uncertain or overwhelmed and they were dealing with loneliness or family pressure,” Ms Harman said.

“In more recent times we’ve seen more talk of exhaustion, fatigue, and concerns about the reintroduction of social restrictions.

“It’s important to remember you don’t have to be feeling severe symptoms to seek support. If you’re feeling stressed or concerned about the reintroduction of restrictions, talk to a family member, a trusted friend, your GP or a counsellor at Beyond Blue’s support services."

If you or anyone you know needs support call Kids Helpline 1800 551 800, Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636

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ADF police the Geelong 'border'

Photographer Jason South is at the Geelong checkpoint along the Geelong Freeway, where cars are being stopped by ADF personnel as part of Melbourne's lockdown.

Unlike the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong is not subject to stage three restrictions for the six-week period.

ADF personnel assist Victoria Police at a roadside checkpoint on the Geelong Freeway.

ADF personnel assist Victoria Police at a roadside checkpoint on the Geelong Freeway.Credit:Jason South

Bolivian Interim President tests positive for COVID-19

Interim Bolivian President Jeanine Áñez says she has tested positive for COVID-19.

Ms Áñez said she "feels strong" in a video message posted on social media.

Ms Áñez has been leading the South American country after former president Evo Morales resigned following civil unrest last year.

She is the second South American leader to test positive for the virus this week. Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro announced he had the virus on Tuesday.

NSW Police turn back 200 cars at border overnight

NSW Police turned 200 cars back into Victoria at the state border overnight, but Police Commissioner Mick Fuller says the operation has been otherwise moving very quickly.

"It's moving quickly, there's no big lines," he told Ben Fordham on 2GB this morning, noting those travelling through have been assisting police by having their documents on hand.

A person wishing to cross the border on Wednesday morning presents documentation at Wodonga.

A person wishing to cross the border on Wednesday morning presents documentation at Wodonga.Credit:Justin McManus

"All those people in the cars have their permits ready and their licenses ready, so when the community helps us it helps them."

Mr Fuller said most of the people who have come through the border checkpoint are from border towns, travelling for work or essential needs.

The 200 cars were an exception to this, he said.

Asked if he was preparing for a possible second checkpoint north of the border – as was flagged by Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday, although she seemed less keen on the idea yesterday – he said he had no further information, but police were trying to be prepared.

"Obviously from a planning perspective we are looking at a number of different scenarios because if the virus comes across the border then the Premier wants to contain that," he said.

'You could be sitting in traffic for hours': Thousands queue at Queensland borders

During the past week alone, more than 300,000 Queensland border passes have been issued, with police expecting significant delays at the interstate road and air borders on Friday.

As of midday on Friday, the Queensland interstate borders will reopen to visitors from all states, except those who have been in Victoria during the past two weeks, due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the southern state.

Grey nomads Gary and Karen Kennedy from Shepparton in Victoria have been stuck in Ballina in far northern NSW waiting for the Queensland border to open so they can continue their annual migration north to escape the chill of the southern winter.

Grey nomads Gary and Karen Kennedy from Shepparton in Victoria have been stuck in Ballina in far northern NSW waiting for the Queensland border to open so they can continue their annual migration north to escape the chill of the southern winter. Credit:Elise Derwin

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said: "You could be sitting in traffic for hours."

Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski told ABC Radio Brisbane that 314,000 border passes have been handed out since last Friday and more than 1200 vehicles have been turned around at the road borders.

There are some exceptions for people coming from Victoria being allowed to come into Queensland, with Victorian residents allowed in if they can prove they have not been in their home state during the past two weeks.

“We’ve got Victorians everywhere in Australia and we love them dearly, the key issue for us is have you been in Victoria during the past 14 days?" Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.

"So if they can prove to a reasonable standard that they have not been in Victoria [for example, holidaying in New South Wales], of course, we will look at letting them through."

Queensland residents returning home from Victoria will be allowed back in, but they will have to go into two weeks' quarantine in specially prepared hotels at their own expense.

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Victorian ICU beds could soon be full as COVID-19 outbreak spreads

Australia's intensive care wards are already nearing capacity despite low numbers of COVID-19 patients on ventilators as the nation's surge capacity plans remain on standby.

A snapshot from the federal government's Critical Health Resource Information System, which keeps track of intensive care unit beds across Australia, shows Victoria's staffed ICU beds were at 85 per cent capacity with 380 out of 446 beds full on Thursday.

Governments are yet to activate their ICU surge capacity plans.

Governments are yet to activate their ICU surge capacity plans.Credit:Justin McManus

This does not include the additional 4000 beds with ventilators the Victorian government plans to activate if needed to surge the state's ICU capacity, a task that will require the mobilisation of thousands of specially-trained intensive care nurses.

The federal government has an additional 7500 ventilators in the national medical stockpile.

'Your day will come': Palaszczuk tells Victorians to be patient

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has asked for Victorians to be patient as she reopens her state's borders to the rest of the country at midday.

"Please, Victoria be patient and your day will come when you will be allowed to come back here," she told ABC News Breakfast this morning, apologising to those who would have to wait a bit longer to see loved ones.

"We know how much you love Queensland and I know there is a lot of families that are going to be separated during this time as well. It is going to be very difficult."

The Premier advised all other travellers to expect major delays and possibly delay their travel, with more than 238,000 border passes issued to interstate arrivals ahead of the reopening.

"Patience will definitely be a virtue today," she said, reminding anyone travelling to Queensland and Queenslanders themselves to get tested if they have even the mildest symptoms.

The Queensland leader has faced significant criticism from her federal and interstate colleagues for her tough border controls, but she said she made "absolutely no apology for keeping Queenslanders safe".

"It is front and centre of my mind, every single day and every single night and don't think for a moment I don't wake up, early hours of the morning, thinking about Queenslanders and the decisions that myself and the Chief Health Officer are making," she said. "These are very big decisions that we have never had to make in our lifetime and it is about protecting Queenslanders."

Ms Palaszczuk said she would be backing Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan in today's national cabinet meeting as they call for a slowing of international flights into Australia while overseas arrivals are directed away from Victoria's hotel quarantine system.

Inner city professionals take financial biggest hit from COVID-19

Exclusive data this morning has revealed inner city professionals have taken the largest financial hit in the coronavirus crisis, with government stimulus failing to cover the loss.

Charlotte Grieve has analysed the data from consulting firm Taylor Fry across both Sydney and Melbourne, which ranks suburb populations by job losses and money to spend on discretionary items.

The inner west suburb of Erskineville fared worst in Sydney, despite having 20 per cent fewer unemployed residents than the state's average. Many people in the suburb work in engineering, tertiary education and advertising.

The trend was mirrored in Victoria, where Melbourne's seaside suburb of St Kilda is among the worst hit despite having a lower than average unemployment rate.

The data also shows Victorians overall are facing a greater financial impact compared to NSW, with 144 suburbs marked in the worst affected category, more than double NSW, a divide likely to only worsen as Melbourne progresses through its six-week shutdown.

Under pressure from scientists, WHO acknowledges coronavirus may linger in air indoors

The World Health Organisation has released new guidelines on the transmission of the novel coronavirus that acknowledge some reports of airborne transmission of the virus that causes COVID-19, but stopped short of confirming that the virus spreads through the air.

In its latest transmission guidance, the WHO acknowledged that some outbreak reports related to indoor crowded spaces have suggested the possibility of aerosol transmission, such as during choir singing, in restaurants or in fitness classes.

But the WHO said more research is "urgently needed to investigate such instances and assess their significance for transmission of COVID-19".

Based on its review of the current evidence, the WHO said the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 spreads between people through direct or indirect contact with contaminated surfaces or close contact with infected people who spread the virus through saliva, respiratory secretions or droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings.

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2020-07-09 20:55:00Z
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