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Coronavirus updates LIVE: Victoria aims for new low in COVID-19 cases; NSW hopes clusters reduce as Australian death toll passes 600 - The Sydney Morning Herald

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Summary

  • Victoria had 94 reported on Saturday along with 18 deaths.
  • NSW recorded 14 new cases on Saturday as concerns grew about the extent of a cluster originating from Syndey's CBD.
  • COVID-19 restrictions preventing more than 10 people visiting a home will be extended to the Toowoomba and Darling Downs health region in Queensland from Monday,
  • A man has been placed under police guard in a Perth hotel after he allegedly breached quarantine rules to go to a Northbridge bar just hours after landing in Western Australia from Queensland.

Latest updates

Back to cars: Public transport expected to take post-pandemic beating

By Timna Jacks

Victoria's public transport will lose 114 million yearly trips post-pandemic, and city roads face worsening congestion as infection-wary commuters desert the network in favour of their cars.

Metro Trains and Yarra Trams are facing unprecedented hits to revenue as other workers take advantage of a new era of work-from-home arrangements.

During the virus' second wave, public transport rides have dwindled to 9 per cent of normal levels.

Near empty Southern Cross Station during what would normally be morning peak hour on Monday April 6, 2020.

Near empty Southern Cross Station during what would normally be morning peak hour on Monday April 6, 2020. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

And even after the pandemic subsides, public transport use overall will recover to just 80 per cent of capacity, or 456 million yearly trips instead of 570 million, according to Monash University research that is the most comprehensive study on travel impacts of the coronavirus done to date.

The Department of Transport is considering expert warnings that rail will be hardest hit once the virus subsides, with usage to return to just 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

Click here to read the story.

'Like a hurricane': Plea for fair go for students hit hardest by virus

By Adam Carey and Madeleine Heffernan

COVID-19 has swept through Linda Maxwell’s school “like a hurricane”, shutting it down not once but three times since April.

The large state school in Melbourne’s north-west has lost 15 days of learning since April due to unplanned closures due to a case of the virus.

Year 12 student Olivia De Lesantis, one of the VCE class of 2020 whose ATAR will be adjusted for the impact of COVID-19 and remote learning.

Year 12 student Olivia De Lesantis, one of the VCE class of 2020 whose ATAR will be adjusted for the impact of COVID-19 and remote learning.Credit:Justin McManus

“We haven’t had any more than a three-week run since this started,” the principal of Keilor Downs Secondary College said.

Since the first closure she has seen her year 12 students’ results on their coursework dive compared with term one.

“If you were the top kid in biology, you’re still the top kid in biology, but we are talking about 10, 15, 20 per cent drops,” Ms Maxwell said.

Many schools in Melbourne’s east or in the regions have taken the opportunity to bring VCE students on-site for school-assessed coursework this month, after the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority gave permission to do so.

But Ms Maxwell says this is not a safe option while the virus is still so active in the city of Brimbank. School families are still emailing regularly to report an infection.

Click here to read the story.

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Quarantine system for returned travellers running below capacity

By Michael Koziol

The hotel quarantine system for returned travellers is running below its stated capacity, with at times 1000 fewer Australians arriving home a week than allowed, as airlines warn it could take six months to return an estimated 100,000 people.

Australia's travel ban and cap on returning travellers have not been replicated by many other countries but are deemed necessary to reduce pressure on the hotel quarantine system during COVID-19.

States including NSW have resisted lifting the caps because of concerns about hotel quarantine capacity.

States including NSW have resisted lifting the caps because of concerns about hotel quarantine capacity.Credit:Jacky Ghossein

In July, national cabinet set a 4000 person-a-week cap on returning travellers, which comprises 350 a day (or 2450 a week) in Sydney, 525 a week in Perth and 500 a week in Brisbane. Adelaide has a 500 person cap and there are no flights into Melbourne due to the Victorian outbreak.

Department of Home Affairs data provided to The Sun-Herald showed those caps were not being reached, although the numbers were rising. In the week of August 5, only 3080 people returned. In the week of August 12 that rose to 3289, and again in the week of August 19 to 3546.

It is not clear how many more people would arrive even if the caps weren't in place, with Australian Bureau of Statistics figures indicating 15,760 residents returned in June before the caps were introduced - already less than 4000 a week.

Click here to read the story.

Police break up large and violent party in Sydney's west

By Harriet Alexander

Police broke up a party of more than 100 people in Sydney’s west on Friday night and expect to send an COVID-19 infringement notice to the occupant of the house.

Officers were called to the house in Mindanao Crescent in Lethbridge Park after fighting was reported at the party, whereupon some of the revellers surrounded and attacked the officers.

Three boys aged 17, 16 and 13 and a 17-year-old girl were charged with offences including resisting and assaulting police and breach of bail.

It is alleged that back at the station two of the boys urinated and spat at the officers, hitting a constable in the eye.

Public tower tenants offered relocation to fight spread of COVID-19

By Jewel Topsfield

People living in overcrowded public housing towers in Melbourne will be offered the opportunity to move to private rental properties for two years to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Nine towers in Flemington and North Melbourne were placed under hard lockdown in July following COVID-19 outbreaks in public housing estates, with 3000 residents banned from leaving their homes for five days.

Public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne were locked down for five days.

Public housing towers in Flemington and North Melbourne were locked down for five days. Credit:Justin McManus

Under the state government’s $31.7 million tower relocation program, up to 420 private rental properties will be leased for two years and offered to high rise estate tenants at greater risk due to the coronavirus.

The voluntary program will target public housing tenants living in larger households or those who have medical issues that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19.

The government says it will significantly reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission and open up much needed social housing for Victorians on the Victorian Housing register.

Click here to read the story.

Positive COVID case visited Sydney CBD gym

By Laura Chung

Members of the Virgin Active gym on Pitt Street, in Sydney's CBD, were informed on Saturday night that a person with COVID-19 had visited the location on August 25 about 5pm.

NSW Health has urged anyone who attended a body pump class at 5.30pm that day to immediately self-isolate and get tested as they are considered close contacts of the infected gymgoer.

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Good morning all!

By Roy Ward

G'day everyone! Welcome to our COVID-19 blog for Sunday August 30.

I hope this morning finds you all well. We have plenty of interesting stories to come today.

As always you can leave a comment on the blog or shoot me a tweet at @rpjward on Twitter.

Enjoy the day to come.

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2020-08-29 21:34:00Z
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