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Denmark to kill 17 million mink linked to possible COVID-19 mutation
London: Denmark will cull 17 million mink over fears the ferret-like animals are passing on a mutated strain of coronavirus to humans.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the drastic move on Wednesday as the death toll from Europe's second wave climbed sharply in some hard-hit countries.
Denmark will cull its population of 17 million mink amid transmission fears.Credit:EPA
Frederiksen - who is self-isolating after a close contact recently tested positive - said authorities had detected virus strains in humans and mink which showed decreased sensitivity against antibodies.
She ordered the national cull with a "heavy heart" but said mutations in the animals were a threat to the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines in development around the globe.
Four Italian regions, including Milan, put under lockdown
By Frances D'Emilio
Rome: Four Italian regions are being put under “red-zone” lockdown, with severe limits imposed on the circumstances under which people can leave home, Premier Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday night.
What he called "very stringent” restrictions begin on Friday for Lombardy, Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta in the north, and for Calabria, which forms the southern toe of the Italian peninsula.
Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte announces new restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus, in Rome.Credit:AP
The lockdown is aimed at tamping down a surge in COVID-19 infections and preventing hospitals from being overwhelmed with cases. Lasting at least two weeks, it will involve some 16.5 million of Italy’s 60 million residents and include the country's financial capital, Milan.
Barring very few exceptions, no one will be able to leave or enter the “red zone” regions. People there must stay home, except to go to work or shop for essentials. They can also exercise near their homes and while wearing masks.
AP
Zero coronavirus cases remain under investigation in Victoria
By Craig Butt
There were zero new coronavirus cases confirmed in Victoria today and no new deaths, but there was a third zero in today's data worth celebrating.
As of today, there are no cases under investigation for their infection source.
Yesterday, the health department was still working to determine the infection source of one case, but they have since been able to connect it with a known cluster.
To put that perspective, during the peak of the state's second wave, health authorities had a backlog of 3969 cases to investigate for their infection source.
If the health department's investigation cannot determine how someone contracted the virus, it gets classed as a mystery case.
Over the past fortnight there have been two mystery cases, and from today onwards this tally will only rise if new coronavirus cases are recorded in the coming days.
Latest COVID-19 case locations in NSW
Possible vaccines may be available in the first quarter of 2021
By Laura Chung
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has addressed the latest vaccine agreement, including a $1.5 billion investment in the Novavax and the Pfizer vaccines.
“We always need to be looking ahead to the next challenge and ensuring we're putting in place the mechanisms and the solutions that will enable Australians to move forward,” he said.
Both vaccines, which will likely require two doses, are subject to approval by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for use in Australia and may be available from the first quarter of next year.
But Mr Morrison said while the country was working to find a vaccine, the safety of the vaccines was a “number one priority”.
“We all want to see a vaccine as soon as possible. Of course, we want to see not just Australia, but the world will be able to return to some form of normal next year,” he said.
“Of course, we want to see that. But when it comes to people's health, you can't cut corners. You can't have undue haste, you can't rush, you got to get it right.”
Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said Australia had a diverse strategy to develop a vaccine.
“[It] is a terrific outcome and gives us a very, very strong position internationally in access to vaccines,” he said.
A summer of tennis entirely in Melbourne still possible as officials battle the clock
By Scott Spits
The whole Australian summer of tennis could yet be played entirely in Melbourne as Tennis Australia works against the clock to get its quarantine plans approved by state governments.
With the Australian Open only a very remote possibility of not taking place in Melbourne – a move that would effectively mean it had to be cancelled – Tennis Australia has revealed that tickets for January’s grand slam event are set to go on sale on November 26.
Fans watch Roger Federer and John Millman in action on Rod Laver Arena at this year's Australian Open. All tournaments during the forthcoming Australian summer could yet be played in Melbourne due to the coronavirus. Credit:Getty Images
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley told The Age and Sydney Morning Herald that D-Day looms at the end of next week to make a call on whether to persist with a multi-city calendar for the summer, or to instead schedule all lead-in events at Melbourne Park.
As Victoria slowly eases out of coronavirus restrictions with racing’s Melbourne Cup carnival taking place without fans at Flemington, negotiations between Tennis Australia and the state governments on quarantine conditions for international tennis stars and limits on crowd numbers are continuing. But the clock is ticking.
Watch: Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks in Sydney
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is due to speak in Sydney this morning.
Return of NSW regional shows is mixed news as 2021 planning begins
By Laura Chung
The Sydney Royal Easter Show could go ahead next year, with regional communities and show committees allowed to start planning events for 2021.
This year, almost 70 community shows were cancelled in NSW, including the Royal Easter Show.
The move left show bag suppliers facing ruin, with their entire income stream destroyed indefinitely. Bensons Trading is one such company, having operated for about 70 years, but since the pandemic supervisor Greg Anderson has laid off about 200 staff.
“I’ve been doing this since 1984 and I have never seen anything even close to this,” he said.
Mr Anderson said he, like many in the industry, welcomed Thursday’s news but was also apprehensive.
While it would be good to be able to get back on the road, restrictions, including limits on patron numbers, will make the shows more difficult.
Mr Anderson said he’s currently deciding how they’ll manage next year and whether he should start hiring staff back and order stock. Although he’s aware he could be left with hundreds of thousands of dollars of stock sitting in containers if the shows don’t go ahead.
“We’ll have to play it week by week,” he said.
“Every government in every state has a nightmare ahead of them. We are such a small industry, and I know they are doing their absolute best they can do, but we’ve got a long way to go.”
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said work is underway to ensure COVID safe measures are in place to allow up to 5000 people at any given time will be able to attend shows next year.
“This is really exciting news for regional communities because country shows play a vital role in promoting agriculture and injecting money into local economies,” he said.
Royal Agriculture Society representative and General Manager of the Sydney Royal Easter Show Murray Wilton said country shows were a vital part of regional communities.
“Country Shows are vital to the social fabric of regional communities and after such a tough year following bushfires, drought and a pandemic, this is fantastic news for regional NSW and a step forward for all agricultural shows,” Mr Wilton said.
“The RAS is working towards the 2021 Sydney Royal Easter Show, however like any large-scale event at the moment we still have quite a few challenges ahead of us to ensure its success.”
Sutton thanks 'all those nostrils'
By Roy Ward
Victoria's chief health officer Professor Brett Sutton has congratulated the 13,479 people who undertook COVID-19 tests in the past 24 hours.
The state recorded its sixth consecutive day of no new cases when health officials released Thursday's update.
Professor Sutton added via Twitter his thanks for those still taking tests which help confirm that the virus isn't silently spreading in the community.
Victoria earns sixth donut in a row with no new cases, no deaths for today
Victoria has recorded its sixth consecutive day of no new COVID-19 cases and no new deaths following the reporting of today's case numbers.
More to come.
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2020-11-04 23:30:00Z
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