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Summary
- Australia’s death toll stands at 14 with 3657 Australians testing positive to COVID-19. In NSW there are 1617 cases, Victoria 685, Queensland 625, South Australia 287, Western Australia 278, ACT 71, Tasmania 59 and Northern Territory 15
- As of 06.00am AEST, there are more than 649,000 known infections worldwide and more than 30,000 deaths from COVID-19 but more than 137,000 people have recovered, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally
- Spain recorded its worst daily death toll, with 832 dead in a single day and Italy's death toll surpassed 10,000
- 5000 retail staff will lose their jobs after David Jones announces it will shut stores including Country Road, Witchery and Mimco.
- Australians who break hotel quarantine rules face imprisonment and fines under new laws which have come into effect
Departing passengers asked to show proof
By Laura Chung
As tighter restrictions come into play for returning travellers, those trying to leave Australia are having to show their passports and proof of departure, such as a boarding card, before they are allowed into Sydney Airport.
NSW Police has urged the families and friends of travellers returning to Sydney International Airport not to come to the airport to greet them.
The travellers will be processed before being taken to a hotel where they will be quarantined for 14-days.
"There are no areas in the Sydney International Airport in which family and friends will be able to see the returned travellers or make contact with them," a statement from NSW Police said.
"We understand this is unprecedented, but it is a vital step in trying to stop the spread of COVID-19."
Two people fined for breaching isolation requirment
By Laura Chung
A man and woman have been fined after allegedly failing to follow self-isolation directions in the state’s north-west.
On Tuesday, a 22-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman arrived at Sydney International Airport on a flight from Thailand.
The couple were required to quarantine for a 14-day period as per requirements introduced last week.
Police say the pair had travelled from Hillvue, near Tamworth, to Boggabri on Friday, where they came into contact with another person.
On Saturday, police spoke to the couple and issued them with a $1000 fine for failing to comply with the directions.
NSW Police will hand out on-the-spot $1000 fines to people who disregard lockdown rules, including holding house parties or breaking their 14-day isolation period.
They are not the first people to be fined under the new requirements - previous fines have been issued to a diplomat and a woman in Lake Macquarie, both of whom returned overseas.
Meanwhile, staff at a Sydney massage parlour were fined for continuing to operate despite lockdowns ordering the store to close.
Rescue flights out of South America get green light
By Laura Chung
Australians trapped in South America are likely to fly out today with a rescue flight given permission to depart.
Last week, Chimu Adventures said it would provide a repatriation flight out of Lima and Cusco but was at the mercy of local authorities as to when it would be allowed to depart.
On Saturday, the company said the paperwork requirements to operate the repatriation flights from Lima and Cusco have now progressed the final stages and "departure is looking very positive".
"At this point, we still don’t have detailed timings for the flights, but the paperwork is currently being submitted to the Peruvian authorities for a Sunday departure. We hope to be able to update everyone with specific times soon," the statement on the website said.
But passengers in Buenos Aires have been told their repatriation flight has been cancelled due to "recent changes in Argentina’s border restrictions".
"All travellers booked on this flight will be contacted and refunded. We are extremely disappointed we could not make this flight happen," the statement said.
The company will now work to organise a repatriation flight from Uruguay early next week.
Medical professionals skipped quarantine and flew interstate
By Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Thirty-three medical professionals who landed at Sydney Airport on a flight from South America on Friday night disobeyed police orders to go into quarantine at an airport hotel and instead headed to the domestic terminal to fly home, writes Caitlin Fitzsimmons.
Police Minister David Elliott said he was "disappointed to hear medical professionals chose to ignore rules in place to save lives and protect the most vulnerable in our community". "
No one is above the law," Mr Elliott said.
A NSW Police spokesperson said police officers assisted with health screening and told a number of passengers to go into quarantine at designated hotels in Sydney. When police returned a short time later to serve public health orders, they found 33 of the quarantined passengers had left.
The spokesperson said the Australian Federal Police managed to locate six of the 33 in the domestic terminal and send them back to quarantine. But the remaining 27 were believed to have already departed interstate.
Photographs document how Sydney is coping with coronavirus
By Laura Chung
Good morning, this is Laura Chung taking over the blog.
The Herald's photographers have been documenting how Sydney is dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Check out their incredible photos.
Police close Maroubra beach on Saturday. Credit:Louise Kennerley
Australian Federal Police will greet returning passengers, provide transport to hotels and ensure people abide by new isolation restrictions. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
COVID-19 claims more than 30,000 lives
By Latika Bourke
Good Morning,
If you are just joining us, here's what happened overnight:
- Huge daily death tolls recorded across Europe pushed the global toll to 30,000.
- Spain recorded its highest-ever daily toll as the country's prime minister ordered all non-essential workers to take two weeks off and make up the hours at a later date. The army was called in to help remove bodies, with funeral homes overrun.
- Italy's death toll eclipsed 10,000 making it by far the worst-hit country in the world.
- The UK posted its highest daily death toll and the number of people who have died passed 1000.
- At home, RM Williams became the latest retailer to announce it's shutting its doors.
That's it from me, I'm handing over to Laura Chung in Sydney who will take you through the day's developments.
France orders one billion masks, mainly from China
By Latika Bourke
France's death roll rose by 314 as the country's Prime Minister warned the next two weeks would be the country's toughest yet.
France has recorded 2314 deaths and has the world's fifth-highest number of fatalities from COVID-19.
"We are fighting a battle that will take time," Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said in a televised address.
The first two weeks of April will be harder than the two we have just lived through.
France's Prime Minister Edouard Philippe
France has ordered one billion masks, mostly from China and doubled intensive care beds to 10,000, which is still short of the 15,000-bed target.
Spanish told to stay at home and make up hours after pandemic
By Latika Bourke
Pedro Sánchez has ordered Spain's non-essential workers to stay at home from work for two weeks "as if it were a weekend."
The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his wife Begona Gomez, who has tested positive for the new coronavirus. Credit:AP
Spain is approaching the end of the second week of stay-at-home rules and the closing of most stores, but workers were allowed to go to offices and factories if they were unable to work from home.
The Prime Minister said everyone would be paid their full salaries but would need to make the hours up at a later date.
Other administrations, including the UK's centre-right government and Canada's centre-left government, have pledged government wage subsidies along with their stay at home orders.
Sánchez's instruction, delivered in a televised address to the nation, came as the country recorded its deadliest day from coronavirus with 832 new deaths.
Trump threatens to 'QUARANTINE' New York and other cities
By Latika Bourke
US President Donald Trump is considering imposing an enforceable quarantine on New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
"I am giving consideration to a QUARANTINE of developing “hot spots”, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut," Trump said.
"A decision will be made, one way or another, shortly."
Speaking in Norfolk, Virginia at a ceremony to send off the USNS Comfort which is headed to New York with critical medical supplies, the President said any quarantine would not affect trade.
Asked about Trump's threat, New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo said: "I don't even know what that means."
"I don't know how that could be legally enforceable and from a medical point of view, I don't even know what you would be accomplishing.
"I don't like the sound of it, not even understanding what it is," Cuomo said.
New York records more than 200 new deaths
By Latika Bourke
New York's Governor Andrew Cuomo confirmed 209 new deaths from COVID-19 with the state's overall toll now at 728.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at the Jacob Javits Centre which is being converted into one of the state's eight makeshift hospitals.Credit:AP
New York is the United States' worst affected state but new hospitalisations and ICU admissions went down overnight.
Cuomo cautioned against putting too much stock in the figures but said there were signs the trend is slowing.
Cuomo also said the state is working with private hospitals to develop and roll out an antibody test.
Antibody tests will show persons with immunity to COVID-19, meaning they could resume work sooner. The UK has ordered millions and will test medical and other essential workers first, if the tests work.
"It could be a big breakthrough if that happens," Cuomo said.
He delayed until June the Democratic presidential primary.
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