Looking back at the grim prediction we reported earlier this morning from the US:
Deaths from coronavirus in the US could reach 200,000 with millions of cases, the government's top infectious diseases expert has warned.
Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, estimated in an interview with CNN that the pandemic could cause between 100,000 and 200,000 deaths in the United States.
The death toll in the US topped 2400 on Sunday, after deaths on Saturday more than doubled from the level two days prior.
The US has now recorded more than 137,000 cases of COVID-19, the most of any country in the world.
In New York, the usually bustling city was quiet except for the sound of ambulance sirens.
"It feels very apocalyptic," said Quentin Hill, 27, of New York City. "It almost feels like we're in wartime."
New York state reported nearly 60,000 cases and a total of 965 deaths on Sunday, up 237 in the past 24 hours with one person dying in the state every six minutes.
Reuters
The government will reveal its wage subsidy plan later on Monday in a plan it says will keep workers "connected" to their employers during the coronavirus shutdowns.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg would not confirm the amount to be paid, but told television networks the details would be announced later on Monday.
"I am not going to confirm the number but there will be an announcement today," Mr Frydenberg told the ABC’s News Breakfast program on Monday morning.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says a wage subsidy package will be announced on Monday.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
"What Australians have learnt through this crisis is the government has their back."
Government sources confirmed on Sunday the subsidy would cover a percentage of a worker's income, possibly as high as 70 or 80 per cent.
Seven News reported on Sunday night the "JobKeeper" payment would be worth $1500 per fortnight and would be paid to businesses through the tax system to encourage them to keep staff.
That amount would be equivalent to about 45 per cent of the full-time adult average weekly ordinary earnings.
"The announcement today is all about providing additional income support and keeping employees connected to their employer, because once we get to the other side of this we want the recovery to be as speedy as possible," Mr Frydenberg said.
The move accelerates the announcement because government sources indicated on the weekend the wage subsidy would not be unveiled until Tuesday or Wednesday.
Asked why the government had not gone down the path of the United Kingdom scheme to pay 80 per cent of a worker's wage, Mr Frydenberg said the UK was using a different system. "We’re using the tax system," he said.
After much confusion, last night public servants got the all clear to work from home.
Commonwealth Public Service Commissioner Peter Woolcott issued guidance to the departments on Sunday, instructing federal public servants that working remotely should be "a priority".
"Agency heads have always had the flexibility for employees to work at home subject to operational requirements," the advice reads. "But current circumstances mean as soon as practicable agency heads should facilitate their staff working from home where possible."
Prior to last night, there was no advice for public servants on whether they should be attending their offices. The directive comes after concern from unions, public servants and politicians.
You can read his full statement here.
The Premier, Health Minister Jenny Mikakos and Victoria's chief health officer Brett Sutton are due to hold a press conference at 8.30am.
We will bring you that press conference live.
Premier Daniel Andrews.Credit:Getty
The number of Australians who have contracted the coronavirus will top 4000 on Monday, with 16 deaths as of Sunday night after a Victorian man in his 80s and a 75-year-old Queensland woman who was a passenger on board the Ruby Princess cruise ship became the latest victims.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was much less than it would have been without mitigation measures, and early signs of a flattening of the disease curve were welcome.
He said daily rates of increase, which were between 25 per cent and 30 per cent last week, were now in the "low teens".
"But it is not enough. We have to slow it further. We have to slow it further and we have to stop the thing that's worrying us most, which is community transmission," Professor Murphy said on Sunday evening.
Latest figures:
- Sixteen people have died in Australia from the virus - up two from Saturday (eight in NSW, four in Vic, two in WA, two in Qld)
- 3966 confirmed cases in Australia - up 331 since 3pm on Saturday
- NSW remains the worst hit with 1791 after 186 new cases were confirmed since Saturday.
- Victoria recorded 84 new cases, taking the state's total to 769.
- A Queensland woman died, while the state recorded an extra 31 cases, taking the total to 656.
- SA was up 12 to 299, while WA was up 33, to 311.
- ACT has six new cases and 77 in total, Tasmania is stable on 62 and the NT has 15.
The Prime Minister also announced a six-month ban on evictions of people as a "result of financial distress if they are unable to meet their commitments".
The moratorium on evictions applies for both commercial and residential tenants.
Cafes on Degraves Street in Melbourne closing last Monday.Credit:Joe Armao
Scott Morrison encouraged commercial tenants, landlords and financial institutions to sit down together to find a way to ensure that businesses can survive and be there "on the other side".
This is the advice to landlords and tenants:
- a short term, temporary moratorium on eviction for non-payment of rent to be applied across commercial tenancies impacted by severe rental distress due to coronavirus;
- tenants and landlords are encouraged to agree on rent relief or temporary amendments to the lease;
- the reduction or waiver of rental payment for a defined period for impacted tenants;
- the ability for tenants to terminate leases and/or seek mediation or conciliation on the grounds of financial distress;
- commercial property owners should ensure that any benefits received in respect of their properties should also benefit their tenants in proportion to the economic impact caused by coronavirus;
- landlords and tenants not significantly affected by coronavirus are expected to honour their lease and rental agreements; and
- cost-sharing or deferral of losses between landlords and tenants.
You can read the Prime Minister's full statement here.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has emerged as a decisive leader during the crisis, has just finished his daily briefing about the state's coronavirus outbreak.
He said the number of deaths as a result of coronavirus had increased by 237 in the state since the day before, reaching a total of 965. It was the state's largest one-day increase in deaths since the outbreak began.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.Credit:AP
New York also had a one-day increase of nearly 7200 confirmed cases on Sunday, putting the total at 59,513 cases. More than half of the cases, or 33,768, are in New York City.
About 8500 people are now hospitalised, an increase of 16 per cent from Saturday to Sunday. Of those, 2037 are in intensive care units, which are equipped with ventilators.
Cuomo extended his order for all non-essential workers to stay home until April 15.
"When they come up with an inexpensive home test or point-of-care test that can be brought to volume, I think that’s probably when you see a real return to normalcy in the workforce," he said.
Earlier in the day, Dr Anthony Fauci, who has been a leading voice in the effort to curb the outbreak, said 100,000 to 200,000 Americans could die before the crisis is over.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the following social-distancing measures on Sunday evening, which will come into effect at midnight:
Indoor and outdoor public gatherings:
- Public gatherings will be limited to two people, reduced from the previous cap of 10 people. It will be up to states and territories to enforce that limit. Exceptions include: people of the same household going out together; funerals (a maximum of 10 people); wedding (a maximum of 5 people); family units.
- Playgrounds, skate parks and outside gyms in public places will be closed.
Bootcamps will be reduced to two persons, including the trainer.
All outdoor activities will be limited to two people, unless you are with members of your own household.Credit:AAP
The advice to all Australians is to stay home unless for:
- Shopping for what you need - food and necessary supplies.
- Medical or health care needs, including compassionate requirements.
- Exercise in compliance with the public gathering requirements.
- Work and study if you can’t work or learn remotely.
The following senior Australians are strongly advised to self-isolate at home:
- People over 70 years of age.
- People over 60 years of age who have existing health conditions or comorbidities.
- Indigenous Australians over the age of 50 who have existing health conditions or comorbidities.
As of 1pm on Sunday, there were 769 cases of coronavirus in Victoria.
- Four people are fighting for their lives in intensive care.
- 26 people are in hospital with the virus (including the four patients in intensive care).
- Four people have lost their lives to the virus.
- 21 cases may have been acquired through community transmission.
- More than 39,000 Victorians have been tested to date.
- 193 people have recovered from the virus.
A surgeon in the UK has become the first front-line National Health Service worker to die after contracting COVID-19.
The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton say Amged El-Hawrani, 55, died at the Glenfield Hospital in Leicester on Saturday.
El-Hawrani worked as an ear, nose and throat surgeon at the Queen's Hospital Burton.
His 18-year-old son Ashraf told Sky News that his father "taught me the significance of respect and equality".
"He also stressed the importance of not worrying about the things I cannot control, which he displayed to me right up until the end of his life," Ashraf said.
"He did not seek the praise and approval of others, he was satisfied by viewing the positive effects of his actions and the well-being of his family. I am incredibly proud to say that for 18 years of my life, Amged El-Hawrani was my father."
Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said El-Hawrani's death "is not just an individual human tragedy but a stark reminder to the whole country that we all must take this crisis seriously."
- with AP
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