Coronavirus Latest: NSW Premier Wants Kids Back At School ASAP
America's weird anti-lockdown protests; Aussies happy with lockdowns; COVID drug trials
Morning! It’s Tuesday, April 21. Here’s today’s ‘5+5: coronavirus edition’.
Each day I’m bringing you 5 things to know about the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak + 5 non-corona things to start your day off.
If you haven’t already, please sign up above ^^ to get this every day in your emails.
You can email me at joshb2@protonmail.com if you have tips, feedback, ideas or want to chat
You can also find me on Twitter at @joshbutler; on Facebook; or on Instagram
Wash your hands and sneeze into your elbow. Practise physical distancing - at least 1.5 metres of separation. “Stay the fuck at home”.
Latest Australian stats: as of 6am Tuesday, Australia has 6625 reported cases of COVID-19 (that’s a rise of just 13 in the last 24 hours), with 4258 reported as ‘recovered’; there have been 71 deaths; and more than 434,000 tests have been done, according to the latest federal Department of Health stats. Full global stats breakdown below
5 CORONAVIRUS THINGS
One day per week trial of returning to school
The NSW government will “definitely” start getting back to usual school operations for one day a week from May 11, gingerly trying a back-to-normal trial to get kids learning better (story here). Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the news this morning at a press conference, where it was revealed that just 6 new cases of coronavirus had been confirmed in NSW in the last 24 hours. There are plans for school attendance to “be ramped up in stages if transmission of coronavirus within the community remains low”, the Sydney Morning Herald (story here) reported.
Most Aussies happy with lockdown rules
An Essential poll published in The Guardian (story here) has found half of Australians “think it’s too soon to even consider easing restrictions” for coronavirus, while another 15% say they should stay until at least the end of May. The national cabinet will meet again today to discuss how the rules are going and whether any changes are needed — but PM Scott Morrison said last week the current rules would stay for another month, so there’s unlikely to be any major changes for at least three more weeks.
American protests getting weird
The stories and photo from the coronavirus protests in America are just something else. An incredible scene of a protester in Colorado driving an SUV, yelling at a healthcare worker standing in front of her car, is going viral.
“If you want communism, go to China. Now open up and go to work,” the protester yelled.
Facebook is now removing event pages for coronavirus protest movements in the U.S. (story here), the company saying “events that defy governments’ guidance on social distancing aren’t allowed on Facebook”. The Washington Post reported pro-gun groups are behind some of the protests, while The Guardian reported far-right groups have also been involved.
Coronavirus drug tests
Swiss drug company Novartis has announced a new trial for hydroxychloroquine, touted by some — including, repeatedly, Donald Trump — as a potential coronavirus treatment. The drug has been around for decades as a malaria treatment, but its efficacy on COVID-19 is still unproven. Novartis will commence a trial in the United States with several hundred patients.
Today’s stats
The latest stats from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering (as of 7.30am AEST Tuesday) report 2,468,733 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide. There have been 169,794 deaths.
The United States has 782,159 confirmed cases, with Spain next but far behind on 200,210, then Italy (181,228). The U.S. has the most deaths (41,816), then Italy (24,114) and Spain third on 20,852.
In Australia, the latest federal stats (as of 6am Tuesday) show 6625 cases, 4258 people recovered, 71 deaths, and 434,000 tests.
The latest Australian graph:
5 NON-CORONAVIRUS THINGS
Malcolm Turnbull’s book is out now. I’ve pulled together a wrap-up of the spiciest bits here — lots of sizzle about Abbott, Morrison and more
Oil prices are tanking — even to negative below-zero territory — due to an over-supply, with much of the world’s travel halted (story here)
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg is out, immediately leaving the code after weeks of speculation over his position (story here). It comes as the NRL reportedly plans a June 1 competition restart, with the Daily Telegraph saying there could be five nights in a row of footy to resume the 2020 season.
Lawyers for Meghan Markle have shared texts Prince Harry sent to her father, begging him not to talk to the media before the pair wed in 2018 (story here)
And this guy caught a fish using a drone
IMPORTANT EVERY DAY
You “must” stay home at all times unless to shop for essential supplies; get medical care; exercise alone or with one other person; or work and education (more info here).
be hygienic; wash your hands properly, at least 30 seconds with soap and water, multiple times a day (here’s how you need to do it, plus a handy Dr Karl video tutorial); sneeze and cough into your elbows.
Listen to only official information from the World Health Organisation and legitimate health bodies — Don’t share dodgy stuff on Facebook. If it looks too good (or bad) to be true, it often is.
World Health Organisation latest statistics here
Australian government latest statistics here
Signing off - stay safe, be healthy, look after yourself and others
Josh