Coronavirus update, Thursday: Numbers keep going down + Ruby Princess bombshell
Coughing penalties; Minister sprung at holiday house; Trump drug claims “mostly false”
Morning! It’s Thursday April 9. Here’s today’s ‘5+5: coronavirus edition’.
Each day I’m bringing you 5 big things to know, and 5 other bits, about the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. The fire hose of news being blasted out every day is getting more intense and confusing. Let me try to help you get it under control.
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 just 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”.
Today’s Australian stats: as of 6am, Australia has 6052 reported cases of COVID-19 (that’s +96 since yesterday); there have been 50 deaths; and more than 323,000 tests have been done, according to the latest federal Department of Health stats. Full global stats breakdown below
5 BIG THINGS
Border Force ‘told’ Sydney to allow Ruby Princess to dock
A big new development overnight in the case of the Ruby Princess cruise ship — with 650 cases and 15 deaths among its passengers — with the Nine newspapers reporting that “An Australian Border Force officer told a Sydney harbourmaster to allow the troubled Ruby Princess to dock despite the ship having as many as 140 passengers in isolation on board.” The report seems to contradict official Border Force claims that it was not at fault in the debacle.
The ABF quickly released a public statement after publication of the report, but questions still remain. The police investigation continues, with the ship being raided, evidence seized and crew questioned overnight (story here).
Trump hydroxychloroquine profit claims “mostly false”
President Trump has been enthusiastically promoting hydroxychloroquine, mostly used as an anti-malarial drug, as a possible treatment for coronavirus. He talks it up all the time with (even for him) enthusiastic fervour, despite it not being conclusively proven to have any benefits in treating the virus. The New York Times reported this week on the uncommon zeal the president has shown, and one line in the article claimed “Mr. Trump himself has a small personal financial interest in Sanofi, the French drugmaker that makes Plaquenil, the brand-name version of hydroxychloroquine.” It sent tongues wagging, and that single line —six paragraphs deep into a dense story — was pulled out by many as a highlight.
However, deeper investigations have found this line, though correct, may be a little misleading. Fact-check site Snopes reported that Trump’s “interest” in the company is quite indirect, via family trusts which are invested in mutual funds which themselves are invested in many companies, including drugmakers. Trump’s “interest” in the company cannot be totally quantified, but according to his financial disclosures, it could be as little as $99, or at most, $1485. So it’s not a massive one, just FYI, if you see this claim bouncing around online. Snopes rated the claim that ‘U.S. President Donald Trump will benefit financially if hydroxychloroquine becomes an established treatment for COVID-19’ as “mostly false”.
Minister apologises for being sprung at holiday house
Governments are telling people to stay home, not go on holiday, not escape to regional or holiday areas, not to travel. Fair enough. But the message seemed to have missed NSW minister Don Harwin, who was found by the Daily Telegraph at his holiday house on the Central Coast. Harwin did go up there before the lockdowns, saying he felt safer up there, citing health issues and his small Sydney apartment — but premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was “disappointed”, and that “it’s not strictly about the rules it’s about the message to the community.” Harwin has since apologised, and has returned to Sydney. The issue around city people going to regional areas is that those locations may not have well-equipped medical resources, and there are fears that they could become overwhelmed by new visitors if populations suddenly increase.
It comes as authorities warn people to stay inside, but people aren’t listening. Police say people have been fined for driving "aimlessly", sitting on a bench, walking home, drinking in the park... there's a long list. Don't get caught out this Easter weekend. My story here.
JobKeeper passes
The $130 billion JobKeeper package passed parliament late last night. It did not get any extra additions for casual workers, those in the arts, or migrant workers (story here). Parliament will now break until August.
Today’s stats:
The latest stats from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering (as of 9am Sydney time on Thursday) report 1,511,104 confirmed COVID-19 cases worldwide. There have been 88,338 deaths, and 329,329 people have recovered.
The United States has 429,052 confirmed cases, with Spain next but far behind on 148,220. The U.S. (14,695 deaths) is probably a day or two from overtaking Italy (17,669) for the highest fatalities.
By comparison, in Australia — the latest federal Department of Health stats (as of 6am Thursday) show 6052 cases. The death toll is 50. We’ve done more than 323,000 tests.
The latest Australian graph:
5 OTHER THINGS
As above, cases in Australia only went up by 96 today. “This is the
first time in over three weeks that fewer than 100 people have been added to the list of those with coronavirus. That's an exceptionally important development for Australia,” health minister Greg Hunt said. It’s good news but again, we’re being warned against complacency over Easter.
Coughing on someone could land you in jail for life. Really. My story here.
Foreign minister Marise Payne says Qantas will run flights in coming days to Peru, Argentina and South Africa to pick up Australians stuck overseas. One flight from Peru carrying 280 people is already on its way back now
The NRL is restarting May 28. They have no idea how the season will go, how many games or what format yet, but they say it's restarting on May 28. NRL Island, sadly, is unlikely to feature. Story here.
Even politicians aren’t exempt from the police attention over the Easter break. Veterans affairs minister Darren Chester says he was pulled over by cops near Cooma on Thursday, as he drove back to his Victorian home from parliament in Canberra.
IMPORTANT EVERY DAY
You “must” stay home at all times unless: shopping for essential supplies, and even then, doing that as infrequently as possible; getting medical care; exercising alone or with one other person; or work and education (more information here)
be hygienic; wash your hands properly, for 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; use hand sanitiser
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. Verify, fact-check, don’t be part of the misinformation problem
World Health Organisation latest statistics here
Australian government latest statistics here
Signing off - stay safe, be healthy, look after yourself and others
Josh