WA Premier Mark McGowan has revealed that the security guard at the Four Points Hotel who contracted the highly infectious UK variant of COVID-19 delivered medicine to a returned traveller who had coronavirus.
These were the key events from Tuesday:
- There were no locally acquired cases in Australia reported today
- The security guard who contracted the virus at the Four Points Hotel had the highly infectious UK variant
- Investigations were still ongoing to determine how the guard contracted COVID-19
- Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said private and public offices would be allowed to have a 75 per cent capacity
Catch up on all of Tuesday's new with the blog below.
Live updates
That is all for today blog friends
It has been a busy day on the blog, and I think it's time to close for the day.
Western Australia has been the main focus this afternoon, but I can proudly say plenty of questions have been answered as well.
We will be back again tomorrow to do it all again.
Until next time blog friends, stay safe and be well.
Wastewater testing from five Perth areas are done weekly
Hi Mick, have we had information about the latest test results from wastewater plants? I know Prem McGowan said only Subi came back positive so far, but what’s the schedule and when can we expect an update on those test results? (Appreciate that no news is probably good news, but my kiddos asked)
-Sewage holds all the dirty secrets
Hello blog friend.
So there are five wastewater plants around Perth which are tested weekly.
These are, Woodman Point, Beenyup, Alkimos, Mandurah (Gordon Road), and Subiaco.
When and if these results are announced, I don't know.
WORLD NEWS: AstraZeneca's China partner expects to be able to make 400 mln COVID-19 vaccine doses a year
China's Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products said on Tuesday it had completed a facility designed to be able to produce 400 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine per year, doubling a capacity target promised in 2020.
"Kangtai is actively pushing forward procedures for the vaccine's clinical trial and registration in China, and has completed a manufacturing plant and started trial production," the Shenzhen-based firm said in a press release.
The firm obtained rights to supply the AZD1222 vaccine, developed by the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker and Oxford University, in mainland China last year in return for having capacity to produce at least 200 million doses by the end of 2021.
The vaccine might be approved for use in China by mid-2021 after gathering safety data from Phase One and Phase Two trials in China and efficacy data from late-stage trials overseas, Leon Wang, head of AstraZeneca's China operation, said in November.
Reuters
When will the ACT do further sewage testing?
The ACT had no cases today but what's the update about the positive result they found in the sewerage a few days ago? When do they retest?
-ACT is the dream
Good question blog friend.
The ACT Government website says testing will happen at some point this week, as part of the territory's ongoing wastewater surveillance.
You can find the full statement by clicking this link.
Can we be testing too early?
Hi there, wondering if there is a risk that people are testing too early... it takes a while to incubate so are we being lullled into a false sense of security and in reality the cases won't show up for a few more days?
-L. C.
If there is one thing we are certain of … it is that COVID-19 is not an exact science.
You are right, it does sometimes take a while to show symptoms.
But this is why regular testing is important.
Get tested and then if you get symptoms, get tested again.
Doyle Joke: I thought about going on a diet of cashews and almonds, but I realised that was just nuts
Dear Michael, I know you have lots of important questions to answer, but it was my darling dog’s 2nd birthday yesterday, and she really REALLY wants a Doyle joke, since she missed out the last couple of times. Could you, please?
-In Melb
Hey Mick, Thanks for all the info, and there has been a lot of it today! Along with eventing else you have to do, is there any chance of a Doyle Joke(TM)?
-Perthite
Has Mr Doyle provided the requisite daily dose of a Joke - yet?
-Just Asking???
Do we know how many test results have come back?
For how many of the tests conducted do we have test results yet? Does it still take 48hrs to get a result?
-Karen
Hey Karen,
I will assume you are referring to Western Australia.
No, we do not know how many tests have returned a result.
Make sure you ask your questions and leave your thoughts in the comments section
Are massage parlours open?
Please ask whether Remedial Massage is allowed to open. Last time it took several weeks before the COVID 19 Police Task Force gave us the go ahead.
-Arthur Galletly
Hello Arthur.
Massage parlours are currently closed.
The following has been taken from the WA Government website.
The following facilities are closed:
- Schools, universities, TAFEs and education facilities.
- Pubs, bars, hotels (except for takeaway) and clubs.
- Gyms and indoor sporting venues.
- Playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor recreational facilities.
- Cinemas, entertainment venues, and casinos.
- Beauty therapy services, parlour or salon including hairdressers, barbershop, nail salon, tattoo parlour, spa or massage parlour
- Large religious gatherings and places of worship.
- Libraries and cultural institutions.
Vietnam confirms latest virus outbreak is a more contagious UK variant
Vietnam's health minister said on Tuesday a newly detected coronavirus outbreak, which has infected 276 people and spread to 10 provinces and cities, is caused by the more contagious British variant of the coronavirus.
Six days since the virus reemerged in the northern province of Hai Duong, the cluster there was under control, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said, according to a Government statement.
Containing the virus in the capital, Hanoi - where 20 new cases have been detected — would take longer.
"Gene sequencing showed that 12 of 276 newly detected patients are positive with the UK variant, although the source of this outbreak remains unknown," Mr Long told a cabinet meeting.
"We need to scrupulously follow mask-wearing regulations."
Reuters
Health Department roles, including CHO, need to be more clearly defined, parliamentary inquiry finds
The Victorian Government should ensure there are clearer lines of responsibility during the next pandemic and commission modelling on the broader health and mental health impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns, a parliamentary committee has found.
But the committee also concluded that without any lockdowns during the second wave, there would have been 20,000 new cases of coronavirus every day, with more than 8,000 people per day being admitted to hospital.
The 500-page Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) investigation into the State Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic found that before coronavirus hit, the state's health department had planned for the Chief Health Officer to have overall responsibility for the emergency response in a pandemic.
However, in the department's specific COVID-19 plan drawn up last year, it was not clear what role the Chief Health Officer - Brett Sutton - would play.
Professor Sutton has previously said he would have liked to have played more of a role in critical decisions, such as the operation of hotel quarantine.
The committee found the Government should "clearly define and make public the roles and responsibilities of officials" during any future emergencies to ensure "clarity, accountability and transparency".
Read Jessica Longbottom's full story on the parliamentary inquiry recommendations, here.
WA's DFES Commissioner says no COVID rules have impacted fire fighting efforts
Commissioner Darren Klemm said no COVID restrictions have hindered efforts to control the Wooroloo bushfire.
Britain begins door-to-door testing
Britain is beginning door-to-door COVID-19 testing of 80,000 people on Tuesday in a bid to stem the spread of a new highly infectious so-called South African variant of the novel coronavirus.
To contain the new outbreaks, residents in eight areas of the country will now be tested whether or not they are showing symptoms, a process known as "surge testing".
There are about 10,000 people in each area. Three are in London, two in the southeast, one in central England, one in the east and another in the northwest.
"It is concerning - it's deeply concerning," junior education minister Michelle Donelan told Sky.
"It's still a very perilous stage of this virus and we've got these new variants spreading."
Reuters
Anyone entering Victoria needs a permit
Hope you can help me with this...... my son is traveling to Tasmania in March on the Spirit of Tasmania. Does he need a permit to get back to Victoria? Can’t find any helpful info on this.
Thank you and keep up with the great job you guys have been doing.
-Xtina
Hello blog friend.
I cannot predict the future.
But as of this very moment, everyone needs a permit to enter Victoria if you are travelling interstate.
You can find all of the information you need by click the link here.
Do children need to wear masks in WA?
Thanks so much for the blog! In WA do children have to wear masks?
-Confused Mama
Children under the age of 12 are exempt from wearing a mask.
Can I go from Perth to Victoria?
Coming from Perth to Victoria on 15th, will we need to isolate?
-Dot
Hey Dot.
I cannot tell you what the rules will be on February 15.
I can say that right now, Perth is a Red Zone.
This means, unless you have an exemption you will not be allowed.
The following has been taken from the Victorian Government website:
A red zone means that you will not be allowed to enter Victoria without an exception, Specified Worker Permit or exemption.
By land border: If you try to enter Victoria at a land border without an exemption, exception or Specified Worker Permit you will be turned away.
By plane or water: If you attempt to enter via an airport or seaport you will be fined up to $4,957. Victorian residents will also be directed to self-isolate at home for 14 days while non-Victorian residents will be sent back on the first available flight.
You do not need a border pass to go from the Gold Coast to Byron Bay
Hi Michael, Can I travel from the Gold Coast to Byron Bay and back tomorrow or do I need a border pass to come back into Queensland?
-Gold Coaster
Hello my Gold Coast blog friend.
This is perfectly fine, you don't need a border pass.
The Queensland Government lifted that restriction yesterday.
Investigations under way as woman tests positive after leaving Victoria
Victoria's health authorities are currently investigating, after a woman in her 60s tested positive to COVID-19 in the Philippines.
The woman tested positive on January 31, after arriving in the country from Victoria.
A statement from the CHO's daily report says it is likely the result is a false positive.
"The woman is asymptomatic and, to date, test results from family and close contacts in Victoria have been negative. Further testing of the woman in the Philippines has been requested. "
Any update on a case under review in Victoria?
Hi Michael - great blog, follow along every day!
Was the case 'under investigation' in Vic the other day ever addressed?
Obv it was negative but I never saw it mentioned.
Just curious!
-Curious from Melbourne
Hello blog friend.
I am not 100 per cent sure which case you are referring to.
What I can say is an "intermediate" test result of a man in his 30s on Saturday has returned a negative result.
That was announced yesterday.
If this is not the case you were referring too, I apologise.
Do we know when they will be further gym restrictions being eased in Victoria?
Hey Mike and team!
Thanks for the fabulous blog.
I am wondering when gyms, pools and other recreational and fitness places in Victoria will be back to almost normal? I'm in an apartment block and we can only have 3 people in the gym/pool etc at a time with reduced operability. It is just not practical anymore!
-Covid Normal
As far as I have seen, I couldn't give you a date when more restrictions about gyms in Victoria will be changed.