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Coronavirus: What we know today, June 24

Follow this post for rolling updates on the impact of the coronavirus in South Australia, the nation and the world.

Jun 24, 2020, updated Jun 24, 2020
Victorians queue for COVID-19 testing as cases rise. Photo: AAP/Daniel Pockett

Victorians queue for COVID-19 testing as cases rise. Photo: AAP/Daniel Pockett

Refresh this page for updates – scroll down for links to official health information.

KEY POINTS

SA venues to be able to double capacity next week

Venues across South Australia will be able to double their capacity from Monday with the State Government winding back a controversial limit of one person per four square metres – while Adelaide Oval could soon be hosting up to 25,000 spectators for major events.

The state’s Transition Committee will allow one person per two square metres in bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants from Monday as the state moves into Phase Three of the COVID-19 transition.

The move effectively doubles the capacity for many operators, who were hamstrung by the requirement to accommodate one person for every four square metres despite caps on customers increasing to 75 per area and 300 per venue.

And 5000 spectators will be allowed to attend the SANFL at Adelaide Oval on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend, with the league to determine whether that number is spread across the two double-headers to kick off the stalled season.

From Monday, the Stadium Management Authority and other major events organisers will be able to submit ‘COVID management plans’ to convince authorities they can operate at 50 per cent capacity – which could see up to 25,000 spectators attend games and events at the Oval from as early as the following weekend.

No new cases in South Australia

There were no new infections in South Australia on Wednesday, according to SA Health.

More than 141,000 tests have been undertaken in South Australia, with 440 cases reported in total, and none currently active.

Victorian cases continue to rise

A man in his 80s has died of coronavirus in Victoria, as the state records 20 new cases.

The death is the first in Australia in a month, taking the national toll to 103.

Of the 20 new cases, seven are linked to known outbreaks.

The state recorded 17 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday bringing the state’s total to 1864.

The new cases have more than doubled the state’s active cases in the past week to more than 130.

Another 20 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Victoria, with a surge in people getting tested for coronavirus prompting authorities to open another testing site.

Testing sites at Chadstone, Highpoint, Northland, Pacific Epping and Pacific Werribee shopping centres have extended operating hours to meet demand.

Meanwhile, the premier said an “army” of officials would begin doorknocking homes in designated hotspots to ensure residents are adhering to government guidelines.

The NSW premier has warned people from that state should not visit Melbourne and nor should Victorians head north.

“I call on all organisations not to interact with citizens from Melbourne at this stage,” Gladys Berejiklian said.

Businesses call for JobKeeper extension

Business groups will make a case for an extension of support such as JobKeeper and long-term workplace reform when they front an inquiry on Wednesday.

A Senate inquiry into the COVID-19 response will hear from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australian Industry Group, Business Council and small business representatives.

The committee is expected to hear calls for an extension of the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme beyond its September cut-off.

The Morrison government is reviewing how to wind back support as parts of the country and particular industries return to normal faster than other sectors and regions.

It is also concerned about the $11 billion-a-month cost to the federal budget.

The response to the review is due to be released by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on July 23.

More China cases

Chinese authorities have reported 22 new cases of coronavirus, including 13 in Beijing, a day after a city government spokesperson said containment measures had slowed the momentum of a new outbreak in the capital that has infected more than 200 people.

Another nine cases were brought by Chinese travellers from outside the country, seven of them on board a flight from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia that arrived in the western city of Lanzhou, according to a notice from the provincial government.

China has reported 4634 deaths from the virus among 83,418 total cases since it was first detected in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

French toll rises as nursing homes deaths included

The number of people who have died from coronavirus infection in France has risen by 57 to 29,720, more than twice as much as on the pervious day, with the health ministry including weekly data for the death toll in nursing homes.

The French COVID-19 fatalities tally is the fifth highest in the world.

The number of people who died in hospitals on Tuesday increased by 26 to 19,232, compared to 23 on Monday and an average of 20 over the past seven days.

The ministry also reported that in the past seven days 31 people died of the virus in nursing homes, less than half of the 73 reported a week ago and in line with the 34 total of two weeks ago.

The number of newly confirmed cases rose by 517, almost 150 more than on Monday and above both the daily average of 507 recorded over the last seven days and the 414 daily average since the beginning of June.

US hopeful on vaccine

Top US health expert Anthony Fauci says he is cautiously optimistic there will be a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year or early 2021 but has warned that the next few weeks will be critical to suppressing coronavirus hot spots around the country.

“We’ve been hit badly,” Fauci said on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

The infectious diseases chief at the National Institutes of Health said he was “really quite concerned” about rising community spread in some US states.

“The next couple of weeks are going to be critical in our ability to address those surges,” he said.

Since Fauci’s last appearance at a high-profile hearing more than a month ago, the US has begun emerging from weeks of stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns.

But it’s being done in an uneven way, with some states far less cautious than others.

About 2.3 million people in the US have been sickened in the pandemic and about 120,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

OFFICIAL SOURCES OF ADVICE AND INFORMATION

Local updates and resources

State Government central information

SA Health

Mental health support line (8am to 8pm): 1800 632 753.

National advice and information

Australian Government Coronavirus information hotline: 1800 020 080

Government information via WhatsApp: click here

Travel

Australian Government travel advice: smartraveller.gov.au

Check your symptoms

Free, government-funded, health advice: healthdirect.gov.au

– Reporting by InDaily staff, AAP and Reuters

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