PM & CMO Address

The PM just made the following statements:

• National Cabinet today was able to note good progress that has been made on those core requirements that are in place to enable our road back – to help us be in a confident position to ease restrictions
• On the wearing of masks – the medical expert panel advice says it is not recommended they are worn and important to note that wearing masks doesn’t protect you from infection, but if you have symptoms, it is a good measure to protect others
• On schools – medical advice confirmation that 4sqm rule and 1.5m distancing between students during classroom activities is not appropriate and not required
• It is agreed to develop National Principles for sport and recreation for consistency in next phase:
  • Elite and professional level (major sporting codes, Olympics etc)
  • Community competitive level
  • Individual passive level (hiking, surfing etc)
• National Cabinet also agreed on new COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles which will be released shortly – this will:
  • Ensure Australians can go back to work
  • Make families feel safe going back to work
  • Provide helpful tools / procedures and advice to stay at work

·                 Aged care – there is a meeting this evening that CMO and Minister for Aged Care will participate – the Federal Gov’t is flagging that should they not see an improvement in this area under the voluntary arrangements in place the Cth would require aged care facilities to apply exemption from the Fed Gov’t if they don’t want to follow the guidance from health authorities (ie to stop isolating elderly people – this is being put back on the industry to make the right decisions before intervention)

·                 Casting modelling that CMO is going to present – some notes:

o        We have moved through many phases of the virus:

1.               “Export phase” – when the virus first exported and transmitted to other countries – Aus implemented fast response to protect people

2.               “Repatriation phase” – bringing people home which brought the virus into Australia

3.               Currently in the “Community phase” – virus now moves within our own community – requiring different tools building on what is already in place (tracing, rapid response etc)

·                 Working towards decisions over the next few weeks under guidance from medical experts and using data to provide guidance on the measures required – States / Territories will continue to make their own changes also

·                 National Cabinet is meeting again next Friday

CMO’s comments:

·        As at today – total of 6,673 cases – 78 lives lost

·        Number of people in intensive care units – 43 at the moment, 29 on ventilators – progressively have fallen

·        5,000 cases have recovered

·        Big risk is new clusters appearing (Victoria reported one this morning)

·        Presented advanced versions of Pandemic Intelligence and Surveillance Plan – to test extensively and detect nay clusters that may appear in coming weeks

·        Every state / territory has broaden testing criteria from today so anyone with symptoms can get tested – this will significantly expand population of testing and broad reach of passive surveillance (also looking at active surveillance of people to proactively identify potential clusters)

·        Nation Cab want to be absolutely confident that we are in a good position before easing any restrictions

·        Reinforced masks are not recommended – generally not good quality – provides false sense of security

·        [Modelling presented] – will provide this when released – as at 6am this morning only 13 cases reported in 24 hours

·        Effective reproduction has dropped significantly based on last week’s data methodology (mostly just below 1 in all States / Territories)

·        Forecasted case numbers are at the lower end of what was originally predicted (based on data we have – new science, not reliable, but still advancing)