Coronavirus update: The latest COVID-19 news for Friday 1 May | ABC News

There's growing optimism about Australia's position with coronavirus but the death toll continues to rise slowly and there's been a bit of wake up call this morning with 4 or 5 new cases of community transmission in New South Wales.

The scale of the carnage this virus is causing overseas is staggering another 2200 deaths in the United States alone in the past 24 hours.

In this update:

00:29 There's been a 13th death at a western Sydney aged care home. The NSW Premier has repeated her criticism about how the situation is being handled there. In Victoria, an aged-care facility in Melbourne's east is linked to a virus cluster. Seven cases were confirmed yesterday but authorities say it's too soon to determine whether people will need to be moved out of the facility.

00:54 National Cabinet is today looking at a code for managing nursing homes. Leaders will also discuss plans for a return to sporting competitions at all levels.

01:06 New South Wales and the Northern Territory will ease some restrictions today. In NSW two adults plus children are allowed to visit other households. In the top end, people will be able to use public swimming pools, go fishing with friends and play golf.

01:23 Additional restrictions imposed on April 12th by the Tasmanian government on the state's north-west will be lifted. From Monday, schools and shops can reopen, as 4,000 people end three weeks of home isolation.

01:43 Thirty million Americans - or one in five workers - have lost their jobs since the pandemic began. Almost four million people in the US filed for unemployment benefits last week.

01:52 Russia's Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in quarantine, an interim PM has been appointed.

In more detail:

02:03 The operator of a western Sydney aged care home has defended its handling of a deadly coronavirus outbreak at the facility. The death of a 74 year old male resident takes the toll at Newmarch house to 13, along with 59 confirmed cases among staff and residents. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the situation is unacceptable.

03:13 Queensland has recorded another day of no new coronavirus cases. It's the second day in a row and the third time this week the state has recorded no new infections.Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has welcomed the news ahead of tonight's easing of some stay at home restrictions.

04:15 Victoria has recorded three new cases of the coronavirus overnight. The Hawthorn Grange aged care centre in Melbourne's east is now on lockdown following a coronavirus cluster. Premier Daniel Andrews says it's important the community continues to follow the stage 3 restrictions in place.

07:52 The northern territory has become the first jurisdiction in the nation to rollout a comprehensive exit plan from coronavirus restrictions, beginning today. Territorians will no longer be subject to the 10-person limit guideline for outdoor activities. The new rules also mean there will be no limit on wedding and funeral attendance as long as social distancing guidelines are adhered to, while pools, water parks and playgrounds will also be opened for the first time in weeks.

13:07 National cabinet is meeting this morning plotting Australia's path to some form of normality as the coronavirus crisis eases. The Prime Minister and state and territory leaders are discussing plans for mental health, sport and recreational activities and the aged care sector.

15:45 Five Australian defence force personnel serving in the Middle East have tested positive to coronavirus. Defence says it started testing after local contractors were diagnosed with covid-19. All five people are asymptomatic and have returned to Australia.

Read more here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/story-streams/coronavirus/


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