Oregon reports its first coronavirus death
The Oregon Health Authority has reported the state’s first death from the coronavirus.
The patient was a 70-year-old man in Multnomah County, who was hospitalized at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and died Saturday.
There are currently 36 presumptive positive cases in Oregon. (CNN)
Australian schools to remain open, says PM
On the decision not to close schools, Morrison says it was made for two reasons. One was the need to keep children from infecting other people outside schools. Second was the massive disruption it would cause on the economy.
Here is what he said:
"When you take children out of schools and put them back in the broader community, the ability for them to potentially engage with others increases the risk, and that is the understanding we have. There are also issues of herd immunity to elect children as well… And we may want to touch on those issues.
The other issue is the disruption impact that they can have and put a great risk, the availability of critical workers such as nurses and doctors and others who are essential in the community because they would have to remain home and look after the children, and so while it may seem anti-intuitive, there is very good reasons why you would not be moving to broadscale closures of schools, that could make the situation worse, not better, and so the states and territories are not moving in that direction, we will consider this again at our meeting after Tuesday night. "
Morrison also announces new social distancing measures.
Non-essential static gatherings of more than 500 people occurring across the states and territories will be banned. This recommendation will be overseen by the state and territory governments although Morrison said the police would not be enforcing it. He called on common sense judgment to carry it out.
Everyone arriving in Australia must self-isolate for 14 days - legally enforcable.
Scott Morrison says there will be universal self-isolation for 14 days for all for travellers arriving from overseas, including Australians
*The US source is a “major source” of cases in Australia, says Morrison.
Australian chief medical officer Paul Kelly says:
"The important issue of herd immunity that we talk about a lot in vaccination is exactly the challenge that we have at the moment. There’s no herd immunity, everyone is susceptible to this virus in Australia.
What is different about Australia is that we are not yet in winter. All of the places we are seeing this virus really escalate quickly now, to other parts of the world, are in the NorthernHemisphere. They are in the latter part of their winter months. They have flu seasons as well and all of the environmental elements that allow viruses to spread quickly are actually there in North America, in China, in other parts of northern Asia and we are seeing exactly what has happened there. In particular, not taking another action probably early enough in most of those countries. "(Guardian)
[Australia has 249 cases and 1 death]
