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    Mask, gathering rules relaxed in Victoria -sharenews

    Victoria's mask rules and social gathering restrictions will be eased and workers can return to the office, as the Holiday Inn outbreak is declared under control. Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed that from 11.59pm on Friday, up to 30 visitors will be…
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    Vic high risk declaration removed despite new cases

    Victoria has broken its six-day run of no cases of coronavirus with two new locally acquired infections. The people are primary close contacts of pre-existing cases, and are already in quarantine. About 16,500 test results have been received in the past 24…
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    Vic records fifth day with no COVID cases -sharenews

    The Health Department confirmed there were no new local or overseas acquired cases recorded on Wednesday, following 20,201 tests. There remain 20 active cases of COVID-19 in the state, a decrease in five since Tuesday. Thousands, however, remain in…
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    Bells toll as US reaches 500k COVID deaths -sharenews

    The United States has crossed the staggering milestone of 500,000 COVID-19 deaths just more than a year since the coronavirus pandemic claimed its first known victim in Santa Clara County, California. In a proclamation honouring the dead, President Joe Biden…
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    Snap five-day Vic lockdown to end on time -sharenews

    Victoria's five-day lockdown will end on time, with authorities confident the "circuit breaker" has contained the Holiday Inn outbreak. Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the snap lockdown would lift at 11.59pm on Wednesday as planned, after the state recorded…
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    Mix of virus vaccines for people over 70 -sharenews

    A combination of the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines will be used on Australians aged over 70 who don't live in residential aged care. Australia has access to enough Pfizer doses for 10 million people, with aged care and disability residents among the first…
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    Clinic hours extended, more high-risk venues

    Tasmania's list of high-risk locations across Melbourne continues to grow. The number of potentially exposed venues, including tram routes and an airport bus link, has risen to 33. Recently-arrived Victorians have been urged to check the list on…
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    No new cases as Vic awaits lockdown call -sharenews

    Victoria has recorded no new cases of coronavirus, emboldening hopes of the state's snap five-day lockdown ending. The Health Department on Wednesday confirmed the state reported no new COVID-19 cases on the final day of its five-day "circuit breaker"…
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    AstraZeneca vaccine approved in Australia -sharenews

    Australia's medical regulator has approved a second coronavirus vaccine, paving the way for millions of jabs to be administered in coming months. The Therapeutic Goods Administration on Tuesday approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for people aged 18 and over,…
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    Exposure sites key to ending Vic lockdown -sharenews

    The lifting of Victoria's five-day "circuit breaker" lockdown in the wake of a coronavirus outbreak will depend on how many more exposure sites emerge, state health authorities say. Overnight on Monday, two more sites were revealed. They include Sacca's Fruit…
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    Victoria records two coronavirus cases -sharenews

    Victoria has recorded two new cases of coronavirus on the third day of its "circuit breaker" lockdown. The Health Department on Monday confirmed one of the cases is locally acquired, while the other is a returned traveller in hotel quarantine. The total…
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    Victoria lockdown new rules and exposure sites -sharenews

    VICTORIA LOCKDOWN NEW RULES * From 11.59pm Friday all of Victoria will lock down, going to stage 4 restrictions until 11.59pm Wednesday. * During the five day lockdown there will only be four reasons to leave home - shopping for essentials, caregiving,…
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    Victoria in 5-day lockdown from 11.59pm -sharenews

    Victoria will enter a five-day lockdown in an effort to contain the Holiday Inn coronavirus outbreak, which now totals 13 cases. Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the state will enter the lockdown at 11.59pm on Friday. People will only be able to leave their…
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    Victoria's Holiday Inn cluster grows to 13 -sharenews

    There are fears Victoria's COVID-19 outbreak could spread interstate after an infected person spent more than eight hours at an airport cafe. The Brunetti cafe in Terminal 4 at Melbourne Airport was listed as an exposure site early Friday morning, after being…
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    Victorian pinged for no mask at NW airport

    A Victorian man has been fined for not wearing a mask at Burnie Airport. Police were undertaking COVID compliance duties on Monday at about 8:30am when they spotted the 51-year-old enter the terminal without using a mask or face covering. Officers say he was…
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    SA locks out greater Melbourne residents -sharenews

    South Australia has locked out travellers from greater Melbourne after further COVID-19 cases were linked to a hotel quarantine outbreak in Victoria. The lockout came into effect from 12.01am on Thursday, South Australian time. Returning SA residents, people…
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    Medical device may have caused Vic cluster -sharenews

    A medical device could be to blame for a COVID-19 outbreak at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport, which now totals three cases. The two latest cases confirmed on Tuesday are a returned traveller, who tested positive after completing 14 days quarantine at…
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    China accused of frustrating virus inquiry -sharenews

    A federal government backbencher has accused China of deliberately frustrating an investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. A World Health Organisation-led team who spent almost a month in Wuhan has been unable to find exactly how the virus…
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    Small business hardship grants "performed effectively": Auditor-General

    The Tasmanian Government's controversial $26 million coronavirus hardship grants have been given the 'all clear' by the state's Auditor-General. Mr Rod Whitehead has submitted his Report to Parliament on the development and implementation of the program which…
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    Vic hotel quarantine case taken to ICU -sharenews

    A person in hotel quarantine in Victoria infected with coronavirus has been transferred to intensive care. Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday the person was a returned traveller, not a community case. Mr Andrews also said a second hotel quarantine worker…

Latest on the spread of coronavirus -sharenews

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THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS:

DEATHS/INFECTIONS

* More than 111,600 people have been infected by the coronavirus across the world and more than 3800 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

* Mainland China, outside Hubei province, reported no new locally transmitted coronavirus cases for the second day on Monday, but an official warned people against dropping their guard.

EUROPE

* Italy, with 7375 cases and 366 deaths, sealed off much of its industrial north, where six prisoners were killed in a riot over curbs on visits. The government also ordered cinemas, theatres and museums to close, cancelled sporting events and told shops and restaurants to ensure patrons remained at least a metre apart.

* Spain, with 999 cases and more than 20 deaths, will close schools in the Basque capital, one of its worst-hit areas.

* Germany on Monday reported 210 new cases, taking its total to 1112.

* Britain, which has 319 cases and three deaths, said anyone returning from areas in northern Italy - placed under lockdown - must self-isolate.

* New infections in the Netherlands increased to 321 on Monday, up from 264 a day earlier.

* Albania and Bulgaria reported their first cases.

AMERICAS

* Argentina marked Latin America's first death on Saturday, after Paraguay, Colombia, Chile and Peru announced their first cases.

* Costa Rica reported nine infections on Sunday, up from five a day earlier.

* Oregon Governor Kate Brown declared a 60-day state of emergency on Sunday as cases in the state doubled to 14.

* The US Food & Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission issued a warning to companies selling products that claim to prevent, treat or cure COVID-19.

* Americans, especially those who are vulnerable, may need to stop attending big gatherings as the coronavirus spreads through US communities, a health official said on Sunday, not ruling out large-scale quarantines.

ASIA

* Foreigners in China's capital Beijing should refrain from unnecessary travel during the outbreak, a local government official said.

* South Korea reported 165 new coronavirus cases, bringing the national tally to 7478, while the death toll rose to 51.

* Japan is set to revise a law allowing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to declare a formal state of emergency, if needed, as the number of infections reached 1190.

* Singapore will allow cruise ship Costa Fortuna to dock in the city-state on Tuesday, after it was turned away from ports in Malaysia and Thailand.

* Vietnam on Monday decided to temporarily suspend visa-free travel from eight European countries: Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, the UK, Germany, France and Spain.

* North Korea flew dozens of diplomats out of the country to Russia on Monday, including the staff of the German, French and Swiss missions which were shut amid concerns.

MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA

* Iran, with 7161 cases and 237 deaths, the third highest after China and Italy, temporarily released around 70,000 prisoners.

* Qatar said it was suspending schools and universities to control the outbreak.

* Nigeria has a second confirmed case, its health minister said.

* A 60-year-old German tourist has died in Egypt, becoming its first fatality from the new coronavirus.

* Saudi Arabia reported four new cases on Monday, bringing the total to 15. On Sunday, it imposed a temporary lockdown on its eastern Qatif province, home to a large Shi'ite Muslim population.

* Thirteen Americans quarantined in a West Bank hotel tested negative and will leave soon.

ECONOMIC FALLOUT

* China announced more measures to support airlines, reducing airport and air control fees, as well as postponing the upcoming summer season flight plan.

* Europe needs to come up with a "massive" economic stimulus plan to cope with the outbreak, France's finance minister said on Monday.

* The cost of insuring exposure to debt issued by governments and banks rose sharply on Monday with those at the centre of the outbreak and oil exporters seeing levels spike to multi-month highs.

* The epidemic will cause global FDI to shrink by 5-15 per cent from previous forecasts, resulting in only marginal growth in 2020-21, with automotive, airlines and energy industries hit hardest, a UN report indicated.

MARKETS

* Global stocks plunged on Monday and prices for crude oil tumbled as much as 33 per cent after Saudi Arabia launched a price war with Russia, sending investors already worried by the coronavirus fleeing for the safety of bonds and the yen.

© RAW 2020

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