Coronavirus Update

Another working week down in the fight against the deadly coronavirus and finally one that offered some hope.

The curve seems to be flattening, the Prime Minister spoke about easing restrictions in weeks rather than months, and the Premier gave a date for when students would return to class.

The death rate has also slowed although, no doubt, it will be of little consultation to the families of the 65 Australians who have lost their lives to the virus.

Around the world, the death toll has hit more than 143,000. Confirmed cases have passed 2.1 million. More than 537,000 people have recovered.

Here at home, almost 80 per cent of you agree with the way the Morrison government has responded to the pandemic.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison today warned Australia's economy would be "hit by a truck " but promised infrastructure and an aggressive pro-business investment strategy would be fast-tracked to help the budget claw its way back.

Health authorities are carefully considering where restrictions could be lifted over the next month, promising to look "closely" at cafes and restaurants.

But don't grab your cosi just yet. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has quashed supposed plans to open up Bondi Beach for exercising, saying it was "not time to jump forward".

Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed 29 new cases, including that of a seven-week-old baby boy, after nearly 5000 new tests were conducted.

She said the future introduction of face-to-face school teaching would be gradual, and would likely come in the form of a roster system with remote learning also part of the mix.

It will be a slow road out.

Ten things you need to know:

1. Keep your distance: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said it could be a year before the 1.5-metre social distancing requirement is relaxed and there is no guarantee a coronavirus vaccine will be developed.
   
   Later, he shone a spotlight on Tasmania for the second time this week, accusing an aged care worker with the virus of lying to contact tracers investigating an outbreak.
   
   
2. In Australia: A seventh person is dead in Western Australia, where the total number of cases is 541. South Australia recorded one new case overnight, bringing the total to 435 people. Queensland's total is now 1007, while Tasmania also recorded its seventh death among 180 confirmed cases. Victoria has had 1302 cases and 14 deaths.
   
   
3. 5000 witnesses from two voyages: More than 5000 passengers who travelled on the last two voyages of the Ruby Princess cruise ship will be called on as part of the criminal investigation. It is the first time passengers from an earlier voyage of the ship have been called upon by any government body. Brett Walker SC, who is leading an independent inquiry into the debacle said he would "try and beat" his reporting deadline of three to four months.
   
   
4. Tracking and tracing: The NSW Privacy Commissioner is "seeking further information" from Vodafone and the NSW Department of Customer Service after it was revealed the mobile phone location data of millions of Australians was used to track population movements amid the coronavirus outbreak.
   
   Data was also on the agenda for Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly who said the coronavirus tracing app being developed by the national cabinet would be key to containing the virus.
   
   
5. Car-sized hole in the economy: The loss of international students in Australia could have an economic impact of up to $60 billion on the economy over the next three years. The blow from each six-month intake of foreign students lost could equate to the hit the economy took when Australia lost its entire car manufacturing industry.
   
   
6. Who will save Virgin? Ask Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Michael McCormack and he'll tell you - the market. Mr McCormack today said he was "confident there is a market solution" for Virgin Australia's financial woes, adding that he was wary of offering more government cash to the struggling airline.
   
   But Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said that's not good enough, accusing the Morrison government of "trying to shake its responsibility" for the aviation sector. The superannuation industry also wants clarification from the PM after he suggested the sector invest in the airline.
   
   
7. Trump flirts with discredited "lab" theory: US President Donald Trump and some of his officials are flirting with a largely discredited theory that the coronavirus was set loose on the world by a Chinese lab that let it escape.
   
   Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton later called for greater transparency from China on its handling of the pandemic, saying the families of the Australians who have died "would demand answers and transparency".
   
   
8. Mate against mate (if it's safe): NRL chairman Peter V'landys said the season will not restart on May 28 "if the infection rate spikes", but on current figures it is safe to resume the competition. It follows news overnight that State of Origin will be condensed into a month-lock block with league's preference for the blockbuster interstate series to kick off as early as the middle of July.
   
   
9. Around the world: New York and London both extended their lockdowns into May, with the UK Parliament set to begin sitting sessions over Zoom. Canada's Justin Trudeau said it was still "many weeks" before discussions on lifting restrictions could even begin.
   
   Wuhan city, the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak, revised its total coronavirus death toll up by 1,290, while China's economy recorded its first contraction in decades with GDP shrinking 6.8 per cent.
   
   
10. Canned veg on the menu this weekend: Woolworths has removed purchasing limits on canned vegetables, canned legumes, serviettes and most baby products, though expect to still see limits on high demand products like toilet paper and hand sanitiser.

Daily diagnoses in states and territories over time. Source: covid19data.com.au