A crowd of about 200 people gathered outside Parliament House in Melbourne today for an anti-lockdown protest. As numbers swelled police were forced to call for reinforcements.
Reports indicated the protesters appeared to be made up of a combination of anti-vaxxers, those opposed to lockdown regulations, and various conspiracy theorists. At one point the crowd was chanting "fight for your freedom and rights".
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has described the NRL anti-vaccination campaigners as "just plain stupid and dangerous" after a group of NRL players refused to have a flu vaccination. Medical authorities stress the danger of getting the flu and Covid-19 at the same time.
While Australia begins its tentative approach to reopening the country to business, deeply concerning news is coming out of the US that suggests children may not be as safe from Covid-19 as previously thought.
New York governor Andrew Cuomo warned of "an entirely different chapter" of the pandemic with the reported deaths of two young children and a teenager due to inflammatory complications.
New York health authorities reported 73 cases of severely ill children suffering a toxic shock-like syndrome. The children didn't show respiratory symptoms normally associated with Covid-19, but all tested positive to the virus or its antibodies.
The global perspective continues to look grim with 4 million cases reported. Just under 280,000 people have died. The US has 1,307,676 infections, followed by Spain on 222,857. Russia is a new hot spot, nearing the 200,000 mark after it recorded more than 10,000 new Covid-19 cases in a day.
The death toll in the US has reached 78,746.
The UK and Italy have recorded more than 30,000 deaths.
Australia's chief medical officer, professor Brendan Murphy, says Australia has reported 14 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours.
Labor is questioning Prime Minister Scott Morrison's belief the Australian economy will "snap back" once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and measures like JobSeeker and JobKeeper will be cut.
Labor's industrial relation's spokesman Tony Burke said the programs would likely need to be extended rather than cut as unemployment would continue to be a major issue into the future.
NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed that the state's lockdown will begin to ease on Friday.
Relaxed regulations will allow outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people. For the first time since social distancing rules were began, people are allowed to take part in recreational activities outside their homes.
- Cafes and restaurants can have 10 patrons at a time
- Visitors in the home will also rise from two to five. That includes adults and children.
- Religious gatherings or places of worship will now be able to include up to 10 people.
- Weddings will increase from five people to 10, and funerals will increase to 20 mourners or 30 for an outside service
- Restrictions on regional travel will not change
The Premier has stressed that the easing of rules will not work if people become complacent and do not follow social distancing guidelines.
In Victoria than 154,000 people have been swabbed in two weeks. The state recorded 10 new cases of Covid-19 in the past 24 hours. The Victorian Government is expected to reveal an easing of regulations on Monday.
Western Australians are being encouraged to return to work and pubs and cafes will reopen as the state moves to lead the nation in lifting coronavirus restrictions.
Premier Mark McGowan announced phase two of WA's roadmap to recovery to come into force from May 18, which also includes doubling the number of people allowed to gather together from 10 to 20.
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