Covid-19 News Updates

Important step around the corner for Mesoblast COVID-19 treatment

A major milestone is "imminent" for Australian regenerative medicine company Mesoblast (ASX: MSB) as its potential treatment for severely ill COVID-19 patients faces one of its biggest tests to date.

Following encouraging early results for its candidate product remestemcel-L in treating severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients with the virus, Melbourne-based Mesoblast's trials are advancing in the US.

The country's independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has set a date for early September to complete the first interim analysis of a Phase 3 trial of the medicine in ventilator-dependent COVID-19 patients with moderate to acute ARDS.

The trial's first 90 patients will have completed 30 days of follow up during August, after which the DSMB will perform an interim analysis review of the safety and efficacy data.

The DSMB will then inform Mesoblast on whether the trial should proceed as planned, or should stop early.

If the Phase 3 continues, up to 30 leading medical centers across the United States are expected to participate in the trial with recruitment due for completion in September.

The clinical protocol for evaluation has been based on results from a pilot study on patients under emergency compassionate care at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York, whereby nine of the 12 people treated were taken off a ventilator and discharged from hospital within a median of 10 days.

The current trial is randomised with placebo controls of 1:1 with two intravenous infusions of remestemcel-L to be received three to five days apart, or the placebo on top of maximal care.

Related stories: Mesoblast emboldened by lung disease treatment results

Mesoblast raises $138m to bolster manufacturing for potential COVID-19 medicine

Mesoblast ramps up trials for COVID-19 treatment

Mesoblast treatment achieves "remarkable" results for critical COVID-19 patients

Updated at 12:03pm AEST on 30 July 2020.

Three new COVID-19 cases in QLD, two linked to growing The Apollo cluster

A cluster of COVID-19 cases connected to The Apollo at Potts Point is still growing, with six new cases today including two in Queensland and four in New South Wales.

Queensland has recorded three new confirmed cases of COVID-19, but none are connected to the two 19-year-old women who returned from Melbourne and ignored self-isolation orders.

Both of the Queensland cases linked to the Potts Point restaurant have been self-isolating since their return home.

The third is a man in his 20s who returned from the United States and is in hotel quarantine.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles says the news validates the government's decision to close the State's borders to Greater Sydney yesterday.

"The fact that two of these three new cases came from Sydney, as well as the fact that two of the cases we recorded yesterday had transited through Sydney underlines how important it is that we have made that decision to declare Greater Sydney a hotspot," says Miles.

"It will allow us to control cases returning from Sydney where we know there are out breaks and that means it was the right decision."

While none of the new cases reported today by Queensland authorities are connected to the two 19-year-old women, Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young says the state is still on high alert.

"In the last two days we've had six cases. It's been a long time since we've had those sorts of case numbers," says Dr Young.

"So this is an incredibly risky time for Queensland. We need to get through the next week."

Dr Young has encouraged anyone displaying symptoms to self-isolate and immediately get tested for COVID-19.

NSW update

New South Wales has recorded 18 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the total number in the state to 3,547.

Of the new cases:

• Two are linked to the funeral gatherings cluster,
• Four are associated with the Thai Rock Wetherill Park cluster,
• Four are associated with The Apollo restaurant in Potts Point,
• Two are returned travellers in hotel quarantine, and
• Six are under investigation.

There are now 89 cases associated with Thai Rock Wetherill Park, 57 cases associated with the Crossroads Hotel cluster, eight cases associated with Batemans Bay Soldiers Club, and 20 associated with the funerals. There are eleven cases associated with the Potts Point cluster.

NSW Health has advised anyone who attended Frank's Pizza Bar Restaurant in Camperdown on 27 July from 6pm to 8pm to monitor for symptoms after a case attended the establishment.

Three cases have now attended the Mounties at Mount Pritchard and new times have been identified. Anyone who attended the club from 6pm Wednesday 22 July to 3am on Saturday 25 July must isolate and get tested regardless of symptoms, but stay isolated for a full 14 days even if they test negative. 

Health authorities have also expanded testing advice to Perisher after commencing a research program to test sewage for traces of COVID-19 across NSW.

Initial samples collected at the Perisher sewage treatment plant on Wednesday 22 July 2020 returned a positive result for the presence of COVID-19.

Further sampling and analysis is required to assess the significance of this initial positive result. The positive sewage result can be due to shedding of the virus by someone who may have previously had the illness, with the virus 'shedding' through their system for up to four weeks later. 

"While no cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Perisher or Thredbo to date, it's important that anyone who was in this area get tested if they have even the mildest of symptoms," says NSW Health.

There are 100 COVID-19 cases being treated by NSW Health currently, with five people in intensive care and one being ventilated.

Updated at 10:33am AEST on 30 July 2020.

Third new QLD COVID-19 case as health alert issued for 11 venues, including South Bank bar

A COVID-19 cluster is now starting to emerge in South East Queensland from two 19-year-old women who travelled to Melbourne and ignored health directives to self-isolate upon their return.

A criminal investigation into how the women flouted quarantine is due to take place, but in the meantime authorities are scrambling to trace the virus' potential spread as the individuals were moving amongst the community for eight days despite feeling unwell.

Queensland Health has now reported a third positive COVID-19 case who is a known contact - a 22-year-old woman employed by YMCA Chatswood Hills Outside School Hours Care.

Authorities have identified 11 locations, including two venues in South Bank, where the women attended as part of their tracing efforts for new potential cases. 

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said contact tracing was underway, and appropriate action had been taken at all relevant locations.

"Contact tracing is underway on all new cases," Dr Young said.

"While we are still determining where the virus may have been acquired, we are working closely with these women to gather necessary information, including other places they may have visited whilst infectious.

"As always, we strongly recommend everyone with symptoms, particularly people who have travelled interstate recently, to immediately get tested. Vigilance is key to keeping community transmission out of Queensland."

She said anyone living Logan, South Brisbane or Springfield who is feeling unwell should stay at home and immediately get tested.

Any individuals who were present at the below locations at the relevant times are asked to immediately self-quarantine and contact 13 HEALTH:

• Flight VA863 Melbourne-Sydney - 21 July
• Flight VA977 Sydney-Brisbane - 21 July
• Parklands Christian College, Park Ridge on 22-23 July - 9.30am-6pm
• Madtongsan IV Restaurant, Sunnybank on 23 July - 7-9pm
• Heeretea Bubble Tea Shop, Sunnybank on 23 July - 9.25pm
• YMCA Chatswood Hills Outside School Hours Care, Springwood on 23-24 July 
• Primary Medical and Dental Practice, Browns Plains on 24 July - 3.30-3.50pm
• Thai Peak Restaurant, Springfield on 26 July - 6.30-9pm
• Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar, South Bank on 27 July
• P'Nut Street Noodles, South Bank on 27 July
• African Grocery Shop, Woodridge on 28 July
• Primary Medical and Dental Practice, Browns Plains on 28 July - 12.25-12.30pm
• Chatime Grand Plaza, Browns Plains - 28 July

Updated at 5:25pm AEST on 29 July 2020.

QLD to close border to all of Sydney, Logan cases spark community transmission fears

CelluAir develops virus-filtering mask material from renewable sources

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Adelaide-based incubator Innovyz have formed a joint venture that will bring mask material made from agriculture waste to the market.

The JV startup CelluAir will commercialise the virus-filtering material which was developed by QUT process engineer Dr Thomas Rainey and his research team.

Proof of concept testing has found the material can filter nanoparticles smaller than 100 nanometres, the size of a virus, while retaining high breathability to reduce wearer fatigue.

The deal means CelluAir will begin an accelerated six-week scope of work to scale up the technology with the aim of taking it to market as soon as possible.

CelluAir has incubated advanced manufacturing startups including Titomic (ASX: TTT) from the CSIRO in 2017 and Amaero (ASX: 3DA) from Monash University in 2019.

"The new material is relatively cheap to produce and is biodegradable making it sustainable for single use," says Dr Rainey.

"Our tests showed the new material was more breathable than commercial face masks, including surgical masks.

"Breathability is the pressure or effort the wearer has to use to breathe through the mask. The higher the breathability the greater the comfort and reduction in fatigue."

Innovyz general manager Tom Kenyon says the company specialises in taking research from the laboratory and moving to market.

"We're super excited to be working with QUT which has a great reputation in research and are very focussed on commercial outcomes," he says.

"Many researchers want their research to have impact and the quickest way to have impact is to bring that research to market."

Updated at 4:49pm AEST on 29 July 2020.

QLD to close border to all of Sydney, Logan cases spark community transmission fears

Queensland has declared all of Greater Sydney a COVID-19 hotspot and will close its borders to the region from 1am on Saturday 1 August.

As such, people who have been to Sydney within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter the Sunshine State.

Queensland residents will be allowed to return, but they will have to isolate in a hotel for 14 days at their own expense.

The move will see 31 new local government areas (LGAs) added to the list of three existing LGA hotspots previously delcared by the Queensland Government because of new outbreaks in the NSW capital.

"It is going to cause an inconvenience to families...but it is important," says Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

"We must protect Queenslanders, and your safety comes first. We are in extraordinary times at the moment and we have to do everything we can."

BREAKING: Queensland will close its borders to all of Greater Sydney. From 1am Saturday, more hotspots will be declared and no one from Sydney will be allowed into Queensland. #COVID19aupic.twitter.com/044iZeTZ1g

Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 29, 2020

The announcement follows news that two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Queensland have been out in the community for eight days whilst unwell, forcing Queensland Health to close some shopping malls, restaurants and a church.

The two cases, both 19-year-old women who live in the Logan and Acacia Ridge areas, returned from Melbourne on 21 July and did not isolate at home for the requisite 14 day period.

As such, Queensland Health is working to identify the numerous close contacts of the two women, will close a number of businesses and a church for deep cleaning for 48 hours, and will place aged care facilities in the Metro South region into lockdown.

A criminal investigation into how the women managed to travel to Victoria and return to Queensland without going into quarantine will also be undertaken.

One of the women is employed as a cleaner at the Parklands Christian College in Logan, which has since been closed for deep cleaning.

Meanwhile, Priority Health Medical Centre has relayed information from Orion Shopping Centre, where one of the women attended the Peak Thai restaurant recently.

"We have been advised [By QLD Health] that the person was a patron who visited Peak Thai on Sunday 26th July 2020, in the evening," the shopping centre reportedly told the medical centre.

Both women are currently being cared for at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

Premier Palaszczuk says she is "furious" about the conduct of the pair that will cause significant inconvenience to those in the local community.

"I am absolutely furious that this has happened, that these two people have gone to Victoria and come back and have given to authorities misleading information," says Palaszczuk.

"There will be a thorough police investigation here, and now we have to act as a community."

According to Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for Health Steven Miles the pair travelled together to Melbourne and returned to Brisbane on 21 July on a flight via Sydney.

Close contacts on flights VA863 and VA977 are being contacted currently.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young says she is disappointed by the behaviour of the two women which has put lives at risk in Queensland.

"It is very disappointing that this has occurred" says Dr Young.

"As a result of that, a lot of people are going to be inconvenienced and I do apologise to those people for what is now going to have to occur.

"We know if we act really fast we can stop this spreading further and cause even more inconvenience to a lot of people."

Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski says a criminal investigation will seek to uncover how the pair managed to cross into Queensland from Melbourne without having to go into quarantine.

"Our investigations are around the truth so we want to work out what actually happened here, in terms of what individuals may have done but also how the system has operated and see whether there are things we need to consider," says Gollschewski.

"What this highlights is why it is so important that everybody who engages with that does the right thing.

"There is so much community transmission [in Victoria], you're putting everyone at risk if you don't declare that and certainly, there are systems in place to help people get through that."

Dr Young has urged anyone who displays symptoms in the Logan, Acacia Ridge and Springfield Lakes regions to get tested immediately and self-isolate.

"There will be additional fever clinics put in place but please, see your own GP, go to one of the fever clinics that are there and get yourself tested as soon as possible," says Dr Young.

"If you are unwell, stay at home and isolate yourself. That is the way we can all work together to stop this further spreading."

Updated at 11:19am AEST on 29 July.

NSW gyms to require COVID Safe marshalls

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has today announced new measures to ensure COVID Safe hygiene at gyms that will come into force from Saturday morning (Friday midnight).

"All gyms need to have a COVID marshall in place at all times," she told a press conference this morning.

"That includes gyms who currently might have a business model where they don't have any staff present," she said, noting a permanent person or staff member would need to fill this role."

As the state recorded another 19 new cases overnight, all from known sources, the Premier said this latest measure was in line with the health advice.

"We know those high risk activities are those indoor venues where people are in close proximity to others when speaking, or when they're in close physical activity such as a gym," she said.

She said businesses in general were downloading what they needed to do to be COVID Safe, but not enough were registering.

"We'd like to see those numbers increase, but I do want to thank those businesses that really stepped up and made that difference.

"I also want to thank patrons. If I walk into a venue and I'm not comfortable with how COVID Safe that venue is, I would leave, and I expect every patron to do the same."

The state has reported 19 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, bringing the state's total number of cases 3,529.

Of those cases three are linked to a funeral gathering in Bankstown, 10 are associated with the Thai Rock cluster in Wetherill Park, two are connected to the Thai Rock cluster in Potts Point, one is a staff member at The Apollo in Potts Point, one is connected to the Crossroads Hotel cluster, and two are travellers from overseas.

Updated at 11:47am AEST on 29 July 2020.

Queensland private school closed after employee tests positive for COVID-19

The Parklands Christian College in Logan south of Brisbane has been closed for deep cleaning after an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

The woman, who is under isolation, tested positive late yesterday after returning from interstate last week.

The private school will temporarily close until further notice to allow for cleaning and for contact tracing to get underway.

"We are working to determine where the virus may have been acquired, including working with the woman to gather necessary information about places she may have visited whilst infectious," says Queensland Health.

"As always, we strongly recommend everyone with symptoms to immediately get tested. Vigilance is key to keeping community transmission out of Queensland."

There have been 1,076 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Queensland since the beginning of the pandemic.

Updated at 9:28am AEST on 29 July.

Potts Point public health warning expanded, Rushcutters Bay yacht club closed for deep cleaning

Anyone who visited The Apollo restaurant in Potts Point on 22 July must immediately self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19 now that new cases have been connected to the restaurant.

The public health warning was previously limited to restaurant attendees from 23 to 25 July, but with three cases now in total the timeframe has been expanded to a day earlier. 

Two of those new cases visited The Apollo on 22 July and then the Cruising Yacht Club Australia (CYCA) in Rushcutters Bay on subsequent nights. The Yacht Club has been closed for deep cleaning.

The cases can be linked back to the Potts Point Thai Rock Restaurant according to NSW Health.

The third case is a staff member of The Apollo which sparked the initial closure of the restaurant.

Anyone who attended the CYCA on the following dates during these times is asked to monitor for symptoms and seek testing if they develop:

• Thursday 23 July 6pm-7.30pm
• Friday 24 July 3.30pm-5pm
• Sunday 26 July 4pm-5.30pm

"With the growing number of cases in the area, NSW Health is again asking all people who live in or have visited the Potts Point area in the past two weeks to get tested if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 at all, even the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat," says NSW Health.

A new pop-up clinic was established yesterday in Surry Hills for testing and will be open seven days a week.

Another new clinic will open form midday today in Rushcutters Bay Park.

Updated at 9:15am AEST on 29 July 2020.

Elective surgeries suspended as Victoria tackles aged care outbreaks

With 769 of Victoria's 7,775 active cases of COVID-19 in the aged care sector, the state government is suspending non-urgent elective surgeries and reshuffling the health care workforce.

Effective immediately, elective surgeries other than for Category 1 and the most urgent Category 2 patients will be suspended.

Further, hospital staff from Eastern Health and the Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne will be moved into a number of aged care settings where there are outbreaks.

State Premier Daniel Andrews says while the private sector aged care services are not the State Government's responsibility, the measures will be put in place to protect all Victorians.

"I cannot stand here and tell you that I have confidence that staff and management, across a number of private aged care facilities are able to provide the care that is appropriate to keep their residents safe," says Andrews.

"It's not about blame, it's not about demarcations and having disputes about who's in charge of what, it's just about getting on, and getting this done."

Under the new arrangements, where there is no confidence that care can be provided to a suitable standard by the private sector aged care providers the State Government will move residents out of those settings into hospitals both public and private.

There have already been around 2,000 residents moved from private sector aged care facilities into hospitals.

"This does not mean that every resident in an aged care facility that has an outbreak will be moved en masse to the public or, indeed, to a private hospital. It will always be based on clinical need," clarifies Andrews.

"Whilst this is not a sector that we have any involvement in, the residents are Victorians and we need to look after them."

The development comes as Victoria reports 384 new cases of COVID-19 today, bringing the state's total number of active cases to 7,775.

The State also reported six new deaths today, four of which are linked to private sector aged care.

Today's new figures come in conjunction with the state ticking over the 3,000 mark of cases under investigation, demonstrating that the State still has a while to go until it gets this latest outbreak under control.

Updated at 12:12pm AEST on 28 July 2020.

Australian COVID-19 cases under investigation surpass 3000

The exponential rise in COVID-19 cases under investigation shows no signs of abating with the latest data showing the figure reached an estimated 3,201 yesterday.

All but two of these came from Victoria, where these numbers are almost equal to the number of cases with known local sources.

Of yesterday's 532 new cases in the state, 154 were linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 378 were classed as under investigation.

NSW reports zero cases are under investigation, although 370 were locally acquired with no contact identified.

The ability to track the spread of the virus is critical to Australia's coronavirus response, but COVID-19's long incubation period in infected hosts and numerous other factors have led to a backlog of cases for Victoria's health officials to get under control.

Whether it be through financial incentives or attempts to dispel any stigma around a positive diagnosis, Premier Daniel Andrews has been pushing for more people to test for the virus and isolate according to the state health directives if they have symptoms. 

"No one will be criticised or judged for doing the right thing," Premier Andrews said yesterday.

There are currently 4,713 active cases of the virus in Australia, including 4,542 in Victoria, 158 in NSW, and single-digit numbers in all other states and territories.

To date Australia has recorded 161 deaths from COVID-19, compared to a global figure of close to 656,000.

Updated at 10am AEST on 28 July 2020.