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Coronavirus Australia latest: at a glance

Ben Doherty
·5-min read
<span>Photograph: Dan Peled/AAP</span>
Photograph: Dan Peled/AAP

Good evening, here are the latest developments on the coronavirus pandemic in Australia. This is Ben Doherty and it is Monday 25 May.

Australian active cases below 500

Australia has recorded 7,118 cases. There are now 485 active cases. SA, the ACT and NT have no active cases.

The national death toll is 102: NSW 50, Victoria 19, Tasmania 13, WA 9, Queensland 6, SA 4, ACT 3. (Two Queensland residents who died in NSW have been included in both state’s counts).

More than six million of an estimated 16 million people with smartphones have registered for the federal government’s COVIDSafe tracing app since April 26.

Globally, there have been at least 5.5m confirmed cases, and more than 346,000 deaths. At least 2.3m people have recovered from Covid-19.

An enormous collective exhalation of breath …

… That was the sound of Australian parents as children returned to full-time schooling across the country. Not all students are back, but a great many are: in NSW and Queensland, students of all ages returned to the classroom full-time. Tasmanian kindergarten to year 6 students, along with year 11 and 12, re-started at school, as well as students in years 3, 4 and 10 in the ACT.

State borders … a different type of sigh

The issue of Australia’s internal borders between states remains hugely contentious and a point of fractiousness within a federation that has, on the whole, navigated the initial crisis of Covid-19 with commendable collegiality.

The deputy chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, said last week there was no medical reason to keep the borders closed.

The federal health minister, Greg Hunt, agreed:

These are matters that are discussed through the national cabinet process and the medical expert panel.

There have a been no commonwealth recommendations in favour. There have been no national cabinet recommendations in favour.

And there has been no medical expert panels in favour of state border closures and indeed the national cabinet’s three-step plan for recovery also included the progressive restriction, the progressive movement and lifting of state border restrictions.

Extra $20m for mental health

Hunt also announced an additional $20m for mental health funding.

Dr Ruth Vine, the new deputy chief medical officer for mental health, says there has been no “discernible increase in suicides” as part of the pandemic in Australia, but that it is something authorities are keeping a close eye on.

NSW workers encouraged to keep working from home

NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has encouraged people in NSW to keep working from home if possible, not only for their safety at work, but to ensure the state’s public transport network is not overwhelmed.

WA to allow travel within state

Western Australia premier Mark McGowan says he is pulling down the internal borders for WA – phase three is coming by the end of the week/the weekend – which means that travel within WA will be allowed.

But the border with the east will remain.

We know Western Australia is the best and most beautiful place on Earth. For now, we have it all to ourselves so let’s make the most of it. So go out and wander around our great state.

Local businesses and tourism operators have been through hell. They need our support more than anytime before.

South Australia to fast-track easing restrictions

South Australia is bringing forward its easing of stage two restrictions.

From Monday, up to 80 patrons will be allowed at South Australian restaurants, cafes and pubs at any one time, provided they are split into groups no larger than 20 across “discrete rooms or areas” of the venue.

Cinemas, theatres, galleries, museums, beauty salons, and gyms will also be allowed to open from Monday.

SA premier Steven Marshall also announced up to 50 guests will be allowed to attend funerals from Monday.

Indian girl rides 1,200km with disabled father on back of bike

For a sense of how desperate the situation remains in many countries around the world, read this story. A 15-year-old girl rode 1,200km over 10 days to her home village with her disabled father on the back of her bike because they would otherwise have starved under the country’s lockdown.

What you need to know: get the most important information from some of our key explainers

Still want more? Read the latest news from across the Guardian’s global network.