Weekly COVID news at a glance

1.Children’s immune systems protect them from Covid-19

New research shows that children’s immune systems protect them from severe COVID-19 taking hold.

The Murdoch Children’s Institute’s team of researchers discovered that infection fighting cells in a child’s immune system rapidly target coronavirus, so they do not get as sick as adults do.

Dr Melanie Neeland said they found that children are less likely overall to become infected with the virus and that up to a third of those who do are asymptomatic.

Immune responses in both adults and children were monitored during the intense phase of infection and for up to two months afterwards.

Researchers are now shifting their attention to studying how frequently children pass on the virus.

2.India set a world record for daily Covid-19 cases

On Sunday, India set a world record for the number of COVID-19 cases for three consecutive days, with hospitals overwhelmed and in desperate need of oxygen supplies.

As the country struggles against a huge second wave of COVID-19, Australians remain stranded there with repatriation flights being cancelled under a new policy from the Australian government.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is now acting on new restrictions, that cut flights from India by close to a third, including repatriation flights, to try and curb the risk from the country’s current infection rate.

A total of 23 cases of COVID entering Queensland’s hotel quarantine system from India, have been detected since the start of this year.

3.Fair Work ruled employers could require workers to be vaccinated

Australian employers could require some workers to be vaccinated in light of a Fair Work commission ruling this week.

The Fair Work Commission has upheld the decision to dismiss a childcare worker who refused to get a flu vaccination, which has boosted employers’ power to direct their employees to be immunised.

While the Commission confirmed that their decision specifically related to the flu vaccine in a childcare work setting, the ruling has confirmed experts’ beliefs that an employer asking their employee to be vaccinated is “reasonable and lawful”.

Adelaide University professor Andrew Stewart said that while it is “fairly easy” for employers to argue that their employees need vaccines, it could depend on the circumstances of the workplace, including what extent there is interaction with customers and co-workers.

4.Food Relief Taskforce established in Victoria

The Victorian Government will establish a specialist Food Relief Taskforce which aims to ensure food aid is accessible for all Victorians in need during the pandemic.

 Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan announced on Tuesday that the taskforce will be formed of senior representatives from the food relief sector along with government officers.

The taskforce will advise on strategies to strengthen Victoria’s food relief system.

To help tackle any logistics and transport challenges in the food relief system, Victorian Transport Association CEO Peter Anderson has been appointed as the Independent Chair of the Taskforce.

/ Food Relief Taskforce

/ Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan

/4.3 Victorian Transport Association CEO Peter Anderson

5.Pacific Islands Covid-19 outbreak in 12 months

The Pacific region is continuing to fight COVID-19, with Vanuatu’s health authorities ordering a localised travel lockdown after the body of a Filipino sailor with COVID-19 was found on a local beach.

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister announced the three-day lockdown and travel ban for the main island of Efate which began on April 18.

Meanwhile in Fiji, strict nationwide measures have been taken after a quarantine hotel breach which has led to at least three people testing positive.

The measures include exclusion zones and the cancellation of school, church and sports events for up to three weeks.

This outbreak has seen the Pacific nation record its first case of community transmission of COVID-19 in 12 months.

/ Vanuatu’s Prime Minister

/ Vanuatu

/body found on local beach

6.Men’s Sheds supported by the Victorian government

The Victorian government has announced funding grants to assist with ‘Men’s Sheds’ across the state.

‘Men’s Sheds’ is a community-based organisation which helps to strengthen men’s wellbeing and community connection, where men can meet, work on common projects and form friendships.

The funding is aimed to establish new ‘sheds’ or, expand and improve existing ‘sheds’.

Nearly nine hundred thousand dollars will be available through the latest round of the ‘Men’s Sheds’ Grants Program and groups can apply for a grant of up to 80 thousand dollars.

Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan opened applications on Wednesday for the 2021 to 2022 Men’s Sheds grants while visiting Bendigo’s ‘Men’s Sheds’