australiannationalreview--2020-05-20--Trump says coronavirus vaccine will be voluntary: ‘Not everyone is going to want to get it’

WASHINGTON , D.C. , May 19 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) – President Trump has stated that a future coronavirus vaccine will be voluntary .
On Friday , the president introduced “ Operation Warp Speed , ” an ambitious Manhattan Project-style initiative to fast-track the development and distribution of a coronavirus vaccine by January 2021 , tapping experts and resources in science , medicine , the military , and the private sector .
Experts have warned that the plan raises serious ethical and safety questions which are of grave importance not only to pro-life citizens , but to everyone .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ about a mandatory vaccine on Friday , saying that the new vaccine would be for those “ who want to get it , ” adding , “ Not everyone is going to want to get it.
” After he had previously introduced the idea of mobilizing the military to help deploy the new vaccine , some were concerned that this hinted that the drug would be forcibly administered .
One website asked , “ what will do when they come to door , and tell you it ’ s mandatory ?
” Anxiety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily piggy-backed on top of wide speculation that legislation introduced in Congress earlier this month , known as the TRACE Act – the “ COVID-19 Testing , Reaching , And Contacting Everyone Act ” – would result in massive assaults by government agents against the constitutional rights of Americans .
Memes quickly cropped up on social media alleging that government officials could enter homes to forcibly test individuals and remove those who test positive – including children – and place them in government-sanctioned quarantine centers .
Heavy-handed measures put in place by many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the coronavirus by instituting lockdowns and using police to arrest citizens who engage in what are normally benign daily activities have certainly given cause to Americans to be on high alert .
Apprehension about the possible curtailing of basic freedoms in response to the pandemic is well founded : Some cities have encouraged residents to snitch on their neighbors suspected of skirting lockdown orders .
Citizens across the country have witnessed lone surfers and joggers , moms taking their kids to playgrounds , Christians sitting in their cars in church parking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being ticketed or arrested and hauled off by police , despite practicing common sense physical distancing .
Regardless of the President ’ s assurances , the public remains gravely concerned .
In just one week , nearly 440,000 people have signed a LifeSiteNews petition addressed to world leaders opposing a mandatory coronavirus vaccination .
And while none of the experts LifeSiteNews has spoken to in recent days have expressed concern about forced vaccinations for U.S. citizens , there is still cause for concern in some jurisdictions , such as Canada .
When Canadian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters April 28 whether a coronavirus would be mandatory , he said , “ As to what sort of vaccination protocols will be in place , we still have a fair bit of time to reflect on that in order to get it right .
”

By Doug Mainwaring | LifeSiteNews
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 19, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – President Trump has stated that a future coronavirus vaccine will be voluntary.
On Friday, the president introduced “Operation Warp Speed,” an ambitious Manhattan Project-style initiative to fast-track the development and distribution of a coronavirus vaccine by January 2021, tapping experts and resources in science, medicine, the military, and the private sector.
Experts have warned that the plan raises serious ethical and safety questions which are of grave importance not only to pro-life citizens, but to everyone.
However, President Trump did allay concerns about a mandatory vaccine on Friday, saying that the new vaccine would be for those “who want to get it,” adding, “Not everyone is going to want to get it.”
After he had previously introduced the idea of mobilizing the military to help deploy the new vaccine, some were concerned that this hinted that the drug would be forcibly administered. One website asked, “what will you do when they come to your door, and tell you it’s mandatory?”
Anxiety about possible medical strong-arming by the military easily piggy-backed on top of wide speculation that legislation introduced in Congress earlier this month, known as the TRACE Act – the “COVID-19 Testing, Reaching, And Contacting Everyone Act” – would result in massive assaults by government agents against the constitutional rights of Americans.
Memes quickly cropped up on social media alleging that government officials could enter homes to forcibly test individuals and remove those who test positive – including children – and place them in government-sanctioned quarantine centers.
Heavy-handed measures put in place by many governors and mayors hoping to stem the spread of the coronavirus by instituting lockdowns and using police to arrest citizens who engage in what are normally benign daily activities have certainly given cause to Americans to be on high alert.
Apprehension about the possible curtailing of basic freedoms in response to the pandemic is well founded: Some cities have encouraged residents to snitch on their neighbors suspected of skirting lockdown orders. Citizens across the country have witnessed lone surfers and joggers, moms taking their kids to playgrounds, Christians sitting in their cars in church parking lots, and peaceful pro-life abortion protesters being ticketed or arrested and hauled off by police, despite practicing common sense physical distancing.
Regardless of the President’s assurances, the public remains gravely concerned. In just one week, nearly 440,000 people have signed a LifeSiteNews petition addressed to world leaders opposing a mandatory coronavirus vaccination.
And while none of the experts LifeSiteNews has spoken to in recent days have expressed concern about forced vaccinations for U.S. citizens, there is still cause for concern in some jurisdictions, such as Canada.
When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked by reporters April 28 whether a coronavirus would be mandatory, he said, “As to what sort of vaccination protocols will be in place, we still have a fair bit of time to reflect on that in order to get it right.”


australiannationalreview--2020-05-20--Startling number of Aussies are buying into 5G conspiracy theories about coronavirus

One in eight Australians believes Microsoft founder Bill Gates is somehow responsible for coronavirus and the 5G wireless network is to blame for spreading the disease .
The same number of people believe the pandemic is being used to force people into getting vaccinations .
The federal government has been forced to remind people the claims 5G technology is harmful to health are bogus .
“ Any suggestions that there is a link between 5G and coronavirus are utterly baseless , ” Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said in a statement on Tuesday .
“ As the Chief Medical Officer has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus and it does not spread coronavirus.
” Fletcher added the spreading of misinformation is dangerous and tampering with 5G towers is a criminal offence .
“ The Australian government will not tolerate any vandalism of communications infrastructure and I urge Australians to report any suspicious activity to their local police , ” Fletcher said .
“ Causing damage to mobile phone networks can cut vital connectivity , risking serious harm , even death , if a person is unable to contact Triple Zero.
” A new Essential poll has revealed the proportion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One in five people believes the media and government are exaggerating the death toll to scare the population .
Two in five think the virus was engineered and released from a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan , which the prime minister has repeatedly said there is no evidence to support .
An overwhelming majority of respondents ( 77 per cent ) said the outbreak in China was much worse than reported in official statistics from Beijing .
• Thousands of NSW parents in limbo over new school rules The survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia led by 5G-conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers .
Ten people were arrested on May 10 in Melbourne after breaching lockdown rules and clashing with police at a protest .
About 100 people gathered at the steps of Victoria ’ s state parliament to protest against 5G , vaccinations , Victoria ’ s lockdown restrictions and what they called the “ coronavirus conspiracy ” .

AAP/7NEWS
One in eight Australians believes Microsoft founder Bill Gates is somehow responsible for coronavirus and the 5G wireless network is to blame for spreading the disease.
The same number of people believe the pandemic is being used to force people into getting vaccinations.
The federal government has been forced to remind people the claims 5G technology is harmful to health are bogus.
“Any suggestions that there is a link between 5G and coronavirus are utterly baseless,” Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said in a statement on Tuesday.
“As the Chief Medical Officer has said, 5G does not cause the coronavirus and it does not spread coronavirus.”
Fletcher added the spreading of misinformation is dangerous and tampering with 5G towers is a criminal offence.
“The Australian government will not tolerate any vandalism of communications infrastructure and I urge Australians to report any suspicious activity to their local police,” Fletcher said.
“Causing damage to mobile phone networks can cut vital connectivity, risking serious harm, even death, if a person is unable to contact Triple Zero.”
A new Essential poll has revealed the proportion of people who believe coronavirus conspiracy theories.
One in five people believes the media and government are exaggerating the death toll to scare the population.
Two in five think the virus was engineered and released from a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan, which the prime minister has repeatedly said there is no evidence to support.
An overwhelming majority of respondents (77 per cent) said the outbreak in China was much worse than reported in official statistics from Beijing.
More on 7NEWS.com.au
The survey of 1073 people follows small protests across Australia led by 5G-conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers.
Ten people were arrested on May 10 in Melbourne after breaching lockdown rules and clashing with police at a protest.
About 100 people gathered at the steps of Victoria’s state parliament to protest against 5G, vaccinations, Victoria’s lockdown restrictions and what they called the “coronavirus conspiracy”.


australiannationalreview--2020-05-20--Jeannette Young: who is the woman leading Queensland’s fight against COVID-19?

Jeannette Young has served as Queensland ’ s Chief Health Officer since 2005 .
In fact , she is the longest-serving CHO in Australia .
She has advised four premiers through six epidemics , including MERS , swine flu and the 2009 dengue outbreak .
But until the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus this year , Dr Young has remained a largely unrecognised health bureaucrat .
She began her career as a doctor at Westmead Hospital in western Sydney , after graduating from medicine at the University of Sydney .
With a self-described short attention span , she decided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients are treated quickly then moved on .
Pressured by the breakdown of her first marriage and the shiftwork required in an emergency department , Dr Young packed up and moved to Rockhampton to start work as the hospital ’ s medical services director .
“ You couldn ’ t get childcare then , you just couldn ’ t , so I went into medical management instead .
“ I had four years in Rockhampton and it was so much fun , I was young and I was single … it was wonderful.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she took the same job at Brisbane ’ s Princess Alexandra Hospital , where she spent seven years .
“ And then [ Jayant ] Patel happened in Bundaberg and the director-general asked me to come here [ as chief health officer ] .
“ I didn ’ t really want to because I liked my job at PA , but I thought I better try something different .
“ I have loved it , some of the things I ’ ve been able to do … I ’ ve been so lucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years.
” Since Dr Young became the state ’ s chief doctor in 2005 , she has advised former premiers Peter Beattie , Anna Bligh and Campbell Newman .
She now has the ear of Annastacia Palaszczuk .
“ I ’ ve been really lucky because they ’ ve always listened , ” she says .
“ I mean , I ’ ve been in such a fortunate position to be able to directly advise ministers and premiers and for them genuinely to listen , and they do .
They really do.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday , January 22 – 100 days ago on Friday – that would start the state ’ s unprecedented response to the coronavirus .
“ On the 22nd of January , I thought , ‘ now , this is going to be pretty awful ’ .
I hoped I was wrong and that I was overinterpreting the information , ” she says .
“ Unfortunately , I think I was right to be wary .
“ I can remember going into that weekend thinking ‘ this might be the last weekend of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it blew on the Saturday.
” On Saturday , January 25 , Australia confirmed its first case of COVID-19 .
Three days later , the virus invaded Queensland , and by March , the state was recording dozens of new cases a day .
“ To be honest with you , I was really worried .
I thought , ‘ this is the start and it ’ s going to be a nightmare ’ , ” Dr Young said .
“ So my advice to the Premier was , ‘ we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything and anything ’ .
” Dr Young told Ms Palaszczuk to shut down schools on March 26 .
She says while evidence showed schools were not a high-risk environment for the spread of the virus , closing them down would help people understand the gravity of the situation .
“ If you go out to the community and say , ‘ this is so bad , we can ’ t even have schools , all schools have got to be closed ’ , you are really getting to people , ” Dr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s more than just the science and the health , it ’ s about the messaging .
“ So my advice to the Premier was , ‘ we ’ ve got to do it .
It ’ ll be awful , but we ’ ve got to do it ’ .
“ But that was critical , decreasing the number of kids who go to school.
” Dr Young has backed the Premier ’ s decision to hold off reopening classrooms until May 15 while the Education Department works out how to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from one another .
“ They ’ ve got to sort out that classes don ’ t merge , if possible , because then if we have a case , we could then just ask that whole class to be quarantined , and not the whole school .
“ They ’ ve got to stagger their lunchtimes and morning teas , and they can ’ t have big assemblies , so there ’ s an awful lot of work schools need to do , which they ’ re doing because they ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before they can safely open.
” Dr Young believes that decision is a major factor in containing Queensland ’ s new cases .
“ Some people will drop their kids off [ at school ] and they go out , this way it ’ s keeping people at home.
” As we talk , Dr Young rushes over to her desk and rifles through a stack of paperwork to show some Queensland Health modelling .
The data paints a harrowing picture of the 12,500 Queenslanders who would have been killed by the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Queensland has done a “ tremendous ” job of helping to slow the spread , the work is not finished .
Some restrictions will be eased from Friday night , but the reopening of pubs and clubs is a while off .
“ I think that ’ ll be quite a way down the track , but sport , I want to get people playing sport again for so many different reasons .
“ I want kids to go to school .
They ’ re really , really important things to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s office , in the heart of Brisbane ’ s CBD , are lined with awards , degrees and framed newspaper cartoons .
She also has a no-smoking sign displayed , given to her by Health Minister Steven Miles after cigarettes were banned in national parks in 2017 .
It is a symbol of one of her three major achievements in the role of which she is most proud .
Dr Young pushed for Queensland ’ s tough anti-smoking legislation and the policy to ensure free nicotine replacement was available for vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been enormous , and we ’ ve just seen the rates of smoking absolutely plummet , ” she says .
Her second major achievement is to get more children immunised .
“ When I became chief health officer , we were still getting kids that were getting hepatitis B .
It was awful , and our immunisation rates were terrible .
“ So I brought in the school program so that every kid could get vaccinated , and now , you know , Queensland is leading the country in terms of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Queensland ’ s health system is improving the state ’ s patient retrieval system .
Before Dr Young became the CHO , individual hospitals had to work out how they would move critically ill patients to larger , better-resourced hospitals .
“ Now we can move anyone from anywhere in the state in a fully kitted-out ICU environment .
All of our helicopters and planes are kitted out at the same level as an ICU bed , in terms of staff and equipment , ” she says .
“ So that one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – that every Queenslander needs to have access to the same excellent level of care , that it couldn ’ t just be dependent on where you live .
“ I mean , it is not me that has done them all , I am part of a team , but I feel I ’ ve had a role to get them going.
” The two people she is advising , the Premier and the Health Minister , say the state is indebted to her work .
“ Dr Young ’ s clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Ms Palaszczuk says .
Mr Miles says the Chief Health Officer “ deserves a massive thank you ” .
“ Dr Young has worked tirelessly for more than three months – every day and night – to keep Queenslanders safe , ” he says .
“ I ’ ve seen it first-hand .
And Queenslanders have seen it on their TV screens.
” For the past 100 days , Dr Young has become probably the most powerful person in Queensland – a title she is reluctant to hold .
“ No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No , I ’ m not , ” she says .
“ I ’ m here to advise .
”

By Lydia Lynch
Jeannette Young has served as Queensland’s Chief Health Officer since 2005. In fact, she is the longest-serving CHO in Australia.
She has advised four premiers through six epidemics, including MERS, swine flu and the 2009 dengue outbreak.
But until the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus this year, Dr Young has remained a largely unrecognised health bureaucrat.
She began her career as a doctor at Westmead Hospital in western Sydney, after graduating from medicine at the University of Sydney.
With a self-described short attention span, she decided to go into fast-paced emergency medicine, where patients are treated quickly then moved on.
Pressured by the breakdown of her first marriage and the shiftwork required in an emergency department, Dr Young packed up and moved to Rockhampton to start work as the hospital’s medical services director.
“You couldn’t get childcare then, you just couldn’t, so I went into medical management instead.
“I had four years in Rockhampton and it was so much fun, I was young and I was single … it was wonderful.”
Then in the late 1990s, she took the same job at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she spent seven years.
“And then [Jayant] Patel happened in Bundaberg and the director-general asked me to come here [as chief health officer].
“I didn’t really want to because I liked my job at PA, but I thought I better try something different.
“I have loved it, some of the things I’ve been able to do … I’ve been so lucky, I’ve been here 15 years.”
Since Dr Young became the state’s chief doctor in 2005, she has advised former premiers Peter Beattie, Anna Bligh and Campbell Newman. She now has the ear of Annastacia Palaszczuk.
“I’ve been really lucky because they’ve always listened,” she says.
“I mean, I’ve been in such a fortunate position to be able to directly advise ministers and premiers and for them genuinely to listen, and they do. They really do.”
It was a call to Ms Palaszczuk on Wednesday, January 22 – 100 days ago on Friday – that would start the state’s unprecedented response to the coronavirus.
“On the 22nd of January, I thought, ‘now, this is going to be pretty awful’. I hoped I was wrong and that I was overinterpreting the information,” she says. “Unfortunately, I think I was right to be wary.
“I can remember going into that weekend thinking ‘this might be the last weekend of sanity before this all blows’, and it blew on the Saturday.”
On Saturday, January 25, Australia confirmed its first case of COVID-19. Three days later, the virus invaded Queensland, and by March, the state was recording dozens of new cases a day.
“To be honest with you, I was really worried. I thought, ‘this is the start and it’s going to be a nightmare’,” Dr Young said.
“So my advice to the Premier was, ‘we have to throw everything at this, absolutely everything and anything’.”
Dr Young told Ms Palaszczuk to shut down schools on March 26.
She says while evidence showed schools were not a high-risk environment for the spread of the virus, closing them down would help people understand the gravity of the situation.
“If you go out to the community and say, ‘this is so bad, we can’t even have schools, all schools have got to be closed’, you are really getting to people,” Dr Young says.
“So sometimes it’s more than just the science and the health, it’s about the messaging.
“So my advice to the Premier was, ‘we’ve got to do it. It’ll be awful, but we’ve got to do it’.
“But that was critical, decreasing the number of kids who go to school.”
Dr Young has backed the Premier’s decision to hold off reopening classrooms until May 15 while the Education Department works out how to keep students, parents and teachers away from one another.
“They’ve got to sort out that classes don’t merge, if possible, because then if we have a case, we could then just ask that whole class to be quarantined, and not the whole school.
“They’ve got to stagger their lunchtimes and morning teas, and they can’t have big assemblies, so there’s an awful lot of work schools need to do, which they’re doing because they’ve got time to do it now, before they can safely open.”
Dr Young believes that decision is a major factor in containing Queensland’s new cases.
“Some people will drop their kids off [at school] and they go out, this way it’s keeping people at home.”
As we talk, Dr Young rushes over to her desk and rifles through a stack of paperwork to show some Queensland Health modelling.
The data paints a harrowing picture of the 12,500 Queenslanders who would have been killed by the virus had it not been contained.
And while Queensland has done a “tremendous” job of helping to slow the spread, the work is not finished.
Some restrictions will be eased from Friday night, but the reopening of pubs and clubs is a while off.
“I think that’ll be quite a way down the track, but sport, I want to get people playing sport again for so many different reasons.
“I want kids to go to school. They’re really, really important things to get sorted.”
The walls of Dr Young’s office, in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, are lined with awards, degrees and framed newspaper cartoons.
She also has a no-smoking sign displayed, given to her by Health Minister Steven Miles after cigarettes were banned in national parks in 2017.
It is a symbol of one of her three major achievements in the role of which she is most proud.
Dr Young pushed for Queensland’s tough anti-smoking legislation and the policy to ensure free nicotine replacement was available for vulnerable people.
“All of that work has been enormous, and we’ve just seen the rates of smoking absolutely plummet,” she says.
Her second major achievement is to get more children immunised.
“When I became chief health officer, we were still getting kids that were getting hepatitis B. It was awful, and our immunisation rates were terrible.
“So I brought in the school program so that every kid could get vaccinated, and now, you know, Queensland is leading the country in terms of its childhood immunisation numbers.”
Her third-biggest impact on Queensland’s health system is improving the state’s patient retrieval system.
Before Dr Young became the CHO, individual hospitals had to work out how they would move critically ill patients to larger, better-resourced hospitals.
“Now we can move anyone from anywhere in the state in a fully kitted-out ICU environment. All of our helicopters and planes are kitted out at the same level as an ICU bed, in terms of staff and equipment,” she says.
“So that one was really, really important to me – that every Queenslander needs to have access to the same excellent level of care, that it couldn’t just be dependent on where you live.
“I mean, it is not me that has done them all, I am part of a team, but I feel I’ve had a role to get them going.”
The two people she is advising, the Premier and the Health Minister, say the state is indebted to her work.
“Dr Young’s clear advice during this pandemic has been crucial,” Ms Palaszczuk says.
“Her long and important experience is invaluable.”
Mr Miles says the Chief Health Officer “deserves a massive thank you”.
“Dr Young has worked tirelessly for more than three months – every day and night – to keep Queenslanders safe,” he says. “I’ve seen it first-hand. And Queenslanders have seen it on their TV screens.”
For the past 100 days, Dr Young has become probably the most powerful person in Queensland – a title she is reluctant to hold.
“No, don’t say that. No, I’m not,” she says. “I’m here to advise.”


australiannationalreview--2020-05-22--NSW Reopens Regions – A Win For Those With Unexpected Time On Their Hands

NSW residents will be able to head to the state ’ s regions for holidays in less than a fortnight under a relaxation of COVID-19 travel restrictions .
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday announced recreational regional travel within the state will be allowed again from June 1 .
Under current NSW public health orders , regional travel for holidays is banned .
The Premier said social distancing will still be required and urged residents to plan ahead .
“ It will be different to a holiday you have taken before , ” she told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a pandemic.
” Ms Berejiklian added that NSW will be open for people from other states , saying that ’ s “ best for NSW and Australia ” .
Queensland has flagged border closures with southern states could remain until at least September due to the coronavirus pandemic , prompting despair from tourism groups .
It comes as NSW on Wednesday recorded four new COVID-19 cases from more than 7000 tests , with three people in intensive care .
The new cases involve returned travellers who were placed in quarantine in hotels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ art galleries , and museums will re-open on June 1 .
She said there will be set times for the state ’ s most vulnerable to visit , and people will be required to leave a record of their visit so authorities can follow up if there is an infection linked to the facility .
The premier also flagged the number of people allowed in restaurants and cafes could also be doubled to 20 within the next month .
“ That ’ s definitely on the cards , ” she told the Nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state recorded its 49th COVID-19 death , a 93-year-old female resident at Sydney ’ s Newmarch House nursing home .
Operators Anglicare reported the death on Tuesday .
The elderly woman ’ s death is the 17th at the Anglicare-run facility and takes the national death toll to 100 .
Meanwhile , NSW public school students will return to classrooms full time on Monday , two months after restrictions forced about 800,000 children to study remotely .
Some independent and Catholic schools will also return full-time on Monday , while others are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Assemblies and excursions will remain off the table , non-essential school visitors will be banned and parents have been warned not to linger at the school gate .

By AAP | 10daily
NSW residents will be able to head to the state’s regions for holidays in less than a fortnight under a relaxation of COVID-19 travel restrictions.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday announced recreational regional travel within the state will be allowed again from June 1.
Under current NSW public health orders, regional travel for holidays is banned.
The Premier said social distancing will still be required and urged residents to plan ahead.
“It will be different to a holiday you have taken before,” she told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
“Nothing we do is the same during a pandemic.”
Ms Berejiklian added that NSW will be open for people from other states, saying that’s “best for NSW and Australia”.
Queensland has flagged border closures with southern states could remain until at least September due to the coronavirus pandemic, prompting despair from tourism groups.
It comes as NSW on Wednesday recorded four new COVID-19 cases from more than 7000 tests, with three people in intensive care. The new cases involve returned travellers who were placed in quarantine in hotels.
Ms Berejiklian also announced libraries, art galleries, and museums will re-open on June 1.
She said there will be set times for the state’s most vulnerable to visit, and people will be required to leave a record of their visit so authorities can follow up if there is an infection linked to the facility.
The premier also flagged the number of people allowed in restaurants and cafes could also be doubled to 20 within the next month.
“That’s definitely on the cards,” she told the Nine Network.
NSW Health on Wednesday confirmed the state recorded its 49th COVID-19 death, a 93-year-old female resident at Sydney’s Newmarch House nursing home.
Operators Anglicare reported the death on Tuesday. The elderly woman’s death is the 17th at the Anglicare-run facility and takes the national death toll to 100.
Meanwhile, NSW public school students will return to classrooms full time on Monday, two months after restrictions forced about 800,000 children to study remotely.
Some independent and Catholic schools will also return full-time on Monday, while others are working towards a June 1 return date.
Assemblies and excursions will remain off the table, non-essential school visitors will be banned and parents have been warned not to linger at the school gate.


australiannationalreview--2020-05-22--One In Eight Australians Believes Bill Gates Is Responsible For Coronavirus, And… Wow

One in eight Australians believe Microsoft founder Bill Gates is somehow responsible for the coronavirus and the 5G wireless network is to blame for spreading the disease .
The same number of people believe the pandemic is being used to force people into getting vaccinations .
The federal government has been forced to remind people the claims are bogus and tampering with 5G towers is a criminal offence .
“ Any suggestions that there is a link between 5G and coronavirus are utterly baseless , ” Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said on Tuesday .
“ There is no evidence that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mobile networks is harmful to health or related to the current health pandemic.
” A new Essential poll has revealed the proportion of people who believe coronavirus conspiracy theories .
One in five people believe the media and government are exaggerating the death toll to scare the population .
Two in five think the virus was engineered and released from a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan , which the prime minister has repeatedly said there is no evidence to support .
The same proportion of people rejected the theory , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of respondents ( 77 percent ) said the outbreak in China was much worse than reported in official statistics from Beijing .
The survey of 1073 people follows small protests across Australia led by 5G-conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers .

One in eight Australians believe Microsoft founder Bill Gates is somehow responsible for the coronavirus and the 5G wireless network is to blame for spreading the disease.
The same number of people believe the pandemic is being used to force people into getting vaccinations.
The federal government has been forced to remind people the claims are bogus and tampering with 5G towers is a criminal offence.
“Any suggestions that there is a link between 5G and coronavirus are utterly baseless,” Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said on Tuesday.
“There is no evidence that the use of these radio waves in mobile networks is harmful to health or related to the current health pandemic.”
A new Essential poll has revealed the proportion of people who believe coronavirus conspiracy theories.
One in five people believe the media and government are exaggerating the death toll to scare the population.
Two in five think the virus was engineered and released from a lab in the Chinese city of Wuhan, which the prime minister has repeatedly said there is no evidence to support.
The same proportion of people rejected the theory, while a quarter is unsure.
An overwhelming majority of respondents (77 percent) said the outbreak in China was much worse than reported in official statistics from Beijing.
The survey of 1073 people follows small protests across Australia led by 5G-conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers.


australiannationalreview--2020-05-21--Quarter Of Americans Have No Interest In Taking COVID Vaccine

President Trump ’ s “ Operation Warp Speed , ” a public-private partnership to develop a vaccine and ready it for mass production by early 2021 , has generated anti-vaccine concerns among some Americans , a new survey finds .
The survey , published via Reuters/Ipsos on Thursday , found 25 % of Americans have no interest in taking a coronavirus vaccine .
About 36 % of respondents said they would be less willing to take a vaccine if President Trump said it was safe .
Only 14 % said they would be interested .
Reuters/Ipsos surveyed 4,428 Americans between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review additional research on the vaccine to determine if it was safe .
Dr. William Schaffner , an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville , told Reuters , considering there are 92,000 virus-related deaths , he thought there would be a much higher amount of people that would want the vaccine .
The survey found 14 % were not interested at all , 10 % were not very interested , and 11 % were unsure about subjecting themselves to a vaccine .
Health experts tell Reuters that , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be immune through a vaccine or prior infection to achieve what is known as “ herd immunity , ” when enough people are resistant to an infectious disease to prevent its spread.
” President Trump ’ s Operation Warp Speed program aims to produce 300 million doses of a vaccine by January , a goal that we ’ ve said is widely unrealistic .
The president ’ s constant hype of vaccines has led some people to believe many of the drugs in development are being rushed and could have dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ rushed-into-production ” vaccines for other viruses have had disastrous health consequences for some people .
Nearly 84 % of respondents said vaccines for measles are safe , suggesting that people are doubtful about a rushed vaccine for COVID-19 .
Of the folks who were “ not very ” interested in taking the vaccine , 29 % of them said they would reassess their thoughts once the FDA approved it .
Peter Hotez , dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine , where his staff is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll underlines how political divides among Democrats and Republicans predate the pandemic , but lockdowns have since catalyzed new divides and exacerbating old ones .
That being , nearly 20 % of Republicans said they had no interest in a vaccine , which was more than double the proportion of Democrats who said the same .
With creepy billionaire Bill Gates and big government rushing vaccines into development and for possible mass production next year — the anti-vaccine movement in America continues to grow .
Read “ Anti-Lockdown Protests Accelerate Across Europe As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which explains anti-vaccine movements flourishing across the Western world .

By Tyler Durden
President Trump’s “Operation Warp Speed,” a public-private partnership to develop a vaccine and ready it for mass production by early 2021, has generated anti-vaccine concerns among some Americans, a new survey finds.
The survey, published via Reuters/Ipsos on Thursday, found 25% of Americans have no interest in taking a coronavirus vaccine.
About 36% of respondents said they would be less willing to take a vaccine if President Trump said it was safe. Only 14% said they would be interested.
Reuters/Ipsos surveyed 4,428 Americans between May 13-19 said they would need to review additional research on the vaccine to determine if it was safe.
Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, told Reuters, considering there are 92,000 virus-related deaths, he thought there would be a much higher amount of people that would want the vaccine.
“It’s a little lower than I thought it would be with all the attention to COVID-19,” said Schaffner. “I would have expected somewhere around 75 percent.”
The survey found 14% were not interested at all, 10% were not very interested, and 11% were unsure about subjecting themselves to a vaccine.
Health experts tell Reuters that, “at least 70% of Americans would need to be immune through a vaccine or prior infection to achieve what is known as “herd immunity,” when enough people are resistant to an infectious disease to prevent its spread.”
President Trump’s Operation Warp Speed program aims to produce 300 million doses of a vaccine by January, a goal that we’ve said is widely unrealistic.
The president’s constant hype of vaccines has led some people to believe many of the drugs in development are being rushed and could have dangerous side effects. Ron Paul recently warned “rushed-into-production” vaccines for other viruses have had disastrous health consequences for some people.
Nearly 84% of respondents said vaccines for measles are safe, suggesting that people are doubtful about a rushed vaccine for COVID-19. Of the folks who were “not very” interested in taking the vaccine, 29% of them said they would reassess their thoughts once the FDA approved it.
Peter Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, where his staff is currently developing a vaccine, said:
“It’s not surprising a significant percentage of Americans are not going to take the vaccine because of the terrible messaging we’ve had, the absence of a communication plan around the vaccine and this very aggressive anti-vaccine movement.”
The poll underlines how political divides among Democrats and Republicans predate the pandemic, but lockdowns have since catalyzed new divides and exacerbating old ones. That being, nearly 20% of Republicans said they had no interest in a vaccine, which was more than double the proportion of Democrats who said the same.
With creepy billionaire Bill Gates and big government rushing vaccines into development and for possible mass production next year — the anti-vaccine movement in America continues to grow.
Read “Anti-Lockdown Protests Accelerate Across Europe As Second COVID-19 Wave Threat Emerges,” which explains anti-vaccine movements flourishing across the Western world.


australiannationalreview--2020-05-21--NSW Students ‘Must Attend’ Class Full Time From Next Week

All students will be expected to attend classes as normal from next week , NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday .
Berejiklian said students will resume face-to-face learning from next Monday , May 25 .
“ We expect schools to stick with the health advice – increased cleaning , access to hygiene supplies and compliance with hygiene practices – and look forward to seeing all students back on campus five days a week , ” Berejiklian said on Tuesday .
“ The health advice is very clear ; a return to full-time face to face teaching is safe.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be common for schools to be shut down temporarily , for a specific area to be on high alert , for a particular school to take extra measures if there ’ s a community breakout in that community with cases , and we just have to accept that.
” NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said it ’ s up to principals to provide advice on staggered drop-off and pick-up , as well as recess and lunch timings .
Assemblies or excursions are likely to remain banned .
Physical education and non-contact sport will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The High School Certificate will continue as normal , with a five-day delay on the original date for exams to begin , and year 12 “ students could continue working hard ” , Mitchell added .
Face-to-face learning resumed across NSW last week for Year 12 students at state and independent schools , but only for an average of three to four days a week while other students were allowed to go to school at least one day a week .
It comes as NSW recorded two new cases of coronavirus from more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours .

By Eden Gillespie | 10 daily News Reporter
All students will be expected to attend classes as normal from next week, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday.
Berejiklian said students will resume face-to-face learning from next Monday, May 25.
“We expect schools to stick with the health advice – increased cleaning, access to hygiene supplies and compliance with hygiene practices – and look forward to seeing all students back on campus five days a week,” Berejiklian said on Tuesday.
“The health advice is very clear; a return to full-time face to face teaching is safe.”
“But I do say it will be common for schools to be shut down temporarily, for a specific area to be on high alert, for a particular school to take extra measures if there’s a community breakout in that community with cases, and we just have to accept that.”
NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said it’s up to principals to provide advice on staggered drop-off and pick-up, as well as recess and lunch timings.
Assemblies or excursions are likely to remain banned.
Physical education and non-contact sport will be permitted under current health advice.
The High School Certificate will continue as normal, with a five-day delay on the original date for exams to begin, and year 12 “students could continue working hard”, Mitchell added.
Face-to-face learning resumed across NSW last week for Year 12 students at state and independent schools, but only for an average of three to four days a week while other students were allowed to go to school at least one day a week.
It comes as NSW recorded two new cases of coronavirus from more than 5,000 tests in the past 24 hours.


australiannationalreview--2020-05-23--Lockdown Sees More Aussies Drinking Alone At Home, Eating ‘Worse’ Diets

While memes about ‘ quarantinis ’ were popular during the start of the pandemic , a look at Australia ’ s drinking and eating trends paints a far less humourous picture .
A new online survey has revealed that while major changes in Australians ’ drinking habits happened early on during the COVID-19 lock down , and may be easing somewhat , there are currently still worrying signs around alcohol and junk food consumption .
The number of people who say they are drinking more than they were pre-pandemic has risen slightly , going from 17 percent at the two-week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now seven weeks in .
On the other hand , an extra seven percent say they are drinking less now than before , going from 20 to 27 percent in recent weeks — but its the reason behind some people drinking more which has drug and alcohol experts concerned .
The findings are the result of a survey of 319 Australian , conducted by Hello Sunday Morning — an organisation that describes itself as “ a movement towards a better drinking culture ” , seeking to help people change habits by understanding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simple boredom was a big reason cited by many in April for drinking more , in May it ’ s anxiety and stress which has been singled out a major factor .
“ It ’ s no surprise that anxiety and stress are key drivers of people drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic , ” said Kathryn Fletcher , Clinical Manager at Hello Sunday Morning .
The shift from boredom to anxiety is attributed to Aussies being weighed down by the economic realities ahead , such an unemployment.. “ There are compounding worries about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , financial challenges , the stress of separation from their usual social support networks , and sheer uncertainty about how this is all going to play out .
All of these factors increase the strain on people ’ s relationship with alcohol , ” Fletcher said .
Isolation has also increased the habit of people drinking alone — rising from one in five people , to one in four .
Men were more likely than women to report drinking alone .
Alcohol sale data analysed by Commsec , shows that alcohol sales from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last six weeks and have been consistently increasing since the beginning of May .
Guidelines set out by the National Health and Medical Research Council advise Australians to have no more than 10 standard drinks per week and to have at least one alcohol-free day per week .
In more research on pandemic consumption habits , The Heart Foundation teamed up with Coles to survey 500 Australians on what they ’ ve been eating during COVID-19 .
The data shows one in three Australians say their diet is ‘ worse ’ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have put on weight , or are feeling sluggish and slow .
Heart Foundation Group CEO , Adjunct Professor John Kelly , said isolation had made some Australians cut corners when it came to heart-healthy eating and drinking .
“ With the pantry and fridge in tempting reach , we found 29 per cent of people were eating more to relieve stress and boredom , while 26 per cent were eating more desserts and nearly a quarter were snacking more than their usual habits , ” Kelly said .
And even the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Even before lock down , poor diet was a leading risk factor for heart disease which , sadly , takes the lives of 48 Australians every day .
As we slowly emerge , it may be hard to leave behind some of these unhealthy habits , ” Kelly said .
The Australian National Physical Activity Guideline recommends Australians accumulate 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity each week .

By Antoinette Lattouf | 10 daily senior reporter
While memes about ‘quarantinis’ were popular during the start of the pandemic, a look at Australia’s drinking and eating trends paints a far less humourous picture.
A new online survey has revealed that while major changes in Australians’ drinking habits happened early on during the COVID-19 lock down, and may be easing somewhat, there are currently still worrying signs around alcohol and junk food consumption.
The number of people who say they are drinking more than they were pre-pandemic has risen slightly, going from 17 percent at the two-week mark of lockdown, to 20 percent now seven weeks in.
On the other hand, an extra seven percent say they are drinking less now than before, going from 20 to 27 percent in recent weeks — but its the reason behind some people drinking more which has drug and alcohol experts concerned.
The findings are the result of a survey of 319 Australian, conducted by Hello Sunday Morning — an organisation that describes itself as “a movement towards a better drinking culture”, seeking to help people change habits by understanding the triggers that make people drink.
While simple boredom was a big reason cited by many in April for drinking more, in May it’s anxiety and stress which has been singled out a major factor.
“It’s no surprise that anxiety and stress are key drivers of people drinking during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kathryn Fletcher, Clinical Manager at Hello Sunday Morning.
The shift from boredom to anxiety is attributed to Aussies being weighed down by the economic realities ahead, such an unemployment..
“There are compounding worries about the virus itself, increased family tensions, financial challenges, the stress of separation from their usual social support networks, and sheer uncertainty about how this is all going to play out. All of these factors increase the strain on people’s relationship with alcohol,” Fletcher said.
Isolation has also increased the habit of people drinking alone — rising from one in five people, to one in four.
Men were more likely than women to report drinking alone.
Some reasons cited for drinking more included people not needing get up as early because they’re working from home and not needing to commute into work, and an absence of consequences to having a hangover because they may not be seeing their boss every day.
According to a poll carried out by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education, seven out of 10 of Australians admit to drinking more alcohol than they would have prior to the pandemic, and more than a third say they are drinking alcohol every day.
Alcohol sale data analysed by Commsec, shows that alcohol sales from bottle shops rose by 25 percent over the last six weeks and have been consistently increasing since the beginning of May.
Guidelines set out by the National Health and Medical Research Council advise Australians to have no more than 10 standard drinks per week and to have at least one alcohol-free day per week.
In more research on pandemic consumption habits, The Heart Foundation teamed up with Coles to survey 500 Australians on what they’ve been eating during COVID-19.
The data shows one in three Australians say their diet is ‘worse’ in lock down. More than half say they have put on weight, or are feeling sluggish and slow.
Heart Foundation Group CEO, Adjunct Professor John Kelly, said isolation had made some Australians cut corners when it came to heart-healthy eating and drinking.
“With the pantry and fridge in tempting reach, we found 29 per cent of people were eating more to relieve stress and boredom, while 26 per cent were eating more desserts and nearly a quarter were snacking more than their usual habits,” Kelly said.
And even the pre-pandemic picture wasn’t promising.
“Even before lock down, poor diet was a leading risk factor for heart disease which, sadly, takes the lives of 48 Australians every day. As we slowly emerge, it may be hard to leave behind some of these unhealthy habits,” Kelly said.
The Australian National Physical Activity Guideline recommends Australians accumulate 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity each week.


australiannationalreview--2020-05-23--The Retro Entertainment Alternative If This Pandemic Is Drive-In You Mad

Live entertainment is back on the agenda , with drive-in concerts allowing people to enjoy shows from the comfort of their car while adhering to COVID-19 restrictions .
The drive-in concerts will feature live performances catering to audiences of up to 600 people and will broadcast via an FM radio signal into the car ’ s speakers .
The performances will also be live-streamed to the cars via Zoom , allowing the audience to interact with artists , while car horns and windscreen wipers will be used to create applause .
Drive-In Entertainment Australia managing director Samwise Holmes told AAP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support the struggling live entertainment sector .
“ Even if Stage 3 restrictions are realised in July , Australians will still only be allowed to congregate with groups of up to 100 people , and that is not sustainable for most live performances , ” Holmes said on Tuesday .
Drive-In Entertainment Australia plans to launch eight still-undetermined COVID-safe venues across NSW and Victoria during phase one of the restrictions .
“ We ’ re hoping to give people something innovative and wonderful , ” Holmes said .
“ We think this will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australian communities but also help provide artists with an income to get back to doing what they love.
” Chloe Dallimore from entertainment union Equity said the initiative would help keep “ the heartbeat of Australian entertainment alive and thriving.
” “ Thousands of creative , performers , musicians and technicians have been left out of the JobKeeper allowance , and our proud industry is on its knees .
Drive-in Entertainment is an innovative way of rethinking audience access to our live entertainment sector , ” Dallimore said in a statement on Tuesday @

Live entertainment is back on the agenda, with drive-in concerts allowing people to enjoy shows from the comfort of their car while adhering to COVID-19 restrictions.
The drive-in concerts will feature live performances catering to audiences of up to 600 people and will broadcast via an FM radio signal into the car’s speakers.
The performances will also be live-streamed to the cars via Zoom, allowing the audience to interact with artists, while car horns and windscreen wipers will be used to create applause.
Drive-In Entertainment Australia managing director Samwise Holmes told AAP the concerts were an innovative way to support the struggling live entertainment sector.
“Even if Stage 3 restrictions are realised in July, Australians will still only be allowed to congregate with groups of up to 100 people, and that is not sustainable for most live performances,” Holmes said on Tuesday.
Drive-In Entertainment Australia plans to launch eight still-undetermined COVID-safe venues across NSW and Victoria during phase one of the restrictions.
“We’re hoping to give people something innovative and wonderful,” Holmes said.
“We think this will be important for the mental health of Australian communities but also help provide artists with an income to get back to doing what they love.”
Chloe Dallimore from entertainment union Equity said the initiative would help keep “the heartbeat of Australian entertainment alive and thriving.”
“Thousands of creative, performers, musicians and technicians have been left out of the JobKeeper allowance, and our proud industry is on its knees. Drive-in Entertainment is an innovative way of rethinking audience access to our live entertainment sector,” Dallimore said in a statement on Tuesday.


australiannationalreview--2020-05-25--Life In A Pandemic With Borderline Personality Disorder

Carissa Wright has spent years learning how to cope with distressing emotions , but when the coronavirus pandemic hit , all of a sudden her life became “ quite frightening ” .
Wright , 30 , had her vision mapped out for 2020 .
She was marrying her partner of two and a half years , had just landed her dream job and was “ looking forward to the future ” .
“ I think people take that in different ways , but for me , I felt calm .
Everything was running quite smoothly.
” Then the COVID-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
Wright started to worry about her job , her friends and family — and herself .
For the last four years , she has been successful in managing Borderline Personality Disorder ( BPD ) but the pandemic quickly made her feel “ off-balance ” .
“ Life became quite frightening , ” she said .
BPD is a complex mental illness that affects between one and four per cent of the population .
It ’ s one of several personality disorders where a person has difficulty managing their emotions and impulses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with unstable emotions like intense anger or sadness which can fluctuate quickly and turn into impulsive behaviours , such as risk-taking or self-harm , ” SANE Australia Clinical Director Karen Fletcher told 10 daily .
Fletcher stressed self-harm can be a “ release mechanism ” from intense internal stress , not a way of attracting attention — an unhelpful myth associated with the disorder .
“ This might be around what they expect of people they ’ re close to .
They might feel really let down by how someone acts , whereas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disorder can ride that wave a bit easier , ” she said .
Fletcher said these symptoms , which normally appear during adolescence , can make BPD difficult to diagnose .
But once a diagnosis is made by a mental health professional , it is treatable .
“ It ’ s about figuring out what support a person needs to put in place to help them understand their triggers and themselves a bit better , to avoid situations that cause them distress , ” she said .
Wright was diagnosed with BPD at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she hadn ’ t heard the term before .
“ I only really knew about depression and anxiety through high school , ” she said .
Clinical psychologist Professor John Gleeson , who is Director of ACU ’ s Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre , said personality disorders are far less talked about and understood in the community .
“ It ’ s a big area of mystery for a lot of people , ” he told 10 daily .
“ I think they ’ re also often talked about in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person with a personality disorder can seem quite unsympathetic , rejecting and hostile .
That can feed into a lot of their fears and concerns.
” Wright said she felt “ suffocated ” by the disorder .
“ It feels like you ’ re drenched by these emotions that everyone feels , but on a different and more intense level , ” she said .
She said there was a lot of pain in the first 13 years of living with her illness , as she navigated the health system in WA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the time , I thought I was the only one with BPD , ” she said .
But in recent years , Wright found a therapy called dialectical behaviour therapy ( DBT ) which she said equipped her with tools and skills that saved her life .
While the pandemic is an uncertain and stressful time for all Australians , experts say this is more pronounced for people with complex mental illness such as BPD .
With isolation and physical distancing measures in place , Fletcher said those with BPD might experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added stress but having less coping mechanisms available to them .
“ Their support mechanisms and strategies for maintaining positive mental health — whether that ’ s sport or socialising — might be gone , ” she said .
“ On top of that , stress triggers more symptoms.
” Gleeson said the current environment is concerning for those who rely on “ being in control ” .
“ We ’ re living in uncertain times .
If someone with a personality disorder has a very high need to be in control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eliminate any doubt , they are going to struggle , ” he said .
“ It ’ s going to escalate their anxiety or accentuate some of their behaviours , ” he said .
Wright said her sense of “ stability ” was put off balance when the virus impacted her routine .
“ I had my routine , I had my stability and that was shaken up , ” she said .
Wright said she had to focus intimately on her strategies to “ stay afloat ” during the pandemic as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rely heavily on team sports as an outlet for my mental health , so I ’ ve had to learn how to do that by myself , ” she said .
Wright has also leaned on her partner and her support network throughout the pandemic , which she describes as the “ best thing [ she ’ s ] ever done for [ her ] mental health ” .
“ It ’ s really easy to mask yourself and place yourself in crowds where you ’ re floating with them .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , ” she said .
“ Now , I focus on having my family and friends around me who support and understand and validate my experience.
” Gleeson said partners , family members or other carers can also experience stress , particularly during the pandemic .
“ We know that the carers are at an elevated risk themselves for depression , anxiety and stress , ” he said .
“ With social isolation in place , it ’ s going to be harder for them to have some respite , to connect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for themselves.
” He suggested seeking out ways to stay virtually connected .
“ Try to remember that your support for a person with the disorder can make a difference , even though it may not feel like it , ” he said .
Wright said she has learnt to accept kindness and compassion from others .
Now , the pandemic feels like “ a blessing in disguise ” .
“ What I ’ ve taken away is that I can get through chaotic situations more gently and more compassionately then what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ This could have really thrown me and my recovery off , and I could have gone down the path of the self-destructive things I used to do .
“ I think it ’ s a testament to my own self that I now care enough about my self to make sure that didn ’ t happen .
”

By Emma Brancatisano | 10 daily news reporter
Carissa Wright has spent years learning how to cope with distressing emotions, but when the coronavirus pandemic hit, all of a sudden her life became “quite frightening”.
Wright, 30, had her vision mapped out for 2020. She was marrying her partner of two and a half years, had just landed her dream job and was “looking forward to the future”.
“I was in a content place,” Wright told 10 daily.
“I think people take that in different ways, but for me, I felt calm. Everything was running quite smoothly.”
Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, uprooting life as we knew it. Wright started to worry about her job, her friends and family — and herself.
For the last four years, she has been successful in managing Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) but the pandemic quickly made her feel “off-balance”.
“Life became quite frightening,” she said.
I started to feel like my old behaviours were coming up … the scariest thing for me was going back to that place, and losing that confidence I had built up.
BPD is a complex mental illness that affects between one and four per cent of the population. It’s one of several personality disorders where a person has difficulty managing their emotions and impulses.
“Often people with BPD struggle with unstable emotions like intense anger or sadness which can fluctuate quickly and turn into impulsive behaviours, such as risk-taking or self-harm,” SANE Australia Clinical Director Karen Fletcher told 10 daily.
Fletcher stressed self-harm can be a “release mechanism” from intense internal stress, not a way of attracting attention — an unhelpful myth associated with the disorder.
Fletcher said people with BPD struggle with their self-identity and how they relate to others.
“This might be around what they expect of people they’re close to. They might feel really let down by how someone acts, whereas others who don’t have the disorder can ride that wave a bit easier,” she said.
Fletcher said these symptoms, which normally appear during adolescence, can make BPD difficult to diagnose. But once a diagnosis is made by a mental health professional, it is treatable.
“It’s about figuring out what support a person needs to put in place to help them understand their triggers and themselves a bit better, to avoid situations that cause them distress,” she said.
‘I Felt Like I Was Suffocating’
Wright was diagnosed with BPD at 17. At the time, she said she hadn’t heard the term before.
“I only really knew about depression and anxiety through high school,” she said.
Clinical psychologist Professor John Gleeson, who is Director of ACU’s Healthy Brain and Mind Research Centre, said personality disorders are far less talked about and understood in the community.
“It’s a big area of mystery for a lot of people,” he told 10 daily.
“I think they’re also often talked about in extremely pessimistic terms … the world to a person with a personality disorder can seem quite unsympathetic, rejecting and hostile. That can feed into a lot of their fears and concerns.”
Wright said she felt “suffocated” by the disorder.
“It feels like you’re drenched by these emotions that everyone feels, but on a different and more intense level,” she said.
She said there was a lot of pain in the first 13 years of living with her illness, as she navigated the health system in WA with “out-of-date resources”.
“At the time, I thought I was the only one with BPD,” she said.
But in recent years, Wright found a therapy called dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) which she said equipped her with tools and skills that saved her life.
‘My Stability Was Shaken Up’
While the pandemic is an uncertain and stressful time for all Australians, experts say this is more pronounced for people with complex mental illness such as BPD.
With isolation and physical distancing measures in place, Fletcher said those with BPD might experience the “double whammy” of feeling added stress but having less coping mechanisms available to them.
“Their support mechanisms and strategies for maintaining positive mental health — whether that’s sport or socialising — might be gone,” she said.
“On top of that, stress triggers more symptoms.”
Gleeson said the current environment is concerning for those who rely on “being in control”.
“We’re living in uncertain times. If someone with a personality disorder has a very high need to be in control of everything, to have things certain and to eliminate any doubt, they are going to struggle,” he said.
“It’s going to escalate their anxiety or accentuate some of their behaviours,” he said.
Wright said her sense of “stability” was put off balance when the virus impacted her routine.
“I had my routine, I had my stability and that was shaken up,” she said.
Staying Afloat
Wright said she had to focus intimately on her strategies to “stay afloat” during the pandemic as she learnt to adapt.
“I rely heavily on team sports as an outlet for my mental health, so I’ve had to learn how to do that by myself,” she said.
The biggest turning point was learning how to be by myself again.
Wright has also leaned on her partner and her support network throughout the pandemic, which she describes as the “best thing [she’s] ever done for [her] mental health”.
“It’s really easy to mask yourself and place yourself in crowds where you’re floating with them. In the past I found myself hanging around toxic people,” she said.
“Now, I focus on having my family and friends around me who support and understand and validate my experience.”
Gleeson said partners, family members or other carers can also experience stress, particularly during the pandemic.
“We know that the carers are at an elevated risk themselves for depression, anxiety and stress,” he said.
“With social isolation in place, it’s going to be harder for them to have some respite, to connect with the wider family and to care for themselves.”
He suggested seeking out ways to stay virtually connected.
“Try to remember that your support for a person with the disorder can make a difference, even though it may not feel like it,” he said.
Wright said she has learnt to accept kindness and compassion from others.
Now, the pandemic feels like “a blessing in disguise”.
“What I’ve taken away is that I can get through chaotic situations more gently and more compassionately then what I used to be able to,” she said.
“This could have really thrown me and my recovery off, and I could have gone down the path of the self-destructive things I used to do.
“I think it’s a testament to my own self that I now care enough about my self to make sure that didn’t happen.”


australiannationalreview--2020-05-25--Warning After Toddler Swallows 32 Small Magnets At Home During Isolation

Parents are being urged to keep an eye on small magnets in toys during isolation amid a “ concerning ” spike in children being admitted to hospital .
Melbourne toddler Imogen Ferguson , two , needed emergency surgery at Monash Children ’ s Hospital last week after she swallowed 32 small “ ball-bearing-style ” magnets from inside a toy .
Imogen ’ s mother , Teigan Brown , said she left her two daughters “ for two seconds ” when they got their hands on the toy .
“ I didn ’ t realise the girls had the toy until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the little one had put one in her mouth and swallowed it , ” Brown told reporters .
“ I thought , okay , it was just one … so I kept a close eye on her.
” The next morning , Brown said her daughter was unsettled and had a high temperature .
She took her to hospital where an X-ray showed Imogen had in fact swallowed 32 magnetic balls and needed surgery .
Paediatric surgeon Dr Chris Kimber said Imogen ’ s case is part of a “ concerning ” spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spend more time at home .
He said four children have been admitted to Victorian children ’ s hospitals for magnet ingestion in the last three weeks , in contrast to the “ odd case ” in the last three years .
Three of those cases required major surgery , with the children suffering multiple holes in their bowels .
“ What happens is you have a magnet in one area of the bowel and another magnet in another area , and they attract each other and burn a hole through , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood vessels in the way , they erode through them and cause significant bleeding .
Kimber said these injuries can be “ catastrophic ” and potentially life-threatening .
Kimber said the magnetic balls are often hidden in older children ’ s toys , such as plastic building blocks .
He urged parents to remain vigilant and to keep these toys away from their toddlers .
Meanwhile , Imogen ’ s mother is thankful her daughter is recovering well in hospital .
“ It could have been a lot worse , ” she said @

By Emma Brancatisano | 10 daily news reporter
Parents are being urged to keep an eye on small magnets in toys during isolation amid a “concerning” spike in children being admitted to hospital.
Melbourne toddler Imogen Ferguson, two, needed emergency surgery at Monash Children’s Hospital last week after she swallowed 32 small “ball-bearing-style” magnets from inside a toy.
Imogen’s mother, Teigan Brown, said she left her two daughters “for two seconds” when they got their hands on the toy.
Imogen’s sister Heidi also swallowed two balls.
“I didn’t realise the girls had the toy until [Heidi] came in and said the little one had put one in her mouth and swallowed it,” Brown told reporters.
“I thought, okay, it was just one … so I kept a close eye on her.”
The next morning, Brown said her daughter was unsettled and had a high temperature. She took her to hospital where an X-ray showed Imogen had in fact swallowed 32 magnetic balls and needed surgery.
“I cried, and cried,” Brown said.
Paediatric surgeon Dr Chris Kimber said Imogen’s case is part of a “concerning” spike in admissions during the pandemic as families spend more time at home.
He said four children have been admitted to Victorian children’s hospitals for magnet ingestion in the last three weeks, in contrast to the “odd case” in the last three years.
Three of those cases required major surgery, with the children suffering multiple holes in their bowels.
“What happens is you have a magnet in one area of the bowel and another magnet in another area, and they attract each other and burn a hole through,” Kimber explained.
“If there are blood vessels in the way, they erode through them and cause significant bleeding.
Kimber said these injuries can be “catastrophic” and potentially life-threatening.
It has deeply concerned us as paediatric surgeons. We think these cases are preventable.
Kimber said the magnetic balls are often hidden in older children’s toys, such as plastic building blocks. He urged parents to remain vigilant and to keep these toys away from their toddlers.
Meanwhile, Imogen’s mother is thankful her daughter is recovering well in hospital.
“It could have been a lot worse,” she said.


australiannationalreview--2020-05-24--How Eating At A Restaurant Will Change From Today

With many restaurants across Australia set to reopen their doors this weekend as coronavirus restrictions begin to ease , many are wondering what dining out will look like .
And like most things touched by the coronavirus pandemic , you can be certain enjoying a meal at a restaurant won ’ t be the same as it used to be .
Cafes and restaurants in New South Wales , Queensland and the ACT have been allowed to reopen this weekend but must adhere to a 10-customer limit .
The Northern Territory will also be able to open cafes , restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unlimited number of people with social distancing in place but patrons are not allowed to stay for longer than two hours .
Tasmania and Western Australia will follow from May 18 , with Tasmania allowing 10 patrons , while WA will allow 20 at a time .
South Australia will further begin on June 8 , allowing 10 patrons .
A definite date for in-premise dining has not been established as yet for Victoria but restaurants and cafes will continue to offer takeaway .
So how will the process change and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the doors of your favourite dining location ?
Here ’ s what you can expect according to recommended guidelines from the Restaurant and Catering Australia ( R & CA ) : With the limited number of patrons being allowed into venues , it ’ s likely getting a booking will be more difficult than it used to be .
For Brisbane ’ s City Winery , their phones have been ringing off the hook , with bookings now full until mid-June .
“ We are beyond thrilled and beyond excited to be opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In some parts of Australia , allowing even small numbers of patrons to dine on site will bring in extra cash for smaller venues limited to take-away meals , said the R & CA ’ s chief executive Wes Lambert .
But Australian Hotels Association chief executive Stephen Ferguson said the one-size-fits-all approach isn ’ t going to work for all businesses .
With high fixed costs like refrigeration and air conditioning , it ’ s not viable for many hotels to open for such small numbers of diners .
This might equal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out .
When lining up to enter the restaurant , 1.5 metre social distancing rules will apply between patrons and restaurants may place markers on the floor to make this easier to follow .
If available , restaurants might use separate doors for entry and exit and hand sanitiser could also be offered at both of these points .
At Sydney ’ s The Gantry , there will even be a ‘ hand sanitiser sommelier ’ greeting guests on arrival with a selection of santisers from local alcohol brands .
Fancy .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might be greeted with a contactless menu .
It ’ s a matter of scanning the QR code at the table so the menu pops up on your phone , a new feature offered by tech platform HungryHungry .
Shareable menu items might become a thing of the past and there will be no buffet or ‘ serve yourself ’ dining allowed , such as salad bars .
You may find yourself eating and drinking from disposable items instead of regular plates , forks , spoons , knives and cups to maintain hygiene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , cutlery and glassware , they should be clearing them after each course and washing them in commercial grade units .
Meanwhile , salt and pepper shakers will likely no longer be found on tables and all serves of condiments should be disposable .
This will likely be one of the biggest changes with tables set to be more spread out with a minimum distance of 1.5 metres apart being put in place .
It ’ s recommended no more than one patron sit per four square metres across the dinning area .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be sanitised after each group booking .
A big part of dining out is the ambiance and mood created in a restaurant scene .
This might be a little difficult to achieve with less people not creating as much of a hustle and bustle .
But fear not , a number of clever restaurant owners have become quite inventive when it comes to making the experience look and sounds the same .
Sydney ’ s Five Dock Dining will be playing background restaurant noises over their PA system and putting up picture cutouts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Paying for your meal electronically will be preferred and some premises may instruct their patrons not to use cash at all .
Apps might also be used to make payment easier and split bills between diners if needed .
So while it will be nice to visit your local restaurant for a bite and some conversation with friends and family , expect it to be a little different to what it used to be .

By Valentina Todoroska | 10 daily Lifestyle Editor
With many restaurants across Australia set to reopen their doors this weekend as coronavirus restrictions begin to ease, many are wondering what dining out will look like.
And like most things touched by the coronavirus pandemic, you can be certain enjoying a meal at a restaurant won’t be the same as it used to be.
Cafes and restaurants in New South Wales, Queensland and the ACT have been allowed to reopen this weekend but must adhere to a 10-customer limit.
The Northern Territory will also be able to open cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs this weekend to an unlimited number of people with social distancing in place but patrons are not allowed to stay for longer than two hours.
Tasmania and Western Australia will follow from May 18, with Tasmania allowing 10 patrons, while WA will allow 20 at a time. South Australia will further begin on June 8, allowing 10 patrons.
A definite date for in-premise dining has not been established as yet for Victoria but restaurants and cafes will continue to offer takeaway.
So how will the process change and what will it look like when you enter the doors of your favourite dining location?
Here’s what you can expect according to recommended guidelines from the Restaurant and Catering Australia (R&CA):
Making a booking
With the limited number of patrons being allowed into venues, it’s likely getting a booking will be more difficult than it used to be.
For Brisbane’s City Winery, their phones have been ringing off the hook, with bookings now full until mid-June.
“We are beyond thrilled and beyond excited to be opening,” co-founder Adam Penberthy said.
In some parts of Australia, allowing even small numbers of patrons to dine on site will bring in extra cash for smaller venues limited to take-away meals, said the R&CA’s chief executive Wes Lambert.
But Australian Hotels Association chief executive Stephen Ferguson said the one-size-fits-all approach isn’t going to work for all businesses.
With high fixed costs like refrigeration and air conditioning, it’s not viable for many hotels to open for such small numbers of diners.
This might equal less options for where you can eat out.
Queuing and entering
When lining up to enter the restaurant, 1.5 metre social distancing rules will apply between patrons and restaurants may place markers on the floor to make this easier to follow.
If available, restaurants might use separate doors for entry and exit and hand sanitiser could also be offered at both of these points.
At Sydney’s The Gantry, there will even be a ‘hand sanitiser sommelier’ greeting guests on arrival with a selection of santisers from local alcohol brands. Fancy.
Ordering your food
When you sit at your table, you might be greeted with a contactless menu.
It’s a matter of scanning the QR code at the table so the menu pops up on your phone, a new feature offered by tech platform HungryHungry.
If this technology is not available, it’s recommended that all menus should be laminated to make them easy to clean or should be disposed of after use if not.
Shareable menu items might become a thing of the past and there will be no buffet or ‘serve yourself’ dining allowed, such as salad bars.
Cutlery and condiments
You may find yourself eating and drinking from disposable items instead of regular plates, forks, spoons, knives and cups to maintain hygiene.
If restaurants are using non-disposable crockery, cutlery and glassware, they should be clearing them after each course and washing them in commercial grade units.
Meanwhile, salt and pepper shakers will likely no longer be found on tables and all serves of condiments should be disposable.
Where you sit
This will likely be one of the biggest changes with tables set to be more spread out with a minimum distance of 1.5 metres apart being put in place.
It’s recommended no more than one patron sit per four square metres across the dinning area.
All surfaces including chairs and tables will be sanitised after each group booking.
The ambiance
A big part of dining out is the ambiance and mood created in a restaurant scene. This might be a little difficult to achieve with less people not creating as much of a hustle and bustle.
But fear not, a number of clever restaurant owners have become quite inventive when it comes to making the experience look and sounds the same.
Sydney’s Five Dock Dining will be playing background restaurant noises over their PA system and putting up picture cutouts of happy patrons enjoying their virtual meals.
Paying for your meal
Paying for your meal electronically will be preferred and some premises may instruct their patrons not to use cash at all.
Apps might also be used to make payment easier and split bills between diners if needed.
So while it will be nice to visit your local restaurant for a bite and some conversation with friends and family, expect it to be a little different to what it used to be.


australiannationalreview--2020-05-24--Coronavirus: Anti-lockdown car protest draws thousands

Thousands of people in Spain are protesting against the government ’ s handling of the coronavirus outbreak .
The far-right Vox party urged supporters to drive through major cities without leaving their vehicles in order to maintain social distancing .
Protesters in the capital , Madrid , drove in convoy and waved Spanish flags as they called for socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to resign .
Spain imposed some of the tightest restrictions in Europe on 14 March .
It has eased restrictions in recent weeks , but Madrid and Barcelona have remained under tight lockdown due to their more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is lockdown being lifted across Europe ?
• Spain tightens mask rules for all older than five Both cities will begin to relax their curbs from Monday by allowing outdoor dining and gatherings of up to 10 people .
The country ’ s two-month lockdown has seen hotels , bars and restaurants all close as well as beaches and other outdoor attractions .
The government says this has allowed it to get the outbreak under control , and the daily death toll has been gradually declining .
But , on Saturday , far-right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifted entirely owing to its impact on jobs and the economy .
Almost one million jobs were lost in March alone , and forecasts suggest the Spanish economy will contract by up to 12 % this year as a result of the pandemic .
The demonstrators called for both Mr Sanchez and Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias , who heads the left-wing Podemos party , to step down over their handling of the crisis .
“ It is time to make a big noise against the government of unemployment and misery that has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposition Vox party said in a statement .
The party ’ s leader , Santiago Abascal , led the protest from an open-topped bus in Madrid .
He wore a face mask and accused the government of being “ directly responsible for the worst management of this crisis on the entire planet ” .
“ Let your desire be heard for the resignation of the government , ” he told supporters in a speech that was broadcast on radio .
Similar protests also took place in Seville , Barcelona and other regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decked in Spanish flags honked their horns .
Others followed the convoys on foot and held placards While countries such as the UK , US and Brazil have also seen anti-lockdown protests , they have rarely seen social distancing measures respected .
What else is happening in Spain ?
While protests against his leadership took place around the country , Prime Minister Sanchez announced two major relaxations of the lockdown .
He said the country ’ s borders would reopen to foreign tourists from July .
Mr Sanchez also announced that football matches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Spanish football – could resume from the week of 8 June .
“ Spain has done what it should and now new horizons are opening for everyone .
The time has come to bring back many day-to-day activities , ” he said .
The second division is also set to resume at the same time as the top flight , with reports suggesting the derby between Sevilla and Real Betis will be the first La Liga game to take place .
On Wednesday , Mr Sánchez won parliamentary backing to extend the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spain is one of the countries that has been hardest-hit by the coronavirus outbreak , with more than 28,000 recorded deaths and 234,000 cases .
But the decline in the daily death toll continued on Friday , with 56 recorded over the previous twenty-four hours .

By bbc
Thousands of people in Spain are protesting against the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak.
The far-right Vox party urged supporters to drive through major cities without leaving their vehicles in order to maintain social distancing.
Protesters in the capital, Madrid, drove in convoy and waved Spanish flags as they called for socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to resign.
Spain imposed some of the tightest restrictions in Europe on 14 March.
It has eased restrictions in recent weeks, but Madrid and Barcelona have remained under tight lockdown due to their more severe outbreaks of Covid-19.
Both cities will begin to relax their curbs from Monday by allowing outdoor dining and gatherings of up to 10 people.
Why are people protesting?
The country’s two-month lockdown has seen hotels, bars and restaurants all close as well as beaches and other outdoor attractions.
The government says this has allowed it to get the outbreak under control, and the daily death toll has been gradually declining.
Image caption Spain has been one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic
Image caption Vox leader Santiago Abascal spoke from an open-topped bus in Madrid
But, on Saturday, far-right protesters called for the lockdown to be lifted entirely owing to its impact on jobs and the economy.
Almost one million jobs were lost in March alone, and forecasts suggest the Spanish economy will contract by up to 12% this year as a result of the pandemic.
The demonstrators called for both Mr Sanchez and Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias, who heads the left-wing Podemos party, to step down over their handling of the crisis.
“It is time to make a big noise against the government of unemployment and misery that has abandoned our self-employed and workers,” the opposition Vox party said in a statement.
Media caption Who are Spain’s far-right party?
The party’s leader, Santiago Abascal, led the protest from an open-topped bus in Madrid. He wore a face mask and accused the government of being “directly responsible for the worst management of this crisis on the entire planet”.
“Let your desire be heard for the resignation of the government,” he told supporters in a speech that was broadcast on radio.
Similar protests also took place in Seville, Barcelona and other regional capitals where rows of cars and motorbikes decked in Spanish flags honked their horns.
Others followed the convoys on foot and held placards
While countries such as the UK, US and Brazil have also seen anti-lockdown protests, they have rarely seen social distancing measures respected.
What else is happening in Spain?
While protests against his leadership took place around the country, Prime Minister Sanchez announced two major relaxations of the lockdown.
He said the country’s borders would reopen to foreign tourists from July.
Mr Sanchez also announced that football matches in La Liga – the top league of Spanish football – could resume from the week of 8 June.
Image caption La Liga players started training in small groups earlier this week
“Spain has done what it should and now new horizons are opening for everyone. The time has come to bring back many day-to-day activities,” he said.
The second division is also set to resume at the same time as the top flight, with reports suggesting the derby between Sevilla and Real Betis will be the first La Liga game to take place.
On Wednesday, Mr Sánchez won parliamentary backing to extend the state of emergency until 6 June.
Spain is one of the countries that has been hardest-hit by the coronavirus outbreak, with more than 28,000 recorded deaths and 234,000 cases.
But the decline in the daily death toll continued on Friday, with 56 recorded over the previous twenty-four hours.


australiannationalreview--2020-05-26--PM Announces $48 Million COVID Mental Health Plan

Coronavirus loneliness , depression and anxiety is taking a toll on “ everyone ” , health minister Greg Hunt said , with the government tipping in another $ 48 million for mental health .
Following a meeting of the national cabinet on Friday , the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan has been adopted , Prime Minister Scott Morrison told a Parliament House press conference on Friday .
He said the federal government would commit $ 48.1 million in additional funding to implement that plan .
Health minister Hunt said “ one of the most important ” things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the nation .
“ The stress of concerns about health , the loneliness of isolation , anxiety about a job , a small business set of finances , the mortgage – all of these pressures that have come with the pandemic have created specific mental health challenges , ” he said .
“ Everyone here will have seen or felt , in amongst their own families or friends or circles , the pressures that are in place right across Australia.
” Hunt detailed that the funding would cover the collection and analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID , nearly $ 30 million for investment in outreach to vulnerable communities , and more than $ 11 million for a national campaign to raise awareness and say “ it ’ s OK to not be OK ” .
He said the latest data from Queensland , Victoria and Tasmania had shown “ no known increase in suicide rates ” , which he called “ heartening , and more heartening than we ’ d expected.
” “ We watch very carefully , however , because these things can build up .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And so we want to get ahead of the curve , ” Hunt said .
Christine Morgan , CEO of the National Mental Health Commission and National Suicide Prevention Adviser , said it was important to address “ risky behaviour ” potentially linked to the pandemic , such as substance abuse or gambling .
“ We must , and we will , deal with the issues around violence , domestic , family , sexual violence , ” she added .
Morgan said she was also heartened by statistics showing suicide had not yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue that needed to be closely monitored .
She urged Australians to maintain social connections .
“ Because if you are connected with people , you have hope .
And hope is what we all need , ” she said .
“ We are looking here to really say , we will be there for people to address their mental health needs , whether that is if you ’ re challenged by a mental illness , or you are challenged by mental unwellness or issues .
We ’ ll be there .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We will significantly improve the data so that we can be much more informed.
” Morrison said expanded telehealth services had helped the number of presentations and consulations grow back to the numbers before the pandemic , which he called a “ welcome ” update .
“ It ’ s an important reminder to all Australians , of course , keep COVID-safe , but don ’ t neglect your other health conditions , ” the PM said .
Mental health organisation The Reach Foundation said it welcomed the announcement .
“ The reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s mental health , especially for young people , was already of concern prior to the pandemic .
COVID-19 has only exacerbated these challenges that prevent young people from achieving their potential , ” Reach said in a statement .
“ Adolescence is already complicated enough , and for young people who are particularly vulnerable , the consequences of not supporting their mental health and wellbeing will have lasting consequences.
” “ We need more preventative and early intervention programs to equip young people with the tools to navigate through life ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all parts of our community to rally around our young people .
”

By Josh Butler | 10 daily Senior News Reporter
Coronavirus loneliness, depression and anxiety is taking a toll on “everyone”, health minister Greg Hunt said, with the government tipping in another $48 million for mental health.
Following a meeting of the national cabinet on Friday, the National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan has been adopted, Prime Minister Scott Morrison told a Parliament House press conference on Friday.
He said the federal government would commit $48.1 million in additional funding to implement that plan.
Health minister Hunt said “one of the most important” things that needed attention was the mental health of the nation.
“The stress of concerns about health, the loneliness of isolation, anxiety about a job, a small business set of finances, the mortgage – all of these pressures that have come with the pandemic have created specific mental health challenges,” he said.
“Everyone here will have seen or felt, in amongst their own families or friends or circles, the pressures that are in place right across Australia.”
Hunt detailed that the funding would cover the collection and analysis of updated data around mental health and COVID, nearly $30 million for investment in outreach to vulnerable communities, and more than $11 million for a national campaign to raise awareness and say “it’s OK to not be OK”.
He said the latest data from Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania had shown “no known increase in suicide rates”, which he called “heartening, and more heartening than we’d expected.”
“We watch very carefully, however, because these things can build up. They can brew. People can dwell. And so we want to get ahead of the curve,” Hunt said.
Christine Morgan, CEO of the National Mental Health Commission and National Suicide Prevention Adviser, said it was important to address “risky behaviour” potentially linked to the pandemic, such as substance abuse or gambling.
“We must, and we will, deal with the issues around violence, domestic, family, sexual violence,” she added.
Morgan said she was also heartened by statistics showing suicide had not yet risen, but said it was an issue that needed to be closely monitored. She urged Australians to maintain social connections.
“Because if you are connected with people, you have hope. And hope is what we all need,” she said.
“We are looking here to really say, we will be there for people to address their mental health needs, whether that is if you’re challenged by a mental illness, or you are challenged by mental unwellness or issues. We’ll be there. We will come to you in community. We will significantly improve the data so that we can be much more informed.”
Morrison said expanded telehealth services had helped the number of presentations and consulations grow back to the numbers before the pandemic, which he called a “welcome” update.
“It’s an important reminder to all Australians, of course, keep COVID-safe, but don’t neglect your other health conditions,” the PM said.
Mental health organisation The Reach Foundation said it welcomed the announcement.
“The reality is that the state of Australia’s mental health, especially for young people, was already of concern prior to the pandemic. COVID-19 has only exacerbated these challenges that prevent young people from achieving their potential,” Reach said in a statement.
“Adolescence is already complicated enough, and for young people who are particularly vulnerable, the consequences of not supporting their mental health and wellbeing will have lasting consequences.”
“We need more preventative and early intervention programs to equip young people with the tools to navigate through life’s challenges. It’s up to all parts of our community to rally around our young people.”