Active COVID-19 cases now below 2500 as Australia’s recovery rate nears two thirds

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt commended the Australian public today amid the COVID-19 pandemic but pleaded for the country to stick to the plan.

As at 3pm on Monday, April 20, a total of 6,619 cases of COVID-19 had been reported in Australia and the country’s recovery rate was sitting at about 64 per cent, with 4,258 people having been reported to have recovered.

“We have active cases of less than about two-and-a-half thousand now,” the Prime Minister said.

“Overseas experience, even the most cautious and careful of nations such as Singapore demonstrates that none of us can be complacent about these issues and we need to maintain the efforts that we are putting in place.

“Singapore now has, sadly, more cases than Australia after some strong early successes and it’s a reminder that even a country as diligent and as careful as Singapore has been, that none of us can be complacent about this virus. As I’ve said on many occasions it writes its own rules and we need to ensure that we are continually up to the mark in our response.

“It means we need to stick to our plan and that was very much the view of National Cabinet today.

“Our plan is working, our plan is saving lives and it’s saving livelihoods so we need to stick to that plan and we need to stick together in ensuring we maintain the implementation of that plan.”

At a press conference today the Prime Minister made a major announcement regarding elective surgery, with restrictions to be eased on about 25 per cent of activity in elective surgery after the Anzac Day weekend.

All Category Two or equivalent procedures in the private sector will re-commence, as will selected Category Three procedures including all IVF, all screening programs where they have ceased, post cancer reconstructions including breast reconstruction, dental procedures such fitting dentures, braces, non-high-speed drilling and basic fillings, all procedures for children under the age of 18, all joint replacements including knees, hips, and shoulders, all cataract and eye procedures, and endoscopy and colonoscopy.

“This an an important decision because it marks another step on the way back,” Mr Morrison said.

“There is a road back, there is a road ahead and the decision that the National Cabinet has taken today is evidence of that.”

Speaking alongside the Prime Minister at the press conference this afternoon was Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt.

“Today is an important day on the road back,” Mr Hunt said.

“There is progress on all three fronts, on containment, capacity and recovery, and it’s the progress on those first two fronts of containment and capacity which allow us to take these steps on the road to recovery through greater freedoms and opportunities for elective surgery which will mean such an enormous amount to Australians in need health assistance.”

Mr Hunt said that there had been less than a one per cent growth in Australian COVID-19 cases for nine days straight which he described as a “collective national achievement”.

“In terms of distancing, what Australians have been doing in a very consistent way across the country has led to a real flattening of the curve,” Mr Hunt added.

“I would say now, building on what I said on the weekend, that we now have a sustained and consolidated flattening of the curve.”

See the full press conference below.