First-Res N95 Face Mask

Questions Raised Over Face Masks Used In Australian Hospitals

Victorian and NSW public hospitals are using a batch of respirators that are at risk of tearing and may not meet Australian manufacturing standards.

The masks did not gain National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) certification as an N95 respirator until 7 June; however, many of the respirators currently in use across Victoria and New South Wales come from a batch manufactured on 5 May.

Wing You, General Manager of BYD Australia, told newsGP the respirator is ‘fully compliant with Australian standards’ and the batch is ‘definitely’ safe.

‘These masks were manufactured in May. They didn’t get approval from NIOSH, but they are the same model,’ he said.

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Australia State Border Sealed First Time in 100 Years After Surge In Fresh Coronavirus Cases

Australian officials are closing the border between Australia’s two most populous states for an indefinite period as they scramble to contain an outbreak of the coronavirus in the city of Melbourne.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Melbourne, Victoria’s capital, has surged in recent days. For the first time, the border between Victoria and New South Wales has been shut in 100 years. Officials last blocked movement between the two states in 1919 during the Spanish flu pandemic.

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Coronavirus Update: Australian Open 2021 Will Take Place In Melbourne Despite COVID-19

Despite Victoria’s alarming COVID-19 spike, the 2021 Australian Open will proceed in Melbourne and Melbourne only.

According to tournament boss Craig Tiley, Nothing has changed for us in terms of our planning,” Tiley told AAP. 

“So I’m confident we will run the Australian Open in Melbourne and other events around Australia in January.

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NSW Deputy Premier Says, Coronavirus Spike Mean Restrictions At Borders

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro says the State Government will discuss “managing” the number of people coming in from Victoria, after a surge in coronavirus cases south of the border.

More than 83 per cent of new cases in Australia over the past week were recorded in Victoria.

Mr Barilaro said the situation in Victoria could lead to restrictions being placed on travel.

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Johnson & Johnson Partners With Government To Produce Coronavirus Vaccine

Johnson & Johnson spokesman said that they are in talks with multiple governments and global organizations as it seeks to develop a Coronavirus Vaccine.

the vaccine could begin Phase 1 clinical trials as early as September of this year. If those trials are successful, that time frame could allow an emergency deployment of the virus as early as January 2021—a stunning turnaround for a vaccine.

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Coronavirus Update: Victoria Records Biggest Spike In Over A Month

Victoria’s Health Minister Jenny Mikakos announced 21 new cases of coronavirus had been recorded in the state overnight – the highest surge in infections in more than a month.

The infection tally had increased to 1762, with the number of community transmission cases rising by six.

Of the 21 new cases, 15 are returned travelers in mandatory hotel quarantine.

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