30 MILLION AMERICANS UNEMPLOYED

CNN reports that 30.3 million Americans — 5 million more people than the entire population of Australia — have filed unemployment claims since mid-March. This is 18.6% of the US workforce.

The news comes after US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — who helped sneak a $90 billion tax cut for millionaires into the last relief package — pledged in a Fox News interview to not support another relief bill unless it includes liability or litigation protections for businesses.

WHAT ABOUT AUSTRALIA? With 1.3 million Australians now on JobSeeker, The Guardian reports that a Labor-Greens-led Senate inquiry has recommended keeping the recently-doubled payment above poverty levels.

TAIWAN TROUBLES

According to The Brisbane Times, Australia will support the US in lobbying for Taiwan to be granted WHO observer status at the World Health Organisation. It’s been four years since Taiwan was ejected from the organisation due to pressure from China.

The move follows an appeal from Taiwan’s Health Minister Chen Shih-chung in the Nine papers this week, and will likely compound ongoing tensions with China. As The Australian ($) reports, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has backed Scott Morrison’s push for an inquiry into the pandemic’s source, and is pushing other US politicians to support the initiative.

CALLS FOR CALM: The AFR ($) reports that, with China helping Western Australia rebound quicker relative to the eastern states, Australia’s most popular premier Mark McGowan has called on everyone to cool their jets, and not upend the gravy train.

NATIONAL CABINET LOOKS AT NURSING HOMES

National Cabinet will meet again this morning, where state, territory and federal leaders will reportedly discuss a draft aged care code of practice. The voluntary code would allow families of dying loved ones controlled visits to nursing homes. Advocates for elderly Australians are pushing for the code to be made mandatory.

Also on today’s National Cabinet agenda: the COVID-19 surveillance plan, mental health recovery, and principles to guide the return of professional and recreational sport.

'ROADMAP TO THE NEW NORMAL'

After more than three weeks without a new case, the Northern Territory yesterday launched the most comprehensive timeline yet for reopening. While dependent on zero new community transmissions and maintaining 1.5-metre physical distancing, restrictions will be lifted at noon across three dates:

1. Today, May 1: outdoor activities including pools, playgrounds, weddings and funerals
2. Friday, May 15: safer indoor activities for less than two hours, including cafes, food courts and gyms (venues will have to pass safety plan checklists)
3. Friday, June 5: the two-hour limit will be removed and other restrictions lifted on sporting matches, TABs, cinemas

The territory will also examine internal border controls with the federal government, councils and communities ahead of their expiration on June 18.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA PUSHES FORWARD: Ahead of National Cabinet today, The Australian ($) reports that South Australia is pushing to reopen in three weeks, after clocking their eighth consecutive day with no new cases.

STATE WRAP

• New South Wales has today launched a heat map of suburbs with active cases, recovery rates and testing figures. The state also launched 13 new fee-free TAFE online short courses for people looking to upskill during the pandemic
• Tasmania has released an interim report on the North West Regional Hospital outbreak, which found hospital staff worked while sick and suggests the original source of infection was most likely to have been Ruby Princess passengers
• South Australia has announced a $2.4 million domestic violence package, to include funding for a new dedicated 24/7 men’s domestic violence hotline amongst other services. The state also published the country’s highest per capita testing rate of over 3.2%.
• Victoria has extended its “Hotels For Heroes” program to police, firefighters and other frontline workers that need to self-isolate due to coronavirus, and launched six new mobile coronavirus testing sites across Melbourne shopping centres yesterday
• Western Australia has pledged to fast-track transport construction contracts worth up to $20 million, with a state-wide construction panel established to expedite delivery.