Coronavirus update: The latest COVID-19 news for Tuesday 21 April | ABC News

The economic shock waves from this coronavirus pandemic are hitting hard in Australia today with thousands of jobs in the balance at Virgin airlines.

0:05 Virgin Australia has gone into administration after the government rejected pleas for a bail out. The airline is $5b in debt and was hit hard by travel restrictions.

0:47 US oil futures prices have dropped to negative values for the first time, with global energy demand drying up. The main benchmark closed at minus 37 dollars a barrel.

0:58 National Cabinet will discuss a plan to lift the ban on elective surgery. All such surgeries were suspended last month – to keep hospital beds free for covid-19 patients.

1:09 New South Wales is taking steps towards bringing students back to school. The Premier says children will return to school classrooms in three weeks – for one day a week.

1:18 France has joined Italy, Spain and the United States in recording more than 20,000 deaths. Spain has passed the 200,000 cases mark, while in Italy, the number of people currently confirmed to have the virus has fallen for the first time and some countries in Europe are starting to ease some of the restrictions

In more detail:
1:45 Virgin Australia has gone into voluntary administration, as the airline struggles to stay in the air due to the coronavirus pandemic. Senior business correspondent Peter Ryan has more details on the Virgin Australia collapse.
7:18 The Federal Government is standing firm and not handing virgin a lifeline despite the airline going into administration. Political reporter Dan Conifer has more information about the Federal Government’s response to the virgin Australia collapse. 9:25 Also, the Prime Minister is meeting with State and Territory leaders today – they are expected to ease restrictions on elective surgery.
11.24 Lara Hyams reporting from Sydney with more information on the NSW Premier’s plan to return NSW students to the classroom.
15:38 The World Health Organisation has responded to criticism of its handling of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the US gets the same treatment as every other country.

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In This Story: COVID-19

Covid-19 is the official WHO name given to the novel coronavirus which broke out in late 2019 and began to spread in the early months of 2020.

Symptoms of coronavirus

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • a persistent new cough (non productive, dry)
  • a high temperature (e.g. head feels warm to the touch)
  • shortness of breath (if this is abnormal for the individual, or increased)

Latest News about Covid-19

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France is a republic and the largest Western European nation. Through expansion and colonisation in the 17th and 18th centuries France became a great power and still retains territories around the world. It has a seat on the UN security council and is the world’s fourth most wealthy country with a high standard of living and strong cultural identity.

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The capital, Rome, is home to the Vatican as well as landmark art and ancient ruins. Other major cities include Florence, with Renaissance masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s “David” and Brunelleschi’s Duomo; Venice, the city of canals; and Milan, Italy’s fashion capital.

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