Thanks for joining us. Here's what you may have missed from today:
- The national death toll stands at 97 and there have been 6895 confirmed cases. Today, Australia passed 6000 recoveries from the virus.
- For the first time in 15 days, South Australia announced a new case of COVID-19.
Queenslanders will be able to visit their mothers on Sunday but are being told not to hug them, as the state plans to reopen cafes and restaurants.
- Three more workers at the Newmarch House nursing home in Sydney's west have been diagnosed with COVID-19 as the aged care regulator steps in.
Western Australia's peak medical body is steadfastly opposed to opening up the state's regional borders despite its recent clean bill of health.
- Support from the government and banks for up to six months staves off the inevitable for struggling retailers, with some unlikely to survive the pandemic.
Support services are bracing for a surge in demand as psychologists warn a spike in mental health problems is already emerging from the coronavirus lockdown.
- Small retailers are turning away from JobKeeper as two-fifths of the private workforce relies on taxpayer support for their wages.
- Fewer than 50 Victorian independent schools have opted to return to classroom teaching to obtain advance funding from the federal government.
We will be continuing our coronavirus live coverage overnight and into Friday in a new blog, which you can read here.
Matt Bungard signing off.