5 Must-Reads of the Day: Trump calls social distancing “politically correct”, MPs refuse to take up the tracking up, Singapore new South Asian corona hotspot and more.

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5 must-read coronavirus headline stories from around the world on April 19th, 2020.

5 Must-Reads of the Day: Trump calls social distancing “politically correct”, MPs refuse to take up the tracking up, Singapore new South Asian corona hotspot and more.

5 must-read coronavirus headline stories from around the world on April 19th, 2020.
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5 must-read coronavirus headline stories from around the world on April 19th, 2020.

1. Trump calls Air Force Academy’s social distancing rules as “political correctness”

In bizarre comments made during a press conference at the White House, the US President Donald Trump touched on measures being implemented at the Air Force Academy, where the Vice President was making an address that same day.

“He (Pence) is making the commencement address right now at the Air Force Academy where they are being very politically correct – 10 feet apart,” he said.

Read more: Air Force Academy enforces social distancing measures at graduation ceremony; told they are being politically correct by President.

2. Many Aussie MPs will not download the contact tracing app

Scott Morrison this week said the tracing app, which would detect when people are near eachother for more than 15-minutes, was one of the three strategies pursued by Government to contain the virus.

But this week, many members of Labor, and even MPs like Barnaby Joyce said they would refuse to download the app.

“I treasure the government knowing as little about me as possible,” Joyce said.

Read more: The MPs for and against the Government’s contact-tracing app

3. Singapore becomes the COVID-19 hotspot of South East Asia

The country praised by Australia for its response and containment of the coronavirus has overtaken Indonesia as the nation with the highest number of cases, with hundreds of people diagnosed this week.

The country’s health ministry said of the 596 new cases, only 25 were Singaporeans or permanent residents, concluding most of those diagnosed were low-wage foreign workers.

Read more: Hundreds of foreign workers diagnosed with coronavirus in Singapore

4. Australia’s rate of new COVID-19 cases falls below one per cent

The Health Minister confirmed today the transmission rate had now been under 1 per cent for seven days, the bar set for official flattening of the curve.

Minister Greg Hunt called the news a “national achievement” but warned there was much more work that needed to be done.

Read more: Australian COVID-19 deaths hit 70 but transmission rate officially below one per cent a day

5. Retired cops to monitor our social distancing

The WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson confirmed a plan to mobilise retired police staff to do things like police regional check points is being considered.

He said several retired cops had already put their hands up to help in some way, but the Police Union is not so sure on the idea that would employ people on a volunteer basis.

Read more: WA’s potential COVID-19 taskforce of retired coppers