Coronavirus: Australia investigates ‘illegal dinner party’ after spike in cases

News of the social gathering in Tasmania came as authorities in both Australia and New Zealand forecast sharp increases in jobless figures

Both countries have brushed aside calls for an easing of tough restrictions on travel and public gatherings, however, despite apparent successes

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People pictured in the Bondi Beach area of Sydney on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:30am, 14 Apr 2020Updated: 10:54pm, 14 Apr 2020

Australian officials are investigating whether an illegal social gathering of health workers is behind a spike in coronavirus cases in the island state of Tasmania, as the government forecast national unemployment to hit 10 per cent by midyear.

Tasmania Premier Pete Gutwein said on Tuesday there has been a 50 per cent spike in the state’s Covid-19 cases since Thursday, even as the rate of reported new infections continued to significantly slow across the rest of the country.

Local media reported that Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Brendan Murphy, referred to an “illegal dinner party” of medical workers in Tasmania as responsible for the rise in cases to 150 during a briefing with New Zealand officials.

“I accept that this is a serious allegation,” Gutwein told reporters. “I’ve asked the Tasmania Police to investigate this matter, and that will be started today.”

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison practices social distancing in parliament earlier this month. Photo: EPA

The probe came as Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed the government expects unemployment to double from the current 5.1 per cent to 10 per cent by the end of June, which would mark the first time it has hit double digits since 1994. That equates to around 700,000 people without jobs, the treasury said.