As the day unfolded: World Health Assembly passes motion for virus inquiry as cases surpass 4.8 million worldwide, Australian death toll hits 100

The resolution for an inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic has just passed the World Health Assembly with no objections.

The historic decision will see an inquiry into the origins and international response to the coronavirus established at the earliest possible opportunity.

The review will identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population and review lessons learned from the WHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19.

It follows weeks of negotiations and rising diplomatic tension that has put Australia between the US and China as the world grapples with the fallout from the largest pandemic in a century.

That's it from us today, another late one with some big developments from the World Health Assembly. This is Jenny Noyes signing off. See you again tomorrow when our live, free coverage of the coronavirus pandemic returns.

If you're wondering why this vote is so important, check out the explainer on the right. Eryk Bagshaw set out to answer these questions and others in this excellent piece a couple of days ago.

Here's the big stories you need to know from today:

• The resolution for an inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic has passed the World Health Assembly with a unanimous vote. But China is painting it as a win against Australia.
• Australia has reached a sad COVID-19 milestone, with a Sydney aged care resident becoming the country's 100th person to die from the disease.
• NSW has set the date for the return of tourism to the state to June 1, which is also the date people can go back to libraries, museums and art galleries.
• Qantas has unveiled its new rules for passengers, but with masks instead of social distancing they are at odds with Australian medical advice.
• Donald Trump has threatened to permanently cut funding to the WHO if it does not make sweeping reforms.
• Four Melbourne nursing homes are in lockdown after two elderly residents in separate Melbourne homes were revealed to have tested positive to the virus, while another three residents of other aged care homes wait on test results.

The question now is what shape the inquiry will take.

Here's the agenda for the meeting at the World Health Assembly which just voted on its establishment, which should shed some light there. The bit about the inquiry is right towards the end.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne and Health Minister Greg Hunt have just released a joint statement on the establishment of an inquiry saying Australia welcomed the adoption of the "landmark resolution".

The statement describes the motion as "EU-led" and noted it had been co-sponsored by over 130 WHO member states.

"The resolution commits to an impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation into COVID-19, at the earliest appropriate moment, to review the lessons learned from the international health response coordinated by the World Health Organisation (WHO)," the statement says.

"There is also a clear mandate to identify the source of the COVID-19 virus and how it was transmitted to humans, which will be necessary to prevent and reduce the risks of the emergence of new diseases that pass from animals to humans.Australia has been clear and transparent in calling for an independent review into COVID-19, which is an unprecedented global health and economic crisis.

"Australia will continue to be a consistent and constructive voice in the international community to advance and protect our national interest and the global interest."

The resolution for an inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic has just passed the World Health Assembly with no objections.

The historic decision will see an inquiry into the origins and international response to the coronavirus established at the earliest possible opportunity.

The review will identify the zoonotic source of the virus and the route of introduction to the human population and review lessons learned from the WHO-coordinated international health response to COVID-19.

It follows weeks of negotiations and rising diplomatic tension that has put Australia between the US and China as the world grapples with the fallout from the largest pandemic in a century.

China has joined as a co-sponsor to a vital motion at the World Health Assembly calling for an independent review into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The addition of China means the resolution will pass with a full consensus at the meeting of the assembly tonight (Australian time).

China had opposed Australia’s calls for an independent global inquiry, but has now insisted the motion is vastly different to Canberra’s position.

China's embassy in Canberra on Tuesday labelled Australia's attempts to claim credit for the imminent passage of the independent review "a joke".

China's Foreign Ministry has sought to emphasise the European Union's role in the motion in recent days. The motion was originally put forward by the EU, but after negotiations with a number of countries, including Australia, it was strengthened to explicitly state the review should be "impartial, independent and comprehensive".

After a fortnight in which the closure of 14 Victorian McDonald’s outlets forced 1000 employees away from work, experts say fast food restaurants do not pose a significant risk of coronavirus infection to customers or workers.

But the fast food workers’ union says the reality for employees is not as safe as restaurant chains claim.

Despite fast food workers inevitably coming into contact with one another in the workplace, public health experts believe they benefit from rigid working processes and long-standing hygiene standards.

La Trobe public health and food-borne disease expert Associate Professor Hassan Vally said for workers, fast food restaurants were no worse than other workplaces involving face-to-face contact.

"At a place like McDonald’s, part of the reason they’re so successful is because they’ve got systems in place to ensure they can produce food quickly and safely. It’s a production line basically," Professor Vally said. "The extra risk is person-to-person transmission. But as it’s a system-based method, it in theory makes it easier for them to adapt to the current situation."

Read the full story here.