Australia’s shutdown has tightened further with real estate auctions banned as the country grapples with the ‘very concerning’ growth in coronavirus cases.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced more restrictions after a meeting of the national cabinet on Tuesday night with an emphasis on stopping large gatherings to prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
Among the new restrictions in place from midnight on Wednesday, open house inspections and auctions are banned as are personal services such as beauty therapy, waxing and tattoo and massage parlours.
‘In the retail space, auction houses, gathering together in auction rooms, that can no longer continue,’ Mr Morrison said.
Auctions and open house inspections have been cancelled in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus (stock image)
‘Real estate auctions and open house inspections in particular open house inspections, that cannot continue.
‘We’re trying to limit the gathering of people in large numbers that can relate to the transmission of that virus.’
Mr Morrison was unclear as to how long the real estate bans would remain in place, with the changes likely to impact the housing market.
Auction clearance were already declining last weekend, with property analysts believing housing prices could fall 20 per cent in response to the virus.
Weddings will be restricted to the couple, celebrant and two witnesses only, while funerals can only have a maximum of 10 mourners.
Food courts in shopping centres will join cafes and restaurants in only being able to provide takeaway.
Businesses being ordered to join pubs, gyms and cinemas in closing their doors include nail salons, all kinds of fitness and wellness centres, yoga studios, barre and spin classes, indoor and outdoor play centres, swimming pools, amusement parks and arcades.
Hairdressers and barbers can stay open but must stick by social distancing rules and ensure each client is out the door in less than 30 minutes.
Health-related personal services, such as physiotherapy, will also be allowed to keep running.
Outdoor boot camps and personal training will be limited to a maximum of 10 people per session.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced further restrictions for gatherings amid the coronavirus
The real estate services have been banned to prevent any unnecessary mass gatherings of people to spread the deadly disease (stock image)
The majority of community facilities will also close, including libraries, galleries, halls, community centres and RSL clubs.
Outdoor and indoor markets are banned while rules around major food markets will be addressed by states and territories.
State governments will also be policing large social gatherings in public spaces and in people’s houses.
‘Going out for the basics, going out for exercise, perhaps with your partner or family members provided it’s a small group, that’s fine,’ Mr Morrison said.
‘Barbecues of lots of friends or even … extended family coming together to celebrate one-year-old birthday parties and all these sorts of things – we can’t do those things now.
‘If you’re gathering together in a group, say 10 people, outside together in a group, that’s not ok.’
A patient has his temperature tested by a doctor at a coronavirus testing facility
Schools will remain open to allow people to keep working, with the prime minister saying anyone who had a job was an ‘essential worker’.
Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said Australians need to avoid unnecessary interactions.
‘We are very worried about the rate of rise of the number of coronavirus cases in Australia, particularly over the last few days,’ Prof Murphy said on Tuesday night.
‘It is a very, very steep growth and it is very concerning.’
‘We have to change the way we interact, as human beings, in our society, for quite a long time. This virus will be with us for some time,’ he said.
Mr Murphy was particularly concerned about travellers returning from overseas with the virus.and also stressed the importance of social distancing to prevent community transmission.
‘These measures are really draconian,’ Prof Murphy said.
‘But if we’re going to control community transmission, we have to stop the capacity of this virus from spreading from person to person. And I have said many times, it is a long haul.’
Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said Australians need to avoid unnecessary interactions to stop the spread of the disease