Cases in Australia soar to 531 as Scott Morrison announces stringent new measures to contain deadly coronavirus
- Australia’s coronavirus cases have soared, with 531 people now infected
- Scott Morrison announced strict new measures to combat the pandemic
- Prime Minister advised against all overseas travel and banned mass gatherings
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
Australia’s coronavirus cases have soared, with 531 people now testing positive for the deadly illness.
Queensland reported 16 new coronavirus cases. The state now has 94, up from 78 yesterday.
The surge in cases comes as Scott Morrison announced strict new measures to combat the pandemic.
The Prime Minister has advised against all overseas travel and banned gatherings of more than 100 people as the country battles the coronavirus outbreak.
The drastic travel advice, in place from now, marks the first time in Australia’s history that the government has told citizens not to go to any country.
There are still flights available but Australians abroad have been told to come home as soon as possible in case they are cancelled and they are stranded overseas.
The Prime Minister also banned large non-essential gatherings, shortened aged care visits and put 20,000 student nurses to work.
But, on the advice of doctors, he stopped short of closing schools and initiating a full-scale lockdown as seen in France, Spain and Italy.
In a speech on Wednesday morning, Mr Morrison warned Australia ‘won’t look like it normally does’ for the next six months.
‘We are looking at a situation of at least six months for how we deal with this. It could be much longer than that,’ he said.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said a total lockdown would not help.
‘A short-term two-to-four week shut down of society is not recommended by any of our experts. It does not achieve anything. We have to be in this for the long haul,’ he said.
In his speech, the Prime Minister also slammed people hoarding food.
‘Stop hoarding. I can’t be more blunt about it. Stop it,’ he said.
‘It is not sensible, it is not helpful and it has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis.’
The Prime Minister vowed to keep Australia running despite the drastic measures.
‘We are going to keep Australia running. We are going to keep Australia functioning,’ he said.
‘Life is changing in Australia, as it is changing all around the world. Life is going to continue to change as we deal with the global coronavirus,’ he said.