Coronavirus is no longer confined to the big cities and is quickly spreading to the bush 

The latest figures show coronavirus is no longer confined to the big cities as the deadly virus infects more victims in regional Australia. 

As the nation’s rate of COVID-19 infection continues to surge with each passing day, casualties in regional parts of the country have started to soar. 

The total number of cases nationwide hit 2,996 on Friday morning, including 13 deaths.  

Of those numbers, New South Wales remains at the epicentre of the nation’s virus crisis with 1,405 confirmed cases – almost half Australia’s total.

Cases of coronavirus have soared overnight. However not all those diagnosed are from the big cities. Many are from regional towns. 

The regional Hunter New England Health District has 70 people who have returned positive test results (stock image of Tamworth, NSW)

The regional Hunter New England Health District has 70 people who have returned positive test results (stock image of Tamworth, NSW)

The regional Hunter New England Health District – which spans more than 130,000km along the east coast from Newcastle to the NSW/Queensland border – has 70 people who have returned positive test results.

Confirmed cases have also been popping up in the Murrumbidgee region in the state’s south, including Wagga Wagga, Griffith and Albury, with ten infections.

Northern Tablelands MP and NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said his office has been inundated with calls and emails from worried residents.

‘The health district in the public domain is just not sufficient, it’s just not enough … We’re dealing with a worldwide pandemic and people’s stress levels are at record highs,’ Mr Marshall told the ABC.

Doctors in regional fire-ravaged towns have been struggling to cope with the amount of coronavirus patients due to equipment shortages. 

Sydney's south-east has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19, with between 161-320 people, while northern Sydney has between 81 and 160 confirmed cases

Sydney’s south-east has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19, with between 161-320 people, while northern Sydney has between 81 and 160 confirmed cases

Two young women are seen wearing masks in Sydney's Circular Quay (pictured) on Wednesday, as Australians are encouraged to stay at home

Two young women are seen wearing masks in Sydney’s Circular Quay (pictured) on Wednesday, as Australians are encouraged to stay at home

Dozens of towns have been left without respirators and experts warn the consequences could be dire.

‘The fact is we’ve got no gowns, no masks, we can’t get a swab done, there’s confusion,’ Dr Andrew Gibson, who is based in fire-hit Batemans Bay on the NSW South Coast, told the Sydney Morning Herald.

He also said he hasn’t been able to get a test for himself after developing a sore throat.

‘People have got to realise this is deadly serious and a lot of people are going to die, unfortunately. It’s going to happen.’ 

With an ageing population in regional towns, there are fears the virus could spread to nursing homes.

Cairns (stock image) and the Hinterland in the northern part of the state has recorded 10 cases

Cairns (stock image) and the Hinterland in the northern part of the state has recorded 10 cases

People queue outside Centrelink in Pam Beach on March 23, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia

People queue outside Centrelink in Pam Beach on March 23, 2020 in Gold Coast, Australia

‘[Aged care residents] are worried, they haven’t talked a lot about it, I don’t know how many people realise that if they get sick there’s a chance that they won’t get a ventilator and that’s on the cards, unfortunately,’ Dr Gibson said.

The rate of infection has spread right up the coast into Queensland as the state closed its borders to the rest of the nation at midnight on Wednesday.

A 68-year-old Queensland man died on Wednesday afternoon after catching the virus on board a cruise ship that docked in Sydney last week.

Queensland Health said the man had a ‘serious underlying medical condition before contracting the virus.’

While metropolitan areas of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast have reported almost 300 individual cases, Cairns and the Hinterland in the northern part of the state has recorded 10 cases. 

The virus has also spread into remote areas, with Central Queensland recording at least five positive test results.

The number of victims in regional parts of Victoria has also skyrocketed over the past few days, with two deaths.

Ballarat (stock image) in the Central Highlands has five confirmed cases, bringing the state's total to 466

Ballarat (stock image) in the Central Highlands has five confirmed cases, bringing the state’s total to 466

Health staff conduct tests at the COVID-19 testing centre (pictured) in the Reactivating the Repat Hospital on March 11 in Adelaide

Health staff conduct tests at the COVID-19 testing centre (pictured) in the Reactivating the Repat Hospital on March 11 in Adelaide

The state’s total rose to 520 diagnosed cases of the respiratory infection, an increase of 54 from Wednesday. 

Ballarat in the Central Highlands has five confirmed cases, bringing the state’s total to 466. 

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 2,996

New South Wales: 1,405

Victoria: 520

Queensland: 493

Western Australia: 231

South Australia: 235

Australian Capital Territory: 53

Tasmania: 47 

Northern Territory: 12

TOTAL CASES:  2,996

DEAD: 13

Other regional areas including Greater Geelong has 11 cases,  Baw Baw, Shepparton, Warnambool each has two each, and Mount Alexander has three.

Western Australia, which closed its borders last week and remains shut off to the rest of Australia, recorded eight new cases on Wednesday. 

Eight are from regional parts of the state including the South West, Kimberley, Pilbara, Wheatbelt and Great Southern with one new case each.

The state’s total sits at 231.

Tourists in Tasmania have been ordered to go home by the state’s premier, who has also implored people not to visit the island amid the coronavirus pandemic.

People staying in hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites and boarding houses have until midnight on Sunday to leave their accommodation, the state government has announced.

‘I’m sorry to say that, but go home,’ Premier Peter Gutwein told reporters on Thursday.

Eight are from regional parts of the state including the South West, Kimberley (stock image), Pilbara, Wheatbelt and Great Southern with one new case each

Eight are from regional parts of the state including the South West, Kimberley (stock image), Pilbara, Wheatbelt and Great Southern with one new case each

The cruise ship Artania is anchored offshore between Fremantle and Rottnest Island on March 26. Seven passengers tested positive for COVID-19

The cruise ship Artania is anchored offshore between Fremantle and Rottnest Island on March 26. Seven passengers tested positive for COVID-19

‘Unfortunately there will be some dislocation for people but I make no apologies for working hard to keep Tasmanians safe.’

The state has recorded 42 coronavirus cases. 

Despite the virus being generally more deadly for older or vulnerable people, there are now cases of younger patients battling the disease in hospital.

Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said one patient aged in the 30s was in intensive care and one in their 60s.

‘We have had many people overseas in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s ending up in ICU beds because of their diagnosis of COVID-19,’ she said.

Australia’s deputy chief health officer Paul Kelly said the worrying development should serve as a ‘wake up call’.

‘No-one is immune to this. Many of us will get sick from it. Some of us will get severely sick and end up in hospital,’ he said.

‘Some will need to be in intensive care. And some of us, as we’ve seen already, unfortunately, will pass away from this disease.’

Tourists staying in hotels, hostels, campsites and boarding houses in Tasmania have until midnight on Sunday to leave their accommodation (Pictured: passengers at Hobart Airport)

Tourists staying in hotels, hostels, campsites and boarding houses in Tasmania have until midnight on Sunday to leave their accommodation (Pictured: passengers at Hobart Airport)

Despite the grave warnings, the government relaxed time restrictions on hairdressers on Thursday morning, after previously bringing in a 30 minute appointment limit.

The time limit was quickly lifted after salon owners said it was too difficult to cut someone’s hair in half an hour.

The rule was announced on Tuesday night to slow the spread of coronavirus but was scrapped just eight hours after it came into force.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the decision was made ‘following the receipt of feedback on the practical implementation of measures’.

‘STAGE TWO’ RESTRICTIONS

The government is looking to limit interactions between groups, particularly any event or gathering with 10 or more people.

The new restrictions, from 11.59pm on March 25, mean:   

BUSINESS

* Food courts in shopping centres will only be available for takeaway food. No sitting.

* Auction houses will shut. Auctions and open house inspections are banned.

* Outdoor and indoor markets are banned while rules around major food markets will be addressed by states and territories.

* Personal services such as beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons, spas and tattoo parlours (but not physiotherapy) are banned.

* Hairdressers and barbers can continue but must strictly manage social distancing

* Amusement parks and arcades, and indoor and outdoor play centres must close.

* Boot camps and personal training must be limited to 10 people and enforce social distancing.

* Social sports such as large groups of people playing soccer in a park are banned.

* Galleries, museums, libraries, youth centres, community halls, clubs, RSLs and swimming pools must close.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

* Weddings can continue to be conducted where it is just the couple the celebrant and two witnesses, no more than five people.

* Funerals are limited to no more than 10 people – but with some exceptions granted by states and territories.

SCHOOLS

* It is safe to send children to school up to the end of the term.

* But some pupil-free days will be needed to plan distance learning.

* Schools will reopen after the term break with a mix of distance learning and in-school learning for all “essential workers”.

* PM to meet with teachers and other sector representatives about keeping schools open and protecting staff.

ESSENTIAL WORKERS

* Everyone who still has a job is an essential worker.

TRAVEL

* The official “do no travel” warning is now an outright ban on overseas travel, with some exceptions such as aid workers and compassionate travel.

EXPORTS

* New offence of profiteering and seeking to export goods overseas, relating to such things as medical supplies and masks.

 

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