All international arrivals into Australia will be forced to self-isolate for 14 days in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Scott Morrison announced the new rules around self-isolation on Sunday, which will come into force from midnight.
The prime minister also announced cruise ships will be banned from docking in Australian ports for at least 30 days.
The drastic measures come as the number of confirmed cases in Australia climbs to almost 300. Three people have died from the illness.
Scott Morrison explains the scenario modelling of coronarvirus outbreak. Officials are hoping to flatten the curve to ensure the health system is not overwhelmed
People are seen dressing in personal protective equipment outside the international departures terminal at Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne
‘This is very important. What we have seen in recent weeks is more countries having issues with the virus and that means that the source of some of those transitions are coming – transmissions are coming from those countries,’ he said.
The forced isolation for international comes after New Zealand imposed the same restrictions last week.
Penalties for not self-isolating will be determined by states and territories.
Social distancing measures are also now required, Mr Morrison said.
From Monday, gatherings of more than 500 people have been banned.
Limitations on large gatherings in enclosed areas such as theatres are expected to be made later in the week.
The drastic measures come as the number of confirmed cases in Australia climbs to almost 300. Three people have died from the illness
All international arrivals into Australia will be forced to self-isolate for 14 days in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus , Scott Morrison announced
Symptoms of the virus include a fever, cough, sore throat and shortness of breath
Mr Morrison said the measures were to restrict social interactions and lower the risk of widespread outbreak.
‘There will be no more handshakes…which was something that was not needed a few weeks ago. It is a precautionary step,’ he said.
‘There will be further intrusions and there will be further restrictions on peoples movements.’
Mr Morrison said the measures were to slow the spread of the deadly illness over the next six month to ease the pressure on the health system.
Mr Morrison insisted schools will remain open.
‘When you take children out of schools and put them back in the broader community, the ability for them to potentially engage with others increases the risk.’
A travel ban has already been put in place for mainland China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.
Last week the government banned ‘non essential’ public gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday.
The ban will have stunning consequences for sporting codes, such as the NRL and AFL. Festivals, religious services, concerts and plays – even school assemblies – will be called into doubt.
Sydney’s Royal Easter Show will be cancelled in the wake of the PM’s statement as have further Melbourne Fashion Festival shows.
All international arrivals into Australia will be forced to self-isolate for 14 days in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus, Scott Morrison announced
The move has been hailed by infectious diseases experts, who say it will be critical in slowing the virus’s spread and help prevent overloading hospital intensive care units.
The pandemic has seen the world grind to a halt as fear and uncertainty grips the globe.
Italy became the first country in Europe last week to impose a lockdown to combat the spreading Covid-19 illness as more than 17,000 people are infected.
The Mediterranean country’s death toll hit over 1,200 – making Italy the worst-hit country outside of China, where the disease first incubated.
A video posted this week, understood to have been filmed at an Aldi store in Western Sydney, showed customers stampeding into the toilet paper aisle as soon as the shop’s doors opened
Woolworths, Coles, and Aldi imposed one packet per customer limits on toilet paper and asked the public to show courtesy to staff and other shoppers
Under current lockdown rules, shops – except pharmacies, supermarkets, and newsagents – are to remain closed at all times.
Schools and universities, which closed on March 4, are expected to remain shut until April 3.
Spain and France are also now on lockdown to stop the spread.
America has also shuts its doors to travellers from Europe.
The virus has already caused wide-spread panic in Australia with shoppers stripping supermarket shelves of toilet paper and other essential items.
People have also been queuing for hours to be tested for the deadly virus.
The queue outside a test centre at Royal Melbourne Hospital ran for half a block on Tuesday evening, with scores of possible patients wearing face masks as they waited for a doctor’s examination.
Inside the city’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, people waiting to see a doctor were seated metres apart from one another to minimise the chance of the virus spreading.
Some schools and workplaces have closed their doors amid coronavirus scares.
Globally, the infection has spread to more than 150,000 people across 112 countries, and killed at least 5,500 people.
Last week the government banned ‘non essential’ public gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday
The future of the 2020 NRL season has been thrown into doubt twice during the opening round