Scott Morrison predicts ‘months of chaos’ lasting until September due to coronavirus

Australians are urged to ‘go about their normal lives’ while the coronavirus outbreak grinds the world to a halt – as Scott Morrison predicts ‘months of chaos’ lasting until September

• Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged Australians to ‘go about their normal lives’ 
• Coronavirus caused widespread chaos worldwide with countries locked down
• Gatherings of more than 500 people will be banned in Australia from Monday 
• Extreme measures come as the number of cases continues to soar in Australia
• Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

By Kelsey Wilkie For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 23:01 GMT, 14 March 2020 | Updated: 23:06 GMT, 14 March 2020

Australians have been urged to continue to ‘go about their normal lives’ by Prime Minister Scott Morrison as the coronavirus pandemic grinds the world to a halt.

The virus has forced Italy, Spain and China into lockdown in a bid to stop the spread of the killer illness.

Gatherings of more than 500 people will be banned in Australia from Monday to combat the crisis. 

The extreme measures come as the number of confirmed cases spiked to more than 200 in Australia. Three Australians have died from coronavirus.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has now warned that the virus could disrupt daily life until at least September.

However, he admitted officials have no idea how long the crisis could last.

A security guard wears a face mask as a preventative measure against COVID-19 in front of the Sydney Opera House

A man is seen wearing a protective face mask while doing his grocery shopping in Queensland

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has now warned that the virus could disrupt daily life until at least September. However, he admitted officials have no idea how long the crisis could last

‘Whether that is the time frame or not, no one really knows, that’s the problem. When we are in uncharted territory that’s what it is,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.

‘It could be much shorter than that, it could be … longer than that. But we will need to prepare for many months of this.’

His warning comes as the government urged all Australians to reconsider the need to travel at all. 

A travel ban has already been put in place for mainland China, Iran, South Korea and Italy.  

However, he urged for Australians to continue their daily life as normal.  

The virus 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.

Under current lockdown rules, shops – except pharmacies, supermarkets, and newsagents – are to remain closed at all times. 

People wear face masks as a preventative measure as they explore tourist hotspots in Sydney 

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. 

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 237

New South Wales: 112

Victoria: 36

Queensland: 46

South Australia: 19

Western Australia: 17

Tasmania: 5

Northern Territory: 1 

Australian Capital Territory: 1 

TOTAL CASES:  237

DEAD: 3  

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.

People line up outside the Royal Melbourne Hosital for coronavirus testing in Melbourne, Australia

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