Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday declared a "human biosecurity emergency" and said the country's citizens should abandon all overseas travel because of the coronavirus epidemic.
The formal declaration gives the government the power to close off cities or regions, impose curfews and order people to quarantine, if deemed necessary to contain the spread of the virus.
The upgrade in official advice to an unprecedented "Level 4: Do not travel" to any country in the world, was accompanied by a ban on any non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people.
"Life is changing in Australia, as it is changing all around the world," Morrison said during a televised news conference. "Life is going to continue to change, as we deal with the global coronavirus. This is a once in a hundred year type event."
Australia has recorded around 425 coronavirus infections and five deaths, a relatively small number compared to other countries, but officials are growing increasingly concerned about the prospect of exponential rise in cases. New South Wales, the country's most populous state, reported it's biggest one-day surge in new cases on Wednesday.
Morrison said the tighter ban on indoor social gatherings, down to 100 people from 500 people, did not include essential services like schools, public transport and shopping centres.
The Australian leader cited expert health guidance as the rationale for keeping schools open, a strategy that has been questioned by some experts. Several private schools have made the unilateral decision to close ahead of the upcoming Easter break.
Morrison reiterated the need for social distancing and good hand hygiene to curb the spread of the virus and announced restricted access to aged care homes.
Anybody who travels during a Level 4 ban is warned that the Australian government may not be able to assist if they get into trouble while abroad, according the government's official SmartTraveller website. It also recommends people already in a "do not travel" area consider leaving.
Shortly before Morrison's statement, the government unveiled a A$A$715 million ($430 million) aid package for airlines, including waivers on domestic air traffic control fees. Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd has suspended all international flights from March 30 to June 14, while Qantas Airways Ltd has cut its international capacity by 90%.
The widening restrictions on travel and domestic movement are expected to take a significant toll on Australia's tourism, retail and entertainment sectors.
Economists are predicting the country will slip into its first recession in nearly three decades in the first half of 2020, prompting a rapid jump in unemployment.
"IT'S UNAUSTRALIAN"
However, while the epidemic is expected to crimp consumer spending in the long run, data from the official statistics agency released on Wednesday showed a 0.4% rise in retail sales in February as people bought up staples in preparation for shortages.
The country's major grocers, Coles Group Ltd and Woolworths Group Ltd have increased sales restrictions in response to the panic buying on goods including toilet paper, milk, meat, flour, rice, hand sanitiser, eggs and frozen vegetables.
They have also introduced exclusive shopping sessions for the elderly and the disabled early in the day, when stores have been restocked.
Morrison issued blunt advice on Wednesday that the hoarding was unnecessary and counter-productive.
"Stop doing it. It’s ridiculous. It’s un-Australian, and it must stop," he said.
Morrison has already flagged a stimulus package worth around A$17 billion ($10.2 billion) and said on Wednesday the government was "considering quite extensive further economic measures" to dull the impact on the economy.
The Reserve Bank of Australia this week pumped liquidity into money markets and has promised further stimulus measures will be announced on Thursday.
Reuters
Wed Mar 18 2020
Tables at an open restaurant are seen mostly deserted on a quiet morning at the waterfront of the Sydney Opera House, where scheduled public performances have been cancelled due to COVID-19, in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2020 - REUTERS/Loren Elliot
Jokowi ke Abu Dhabi untuk perbincangan dengan Presiden UAE mengenai kerjasama
Presiden Jokowi dijadual bertemu rakan sejawatannya dari UAE pada 17 Julai.
Tiga jurusolek lelaki berperwatakan wanita didakwa rompak rakan
Kesemua mereka dakwa mengikut Seksyen 395 Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman penjara maksimum 20 tahun dan boleh dikenakan denda dan sebat, jika sabit kesalahan.
Timbalan Speaker Dewan Rakyat buat laporan polis berkaitan hasutan, fitnah di Facebook
Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor mendapati hantaran pemilik akaun itu sangat tidak berasas dan tidak bertanggungjawab.
AWANI Ringkas: Pan-Gon letak jawatan | Ini pandangan peribadi
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Agong berkenan berangkat ke pra-Mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja ke-266
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim berkenan berangkat ke pra-Mesyuarat Majlis Raja-Raja (MRR) ke-266 di Istana Negarahari ini.
Status ADUN Rembia: DUN Melaka tunggu surat rasmi
Speaker DUN Melaka, Datuk Ibrahim Durum berkata, setakat ini pihaknya belum dimaklumkan secara rasmi dan perbincangan berhubung perkara itu akan diadakan.
Warga emas bersalah bunuh abang, kakak ipar
Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini mensabitkan kesalahan seorang warga emas atas dua pertuduhan pindaan membunuh abang dan kakak iparnya dua tahun lalu.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp kemuka laporan tindakan susulan
Mas Ermieyati Samsudin berkata tempoh itu diberikan susulan laporan audit berkaitan, baru dibentangkan pada minggu lepas.
Buli siber: Beberapa kementerian bincang perketat undang-undang - Fahmi
Penambahbaikan aspek perundangan akan diteliti kerajaan, termasuk mengadakan perbincangan dengan beberapa kementerian berkaitan dalam masa terdekat.
Kementerian Digital sedia bantu PKS dalam pelaksanaan e-invois - Gobind
Beliau menegaskan bahawa pelaksanaan e-Invois itu akan memberi manfaat, termasuk meningkatkan pendapatan PKS.
Raja Charles, Permaisuri Camilla akan lawat Australia - PM
Raja Britain Charles III dan Permaisuri Ratu Camilla akan melawat Australia pada Oktober, disahkan oleh Perdana Menteri Australia Anthony Albanese, lapor Xinhua.
Pasangan kelahiran Rusia ditahan di Australia disyaki mengintip
Sepasang suami isteri warga Australia kelahiran Rusia telah ditahan di Australia atas tuduhan mengintip untuk Rusia, kata Polis Persekutuan Australia (AFP) pada Jumaat, lapor Sputnik.
Keganasan: Perintah berkurung dikuatkuasakan di bandar pedalaman Australia
Pihak berkuasa di sebuah bandar pedalaman Australia telah menguatkuasakan perintah berkurung susulan beberapa siri insiden keganasan.
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
Australia siasat Batik Air 737 terbang di bawah altitud minimum
ATSB telah membuka siasatan terhadap pesawat Boeing 737-800 Batik Air Indonesia yang disyaki terbang di bawah altitud minimum.
Penyelidik di Australia temukan kaitan antara dengkur dan tekanan darah tinggi
Menurut kajian, individu yang kerap berdengkur pada waktu malam lebih cenderung mempunyai tekanan darah tinggi dan hipertensi tidak terkawal.
Selesema burung dikesan di ladang keenam di Victoria Australia
Pihak berkuasa tempatan di negeri Victoria, Australia melaporkan bahawa virus selesema burung telah dikesan di ladang keenam, yang sudah dalam kuarantin.
Ketagih laksa, penduduk Darwin anjur Festival Laksa Antarabangsa setiap tahun
Festival itu mengumpulkan semua restoran di kawasan Darwin yang bakal bersaing untuk mendapat gelaran Laksa Serantau Terbaik.
Piala Asia B-23: Indonesia ajar Australia cara main bola
Walaupun Australia mendominasi perlawanan pada separuh masa kedua, kehandalan benteng pertahanan Indonesia mudah mematahkan serangan demi serangan.
Paderi terkemuka Australia ditikam ketika 'live streaming'
Pemimpin gereja itu dilihat rebah ke lantai dan kedengaran suara jeritan para pengikutnya yang kemudiannya menerpa ke arahnya untuk membantunya.