Australia on Wednesday banned non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people including weddings and restaurants as part of its measures to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
“This is a once in 100-year type event,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters.
“We are looking at a situation of at least six months for how we deal with this.
"It could be much longer than that. It could be shorter. That is unlikely, given the way we are seeing events unfold," he said.
The indoor limit follows an earlier ban on outdoor gatherings exceeding 500 people.
Weddings and religious services are regarded as non-essential while health and emergency service facilities are exempt.
Disability and aged care centers are open but restricting visitors.
Schools will also remain open, although some medical experts argue for their closure.
Australians have been advised not to travel overseas. Work restrictions on 20,000 foreign student nurses in Australia would be lifted so that they can bolster health resources battling the pandemic.
Australia by Wednesday had 454 confirmed infections among its population of 25 million, but the infection rate is gathering pace.
The virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, for most people but can be severe in some cases, especially older adults and people with existing health problems.
People with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may need six weeks to recover.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said most of the cases were Australians returning from overseas and community transmission in Australia remained “low-level at the moment.”
The government announced giving its ailing airlines a 715 million Australian dollar ($430 million) lifeline to help the sector through the pandemic.
A range of government charges will be refunded and waived to help airlines under pressure as domestic and global travel plummet.
The move is expected to create an initial benefit of AU$159 million, with the government refunding charges paid since Feb 1.
The Airlines for Australia and New Zealand group applauded the government package for a "critical pillar" of the Australian economy and the tourism industry.
The package comes a day after Australia’s largest airline, Qantas, announced it would slash its international passenger seats by 90 per cent and domestic capacity by 60 per cent through May at least.
Its major rival Virgin Australia announced on Wednesday it would ground all its international flights and half its domestic capacity from end of March until June 14.
Regional airline Regional Express has urged the government to underwrite the addition debt it will need to survive the downturn.
AP Newsroom
Wed Mar 18 2020
Empty seats ring the field during a One Day International cricket match between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney, Friday, March 13, 2020. Photo/Dean Lewins/AAP Image via AP
KKM ingatkan APHM tumpu kepada pay for outcome
Pemilik dan pemain industri kesihatan swasta khususnya Persatuan Hospital Swasta (APHM) mengambil kira menyediakan perkhidmatan untuk menampakkan hasil dan bukan menyediakan perkhidmatan tertumpu kepada kemudahan semata.
Penubuhan National Health Fund bertujuan kumpul sumber pembiayaan dirancang -KKM
Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) memaklumkan penubuhan dana kesihatan negara dengan izin National Health Fund yang diuruskan secara telus, efisien dan berintegriti sedang dipertimbangkan untuk mengumpul pelbagai sumber pembiayaan yang dirancang.
Keperluan memperkukuh infrastuktur sumber peralihan tenaga - Pakar
Peningkatan kapasiti grid dan teknologi storan tenaga menjadi fokus utama Malaysia dalam menghadapi cabaran kestabilan tenaga dan mewujudkan landskap tenaga yang lebih berkesan. Artikel ini mengulas strategi dan inisiatif kerajaan dalam membangunkan infrastruktur yang kritis untuk menyokong pertumbuhan sumber tenaga boleh diperbaharui dan mengurangkan bergantung kepada sumber tradisional seperti arang.
Malaysia komited capai Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari PBB – NGA
Malaysia komited untuk mencapai Matlamat Pembangunan Lestari Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (SDGs) serta mengutamakan kesejahteraan rakyatnya.
WhatsApp mudahkan anda berhubung dengan rakan-rakan melalui ciri 'Kegemaran'
Anda boleh melabelkan beberapa rakan-rakan atau ahli keluarga di bawah label berkenaan, dan seterusnya berhubung dengan mereka dengan lebih pantas berbanding yang lain.
[TERKINI] Jenazah Nur Farah Kartini dikebumikan di Pekan
Jenazah bekas penuntut Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Nur Farah Kartini Abdullah, 25, dijangka akan dikebumikan di Pekan, Pahang, pada Rabu.
MITI tekad jadikan Malaysia peneraju serantau sektor teknologi hijau
Kementerian Pelaburan, Perdagangan dan Industri (MITI) bersedia menyokong pelaksanaan Strategi Pelaburan Hijau bagi menarik pelaburan hijau ke Malaysia dan memangkin pembangunan sosio-ekonomi lestari.
[TERKINI] Punca kematian Nur Farah Kartini belum dapat disahkan - Polis
Menurut Ketua Polis Selangor Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, pihak Pakar Patalogi Jabatan Forensik Hospital Sungai Buloh memerlukan keputusan analisis makmal terhadap beberapa sampel biologi yang diambil pada mayat untuk mengenal pasti punca kematian.
[TERKINI] PM arah MOSTI senaraikan 100 saintis untuk ke 100 sekolah
Perdana Menteri mengarahkan Menteri Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi, Chang Lih Kang menyenaraikan 100 saintis dalam bidang bioteknologi untuk pergi ke 100 sekolah dan menganjurkan program di sana.
Mayat lelaki tanpa identiti ditemukan terapung di Sungai Malim
Mayat seorang lelaki tanpa identiti ditemukan terapung dalam keadaan tertiarap di Sungai Malim.