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Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Thursday, 19 March 2020 00:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
SYDNEY (Reuters): Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday 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 its biggest one-day surge in new cases yesterday.
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.
Shortly before Morrison’s statement, the Government unveiled a 715 million AUD ($ 430 million) aid package for airlines, including waivers on domestic air traffic control fees. Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd. has suspended all international flights from 30 March to 14 June, 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.
