TASSIE SCHOOL SHUTS DOORS

HANDSHAKES are out, all foreign cruise ships are banned and workers must dob in colleagues who ignore self-isolation advice under sweeping new measures to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Everyone who arrives in Australia from overseas – including citizens – must quarantine themselves for 14 days from today, as a ban on mass public events also comes into effect.

The strict containment strategies come as “best case scenario” modelling by the Federal Government shows about 30,000 people a day will be presenting for coronavirus testing by June — which will continue until about mid-August before the rate declines.

But this scenario is only achievable if quarantine and isolation tactics work and each coronavirus patient infects 1.72 others on average.

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia has risen to 294 yesterday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday announced that the Government’s recommendation all non-essential public events with crowds of more than 500 people be cancelled had been upgraded to a total ban, which would be enforceable by states.

He said like New Zealand, Australia would also impose “a universal compulsory self-isolation requirement on all international arrivals to Australia effective from midnight”.

He said enforcement would largely rely on people doing the right thing and monitoring their friends or colleagues as significant resources could not be dedicated to policing individuals. It would be up to the states to determine penalties for breaches. The Federal Government has also banned cruise ships from foreign ports from arriving in Australia.

Strict social distancing measures including staying 1.5m away from people and limiting close interactions are now also recommended to everyone.

“No more handshakes,” Mr Morrison said. “That is a new thing we’ve moved to, something I will be practising.”

Mr Morrison said the Government was planning for the coronavirus to have an impact on the country for six months, with slowing – rather than stopping – the outbreak now a top priority.

“Slowing the spread, you free up the bed,” he said. “That’s what happens when you get this right.”

The cabinet, which includes every state and territory leader and the Prime Minister, will also consider changes to aged care visitation rules, issues facing remote communities and further restrictions to private indoor gatherings.

The Mercury understands further social distancing advice will be provided to schools in the coming days.

Mr Morrison said sending children home too early in the outbreak could have unintended negative impacts on the rate of transmission.

“People are naturally anxious about the issues of schools,” he said. “It may be anti-intuitive but the advice is this could be a very negative thing.

“When you take children out of school and put them back in the broader community, the ability for them to potentially engage with others increases that risk.

“The other is the disruption impact that could have and put at great risk the availability of critical workers such as nurses, doctors and others who are essential in the community because they would have to remain home and look after their children.”

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Paul Kelly said Australia was starting to see more human to human transmission of the virus.

“(Infection) not necessarily related to travel, that will be the next step, more proportionate measures will need to be taken as that develops,” he said.

“These are difficult times and the disruption to society is very much felt by us in the health side of government.

“But we are continuing to give our advice to Government and we are very happy that’s been listened to and taken into account,” he said.

Slowing the spread, you free up the bed. That’s what happens when you get this right

Prime Minister Scott Morrison