... THEN THERE WAS TWO

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has slashed public outings of more than two, urged over 70s to stay home and promised to halt tenant evictions in a raft of new measures to battle coronavirus.

He is also closing all playgrounds, outdoor gyms and skate parks with a stern message people must “stay at home” unless shopping, going to medical appointments, exercising or travelling to work or study.

Families and people living in the same household are exempt from the twoperson limit for gatherings, previously been set at 10.

He urged bosses and landlords to hold off any action until new measures coming soon.

PUBLIC gatherings of more than two have been banned while Prime Minister Scott Morrison has urged anyone aged over 70 to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Governments are also poised to block landlords from evicting renters during the coronavirus pandemic with banks also extending relief to large businesses that protect commercial tenants.

The moves come as Mr Morrison asked businesses to delay sacking more workers while he hammers out the final details of a third support package he said would be bigger and broader than “anything you have so far seen”.

A key plank of the package, expected to be rolled out tomorrow, will be a new form of capped income support to keep workers tied to their employers during the downturn.

The rate is expected to be below the 80 per cent wage subsidy offered by the UK Government and also include workers who have already lost their jobs.

“I would say to employers, who I know are going through very difficult times, these changes will be announced soon.”

Mr Morrison also flagged major changes to the asset test for unemployment benefits, including allowing people to get the dole even if their partner earns more than $48,000.

The National Cabinet is poised to roll out a six-month moratorium on landlords evicting commercial and residential tenants in financial stress.

He expanded already “radical” social distancing measures after the National Cabinet endorsed the moves late yesterday

The changes include closing all playgrounds, outdoor gyms and skate parks and a stern message people must “stay at home” unless they were shopping, going to medical appointments, exercising or travelling to work or study.

Families and people living in the same household were exempt from the two-person limit for social gatherings, which had previously been set at 10.

Outdoor exercise groups have also been restricted to a limit of two people.

State and territory governments are expected to make the limit legally enforceable, possibly carrying significant fines for any breaches.

Mr Morrison said people over 70 years old were being “advised” but not ordered to stay home and self-isolate for their own protection.

“This does not mean they cannot go outside,” he said.

“They can go outside and be accompanied by a support person for the purposes of getting fresh air and recreation but should limit contact with others as much as possible,” he said. “These arrangements should also apply to those with chronic illness over 60 and indigenous persons over the age of 50.”

Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said the escalating social distancing measures were radical but people had to change the way they “interact with each other”.

“Anyone who doesn’t need to be out of their home should be in the home,” he said.

“This is radical. The vast majority of Australians have done the right thing in the last week. We have seen huge evidence of that but we have also seen some very silly behaviour of people who haven’t complied with that, particularly outdoors and sometimes indoors.”

Mr Morrison also unveiled more than $1 billion in wideranging new mental health support packages.

ANYONE WHO DOESN’T NEED TO BE OUT OF THEIR HOME SHOULD BE IN THE HOME. THIS IS RADICAL CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER BRENDAN MURPHY