CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK SEISMIC SHIFT IS Wartime spirit call as bans take effect
LIFE AS we know it in Australia has changed for the next six months or more, with bans on mass gatherings, restrictions on aged care visits, no more overseas travel and more limitations to come.
Laws could be enacted to stop hoarding if people don’t rein in behaviour, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison issuing a blunt warning: Stop it.
A wartime spirit is being called on for Australians to make it through the devastating social and economic period ahead.
The Health Minister also has been granted extraordinary powers: to issue legally enforceable orders on people or areas to help limit the spread of the virus, with people facing five years’ jail or $63,000 fines if they ignore them.
Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy clearly warned a brief shutdown would not work and that the virus would continue to spread unless drastic measures were taken over the next six months.
Effective immediately, there are to be no non-essential gatherings indoors of more than 100 people, or 500 people outdoors; and no travel overseas; while severe restrictions will be put on aged care visitation and Anzac Day ceremonies have been cancelled.
Domestic travel remains open for now, public transport will continue to operate and schools will also remain open due to the fact children remain
There are to be no mass gatherings of 100 people or more in indoor venues
There are to be no mass gatherings of 500 people or more in outdoor venues
Essential operations will be exempt. These include airports, public transport, medical and health service facilities, emergency service facilities, disability or aged care facilities, prisons, youth justice centres, courts and tribunals, parliaments, food markets, supermarkets, grocery stores, retail stores, shopping centres, office buildings, factories, construction sites, mining sites, schools, universities, child care facilities, hotels and motels and other accommodation facilities. Other exceptions apply to places where people transit through, such as Bourke Street Mall and Federation Square
Gathering restrictions will apply to churches, mosques and other places of worship largely unaffected by the virus and only have mild symptoms if infected.
Even basic social interactions will have to change, with handshakes and hugs now urged to stop outside family members. People are being urged to keep 1.5m from each other where possible.
The measures will be in place for six months, with Professor Murphy explaining a two-week shutdown simply would not work.
“There is no way that we can lock down society, make everyone stay home, and then in a month’s time undo that because the virus will just flare up again without any real longterm benefit,” Prof Murphy said.
Mr Morrison called for an end to the “unAustralian” stockpiling, which had left shopping market shelves bare.
“Stop hoarding. I can’t be more blunt about it. Stop it. It’s been one of the most disappointing things I’ve seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis,” he said.
“There is no reason for people to be hoarding supplies in fear of a lockdown or anything like this.”
The mass gathering ban for indoor venues will apply to anything considered non-essential, including clubs, pubs, restaurants, as well as churches and other places of worship, with the State Government developing laws for its legal enforcement.
The ban will not apply to offices, workplaces, construction
There is to be no international travel to any country
There is to be no large-scale domestic travel restriction
There will be some restrictions to remote indigenous communities, to be determined by the State and Territory governments
Stop doing it Laws will be considered to crack down if necessary
Schools will remain open
There is little to no risk to children from the disease
Closing schools would have knock-on effects including tens of thousands of job losses and a 30 per cent reduction in available health care workers sites and civic buildings like parliaments and courts.
Shopping centres, retail stores and hospitals, hotels and public transport also are exempt to help keep the country running through the crisis. Large public spaces where people transit will also be exempt.
Australians have been told not to travel anywhere internationally, with a “do not travel” order put in place globally for the first time.
Mr Morrison said he was
The situation will continue to be monitored
There are to be no large group visits
No school groups are permitted of any size
Visitors should practice social distancing, keeping 1.5m apart where possible
Children aged 16 or under should only visit by exception (as they are less diligent with hand hygiene and can carry the virus without symptoms)
Visitation should be limited to two people at one time
There can be exceptions for end of life visitations, with sensible precautions to be arranged with your aged care provider aware of the gravity of the measures being implemented but they were needed for Australia to get through this.
“This is a once-in-a-hundred-year type event, we haven’t seen this sort of thing in Australia since the end of the First World War,” he said.
“In the area of the economic impact, what we’re seeing here is we haven’t seen this for a very, very long time.
“We haven’t seen a pandemic on this scale globally or
Where possible keep 1.5m between people
The measures are expected to be in place for six months
It could be longer if needed. It could be shorter, but this is unlikely
Chief Medical Officer says a twoweek shutdown would only delay the problem, not stop it
The Human
Biosecurity Emergency has been declared under the Biosecurity
Act
The declaration allows the Health Minister to issue targeted, legally enforceable directions and requirements to combat the virus
This includes banning of cruise ships from entering ports for 30 days