Coronavirus live updates: Quarantined Aussies ‘not getting promised health checks’, early signs show Australia is ‘flattening the curve’, $1.1b boost to health care
More from the Scott Morrison press conference:
“Throughout the day, some 1600 people went into quarantine as a result of the decisions by the National Cabinet. I particularly want to thank NSW, who has done all the heavy lifting on that today.
“To the people in quarantine, who may be watching this, I know this is a terrible inconvenience for you, but it is necessary to save lives, and I thank you for your cooperation.”
“It’s been a hard week in Australia. I said earlier this week when the Parliament met that 2020 was going to be the most difficult in the lives of all Australians – a tough week.
“Hundreds of thousands of people have left the workforce. Thousands of businesses have closed their doors. Sixteen people, as of today, have lost their lives.This is a very difficult time.”
South Australia has recorded 12 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the state’s total to 299.
Seven of the new positive cases were linked to the cruise ship Ruby Princess, South Australia’s chief public health officer Dr Nicola Spurrier said.
The Ruby Princess has so far been responsible for 68 of South Australia’s COVID-19 cases.
Ms Spurrier said she was particularly concerned about a cluster of infections in the Barossa Valley region, where 34 cases had been recorded.
The cluster relates to two separate groups of tourists.
SA Health is now recommending the movement of people in and out of the affected regions in the Barossa be restricted, with travel strongly discouraged unless it was necessary, Ms Spurrier said.
Schools in the affected areas will also be closed from Monday in an attempt to limit the spread within the cluster.
Hundreds of elderly Australians cooped up in a Sydney hotel for 14 days of isolation are not being given the medical and mental health check-ups they were promised, those in quarantine say.
The Swissotel on Market Street in the Sydney CBD is currently hosting 292 Australians who on Thursday arrived home by plane after disembarking the Norwegian Jewel cruise ship in Hawaii.
A Victorian councillor has launched a scathing attack on people attempting to visit the Twelve Apostles during the coronavirus outbreak.
Corangamite Shire councillor Simon Illingworth said tourists still travelling around are simply “spreading death” after warnings from politicians aross Australia to stop all non-essential travel.
While the majority of the world’s population is biding time at home until the threat of the virus has passed, some wealthier people are seeking solace by buying out small hotels, renting homes in remote locales or fleeing to vacation homes with extended family members.
Travel in the time of coronavirus is apparently still quite possible, if inaccessible to most.
Scott Morrison has promised a third stimulus package in the next few days that will be bigger than anything seen so far to shield the economy from COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked businesses to hold fire on any further shutdowns or job cuts ahead of a third stimulus package to be announced in the next few days.
*84 new cases from yesterday in Victoria
*State total sits at 769 cases: 611 in metropolitan Melbourne and 139 in regional Victoria
*Four deaths – including one man in his 80s from overnight
*Cases include 419 men and 346 women, people aged from 3 to 88
*21 cases may have been acquired through community transmission
*26 patients in hospital, four in intensive care
*193 people recovered
*More than 39,000 patients tested
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