Latest snapshot of the coronavirus impact
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Numbers
- Confirmed cases in Australia: 4359. NSW remains the worst hit with 2032.
- Australian deaths: 19 (eight in NSW, four in Vic, two in WA, two in Qld, two in Tas, one in ACT).
- Four people have died at Sydney nursing home Dorothy Henderson Lodge, three women aged 95, 90 and 91 and a man aged 82.
- Eight people have died after being infected on cruise ships, the youngest 62, with the majority aged in their 70s.
- Rate of daily case increase is now about nine per cent, well down on 25 per cent last week.
MEASURES
- Unprecedented $130 billion package to subsidise wages at $1500 a fortnight for six million workers, paid via employers.
- Parliament to be recalled to approve this package.
- $1.1 billion package to help with mental health, domestic violence prevention and other health measures.
- Federal parliament has also passed packages worth $17.6 billion and $66 billion.
- Borders closed in Queensland, Tasmania, SA, NT and WA. Freight and essential travel excepted.
- Australians returning home from overseas will be quarantined for two weeks in hotels or other accommodation before being allowed home.
- Australians, excluding aid workers and compassionate travel cases, are banned from international travel.
- Gatherings of more than two people have been banned indoor or outdoor, including private properties, unless members of the same households. States are enforcing the new rule.
- People flouting social distancing, isolation or quarantine orders face fines of $1000 or more in most states, up to $13,345 in Queensland.
- People aged over 60 with chronic illness are discouraged from leaving their homes unless essential for medical care.
- All elective surgery in public facilities put on hold.
- People will be able to access Medicare-funded online consultations.
- NSW pharmacies can now operate 24/7 and dispense medicines without a prescription from a GP.
- Pinprick blood tests which detect COVID-19 in minutes to be imported within days.
- SA to start producing surgical and respirator masks from May with 100 million surgical masks to go into the National Medical Stockpile
- Victoria has temporarily banned the purchasing of category A and B firearms
Still open: supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, public transport, some schools, hairdressers, petrol stations, postal and freight services, bottle shops, newsagents, retail shops. Restaurants restricted to take-away/delivery in most states.
Closed: schools in Victoria and ACT, gyms, indoor sports venues, pubs, cinemas, nightclubs, casinos, places of worship, theme parks, auction houses, food courts in shopping centres, beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons, spas and tattoo parlours, galleries, museums, libraries, youth centres, community halls, clubs, RSL clubs, swimming pools, amusement parks, arcades, indoor and outdoor play centres, social sports that involve large groups, outdoor and indoor markets, outdoor playgrounds, outdoor gyms, skate parks.
School holidays in Queensland, SA and WA also brought forward with only children of parents who have essential jobs allowed to stay.
KEY QUOTE
“No gathering with friends is worth someone’s life.” – Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews
SPORT
- The AFL has secured a $500 million line of credit from banks so the league can continue operating through the coronavirus crisis.
- NRL clubs will receive just $2.5 million each from the governing body to survive the coronavirus crisis if the season doesn’t resume this year.
- A Newcastle Jets soccer player became the first professional footballer in Australia to test positive.
- The AFL, NRL, A-league soccer, Super Rugby and netball competitions are postponed.
ECONOMICS
- Federal government’s economic and health support packages total $320 billion, equating to 16.4 per cent of gross domestic product.
- The Australian share market has opened higher with the S&P/ASX200 benchmark index up another 3.06 per cent – a rise of more than 20 per cent since hitting a seven-year low on Monday last week.
- Moratorium on renters being evicted for the next six months. Commercial renters will see new rules released in coming days.
- Major retailers including Myer, Premier Investment, and fashion chains such as Country Road have closed retail shops, but continue to trade online.
- Economists predict the unemployment rate will soar above 10 per cent by Easter.
GLOBAL CORONAVIRUS
Cases: at least 784,381
Deaths: at least 37,780
Recovered: at least 165,035
*Source: State government updates and worldometer website at 1830 AEDT
With AAP
Pearl Dy is a community manager and journalist. She is passionate about business and development particularly involving not-for-profits, charity and social entrepreneurship.
