This week last year: stocks crashed, pubs shut

A year ago this week, restaurants were forced to close, thousands queued up at Centrelink and travellers were put in hotel quarantine. Here’s how it happened.

A year ago this week, thousands of Australians queued outside Centrelink offices to seek financial support. Jason South

Negar Salek and Lauren Vadnjal

Mar 22, 2021 – 12.00am

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When COVID-19 first entered our consciousness, we had no idea how infectious it would be – or how it would permeate every aspect of our lives.

A year on, we look back on one of the biggest news events in recent history. This week in 2020 was when restaurants shut down, returning travellers were put into mandatory hotel quarantine, and, after suddenly losing their jobs, thousands of Australians queued outside Centrelink offices to seek financial support.