That concludes our COVID-19 blog for today.
Until tomorrow morning, here are some related stories worth reading:
Exponential growth explains terrifying spread of virus
Coronavirus Australia live updates: 'Disruptive' COVID-19 measures to last 'at least' six months, top doc says
A top medical official says Australians must get used to "disruptive and intrusive" measures for "at least" the next six months.
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has warned Australians will be facing COVID-19 for the long haul, saying we should expect “disruptive and intrusive” measures for at least six months.
"People who say we can lockdown the country for four weeks and send everyone home, close the schools, are not being realistic," he told A Current Affair this evening. “At the end of those four weeks, you have to undo all that, and then the virus can break out in a more aggressive way.
"We are trying to get the community adjusted to the fact that this is a long haul,” he said, adding that Australians would have to “change the way we behave”.
He said forcing people to stay home was a “possibility in the future” in sections if a small part of the country experienced a “very significant” outbreak.
READ MORE: Follow the latest coronavirus updates
READ MORE: Australia's coronavirus cases and deaths
568 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed across Australia, with 267 in New South Wales, 121 in Victoria, 94 in Queensland, 37 in South Australia, 35 in Western Australia, 10 in Tasmania, three in the ACT and one in the Northern Territory.
Six people have died – one in Western Australia and five in New South Wales – and 43 have recovered.
We've wrapped up our live coverage for the day, here's how it unfolded below.
Updates
That's a wrap!
Australia must prepare for 'disruptive, intrusive measures'
Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy has warned Australians will be facing COVID-19 for the long haul, saying we should expect “disruptive and intrusive” measures for at least six months.
"People who say we can lockdown the country for four weeks and send everyone home, close the schools, are not being realistic," he told A Current Affair this evening. “At the end of those four weeks, you have to undo all that, and then the virus can break out in a more aggressive way.
"We are trying to get the community adjusted to the fact that this is a long haul,” he said, adding that Australians would have to “change the way we behave”.
He said forcing people to stay home was a “possibility in the future” in sections if a small part of the country experienced a “very significant” outbreak.
He also reiterated Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s advice against travelling.
“Unless there are exceptional circumstances, do not travel,” he said. However, he said Australia would “never” close its borders to Australian citizens and permanent residents.
He also said Italy’s infection rate was based on community transmission, while ours are based on imported cases, concluding that we have a “very different situation”.
"We think that six months is a good estimate, a period we will need to introduce very strong social distancing measures,” he said.
He admitted while these measures are going to be “disruptive and intrusive… they will enable us to go on living".
Three new cases in Tasmania
Three new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Tasmania, with two men and a woman in the state’s south testing positive.
The trio, all aged in their 40s, recently travelled to Tasmania from overseas and are not connected to any previous cases.
No locally transmitted cases have been recorded in the state.
Tasmania’s Premier has rejected calls for a border lockdown as more major events in the state shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
There have been suggestions the Apple Isle use its island advantage to implement tougher isolation measures on incoming travellers, or close off visitation entirely.
But Premier Peter Gutwein said Tasmania’s borders will remain open. “We will not be stopping trade, we will not be closing our borders,” he said earlier today.
“The clothes we are wearing today, the food we ate for breakfast. These things come across our borders, they must continue to come across our borders.”
– AAP
Catholic mass suspended across Victoria
The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne has announced that public liturgies and celebrations will be suspended until further notice.
"We are very aware that this restriction will be particularly difficult for families who are planning liturgies such as funerals, weddings and baptisms," a Facebook post on its page reads.
"At this time, so long as appropriate precautions are able to be put in place (such as distancing between participants), it may be possible for these liturgies to proceed with a carefully limited congregation."
Celebrants are encouraged to pursue religious activities through family prayer and online mass.
AFL season will go ahead as planned
The AFL season will go ahead as planned.
AFL boss Gil McLachlan confirming the league has decided to move forward, saying a plan is being worked on to "build more resilience".
He said if a player tested positive to COVID-19, the league would temporarily pause as necessary.
He noted the AFL had taken the advice of medical authorities in pushing ahead, saying it will be "day by day".
Man arrested over assault of shoppers
A man who assaulted multiple elderly people at a Lismore supermarket has been arrested.
About 3.30pm yesterday, police received reports a man assaulted multiple people after becoming agitated when he was unable to find items he wanted to buy in the supermarket in a shopping centre on Uralba Street in Lismore, NSW.
It is alleged the man pushed his trolley into two women, believed to be aged in their 70s, knocking one to the ground. He then then pinned a 45-year-old female store attendant against the shelving and punched her in the face and chest.
The store manager and a security guard approached the man and were also allegedly assaulted, before the man was removed from the premises.
The 45-year-old woman sustained bruising and swelling to her left jaw, bruising and swelling to her left forearm, a small laceration to her left forearm, stiffness to her neck, bruising to her chest but declined medical assistance.
The two older women left the store without leaving their details and it’s unknown if they were injured.
Following a public appeal, a 63-year-old man was arrested by officers from Richmond Police District on Nimbin Road, North Lismore and taken to Lismore Police Station.
It is expected charges will be laid.
Australia Post 'no longer requires signature' amid outbreak
Australia Post has announced it will no longer require a signature for deliveries or collections.
"To minimise risks to everyone, all parcels – be it at a post office or at a residence – will no longer require a signature for delivery or collection. Our team will continue to record your name and delivery on our handheld device," it said in a statement.
"In order to make it easier to pick up or send parcels, please consider using our free 24/7 Parcel Lockers, which can be found in over 400 convenient locations across the country," it added.
The corporation also told people to expect delays during this time.
Health workers urge 'respect across the board'
The Department of Health has urged the public to remain respectful of hospital workers battling the coronavirus outbreak around the nation.
"Health and medical service workers are working tirelessly to help Australians in need. This is a time for respect across the board," it said in a statement to news.com.au.
The Department also confirmed there are "sufficient stocks" of medical supplies, including masks and testing kits, "for the short term".
"Further testing stocks have been secured and both public and private testing laboratories are exploring the Doherty Institute in Melbourne has developed an alternative testing processes that could aid in sparing testing resources," it added. "This ensures Australia has a diverse range of tests and can protect supply of testing in the event there is a shortage in materials or components of some testing kits."
It also noted that a "significant supply" of P2 and surgical masks remain in the National Medical Stockpile, and will be directed to areas of greatest need while additional PPE arrives.
Palace Cinemas announces 'indefinite' closure
Palace Cinemas has announced its decision to close indefinitely amid the coronavirus outbreak.
"Palace Cinemas has reviewed advice from The Australian Government (on Wednesday 18th of March) regarding non-essential services and public gathering mandates, as well as examined safety concerns for our patrons and staff," it said in a statement.
"From this review, we’ve made the difficult decision to temporarily close all Palace Cinema locations from Thursday the 19th of March for an indefinite period to protect both our staff and patrons.
"We intend to re-open as soon as circumstances allow, with the usual rich selection of quality cinema and our much-loved international festivals. Watch for further announcements."
Doctors pen letter urging 'immediate action'
A team of six top medical professionals in the Northern Territory have written a letter requesting "immediate action" on the coronavirus before it’s too late.
The letter has been signed by the Royal Darwin Hospital acting director of anaesthesia Andrew Fenton, director of emergency medicine Didier Palmer, women, children and youth medical co-director Kathryn Roberts, surgery and critical care medical co-director Mahiban Thomas, ICU director Paul Goldrick and medicine medical co-director Nadarajah Kangaran.
"Critical care teams across the globe are reeling from the overwhelming number of patients now requiring ICU and ventilation," it says.
"There is a strong sense of regret that these health systems (Italy/Washington State/Holland among others) did not make fast and better decisions. Australia is only a few weeks behind this development. The NT population is doubly vulnerable, and it's critical care resources more finite, than any other Australian jurisdiction."
It goes on to recommend 13 items that need "immediate action" and another three that need action in two weeks.
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