‘Stay home and save lives’: Government’s second coronavirus text

Australians have been warned in a second emergency text from the government, with leaders saying our “good work” could be quickly undone.

The federal government has sent a second emergency text to Australians urging them to “stay home this Easter and help save lives”.

The text, which is the second to be sent to Aussie mobile users during the coronavirus crisis, read: “Stay home and help save lives this Easter. Only leave home for what you really need – exercise, work and medical care.”

The first text was sent out last month, and warned Australians to “stay 1.5m from others, follow rules on social gatherings, wash hands, stay home if sick”.

The Prime Minister shared the text on Instagram saying “This text message is being sent to mobile phones across Australia. We can’t be clearer – stay at home this Easter, please.”

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The government has stressed the importance of continued social distancing over the Easter break, with leaders warning that the “gains” Australia has recently made with containing the virus could be rapidly undone.

While speaking in parliament today Education Minister Dan Tehan said he’d just received the text message, which he called “an incredibly important message for all Australians to abide by”. He warned that it won’t be a “normal Easter” for most Australians.

Mr Tehan said many industries were being badly financially affected by coronavirus restrictions, including the hospitality and tourism sectors, but said the government was providing a “ballast” with its Jobkeeper and Jobseeker programs to support people to stay at home.

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“Any one of us could inadvertently lead to a tragedy by not adhering to the rules,” the Health Minister Greg Hunt also warned today.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt warned the Australians the gains made in flattening the curve could be undone over Easter. Picture: Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images

“This Easter is the time where we can lock in the gains we have made as a country. The virus does not take a holiday,” Mr Hunt said.

He said Australia still faced a “great challenge” and needed to continue to “stick to what we have been doing as a country”.