As the day unfolded: NSW, Victoria, QLD COVID-19 cases spike, Netherlands flags 'herd immunity' plan

Thanks for following along today. Here's what you need to know:

• Australians travelling overseas have been told to come home by the federal government
• There are now 454 cases of COVID-19 in Australia
• Around the world, the number is more than 181,000
• New analysis of budget pressures suggest the biggest deficit in dollar terms on record
• Closing down non-essential gatherings in pubs, cinemas and restaurants of more than a 100 people are being considered on a city-by-city basis

We'll be continuing our coverage of the coronavirus pandemic throughout the night, and into Wednesday, as countries around the world grapple with how to contain the virus. You can follow along on our new blog, here.

NSW Chief Magistrate Graeme Henson has advised people who are not involved in court proceedings to "stay away from court complexes".

Judge Henson announced a series of changes to NSW Local Court operations on Tuesday, including dealing with many matters via email and not requiring defendants to physically show up.

Defendants will not have to attend court to be sentenced "unless the presiding magistrate considers the offence is serious", in which case they will be notified in writing.

If someone does not show up to court and does not communicate via email, the proceedings will be adjourned to June.Civil proceedings and Small Claims court will be conducted by teleconference, while the State Coroner will contact families about pending inquests.

Magistrates will also not issue orders for people in custody to be physically brought to court.October 2020 has been set aside to catch up on expected backlogs.

Judge Henson said the health and wellbeing of court users is a "major priority" and the steps will reduce the risk of exposure to coronavirus in courthouses across the state.

More than 300,000 criminal cases were dealt with in the Local Court last year across 140 locations, making it the largest trial jurisdiction in Australia.

The Seventh-day Adventist church denomination has cancelled all church services across Australia until at least the end of April.

The SDA church has more than 400 congregations with about 60,000 members who meet to worship on Saturdays.

Wahroonga Adventist Church, one of more than 400 congregations in Australia. Credit: Jessica Hromas

In a statement on Tuesday night, church leadership encouraged members to continue meeting online or in small groups at home.

“As Christians we have a responsibility to help minimise the stress on our health system and those who work in it,” the church said.

“We invite you to take this crisis as an opportunity. Today, we close our church doors, but we invite you to open your hearts.

“Let us use this time to connect in creative ways with others that may be on their own or isolated.”

Last week the Mormon church announced a worldwide closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The University of Sydney has announced it will suspend all face-to-face teaching from Monday and move fully online.

Its staff has been encouraged to work remotely to slow the spread of coronavirus, but the campus Wi-Fi network, libraries, computer labs, research and study spaces will remain open with enhanced cleaning protocols and social distancing measures.

Sydney University's vice-chancellor Dr Michael Spence.Credit: Nick Moir

"From Monday 23 March there will be no face-to-face teaching on campus. All teaching and learning will be delivered online," Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence wrote to staff on Tuesday afternoon.

"For units of study with labs, studios and other practical course components, online or remote arrangements will be put in place or will be suspended to later in the semester, or the year."

"All research groups should be preparing for how their research will be conducted in the context of strict limits on travel and fieldwork."

The number of coronavirus cases in Indonesia has risen to 172, a rise of 38 cases from Monday. At this stage, the death toll remains at five people and nine people have recovered.

The country also announced on Tuesday afternoon that it was suspending its visa exemption policies for short-stay visits, visa-on-arrival and diplomatic visa-free facilities for all countries, for a period of one month.

All foreigners who wish to visit Indonesia must obtain a visa from an Indonesian diplomatic mission in accordance with the purpose of their visit. These changes will hit the country's already-struggling tourism industry hard.

Applicants must provide health certificates issued by relevant health authorities from their respective countries.

The Government is also advising all Indonesian citizens to restrict non-essential outbound travel and to return home from abroad as soon as possible.

The Roald Amundsen cruise with 107 Australians on board, has a live-cam showing the Chilean coast - where it cannot dock because of a ban on ships.

Speakers at the Unconventional Conventions medical conference include Professor Gordian Fulde, AO, who founded the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine.

Professor Fulde is also the longest-serving ED director anywhere in Australia, having been director of emergency at St Vincent Hospital in Sydney for 35 years.

The Australian government has no plans to evacuate any more Australians overseas, after helping citizens and residents in China's Hubei province and those on the Diamond Princess cruise in Japan home.

A spokesperson said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was ready to offer consular assistance to the Australians on the Roald Amundsen.

"[DFAT] is monitoring a number of cruise ships with Australian citizens on board that have had itineraries impacted by the global outbreak of COVID-19."

Sydney’s usually bustling public transport network was eerily quiet at peak hour on Tuesday as thousands of Australians began self-isolating amid the coronavirus outbreak, but the government has ruled out cutting down services for now.

T2 Inner West trains were close to empty during the morning peak on Tuesday.

Photographs and vision of the city’s rail network show a handful of commuters dispersed along some carriages that would normally be jam-packed, while others were completely empty.

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All shows due to be performed at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane during the rest of March and April have been cancelled in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

QPAC chief executive John Kotzas confirmed the centre’s four theatres were closing until April 30, with all performances and events cancelled and customers being offered full refunds.

“The decision to cancel performances and projects is necessary and disappointing, however the health and well being of the community is the centre’s number one priority,” Mr Kotzas said in a statement on Tuesday.

“All patrons impacted by these cancellations will be contacted by QPAC and will be offered the opportunity to receive a full refund.

“Beyond this period, QPAC is continuing to review the centre’s program in collaboration with companies, artists and producers.

"We are an industry of incredibly resilient people … I have no doubt we will get through this together through our determination to deliver live performance to our audiences.”

The PM and Health Minister haven't ruled out closing schools to deal with the spread of coronavirus, but say at this stage, they can remain open.

Italian Cristian Fracassi heard about the shortage of valves used in respirators at his local hospital by word of mouth.

Staff of the Italian start-up Isinnova company shows valves produced with a 3D printer for hospitals near the northern Italian city of Brescia.Credit: Cristian Fracassi

The founder of Isinnova, a startup with a staff of 14 people, offered his company's services to help ease the shortfall of equipment that has been in huge demand since the coronavirus outbreak struck Italy.