As the day unfolded: Ruby Princess passenger dies, NSW records 'substantial' spike in infections

That wraps up today's live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. It's been yet another day of significant developments:

• Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced strict new controls to limit the spread of coronavirus in Australia, including a new nation-wide crackdown on public events
• Japan and the Olympics movement have decided to delay this year's Tokyo Games into 2021 as the coronavirus crisis obliterated the world's last major imminent sporting event
• There are now a total of 2043 coronavirus cases in Australia, including 818 in NSW, 411 in Victoria and 397 in Queensland
• More than 3000 Australians are stuck on about 30 cruise ships around the world, which DFAT is tracking

We will be continuing our live coverage throughout the night and into Wednesday in a new blog, which you can follow here. Thanks for joining us.

Japan and the Olympics movement have decided to delay this year's Tokyo Games into 2021 as the coronavirus crisis obliterated the world's last major imminent sporting event.

It was the first time in the Olympics' 124-year history that they had been postponed, though they were cancelled outright several times during the two 20th century World Wars.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe now believes the Games cannot be held safely on their original dates.Credit: AP

After a call with International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the July 24-August 9 event would be rescheduled for the summer of 2021 at the latest as proof of victory over the coronavirus.

"We asked President Bach to consider postponement of about one year to make it possible for athletes to play in the best condition, and to make the event a safe and secure one for spectators," Abe said.

"President Bach said he is in agreement 100 per cent."

There was no immediate word from the IOC, though its executives were due to meet later on Tuesday, local time.

Tokyo had completed preparations when the virus started spreading across the world. Despite insisting for months the Games would go ahead as planned, Abe this week said a delay may be unavoidable if the events could not be held in a complete form.

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike separately told reporters the Games, to be convened by summer of 2021, would still be branded "Tokyo 2020".

Reuters

If you missed the Prime Minister's address this evening, here's a comprehensive wrap from Rob Harris and Eryk Bagshaw.

Guests will be banned from attending weddings and no more than 10 mourners will be allowed to attend funerals under a new nation-wide crackdown on public events to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

Australians have also been ordered to stay inside and work from home as much as possible and cancel extended family barbecues, children's birthdays and dinner parties.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a new phase of shutdowns for Australian businesses from midnight on Wednesday, closing beauty therapy stores and supermarket food courts and warning people hosting house parties they could face criminal charges.

Read the full story here

Mr Morrison said the states and territories had decided to escalate their response together on Tuesday.

"Not all states, I want to stress, are in the same position. Some states, particularly in NSW and Victoria, are far more advanced on the progression of this virus than other states and territories.

But tonight, despite the variations that do exist, there is a strong will for states and territories to seek to move together whenever they can to ensure a consistency of the rules and applications we are putting in place across the country."

This is despite Victoria moving to call the school holidays early, and NSW asking parents to take their children out of school where possible.

Mr Morrison said essential workers cover a lot of ground - they aren't just in our hospitals during the health crisis and schools need to stay open in some capacity for their children.

"Now if you ask me who is an essential worker? Someone who has a job.

Everyone who has a job in this economy is an essential worker. Every single job that is being done in our economy with these severe restrictions that are taking place is essential.

"It can be essential in a service whether it's a nurse or a doctor or a school teacher, or a public servant who is working tonight to ensure that we can get even greater capacity in our Centrelink offices.

"People stacking shelves, that is essential. People earning money in their family when another member of their family may have lost their job and can no longer earn, that's an essential job. Jobs are essential.

"And everyone who has one needs to be able to keep doing their job and that means they will need to continue to be able to send their children to school for an education."

Indonesia has recorded more than 100 new coronavirus cases in a single day for the first time, while the death toll is rising in south-east Asia's most populous nation.

Another 107 cases were reported on Tuesday, as well as six more deaths, taking the country's total to 686 infections and 55 deaths. The death toll is already the largest in south-east Asia and includes eight doctors.

Health Ministry spokesman Achmad Yurianto told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday that 4000 rapid test kits had been used in south Jakarta, one of the epicentres of the outbreak, and that "90 per cent of cases are negative".

That would suggest 400 new infections had been detected in a single day, but Tuesday's updated figures did not reflect this number.

In fact, the total number of tests reported on the Health Ministry's website rose from 2756 on Monday to 2863 on Tuesday, suggesting that all 107 people tested were positive - a statistical improbability - and clearly excluding the results of more than 4000 rapid tests carried out more than 24 hours ago.

Mr Morrison said progress has been made on finalising measures for struggling tenants, landlords and creditors which he hopes will solve issues "for the entire chain".

"We spend every minute of every day seeking to identify every possible burden of harm that is falling to people in these difficult circumstances."

Rent assistance is already available to those getting the Jobseeker payment from Centrelink.

Overseas travel will now be banned under biosecurity powers, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy speak to the media on Tuesday night.Credit: AAP

Exceptions could include people in aid work, compassionate travel or essential travel for employment.

Very few people are leaving overseas after the government warned against all travel, Mr Morrison said.

From midnight tomorrow, restrictions will apply to the following services:

• Food courts in shopping centres but they will be allowed to serve takeaway
• Auction houses and auction rooms
• Open house inspections and auctions
• The states and territories will make a decision on markets. Food markets will be exempt
• Weddings can continue where it is just the couple, the celebrant and the witnesses. No more than five people
• Funerals must be limited to no more than ten people and must observe the rules about four square metres per person
• Waxing salons, beauty salons, spa and massage parlours, nail salons. Health-related services are exempt
• Hairdressers and barbers can continue but with strict limitations on the number of people. Patrons should spend no more than 30 minutes there
• Amusement parks and arcades
• Indoor and outdoor play centres
• Community and recreation centres, health clubs, yoga studios, barre studios
• Bootcamps and outdoor personal training will be limited to 10 people and social distancing must be adhered to
• Swimming pools
• Large groups of people doing sporting activities outside, such as playing a game of soccer
• Galleries, libraries, youth centres, RSLs

The government is announcing stricter controls to limit the spread of coronavirus.

From midnight tomorrow, food courts in shopping centres will no longer be open (though takeaway food is still allowable).

Scott Morrison addresses the nation.Credit: AAP

Auction houses and open house inspections can not continue services.
Beauty therapy, tanning, waxing, nail salons, and tattoo parlors will now be forced to close.

Hairdressers and barbershops will be allowed, only if they abide by social distancing (of one person per four square metres) and that nobody is on the premises for more than 30 minutes.

This is on top of the rules already announced on Sunday, banning club sports, bars, cinemas, casinos, churches and concerts.

Boot camps and personal training is limited to no more than 10 people and must also strictly follow social distancing.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said weddings could continue so long as only the couple, celebrant and witnesses attend and observe the rule of one person per four square metres.

"But, large gatherings for weddings, sadly, won't be possible under these new arrangements," Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison said the medical advice was still that schools should remain open, particularly for children of emergency workers, despite Victoria calling the school holidays early.