Coronavirus Australia live updates: Nationals senator Susan McDonald tests positive to COVID-19, Peter Dutton hits out

Queensland senator Susan McDonald has been diagnosed with COVID-19 as Peter Dutton takes aim at ‘opponents’ who were using his illness for political gain.

Richard Ferguson, Remy Varga and Adeshola Ore

68 min read

5:43AMMarch 16, 2020.

Updated 6:32AMMarch 17, 2020

Health officials focused on 'slowing' coronavirus curve

Nationals senator tests positive
Dutton takes aim at ‘opponents’
NBN under pressure
NSW cases soar
ACT public emergency
WA cancels ANZAC Day
Economic damage ‘beyond GFC’
Tasmania to track arrivals
CDC: ban gatherings over 50

This is our live coverage of the developing coronavirus crisis for Monday, March 16. You can read live coverage for Tuesday, March 17 here.

Hello and welcome to The Australian’s live coverage of the coronavirus crisis on Monday. Queensland senator Susan McDonald has been diagnosed with COVID-19 as Peter Dutton takes aim at ‘opponents’ who were using his illness for political gain.

As cases in Australia surge past 300 and a fifth death is recorded, Scott Morrison has effectively closed the country’s borders, mandating international airport arrivals be forced into 14-day self-isolation.

Leading medical officers will consider restrictions on gatherings in enclosed spaces as major cities around the world such as New York close pubs, clubs and restaurants. Woolworths has launched a dedicated shopping hour for the elderly.

Angelica Snowden 11.40pm: Gillard self-isolating after Trudeau hug

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard is self-isolating after she embraced Sophie Gregoire Trudeau in London a week before she tested positive to COVID-19.

The Canadian Prime Minister’s wife and Ms Gillard spoke at a We Day event in Wembley Arena in early March, The Guardian reports.

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Picture: AAP

A spokeswoman for Ms Gillard said she was in good health but self-isolating just in case.

“Former PM Gillard did attend the WE Day event with Sophie Trudeau. Ms Gillard is in London and feeling well, but as a precaution is self-isolating and will continue to do so until the end of the recommended period.”

Angelica Snowden 9.33pm: Cases surges in WA

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Western Australia have surged to 28 after jumping by 10 overnight.

Premier Mark McGowan said all of the new cases were Perth residents.

“Travel information is still pending for most cases: one recently reported returning from Hawaii, there are two sets of linked husband-and-wife cases,” Mr McGowan told reporters on Monday.

One person is in a serious but stable condition in hospital.

The state government announced a $607 million economic stimulus package, including freezing household fees and charges, and doubling the emergency assistance payment to $600 for eligible concession card holders.

It also made available up to 20 days’ COVID-19 leave to all public sector workers who have exhausted their paid personal, carers or sick leave entitlements.

The total number of cases in Australia has exceeded 360.

The latest state and territory confirmed cases include:

QLD: 68 confirmed cases

WA: 28 confirmed cases

NSW: 171 confirmed cases

SA: 29 confirmed cases

VIC: 71 confirmed cases

TAS: 7 confirmed cases

ACT: 2 confirmed cases

NT: 1 confirmed case

The death for the country toll remains at five.

With AAP

Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.30pm: WA suspends jury trials

After deliberating on the issue, Western Australia has followed NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia in suspending jury trials over coronavirus fears.

Chief Justice of Western Australia Peter Quinlan and Chief Judge Kevin Sleight of the state’s district court on Monday said the suspension will last for at least a month and a half.

“A decision will be made prior to May 1 2020 as whether it is necessary for the suspension to continue after that date,” they said.

WA Chief Justice Peter Quinlan. Picture: Colin Murty

“In taking this step the chief justice and the chief judge are acutely conscious of the impact this action will have of the administration of justice in this state.

“All available steps will be taken to reduce that impact, and all options will be considered to enable jury trials to resume as soon as practical, in a manner consistent with the health and safety of the public.”

All trials listed to commence in March, April and May will consider applications for trial by judge alone.

Amanda Hodge 8.10pm: Indonesia’s failures have region on alert

Indonesia’s persistent bungling of the coronavirus pandemic is raising concerns across the region with Singapore on Sunday slamming the door on wealthy Indonesians who have been flying in seeking diagnosis and treatment for the coronavirus.

The city state has imposed a mandatory 14-day Stay Home Notice for all visitors from neighbouring ASEAN countries from Tuesday morning, all-but admitting the new policy was designed to prevent Indonesians fleeing their country for superior health treatment elsewhere.

The move came as president Joko Widodo called on Indonesians to “work from home, study from home and pray from home” though stopped short of mandating any lockdown, or of declaring a national emergency as the World Health Organisation has urged him to do.

In a Monday update to the nation, he also bizarrely refused to reveal the results of his own coronavirus test, telling reporters: “You can ask those who tested us”.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo inspects Jakarta International airport in Tangerang. Picture: AFP

Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s COVID-19 taskforce chairman, said his government’s new policy was a response to recent cases of people travelling to Singapore for the “specific purpose of seeking medical care… (who) were literally sent straight from the airport to hospital”.

“We understand why they would like to do so, and we would certainly like to help them, but our healthcare system must be prioritised for Singaporeans,” he said.

Singapore has recorded at least eight imported COVID-19 cases from Indonesia in the past week, including a 65-year-old man who flew in on a charter flight and was diagnosed the next day.

Indonesia has been under fire for weeks over its apparent reluctance to test for the virus, from its insistence back in January that it had the capacity to test when it did not to government reassurances last week that it had imported 10,000 new test kits.

In fact, Indonesia’s COVID-19 Taskforce spokesman Achmad Yurianto told The Australian the government was still waiting for those test kits to arrive.

“The government has purchased 10,000 units for COVID-19 detection from the CDC in Atlanta, USA. We will receive the kits this week,” he said.

Incredibly, Singapore’s recent offer to the Indonesian government to provide it with coronavirus testing kits was rebuffed, Indonesians learned at the weekend.

The archipelago nation of 267 million people has so far tested less than 1300 for the virus. Of those 117 have tested positive and five have died.

By comparison, the state of New South Wales alone has tested close to 10,000 people, Taiwan — a country of less than 24 million 160km from mainland China — has tested more than 17,000, Japan more than 10,000 and Malaysia almost 6000.

A member of the Indonesian Red Cross disinfects the Altar Filadelfia church in Jakarta. Picture: AFP

Indonesia’s failures prompted WHO chief Tedros Adhanom-Ghebreyesus to write to President Widodo at the weekend urging him to significantly intensify his country’s efforts.

“This includes testing cases not only with a known direct link to a positive case but all patients suffering from an influenza-like illness and severe acute respiratory disease,” Dr Tedros wrote.

He also urged the president to set up “sufficient and decentralised laboratory capacity” to analyse the tests. Two more labs are due to come online though on Monday tests were still being conducted by only one government laboratory in Jakarta.

Chairul Anwar Nidom, a virologist at Airlangga University’s Avian Influenza Research Centre in Surabaya, told The Australian on Monday Indonesia was clearly under-testing by targeting only suspected patients and not a wider population.

“If we tested more, we’d have a better chance of mapping the disease and learning its characters. With what we’re currently doing, it’s like a finding a needle in the haystack,” he said.

The fact that Indonesian patients were still having to pay for tests — while in most other countries testing was free — “risked reducing active participation from the public”, he added.

With Chandni Vasandani

Angelica Snowden 7.57pm: Sydney Writers’ Festival cancelled

The 2020 Sydney Writers’ Festival is the latest community event to fall victim to measures aimed at halting the spread of coronavirus, as organisers confirmed it will be cancelled.

In a statement from the festival’s artistic director Michaela McGuire and CEO Chrissy Sharp, the organisers said the decision to cancel was “devastating” but inevitable.

Today we have made the inevitable but nonetheless devastating decision to cancel this yearâ€™s #sydneywritersfestival, which was scheduled to run from 27 April to 3 May. https://t.co/kFN8I5LjLJ
— Sydney Writers' Festival (@SydWritersFest) March 16, 2020

“We recognise that the cancellation of this year’s festival will have a significant impact on the literary community, and especially on writers whose work was to be featured for the first time in this program,” the statement reads.

“We are facing an extraordinarily challenging moment in the 23-year history of the festival.”

The organisers urged would-be attendees and supporters to engage with the festival’s digital content in the coming weeks and vowed to return in 2021.

“Without box office revenue, there will be more difficult times ahead.

“But Sydney Writers’ Festival will return in 2021.”

The festival was scheduled to run from 27 April to 3 May.

Adam Creighton 7.45pm: Small businesses ‘smashed’ by coronavirus crisis

EXCLUSIVE

The share of businesses affected by coronavirus crisis has quadrupled in four weeks to 60 per cent, amid signs small businesses in NSW and South Australia are among the hardest hit according to the first national survey of businesses since the government released a stimulus package last week.

More than 80 per cent of firms with turnover between $1m and $5m said they were affected by the spread of the virus, according to Roy Morgan Research, a bigger share than for large businesses with turnover over $50m (73 per cent).

Happy man working at a grocery store doing the inventory - small business concepts

Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine said the government’s stimulus package “will need to be raised many times over to truly protect the Australian economy from a devastating recession the likes of which Australia hasn’t seen this World War Two”.

Read more here

Tim Dodd 5.56pm: La Trobe suspends classes

La Trobe is the second university to suspend classes this week to give staff time to shift as many courses as possible online.

Late Monday afternoon La Trobe said that face-to-face classes would cease on Tuesday March 17 and resume on Tuesday 24 March. The break is to allow staff to test and refine their online delivery, the university said.

Students who are on placements, or studying in fully online subjects, will continue as usual.

On Sunday the University of Queensland said it would halt teaching this week and recommence on 23 March with virtually all classes online.

In its statement La Trobe also said that all non-essential events at the university would be cancelled or postponed until the end of June, even those involving small numbers of people.

“This includes events such as: graduation ceremonies; public lectures and events; events run by all Student Union Associations and student clubs and societies; sporting events and planned ceremonies,” the university said.

But sports facilities, libraries and student accommodation will remain open at La Trobe.

The University of Wollongong will begin a similar suspension of classes on Monday 23 March which will last for two weeks while it retools for online teaching.

It said on Monday afternoon that all undergraduate and postgraduate classes would be taught in “remote delivery mode” when classes resumed on April 6.

Although teaching at the University of Wollongong will continue as usual this week, tutorials and other classes will not be mandatory and lecturers who are able to deliver their classes online will have the option of doing so.

Angelica Snowden 5.50pm: Seven new cases, one death in Queensland

Queensland Health has confirmed seven new cases of coronavirus in the state, including one elderly woman who died.

There are now 68 people in Queensland who have COVID-19, including three passengers from the Diamond Princess Cruise ship.

The seven new cases include:

A 22-year-old female

A 38-year-old male

A 45-year-old male

A 30-year-old female

A 26-year-old female

A 57-year-old male

A 77-year-old female, deceased. Contact tracing is being managed by the Sunshine Coast Public Health Unit after being confirmed with COVID-19.

All cases except the deceased woman are being managed by the Brisbane Metro South Public Health Unit after being confirmed with COVID-19.

There are all in isolation and authorities have started contact tracing.

Remy Varga 5.48am: Too dangerous for dangerous ideas

Sydney’s Festival of Dangerous Ideas has become the latest high profile cultural event to be cancelled due to the coronavirus.

A spokeswoman for the festival confirmed it had been cancelled after non-essential gatherings of over 500 were banned as well as mandatory self isolation periods of 14 days.

All ticket holders will be refunded but festival co-founder Simon Longstaff asked punters to consider donating to FODI.

Simon Longstaff has asked ticket holders to donate to FODI. Picture: James Croucher

“As a not-for-profit charity that is facing a substantial financial loss related to the cancellation of FODI, we are asking ticket holders to consider making a tax-deductible donation, of all or part of their ticket price, to support the centre and future presentations of FODI,” he said.

Angelica Snowden 5.42pm: Primary school student self-isolates

A primary student from a Catholic school in Sydney’s east has gone into self-isolation after coming into contact with a person carrying the coronavirus to ensure the disease does not spread throughout the school.

While the student has not developed any of the symptoms of the disease, it is understood the St Francis of Assisi school, in Paddington, took the proactive step to ensure the safety of the greater student body.

A student from St Francis of Assisi school in Paddington is self-isolating. Picture: John Appleyard

Catholic School NSW said it could not comment on individual case for privacy reasons.

Catholic Schools NSW CEO Dallas McInerney will host a webinar briefing on Wednesday morning, where the Minister for Education Dan Tehan will brief Catholic school principals from across the state and 11 diocesan directors on the most updated information and advice about coronavirus.

Between 85 to 100 people are expected to join the meeting which will take place on Wednesday morning in a ‘webinar’ format.

Gerard Cockburn 5.38pm: Westpac worker positive

A Westpac employee has tested positive for coronavirus prompting the bank to undergo deep cleaning at its Sydney corporate offices.

The bank confirmed one of its employees who work in its Barangaroo office has contracted the disease, which was flagged last Wednesday after three workers started showing flu-like symptoms.

Richard Ferguson 5.32pm: ANU moves online

Australian National University is moving the majority of its classes online to stop the spread of coronavirus.

As other universities across the country suspend classes to hasten the switch to digital, ANU vice-chancellor Brian Schmidt told students and staff on Monday that he expected both large and small classes to go online this week onwards.

“This week we will begin moving towards online delivery for many of our large classes and look at those smaller classes and tutorials where social distancing is hard - so that we can find appropriate solutions. But we expect to move online quickly,” he said.

“This has been an extraordinarily challenging year for our community, and I thank you for your continued patience and support as we work through this together.”

ANU has already announced all non-essential public events and gatherings would be banned until the end of the first semester on June 20.

The events affected will include sport matches, sport training, theatre performances, art events and social functions, including those at residential colleges.

A ceremony to install former foreign minister Julie Bishop as ANU’s first female chancellor has also been cancelled.

Professor Brian Schmidt, Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University with Chancellor Julie Bishop.

Meanwhile, the University of Technology Sydney will suspend all classes for a week from Tuesday to work out how to transition face-to-face classes to a method that “supports social distancing and remote support.”

In a message to students, Vice-Chancellor Attila Brungs said all coursework teaching including lectures, tutorials, labs and classes will be paused until Tuesday 24 March, after which measures to allow online and remote learning will be progressively implemented.

The capacity to complete exams online will also be developed.

Chancellor Brungs said the missed week would be made up at the end of the semester.

University graduations and other non essential events will be cancelled.

Remy Varga 5.21pm: Police have increased powers

Victoria Police are now empowered to detain and arrest people who fail to follow the directives of the state’s chief health officer after a state of emergency was declared.

Victoria Police Minister Lisa Neville said officers could now disperse non-essential mass gatherings of over 500 people and individuals who participate could face arrest and detention.

“It’s not just about people being fined... it does enable Victoria Police to use their powers to detain, to arrest, people who are not complying with the directions that have been issued,” she said.

Vicotrian Police Minister Lisa Neville speaks to the media at the State Control Centre in Melbourne today. Picture: Getty Images

Elias Visontay 5.11pm: ‘No speakies’ from the government: Albanese

Anthony Albanese has lashed the government for not consulting Labor over whether to limit parliamentary activity to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese says Labor is open to being co-operative with the government over the coronavirus crisis. Picture: AAP

The Opposition Leader said Labor was open to cooperating with safety measures, but said he had not received a response after writing to the government on Friday asking for parliament to sit this week to pass coronavirus stimulus measures.

“No one from the government has contacted myself, has contacted Tony Burke, has contacted the senate leader Penny Wong, or the manager of opposition business Katy Gallagher in the senate,” Mr Albanese told Sky News.

“I find it quite extraordinary that the government I wrote to on Friday morning, I wrote to the government, they haven’t had the courtesy of responding. What I proposed was that parliament be brought back, that we deal with the legislation from tomorrow. That was just a common sense solution. It certainly wasn’t a partisan one. That would have allowed caucuses to meet today to consider the legislation and to deal with it.

“Surely it would be easier for parliament to meet this week rather than next week, just as next week will be easier than the week after given what’s happening with this issue.”

“But it’s ‘no speakies’ from the government.”

“In order to put measures in place they actually need to get out of the mindset of refusing to engage with the opposition. We’re open to being cooperative but at the same time we do expect to be consulted. We would expect in parliament sitting that there is question time for example and that we’re able to deal with these issues.”

Mr Albanese said the opposition was open to pairing arrangements, but was concerned at talk the government was considering a further round of financial support when Labor had not yet had a chance to review the legislation for the initial $17.6 billion package.

“If it’s the case that they’re meeting today for a further stimulus before we’ve even seen legislation for the first stimulus that’s required. I just say to the government that they need to actually engage. This isn’t a one party state,” Mr Albanese said.

5.07pm: Royal commission cancels hearings, events

The disability royal commission has cancelled all public events, including hearings, for the foreseeable future in response to coronavirus.

The commission’s chair Ronald Sackville said on Monday that public hearings scheduled from now until May have been postponed, while community forums and face-to-face private sessions have been suspended.

“The commission has decided that these measures are necessary in view of the risks to health, especially to people with disability who are often particularly vulnerable to infections.” — AAP

David Murray 5.04pm: Jury trials on ice

Queensland has suspended all future jury trials in a precautionary measure as a result of the coronavirus.

The suspension was announced Monday in a joint statement by Chief Justice Catherine Holmes and Chief Judge Kerry O’Brien.

Chief Justice of Queensland Catherine Holmes.

“Criminal trials that have already started before a jury in the Supreme and District

Courts will continue until their conclusion,” the statement reads.

“Jurors with a summons to attend court should contact the number shown on their

summons.

“Other cases will proceed, but the Courts are considering further adjustments to their

procedures in order to deal with the challenges posed by COVID-19.

“The Courts will continue to monitor closely the advice being provided by government

health authorities and act accordingly. Community safety will always be a priority.”

Adeshola Ore 4.57pm: Museum events suspended

Sydney Living Museums said it has suspended its public programs for six weeks, including talks, walking tours and school holiday activities.

The collection of 12 museums will remain open to the public, but their onsite programming will be shut until April 26.

In an email, Sydney Living Museums said it would follow guidance from the state government and monitor updates about the virus.

“We have also taken measures to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” the email reads.

“Our bathroom facilities are regularly checked to ensure they are clean and sanitised, and well stocked. Hand sanitiser is also available for our visitors and staff at all SLM properties.”

The museum said its staff would issue refunds for customers who had already booked tickets to events during this period.

Affected museums are:

Sydney’s Hyde Park Barracks is one of 12 of the city’s museums where events have been cancelled. Picture: Getty Images

1. Caroline Simpson Library and Research Collection

2. Elizabeth Bay House

3. Elizabeth Farm

4. Hyde Park Barracks

5. Justice & Police Museum

6. Meroogal

7. Museum of Sydney

8. Rose Seidler House

9. Rouse Hill Estate

10. Susannah Place

11. The Mint

12. Vaucluse House

Joseph Lam 4.51pm: Graduation ceremonies postponed

James Cook University has delayed graduation ceremonies of final year students studying at Cairns and Townsville campuses in new measures set to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The announcement comes just days after the University of Sydney announced similar measures on Friday and reported its first known case of a student who has contracted coronavirus on campus.

In a statement released on Monday, James Cook University has said, “The University is continuing to evaluate the continually evolving situation and our priority is the health and wellbeing of our students and staff and the broader community, while limiting disruption as much as possible in these times of uncertainty.”

“Despite not holding graduation ceremonies, students have in fact graduated and will be provided their testamur. Students will be offered an opportunity to attend a graduation ceremony in the future,” said the university’s Vice Chancellor Professor Harding.

The Queensland university which has campuses in Brisbane, Cairns,Townsville and Singapore, had initially asked students to “doff” or remove an item of clothing in lieu of shaking hands with the chancellor.

Over the weekend Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced fines of up to $13,000 for anyone not compliant with self-quarantine measures as the confirmed number of cases in her state had reached 61.

“We have random police checks to make sure people are compliant with that notice,” she said.

Anyone feeling unsure of their health is able to take Queensland Health’s online coronavirus quiz here.

Craig Johnstone 4.48pm: Anzac services cancelled in Queensland

RSL Queensland has confirmed it has advised sub-branches to cancel Anzac Day commemorations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RSL Queensland president said the decision followed the federal government’s advice to suspend public gatherings of more than 500 people.

He said since older veterans were particularly susceptible to the virus, cancelling Anzac Day events was the responsible thing to do to ensure their health and wellbeing.

“It is very sad that we are not able to commemorate Anzac Day in time-honoured fashion this year, but a public commemoration is not worth risking the health of our older veterans,” he said.

Adeshola Ore 4.39pm: Coles joins Woolies in ‘community shopping hour’

Coles Supermarket will implement a dedicated shopping hour for pensioners, seniors and concession card holders from Wednesday.

It will also restrict its home delivery service to “the most vulnerable” and suspend its in-store grocery pick up and UberEats service.

Stocks eub low at Coles Chatswood.

It comes after Woolworths announced earlier today that it would launch a daily shopping hour from 7am to 8am for elderly and disabled shoppers from Tuesday.

All Coles supermarkets will be open to 7am-8pm. with the first hour dedicated to pensioners, senior and concession card holders.

Coles supermarkets across the country will also close no later than 8pm to allow staff members to replenish shelves for the next day.

“Coles supermarkets will launch a dedicated “Community Hour” in all supermarkets to improve access to essential groceries for the elderly and disadvantaged, during this time of unprecedented demand,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

The hour applies to holders of a government-issued Pensioner Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Card, Companion Hard and Health Care Card.

The supermarket said it would also recruit more than 5000 casual staff members across its stores in response to the increased demand.

Angelica Snowden 4.31pm: NSW joins Anzac cancellations

RSL NSW will cancel all public Anzac Day services in NSW.

The announcement was made after NSW RSL agreed with the NSW government that the “risk to vulnerable people during the current health situation is simply too high for these events to continue in their traditional format”.

A statement by the NSW RSL said it would be “irresponsible” to go ahead with the commemoration services.

“The RSL has a responsibility to act in the best interests of veterans and the general public,” the statement read.

“In these uncertain times we must follow the advice of medical experts and do everything we can to protect the community.”

Services to commemorate the Anzacs will still “be observed” but in another form.

“Exactly what form this will take will be different from previous years, but as custodians of commemoration, the RSL will still honour the service and sacrifice of our brave servicemen and women.”

The statement noted the possible penalties that could be incurred if events of over 500 people go ahead.

Richard Ferguson 4.09pm: Pandemic prompts energy concern

Federal and state energy ministers will meet on Friday to ensure Australians still have secure access to power during the coronavirus pandemic.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor will now meet with his counterparts via a secure teleconference to reduce potential person-to-person spread of the disease.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor will addresses coronavirus at the COAG energy ministers' meeting. Picture: Russell Millard

“I have prioritised the response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the COAG Energy Council agenda to ensure that Australia’s energy system is prepared for any escalation of the spread of COVID-19,” Mr Taylor said.

“Our priority must be to ensure Australia is well-placed to respond to energy supply disruptions, including electricity, gas and liquid fuels.

“I will continue to communicate with energy retailers, generators, transmission and market operators regarding their emergency management plans.”

Michael Roddan 3.48pm: Super fund pulls pin on short-sellers

One of Australia’s largest superannuation funds, the $85bn UniSuper fund, has pulled the pin on lending its stock to short-sellers in a bid to limit price plunges on equities markets. Read the full story here.

David Swan 3.41pm: Broadband under pressure

Not surprisingly, a sharp increase in NBN traffic due to the coronavirus has sparked calls for network improvements to be fast-tracked. Read more about the unprecendented demand for the NBN in the coronavirus crisis here.

Bridget Carter 3.35pm: Goldman Sachs worker tests positive

A Goldman Sachs employee in its Sydney office is understood to have tested positive for COVID-19.

Australian chief executive Simon Rothery sent a memo to clients on Monday informing them of the development.

Mr Rothery said the employee had been self isolating since Friday last week.

As a result, the bank has cleared out its offices at Level 48 of Governor Phillip Tower in the city’s central business district.

3.30pm: NSW cases soar

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in NSW has jumped dramatically to 171.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard says there have been 37 new cases in the 24 hours to 11am on Monday which he described as a “dramatic increase”.

There are 1282 cases under investigation at the moment with 25,500 people tested to date.

“It is starting to look as if there will be a fairly substantial ... exponential increase in numbers over the next few weeks,” Mr Hazzard told reporters in Sydney. - AAP

Paul Garvey 3.22pm: From bog roll to currency

Concerned consumers have started bartering food for toilet paper as panic shopping continues to put a strain on grocery supplies.

Toilet paper is now being used as barter.

One woman has taken to a Western Australian community Facebook page offering to swap a frozen chicken for toilet paper amid shortages of both products in supermarkets.

Toilet paper shelves have sat largely empty for days, while several supermarkets have warned of limited supplies of meat.

On a brighter note, several other people offered to give the woman toilet paper for free, telling her to keep the chicken.

Matthew Denholm 3.12pm Tassie also cancels Anzac ceremonies

Tasmania has joined WA in cancelling Anzac Day ceremonies, fearing their popularity might spread coronavirus.

RSL Tasmania said on Monday the decision was informed by the federal government’s ban on gatherings of 500 or more people.

“Public support for Anzac Day may then lead to people travelling to smaller regional services, which in turn would raise the numbers in that location to an unacceptable level,” the RSL said in a statement.

A Digger takes part in last year’s Anzac day march in Perth. Picture: Colin Murty

“Our major concern is for the safety and wellbeing of the community at large, and also for our own members, many of whom fall within the vulnerable categories.

“Anzac Day and all that it means to Australians is no less important this year, however our responsibility to the Australian community as a whole must be taken very seriously.”

It urged local councils and other organisations which organised or hosted Anzac Day events to follow suit “in the best interests of their own communities”.

“It is most unfortunate that we cannot gather to commemorate the fallen this Anzac Day, and we will always remember the dedication, commitment and sacrifice of our Defence Forces, past and present,” it said.

Earlier on Monday, it was announced Tasmania would introduce an arrivals card to track those entering the state after overseas trips, as the state’s university moves to staged online teaching.

“As of tomorrow, we will be introducing the Tasmanian arrival card and it will be mandated that if you are an international travelling entering this state, or a Tasmanian returning home, that you will need to provide us with your details,” said Premier Peter Gutwein.

“(This is) so that we can keep in touch with you, importantly provide you with advice should you require it and understand where you are in our community for that period.”

He believed the “vast majority” of people would heed advice to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving from overseas but repeated his warning that penalties of up to $8,500 would apply to those failing to do so.

Mr Gutwein ruled out closing state schools, unless advice changed, but one private school, Launceston’s Scotch Oakburn, has announced it will close for 14 days, with students to learn online.

The University of Tasmania announced it was starting a “staged transition to online course learning and working from home”.

Tasmania has recorded seven COVD-19 cases, but is yet to experience any confirmed community transition, with all cases related to overseas travellers or people who have come into close contact with them.

Adeshola Ore 2.58pm: Apply a ‘sniff test’ to social media

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) is urging Australians to be aware of misleading and false medical advice about coronavirus posted on social media.

Australian model Miranda Kerr has been criticised for sharing health advice about coronavirus over the weekend.

In an Instagram post to her more than 12 million followers, Ms Kerr promoted a “Virus Protection” guide from her “medical medium”, Anthony William who has no medical qualifications.

Additionally, a fake letter which appears to be from the federal and Victorian Health ministers has been circulation on social media about school closures.

RACGP President Dr Harry Nespolon said in a statement that all social media users should be wary of what they are reading online.

“I encourage all Australians to apply a ‘sniff’ test to posts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the like and ask themselves whether the information is reliable and trustworthy.”

“I encourage all Australians to apply a ‘sniff test’ to posts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and the like and ask themselves whether the information is reliable and trustworthy.

“The best sources of information on COVID-19 include the RACGP website and the official health.gov.au website, not Miranda Kerr’s Instagram account.”

2.51pm: Take it from Arnie

If people won’t listen to their governments or health experts about staying home in the coronavirus crisis, they should at least pay heed to what The Terminator has to say. WATCH

Stay at home as much as possible. Listen to the experts, ignore the morons (foreheads). We will get through this together. pic.twitter.com/FRg41QehuB
— Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) March 16, 2020

Richard Ferguson 2.35pm: Chambers closed to public

The galleries of the House of Representatives and the Senate will be closed to the public to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Tourists will still be allowed into the marble foyer and the art galleries in Parliament House but will not be allowed to watch MPs legislate the health and economic responses to COVID-19.

The public gallery overlooking MPs in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra.

House and Senate committees are also being asked to consider whether their business is essential and switch to teleconferencing as soon as possible.

Former MPs, state parliamentarians, and volunteers will also be barred from private areas from parliament and current federal politicians are being asked to only bring essential staff to Canberra.

House Speaker Tony Smith and Senate President Scott Ryan say the changes will protect people from coronavirus.

But the two presiding officers have not yet detailed any restrictions on MPs themselves, including reducing parliament to a quorum to quickly pass legislation.

“These decisions have not been taken lightly and are being taken following detailed

discussion and advice from the relevant authorities,” Mr Smith and Senator Ryan said.

“Further details will be provided over the course of the week as the advice to Presiding

Officers evolves, and to all parties via the Whips as necessary.”

Rebecca Urban 2.18pm: School closures could last six months

Schools have been warned that they could be forced to remain closed for as long as six months should they go against health department advice and shut prematurely due to fears of spreading coronavirus.

In an update to parents on Monday, St Andrew’s Cathedral School principal John Collier said current advice from health experts was that pre-emptive closing of schools will probably do more harm than good.

St Andrews Cathedral School principal Dr John Collier. Picture: James Croucher

“An early closure of schools may be very unhelpful, as medical experts predict the virus will peak in Australia in May,” Dr Collier wrote.

“Accordingly, if schools close now and open later, they may be opening at the time of greatest vulnerability.

“We need to look ahead at what an early closure might mean. It may consign us to be closed for up to six months, which is the predicted life of any epidemic in Australia.

“We have real doubts as to whether our parents, and indeed our students, could cope with a closure of that length, given the supervision requirements of our younger students and the sophisticated curriculum requirements of our older students.”

Dr Collier’s comments come as several independent schools announced plans to send students home and continue their studies online.

St Leonards College in Melbourne announced it would “create a student free zone and move to online learning” from Tuesday.

Remy Varga 2.11pm: Toilet paper on a roll

Woolworths is selling around seven weeks worth of toilet paper each day with consumer demand for essential items exceeding the capacity of the supermarket giant’s distribution centres, says the managing director.

Panic buying and stockpiling has seen toilet papers fly off supermarket shelves across the nation with two women charged after physically fighting over the in demand product at a Woolworths store in the far western Sydney suburb of Chullora.

Empty shelves normally stocked with toilet paper rolls at Woolworths Supermarket in Parramatta. Picture: AAP

Woolworths managing director Claire Peters told reporters on Monday that demand for loo rolls greatly outstripped supply over the last two weeks as the coronavirus outbreak escalated.

“From a toilet roll point of view, we will be taking roughly seven weeks worth of sales in one day,” she said.

“Clearly toilet rolls is a large cube, it actually takes a lot of space in our transport network and the demand is just significantly higher than the supply.”

But Ms Peters said relief was coming with toilet paper suppliers adjusting toilet paper pack sizes to help address the public’s demand.

Perry Williams 2.10pm LNG shipments tumble

Australian shipments of LNG to Asia buyers fell 13 per cent in February as the spread of coronavirus disrupted trade, consultancy EnergyQuest said.

The nation’s gas exports fell to 6.1m tonnes of LNG in February split across 90 shipments from 7m tonnes in January from 103 cargoes.

China only received 29 cargoes in February from Australia, its biggest supplier, compared with 40 in January while Japan took 31 deliveries from 45 the previous month.

Western Australian LNG shipments fell 16 per cent to 4.3m tonnes in February from 5.1m tonnes the prior month.

“Australian LNG is starting to experience a double-whammy of lower volumes and lower prices,” EnergyQuest chief executive Graerme Bethune said.

“The disruption to trade with China and Japan from the coronavirus is starting to become evident in cargoes, not yet substantial but most pronounced in shipments from Gladstone, which supplies Chinese customers CNOOC and Sinopec.”

The oil price crash may take two to three months to filter through to LNG prices but will have a significant impact.

The LNG price falls by 46 per cent to $US4.20 per million British thermal units at an oil price of $US35 a barrel compared with $US7.80 per mbtu at a $US65 crude price, based on a 12 per cent slope.

Rosie Lewis 1.58pm: Aged care visits to be limited

Aged care providers are being encouraged to limit visits from Monday under national guidelines designed to prevent and control the coronavirus.

The Communicable Disease Network of Australia has issued precautionary measures for residents, staff and their families, including to limit visits to residential care centres, particularly for people suffering from chronic illness.

Elderly people are extremely vulnerable to the disease.

``Given the risks to older Australians from COVID 19, particularly those with chronic disease and other frailties, we now recommend that residential aged care providers restrict visitor access,” Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said.

Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck. Picture: Getty Images

“Our plan is to slow the spread, to save lives.”

Mr Colbeck said restrictions would be handled “professionally and sensitively” and acknowledged the emotional burden such measures would have on families of residents in palliative care.

State and territory chief health officers and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy will give advice to the national cabinet this week, with further actions to protect aged care facilities due to be announced on Wednesday.

“COVID-19 can be much more serious, even fatal, for people who are more vulnerable,” Mr Colbeck said, adding wider social distancing measures were of most importance for people over 60, particularly those with chronic illness.

Patrick Commins 1.52pm: Tourism ‘shut down’

The Australian Tourism Export Council has warned of job losses and that the government’s new isolation rules for arrivals in Australia means “inbound tourism industry has effectively been shut down”.

“The damage to our inbound tourism sector across Australia will deliver a significant blow to Australia’s economy and, with more than 600,000 people employed in tourism jobs, that will have a dramatic flow on to employment,” ATEC Managing Director Peter Shelley said in a statement.

“Australia’s tourism industry is falling from a great high — a high that has been a big part of our economic success over the past 10 years.”

Economists and policymakers, including Scott Morrison, say limiting a rise in unemployment is the key factor which will differentiate from a mild “technical” recession of two consecutive contractionary quarters in GDP, and a full-blown, and longer lasting downturn.

Mr Shelley’s comments come as ABS data showed short-term international arrivals in January were up only 1.6 per cent from a year earlier, in trend terms - what the ATEC boss described as “the lowest growth rate for many years”.

“No international visitors means all travel distributors, and many tourism suppliers, have no business and are unlikely to have any business in the near future. This comes right on the back of a massive decline in our industry that came as a result of January’s bushfires,” he said.

Richard Ferguson 1.45pm: Plane ‘not linked to Dutton infection’

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly says Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was not infectious when he got onto a plane from the United States, after two other Australian passengers on the same flight tested positive for coronavirus.

Mr Dutton is currently in a Queensland hospital after testing positive for COVID-19.

Lawyer and prisoner advocate Debbie Kilroy and her partner have tested positive for COVID-19 after travelling on the same plane.

Debbie Kilroy, left, who was on the same flight as Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, posted to her Facebook about positive text results for #COVID-19. Picture: Facebook

Scott Morrison and other cabinet ministers have not tested for coronavirus despite being in close contact with Mr Dutton last week, as he was asymptomatic at the time.

Dr Kelly has been in contact with Mr Dutton, and said it was highly unlikely the Home Affairs Minister would have passed on the disease while flying.

“I can say he was not infectious on the plane. Whether he caught it on the plane or before that it’s hard to know,” Dr Kelly said.

“The incubation for this particular virus is quite long It can be up to 14 days. He had been back in Australia for six days by the time he became sick.”

Ewin Hannan 1.35pm: Bosses urge wage ruling delay

CEO of the Australian Industry Group Innes Willox. Picture: AAP.

The Australian Industry Group has called for the next national minimum wage rise for low-paid workers to be delayed by two weeks due to the coronavirus epidemic and the impact of the bushfires.

The Fair Work Commission usually hands down its annual wage review decision in early June and pay rises flowing to about 2.4 million workers are operative from July 1.

But Ai Group chief executive Innes Willox said the heightened economic uncertainty required a different approach and the review should not be finalised until after the release of national accounts data of June 3.

He said the Australian economy and a large number of businesses have been disrupted by measures implemented to respond to COVID-19 internationally and “deeper disruptions now seem inevitable”.

“The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic will affect every segment of the economy in 2020. Economic developments as of mid-March indicate a rapid, serious deterioration is now under way,” he said.

Mr Willox said the serious economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the bushfire crisis are not accounted for in the national accounts figures released on March 4.

“In these exceptional circumstances, there is obvious merit in the Commission delaying its decision until the National Accounts figures have been released on 3 June and properly considered. Without taking into account these figures the Commission would be taking unnecessary, very significant risks if a wage increase is awarded.

He said the review timetable should be changed to allow industry groups, unions and governments to file a further written submission by June 8 and apply an operative date of July 15 for any increase.

“At this stage, Ai Group has not proposed a particular minimum wage increase given the current exceptional economic uncertainty,” he said. “We intend to put forward a position to the Commission on the quantum of any minimum wage increase later in the Annual Wage Review proceedings when the state of the Australian economy is clearer.”

Unions on Monday slammed a call by the Master Grocers Australia for a 12-month pay freeze for retail workers.

MGA, which represents businesses including IGA, FoodWorks and Mitre 10, said the “destructive effects” of the coronavirus, the impact of the bushfires and past annual minimum wage rises justified the pay freeze.

Victorian Trade Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari accused the MGA of “disgusting behaviour”.

“While everyone is trying to pull together, these guys are using the virus as an opportunity to try and cut wages,” he said.

“Yes, freezing wages is an effective cut, and if anyone is making money right now it’s supermarkets.”

Lachlan Moffet Gray 1.32pm: ACT public emergency

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has announced he will declare a public health emergency in the capital on Monday afternoon in response to coronavirus.

Minister for Health Rachel Stephen Smith, Minister for Education Yvette Berry and Chief Health Officer Dr Kerryn Coleman will elaborate on what the public health emergency will entail on Monday afternoon.

Rebecca Urban 1.30pm: ‘School closures costly’

Victoria’s top health officer has defended the government’s decision to keep schools open amid mounting concerns about the coronavirus, arguing that imminent closures were no guarantee of stemming the spread and would come with significant trade-offs.

In a statement issued on Monday, Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said the latest advice to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, of which he is a member, was that pre-emptive school closures were “not likely to be proportionate or effective as a public health intervention to prevent community transmission of COVID-19 at this time”.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. Picture: Tony Gough

“Broadly, the health advice on school closures from previous respiratory epidemics shows the costs are often underestimated and the benefits are overestimated,” Dr Suttton said.

“This may be even more so in relation to COVID-19 as unlike influenza, the impact on otherwise healthy children has been minimal to date.

“School closure is associated with considerable costs.”

Dr Sutton said around 15 per cent of the workforce and 30 per cent of the healthcare workforce might need to take time off work to care for children if schools were closed.

“While this effect could be mitigated somewhat, it is likely that this burden will still be significant and will fall disproportionately on those in casual or tenuous work circumstances,” he said.

“For pre-emptive school closures to be effective, prolonged closure is required and it would be unclear when they could be re-opened. If there were still a large pool of susceptible students when schools are re-opened, there would be likely to be re-emergence of transmission in the community.

“School closures may still be considered late in the outbreak in anticipation of a peak in infection rates, for a shorter period of time. Short term reactive school closures may also be warranted to allow cleaning and contact tracing to occur.”

Jill Rowbotham 1.25pm: UNSW moves classes online

Classes at UNSW’s Randwick and Paddington campuses will move online as part of its latest response to the COVID-19 crisis, vice chancellor Ian Jacobs has announced.

In an email today (Monday) to staff and students, Professor Jacobs said that while the campuses would remain open, “we have now reached the point in the epidemic at which NSW Health advises that it is sensible for us to take additional steps to contribute to helping shape the profile of the epidemic.”

“We have been advised to introduce the following steps during this week to reduce virus transmission, through social distancing so as to protect health service provision and ensure business continuity.”

Along with other universities and schools, we're following the full advice of state and federal health authorities - in this particular situation, @NSWHealth was the authority assessing and advised us that the student wasn't contagious at the time they were on campus.
— UNSW (@UNSW) March 16, 2020

The first step listed is that “teachers should, where it is possible to do so, deliver classes by online or other means that can be accessed remotely. Students should access online teaching material remotely and, where possible, participate by remote means. This is achievable for lectures and for many tutorials and discussions.”

Other steps are that staff are being encouraged to work from home; to hold as many business meetings as possibly remotely; and non-essential events are being cancelled or postponed, at least until Easter.

Professor Jabobs said the news over the weekend that a business school student had tested positive to the virus had “raised anxiety” and so had specialist cleaning in the Law building, being undertaken because another student who had spent time there was being tested.

Another student, from the Australian Graduate School of Management had tested positive this morning, although they had not been on campus or in contact with students or staff.

Richard Ferguson 1.15pm: CMOs may limit enclosed spaces gatherings

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly. Picture: AAP.

Australia’s leading medical officers will meet on Tuesday to consider restrictions on gatherings in enclosed spaces as major cities around the world close down pubs, clubs and restaurants.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly on Monday said the medical officers would advise the national cabinet on whether there should be a different threshold in enclosed spaces compared to mass gatherings outside.

“So (we will be considering) whether there should be some specific information in relation to gatherings in enclosed spaces ... A football stadium versus a pub for example,” he said in Canberra.

“We have picked 500 (for mass gatherings) and feel that’s a reasonable amount. Whether it should be modified for internal events is something that is under consideration.

“Our advice will be going from the Australian Health Protection Committee to the national cabinet. They’ll be making decisions and we have been asked to give frank and fearless medical advice from the beginning and that’s what we will continue to do.”

Lachlan Moffet Gray 1.10pm: Closures around the world

As Australia shoots past 300 confirmed cases of coronavirus, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is implementing restrictions to help “flatten the curve” and stop the exponential growth in cases some countries have seen; just over three weeks ago Italy had the same number of cases that Australia does now. Here is what is happening around the world.

- As the number of cases in the United States approaches 3000 and the CDC recommends that gatherings of more than 50 people be banned, the US Federal reserve has announced it will cut its benchmark interest rate to 0 to 0.25 per cent and purchase $700 billion in securities to help fight off economic slowdown.

- In New York City, more than one million public school students will be sent home on Monday to help stem the spread of the virus. The city has also closed bars and restaurants, limiting them to take-out only. All bars, wineries and nightclubs in California have also been directed to close.

New York bars and restaurants will only henceforward only be allowed to serve take-out, just announced. Probably wise, but in conjunction with the news that kids are going to be home from school for the next month, it's not going to be good for sentiment among New Yorkers...
— John Authers (@johnauthers) March 16, 2020

- Iran recorded the highest number of coronavirus deaths in a 24 hour period on Sunday, with 113 new deaths, bringing the toll to 724. There are almost 14,000 confirmed cases in the country.

- Italy also recorded its single biggest increase in deaths - a 25 per cent jump - from 1441 to 1809 on Sunday. Italy’s total number of cases is now approaching 25,000.

- Switzerland recorded 882 new cases of coronavirus overnight, bringing the total over 2200 and making the country the second most affected by coronavirus per capita in the world, after Italy.

- Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu has followed US President Donald Trump’s footsteps in agreeing to be tested for COVID-19. He returned a negative result on Monday.

Rebecca Urban 12.55pm: ‘Listen to experts on schools’

Dr John Collier; Principal of St Andrews Cathedral School. Picture by James Croucher.

Leading Sydney school principal John Collier has backed the government’s advice to keep schools open in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, stressing that expert health advice, rather than emotion, should govern decision-making on the issue.

St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney’s CBD has been preparing to make the switch to online remote learning in the event of a closure but Dr Collier said he was hoping that it did not come to that.

“Parents can sometimes leap to assuming the worst will happen,” he told The Australian.

“We’re driven by the expert health opinion on this.”

As an independent school, St Andrews has the authority to make a decision to close its doors independent of any edict from the Department of Education. So too do Catholic schools. However, it is understood that while not all states and sectors agree with the Morrison Government’s call for schools to remain open, they have opted to comply acknowledging that a cohesive approach would help to prevent uncertainty and panic.

Dr Collier said the school would adopt recommended measures to limit non-essential contact between students, including cancelling large gatherings, but was not planning to send students home to continue their learning online.

That is despite ordering its Year 9 students to study from home on Friday in preparation for a possible shutdown. Dr Collier said the trial was successful and the school would attempt to replicate it with a larger group of students on Tuesday.

“Our approach is to prepare for the worst case scenario but we’re hoping it doesn’t happen,” he said.

Adeshola Ore 12.45pm: WA cancels ANZAC Day

Western Australia’s government has cancelled its ANZAC Day services in response to the federal government’s ban on mass gatherings.

Returned and Services League of Australia WA chief executive John McCourt told the ABC plans were underway for a commemoration using social media and live streaming.

The state government declared a state of emergency on Sunday. It warned that people who breached the mandatory 14-day self-isolation period after returning from overseas could be fined up to $50,000.

It’s the first time since 1942 that ANZAC Day has been cancelled in the state.

Adeshola Ore 12.40pm: Woolies suspends home delivery

Woolworths has suspended its national in-store pick up and Victorian home delivery services, as the supermarket recorded “extraordinary levels of demand for groceries” over the weekend.

It comes as the supermarket announced a dedicated shopping hour for elderly and disabled shoppers. Most of its supermarkets will be open to these members of the public from 7am to 8am, beginning on Tuesday.

Empty shelves in Woolworths.

A spokeswoman said Woolworths had stopped its nation-wide in-store pick up service to allow its staff to focus on serving customers in-store.

The supermarket said it had temporarily halted its home delivery services in Victoria due to “extraordinary levels of demand for groceries over the weekend.”

The suspension for the entire state, except one catchment area, is until further notice.

“We’ll continue to service online deliveries in selected metropolitan areas of Melbourne from our West Footscray Customer Fulfilment Centre.”

The supermarket said it would look to resume its delivery services as soon as possible and is currently processing refunds for customers with existing orders.

“We believe this is a necessary step to allow our team members to prioritise restocking shelves and serving customers in our Victorian stores.”

A spokeswoman said customers are encouraged to buy “only what they need.”

“We’ll continue to receive extra orders of stock in our stores regularly.”

Patrick Commins 12.30pm: Economic impact ‘beyond’ GFC

Scott Morrison has warned the economic damage from the coronavirus will be “well beyond” that of the global financial crisis, as markets tumbled further on Monday morning despite the Federal Reserve slashing rates to zero and pledging to pump hundreds of billions of dollars into the economy.

The Prime Minister told 3AW this morning repeated the health crisis “is going to have very significant economic impacts”.

He then went further, suggesting the hit to the economy could eclipse that dealt during the 2008-09 crisis.

“This is nothing like the GFC. This has gone well beyond that now. I mean, in the GFC, we didn’t have to shut down the borders. In the GFC, we didn’t have to stop mass gathering of the public. I mean, this is of an order well beyond what we saw last time. And it’ll be a challenging period. But, you know, Australians will come through,” Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison and Josh Frydenberg had previously emphasised the health crisis would not have as far-reaching and long-lived effects as the GFC.

The government’s $17.6 billion stimulus package it announced last week looks likely to be expanded in coming weeks as the virus spreads through communities and shuts down economic activity around the nation.

The Treasurer told The Australian last week that the government was “not putting limitations” on what it may be required to do to address the crisis.

Adeshola Ore 12.25pm: ABC moves to Skype

ABC says its News Breakfast and Radio Melbourne shows will no longer hold face-to-face interviews.

ABC News Breakfast will now conduct all interviews over Skype.

ABC Radio Melbourne’s manager said all of its guests would be moved to “remote lines”.

Lovely listeners of @abcmelbourne, weâ€™ve moved all our guests to remote lines. Please bear with us if thereâ€™s a drop in studio quality audio. Weâ€™re doing our best to stay safe & healthy so we can continue bringing you balanced information & companionship during this critical time
— Dina Rosendorff (@DRosendorff) March 15, 2020

Adeshola Ore 12.20pm: ‘Keep kids at home'

A Sydney anesthetist has protested outside a public school in Sydney, urging parents to keep their children at home to slow the spread of coronavirus.

A photo posted on Twitter shows Robert Hackett outside Paddington Public School, where his children are enrolled.

Posted to his chest is a message reading: “If possible, please keep your children at home. Do not bring them to school. Lives depend on it. Government too slow to act.’”

Anaesthetist parent in front of our school wears a sign urging us to keep children at home if possible. â€œLives depend on it. Governments too slow to actâ€ #COVIDãƒ¼19 #lockusdown pic.twitter.com/3XuiG4dzrg
— Kellie Sloane (@kelliesloane) March 15, 2020

Matthew Denholm 12.15pm: Tasmania to track arrivals

Premier Peter Gutwein, Health Minister Sarah Courtney and Director of Public Health Doctor Mark Veitch provide updates on the pandemic. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones.

Tasmania will introduce an arrivals card to track those entering the state after overseas trips, as the state’s university moves to staged online teaching.

The new arrivals card was announced by the state government on Monday, in response to the coronavirus outbreak, as it ruled out closing state schools, at least in the short-term.

“As of tomorrow (Tuesday), we will be introducing the Tasmanian arrival card and it will be mandated that if you are an international traveller entering this state, or a Tasmanian returning home, that you will need to provide us with your details,” said Premier Peter Gutwein.

“(This is) so that we can keep in touch with you, importantly provide you with advice should you require it and understand where you are in our community for that period.”

Mr Gutwein ruled out closing state schools, unless advice changed, but one private school, Launceston’s Scotch Oakburn, has announced it will close for 14 days, with students to learn online.

The University of Tasmania announced it was starting a “staged transition to online course learning and working from home”.

Remy Varga 12.05pm: Melbourne school closes

St Kevin’s College in the affluent east Melbourne suburb of Toorak will close on Tuesday after a parent of two students at its Heyington campus tested positive for the coronavirus.

In a letter to parents, the Catholic all boys school said the two children of the infected parent were at home in self-isolation and had not exhibited symptoms.

The school will be closed on Tuesday and whether the school will reopen for the remainder of the school week is under a cloud with further advice to be provided to parents later on Monday.

Lessons will not be conducted remotely but guidance on ongoing learning will be provided to parents.

Parents are allowed to pick up their children early on Monday.

Remy Varga 12.00pm: Melbourne closes libraries, pools, gyms

Lord Mayor Sally Capp with City of Melbourne Librarians, Jamie King-Holden and Louise Atkinson at Federation Square. Picture: Jay Town.

The City of Melbourne will close cultural and recreational centres as well as libraries in an effort to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said none of the council’s staff had been diagnosed with the disease but said safety was paramount.

“While none of our staff members have been diagnosed with COVID-19 we need to protect the safety of our staff and slow the spread of the virus within the community,” she said.

“Our libraries, recreation and cultural centres are important community meeting places so this is not a decision we take lightly.”

City Library in Flinders Lane, Kathleen Syme in Carlton, Library at The Dock in Docklands, East Melbourne, North Melbourne and Southbank Library at Boyd will close from 2pm on Tuesday until March 31, although the ban may be extended.

As well, Melbourne City Baths, Kensington Recreation Centre, Carlton Baths, North Melbourne Recreation Centre, Meat Market, Signal, ArtPlay and Arts House will close for the same period.

Artists studios are excluded.

The news comes after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declared a State of Emergency on Monday morning, giving the health authorities unprecedented powers.

Latest Cases:

NSW: 134; VIC: 71; QLD: 61; SA: 20; WA: 17; TAS: 7; ACT: 2; NT: 1

Total: 313, including 5 deaths.

Read the story here.

Adeshola Ore 11.55am: Olympics Aquatic centre closes

Sydney Olympic Aquatic Centre has closed for the foreseeable future as a result of the federal ban on public gatherings.

A spokesperson said a number of elite programs, including the NSWIS Daviding and Swimming squads would continue to have access to the facility to train for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Ewin Hannan 11.47am: FWC to conduct proceedings by phone

The Fair Work Commission will conduct proceedings by telephone or video conference wherever possible to minimise the spread of coronavirus.

Commission members have been asked to reduce, as far as possible, the number of proceedings that require parties to attend at the commission’s offices.

All planned travel is being reconsidered, and avoided where possible.

“The commission will conduct hearings and conferences by telephone or video-conference wherever possible,” the tribunal announced on Monday. “The primary aim is to minimise the need for parties to come to the Commission in the near future.”

Parties and representatives have been told to stay at home if they are feeling unwell, have been to a country considered at a higher risk of coronavirus in the last 14 days, or been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus.

The commission’s workplace advice service to cease face-to-face appointments, and provide advice by telephone only. Planned internal events such as a members’ conference have been cancelled.

Charlie Peel 11.45am: Prison activist tested

Lawyer and prisoner advocate Debbie Kilroy and her partner have tested positive for COVID-19 after travelling on the same plane as Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, who has tested positive for the virus.

Ms Kilroy, who is the founder of prisoner rights group Sisters Inside, was on the flight with Eddie Mabo’s granddaughter Boneta-Marie Mabo, who has also tested positive for the virus.

The pair have been in quarantine since Saturday when they flew back into Brisbane after spending time in the United States.

They had shared a Sydney to Los Angeles flight earlier this month with Mr Dutton who was diagnosed with the virus on Friday.

In a Twitter post, Ms Kilroy, who lives in Brisbane, said she would not be quarantined in a hospital because of a lack of beds.

“We are not being hospitalised as there’s limited beds,” she wrote. “We are the first ones being quarantined in community.

“Yes it’s frightening but I’m healthy and should be fine after 14 days.”

We were on the same plane as Peter Dutton so we had to be tested for #COVID19Aus today when we arrived back in the country & now we have been quarantined until our tests are back WTF Why hasnâ€™t @ScottMorrisonMP & others been quarantined & we have? #auspol #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/VIaPfVlK7P
— Debbie Kilroy (@DebKilroy) March 14, 2020

Ms Kilroy is a human rights advocate and has championed the abolishment of prisons since she was sentenced to six years imprisonment for drug trafficking in 1989.

She was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to the community in 2003.

Remy Varga 11.40am: Fake school closure letter

A forged letter purportedly from Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and his Victorian counterpart Jenny Mikakos falsely declaring Victorian schools are closed has been reported to police.

Both ministers have taken to Twitter to tackle the fake news spreading on the social media platform and reassert that schools remain open with the support of the federal and state government.

There is a forged letter circulating on social media purporting to be from myself & @GregHuntMP. This letter is a fake & falsely asserts school closures. Schools remain open with the unanimous support of the States & Commonwealth. The matter is being reported to police #springst
— Jenny Mikakos MP (@JennyMikakos) March 15, 2020

Mr Hunt tweeted: “This letter is a fake and falsely asserts school closures.

“Schools remain open with the unanimous support of the States and Commonwealth. The matter is being reported to the police.”

This letter is a fake and falsely asserts school closures. Schools remain open with the unanimous support of the States and Commonwealth. The matter is being reported to the police.
— Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) March 15, 2020

Rebecca Urban 11.35am: Sydney Catholic school closes

Sydney Catholic Schools will close a primary school in Panania for 24 hours as a precautionary measure after a participant at a recent professional development session tested positive for coronavirus.

St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School closed on Monday but is expecting to re-open on Tuesday.

The school hosted a professional development event on March 12 at which one person who attended has since developed a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Sydney Catholic Schools executive director Tony Farley said while the risk was low, the school was leaving nothing to chance.

“We have been liaising closely with NSW Health which advises the risk of staff or student exposure is minimal. That said, we want to take all possible precautions to ensure the continued health and safety of our school community.

“As a result, we have decided to close the school for one day to enable a thorough hygiene sweep. We have also asked those teachers who attended Thursday’s event to get tested and self-isolate as a precaution.”

Anne Barrowclough 11.25am: CDC: ban gatherings over 50

Donald Trump speaks during a briefing about the coronavirus today. Picture: AP.

America’s Centre of Disease Control has recommended that gatherings of 50 or more people be cancelled over the next eight weeks to control the spread of the pandemic. If a ban came into place, it would in effect close restaurants, bars, cinemas and theatres.

It came as the Federal Reserve took sweeping action to stem the economic fallout, Puerto Rico declared a curfew, New York closed schools, and California locked down its bars and restaurants.

Lilly Vitorovich 11.10am: Fitzy and Wippa to be tested

Fitzy and Wippa came into contact with Richard Wilkins. Picture: Facebook.

Radio hosts Ryan “Fitzy” Fitzgerald and Michael “Wippa” Wipfli missed their Nova 96.9 breakfast show in Sydney on Monday morning, with the pair set to be tested for the coronavirus following Richard “Dickie” Wilkins’ positive diagnosis.

The pair and their team will be tested after coming in direct contact with Wilkins, who hosts a weekend morning show at Nova’s sister radio station, smoothfm.

It was announced on Sunday night that Wilkins, who is also entertainment editor at free-to-air television broadcaster Nine Network, has tested positive to COVID—19 after briefly meeting Tom Hanks’ wife Rita Wilson recently. The Hollywood actor and his wife have both subsequently been diagnosed with coronavirus, which has also led to program disruption at Nine’s Willoughby headquarters.

NOVA Entertainment chief programming and marketing officer Paul Jackson said all staff “who may have come into direct contact” with Wilkins, including Fitzgerald and Wipfli and their team, will be tested and self-isolate for 14 days as instructed by the Department of Health.

Kent “Smallzy” Small, who hosts Nova 96.9’s weekday show from 12-3pm, filled in for the radio hosts on Monday morning.

Read the full story here

10.45am: Harry Potter show closes

Theatre-goers arrive for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child last week. Picture: AFP.

The theatre production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Melbourne’s Princess Theatre will close on Wednesday to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In a statement, the theatre said the decision was taken “in line with the latest advice” from the government, but said the suspension would be temporary. Producers said the decision would be reviewed on Sunday, April 12, based on the most up-to-date government advice.

Customers who had bought tickets for performances from Wednesday March 18 to April 12 will be refunded.

10.35am: US to start vaccine trial

A clinical trial evaluating a coronavirus vaccine will begin in the US on Monday, according to a government official.

The first participant in the trial will receive the experimental vaccine on Monday, the official said.

The National Institutes of Health is funding the trial, which is taking place at a Kaiser Permanente research facility in Washington state, the official said.

Public health officials say it will take a year to 18 months to fully validate any potential vaccine.

Rebecca Urban 10.31am: Independent schools send kids home

Several independent schools across NSW will send students home and switch to providing online learning this week, in a radical bid to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Up to 10 schools, mostly based in Sydney, will advise parents of the move this week.

Some schools will conduct real-time online lessons for students at home, while others will assign learning tasks via email for students to complete at home and then send back.

The decision puts the independent school sector ahead of the state system in regards to preventative measures and comes after the NSW Education Department advised that public schools will remain open, albeit with a range of precautionary measures.

School assemblies, excursions and some extracurricular events have been cancelled to minimise large gatherings and halt the spread of the virus, which has claimed five lives in Australia.

Courtney Walsh 10.30am: VFL suspends season

With meetings underway in Melbourne on Monday between the AFL and club executives, at least one major league has opted to postpone the beginning of its season.

The Victorian Football League has opted to delay the beginning of its season as AFL clubs with teams in the league moved to isolate players in those programs in a bid to keep CoVid-19 at bay.

The initial move by Richmond, which was followed by the Western Bulldogs, effectively meant that their VFL teams did not have enough players to field senior and reserves sides.

Discussions are also underway in relation to the premier Under-18 competition in Victoria, with a decision to be made on whether the NAB Cup should be suspended indefinitely.

Read the story in full here.

Adeshola Ore 10.25am: Vietnam campaign sparks dance craze

Vietnam’s public health campaign song has sparked a dance craze after going viral on social media platform Tik Tok.

The country’s health officials and lyricist Khac Hung created an animated music video based on the song Ghen, by Vientamese pop artists Min and Erik.

After Vietnamese dancer, Quang Dang posted a video of choreographed moves to the song on Youtube, dance challenges began being posted to Tik Tok.

Health officials in the Philippines and Thailand have also used dance videos as part of their coronavirus public awareness campaign.

DOH IS OFFICIALLY ON TIKTOK!ðŸŽ¼

Learn protective measures against COVID-19 in this TikTok video! Join the #covidance challenge!

Follow DOH's official tiktok account at ID:dohgovph ðŸ¤Ÿ pic.twitter.com/YKjoD4RONc
— Department of Health (@DOHgovph) March 5, 2020

Eli Greenblat 10.15am: Panic buying boosts Reject Shop

Reject Shop sales have been lifted significanty by the panic buying induced by the coronavirus outbreak. Picture; AAP.

The Reject Shop has become the first national retailer to say the panic buying sweeping Australia in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak has put a rocket under its sales.

Reject Shop’s same store sales have risen more than sixfold in recent weeks compared the same period in 2020.

Others retailers, especially supermarkets led by Woolworths and Coles, are also expected to have recorded an unprecedented lift in sales as their shelves are stripped by anxious shoppers who are hoarding everything from toilet paper to pretzels.

Richard Ferguson 9.55am: Skeleton parliament to sit

Hundreds of political staffers could be sent home next week. Picture: AAP.

Parliament is set to return with a skeleton staff and focus on quickly passing the economic stimulus package, as concerns grow about holding a sitting week during the coronavirus pandemic.

Scott Morrison will sit down with Anthony Albanese later this week to sort out arrangements for parliament that could see hundreds of political staffers kept home and parliamentary business shortened to ensure as little spread of the disease as possible.

The Prime Minister said on Monday that he still saw parliament as an essential meeting - unlike other now-banned large gatherings - and could operate with little staff in the building.

“What we’ll be doing is - and we’ll be working on this today with the Speaker and the President of the Senate, and I’ll be talking to the Leader of the Opposition - and we’ll be proposing a series of scaled back arrangements,” he said.

“It will enable the parliament to meet, to pass these laws and for us to get on with the job.

“It won’t be a necessity for all the staff to attend.”

Elias Visontay 9.50am: ACT state of emergency

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr will declare a state of emergency later on Monday.

“Following a commitment from all State and Territories in the National Cabinet, each jurisdiction is reviewing their Public Health Acts,” a spokesman for Mr Barr told The Australian.

“This morning an emergency Cabinet meeting will take place and following this we will declare a Public Health Emergency.

“A declaration of a Public Health Emergency allows the Chief Health Officer to take any action, or give any direction, considered to be necessary to protect Canberrans and reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the ACT, this decision has been made now to ensure consistency across Australia.”

It comes as the ACT recorded its second case of the virus on Monday morning.

Richard Ferguson 9.40am: No to NRL cash: PM

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg (L) and ARLC Chairman Peter Vlandys (R) speak to the media during a NRL press conference at Rugby League Central. Getty Images

Scott Morrison has slapped down NRL Chairman Peter V’landys’s calls for the government to provide financial support to the football code as it prepares to hold matches without spectators.

The NRL is seeking access funds from the $17.6bn stimulus package being offered to medium and small businesses. The government has so far denied help to big businesses like the football codes.

The Prime Minister on Monday said that his economic focus would remain on small businesses.

“The NRL is not high on the list at the moment,” he told

“I’m addressing the health issues: hospitals, making sure we’ve got the healthcare workers in place, aged care facilities; small businesses, making sure they get cash flow.”

Mr V’landys argued at an NRL press conference on Sunday that the league’s $148m in cash reserves will quickly dry up without football audiences, especially if the NRL is forced to suspend the season.

“Our money will only last so long and once its extinguished we are in big trouble ... An Australia without rugby league is not Australia,” he said.

“The government has to assist us in this crisis because it is not of our own doing.”

Remy Varga 9.00am: $20K fines for breaking self isolation

Coronavirus sufferers who disobey orders to self isolate could now be fined $20,000, while corporate bodies could be fined $100,000, after the VIctorian state government declared a State of Emergency.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton now has expanded powers to stop the spread of the COVID-19 and Victorians who disobey directives to self isolate for two weeks after returning to Australia from overseas could be fined.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the state government was in discussions with Victoria Policeover on whether officers would conduct spot checks on travellers returning to Australia.

“We’re having some discussions with Victoria Police and I’m confident we will have spot checks for people who are return travellers,” he said.

“So you’d be very unwise to return from overseas, to be subject to this quarantine and not do the right thing.”

Mass gatherings of over 500 people are banned from Monday and the following directive from Professor Sutton is now in effect:

8.50am: Trump urges US to stop hoarding

Donald Trump has urged the US public to stop hoarding groceries, telling Americans to “take it easy” and “relax.”

Mr Trump’s Sunday message came as many supermarket shelves across the country were picked bare, with people stockpiling supplies like canned goods and toilet paper. Long lines also appeared outside gun stores as arms sales rose.

Guns and toilet paper. Americans are READY. https://t.co/YFgwi79NqL
— Lami #SONALDO (@jinsgrilledclam) March 15, 2020

Mr Trump said at a White House briefing that stores are working to keep up with demand, but added “there’s no need for anyone in the country to hoard” essentials.

“You don’t have to buy so much. Take it easy. Just relax” because “it all will pass,” the president said, adding: “Can you buy a little bit less, please?” Trump held a call earlier Sunday with the officials from the nation’s leading grocery stores. He said he was told the stores are stocking up even more than they would around Christmas time.

Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.36am: ACT confirms second case

The ACT has confirmed its second case of coronavirus.

Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerryn Coleman, said that the patient is a male in his 30s and that he tested positive to COVID-19 ON Sunday evening.

The man is currently well and is in home isolation.

In a statement, ACT health said they were contract tracing the man and working with other state health authorities to determine his possible source of exposure.

Remy Varga 8.35am: 14 new cases in Victoria

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the number of confirmed cases in the state had increased by 14, bringing the total to 71.

Professor Sutton said the new cases of COVID-19 contracted the virus overseas but he expected there to be a spike in locally transmitted cases over the next two weeks.

“My understanding is the majority are overseas acquired,” he said.

“But I think that will change now over the following two weeks with the obvious quarantine arrangements... travel will drop off.... we will potentially have an increase of locally acquired cases as time goes by.”

8.25am: New York closes schools

New York City is closing the nation’s largest public school system, sending over 1.1 million children home in hopes of curbing the spread of coronavirus.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday that schools will close early this week. The decision follows a growing number of school closures in communities and entire states around the country and mounting pressure in New York from residents, City Council members and others.

The shutdown affects the city’s nearly 1,900 public schools. Many private schools already have closed.

Elias Visontay 8.15am: Victoria in state of emergency

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has declared a four week state of emergency, meaning Victorians who don’t comply with self isolation requirements and mass gathering restrictions will be committing an offence.

Mr Andrews’ announcement comes hours after NSW announced a similar move, with Scott Morrison thanking states for making the bans enforceable.

“It is not optional in any way,” Mr Andrews said.

“There will be significant disruption, there will be significant difficulty caused by these orders and many events having to be cancelled.”

“These powers have never been used before. That gives you, I hope, a really clear sense about the unprecedented nature of this public health emergency.

“If they are over 500 people and they are not essential and there are clear definitions about that, then they are not to go ahead.

“There are significant penalties for event organisers who fail to comply with that order. There are significant penalties across the board when it comes to these orders made under the public health and wellbeing about and under a state of emergency. I would just say, though, that we don’t anticipate having to be fining people,” Mr Andrews said.

A four-week State of Emergency has been declared in Victoria, which Premier Daniel Andrews says is likely to be extended as the state grapples with the COVID-19 outbreak.https://t.co/86rH0vtRm0
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) March 15, 2020

Elias Visontay 8.10am: Total lockdown not ruled out

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has said she does not need to be tested for coronavirus or self isolate after returning from the US last week from a meeting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Senator Payne said despite not being required to self isolate, she is practicing social distancing, and held phone meetings at 1am on Monday with her Canadian, Brazilian, Germany, Italy and South Korean counterparts to compare responses to the viruses.

“Based on the health advice, and indeed from the Chief Medical Officer, I don’t require to be self isolated or tested for coronavirus at this point in time,” Senator Payne told ABC RN.

“I’m observing what is now called social distancing, in keeping with the guidelines for all travellers returning from overseas so no close contact.

“Certainly members of parliament politicians, such as myself, won’t be traveling as much or attending public events because of that social distancing.

“I’ll be observing that carefully and making sure that I’m following all of the hygiene advice as well,” she said.

Asked whether Australia is set for a general lockdown similar to what has been introduced in Italy, Senator Payne did not rule out such a move.

“We’ll take advice on that from our public health professionals, again, led by the Chief Medical Officer, but there is increasing international evidence that says early introduction of some social distancing measures has the most benefit in delaying transmission.”

David Rogers 8.00am: Fed slashes rates

The Federal Reserve has slashed its benchmark interest rate to near zero and said it would buy $US700 billion in Treasury and mortgage-backed securities in an aggressive bid to prevent market disruptions from aggravating what is likely to be a severe slowdown from the coronavirus pandemic.

Read the Trading Day blog here.

Elias Visontay 7.40am: PM warns of ban on nursing home visits

Scott Morrison has announced a ban on visiting nursing homes could be introduced as soon as Tuesday, with a possible beefed up coronavirus communications campaign targeted towards children also being considered by the government.

On the nursing home ban, the Prime Minister told Sunrise: “Right now the medical expert panel is considering particularly the (nursing home) issue in terms of how we limit the number of visits into nursing homes and we’ll receive that advice very soon.

“The national cabinet is meeting again on Tuesday evening, and we’ll be making decisions on those issues.”

Coronavirus: Another two elderly people have died from coronavirus taking Australia's death toll to five. It comes as tough new border controls are introduced for anyone arriving from overseas including Australians returning home. https://t.co/P77mfgsL0m #Coronavirus #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/JL2kKqSqsh
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 15, 2020

Asked if he would introduce awareness messaging targeted at kids similar to the comic series put out by the Singaporean government, Mr Morrison said: “We’ll keep upgrading our communications campaign.

“I actually spoke to the Singaporean Prime Minister last night. He was actually due to be here later in this week. We’re now going to have our meeting done virtually. And we’ll be signing documents in digital to do those things so business and government can carry on even through the midst of all of this.”

Mr Morrison also commended Woolworths for introducing exclusive hours for the elderly and disabled.

“This is a great move by one of the supermarkets today, I mean, they’re actually now providing particular times when more elderly people, pensioners and things, can go to the supermarkets, common sense, great idea. Well done. And let’s all look after each other and be respectful to each other and help each other out,” he said.

Mr Morrison also praised the states for saying they would legally enforce quarantining measures, after NSW announced breaching a mass gathering ban could carry a six month prison term and $11,000 fine.

“So previously, there wasn’t legislation that would enable the social quarantining to be enforced by law that’s now being done by the states. And I really appreciate their support and their cooperation.”

Elias Visontay 7.31am: Joyce: MPs may spread virus

Barnaby Joyce has raised concerns over MPs spreading the virus. Picture: AAP.

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has raised concerns over the potential of federal politicians spreading coronavirus amid questions over whether parliament should continue to sit.

“I fly to Canberra, spread it on the plane. I meet a child, everyone else, and if I have it, spread it around the parliament,” Mr Joyce told Sunrise.

“It spreads to every corner of Australia. We must think about that in our own accounts.

“Not only should we not do it, we should be an example of not doing it.”

Elias Visontay 7.30am: Tehan: keep children at school

Education Minister Dan Tehan has reiterated the government’s position on school closures, explaining the balance between stopping children spreading the virus but not forcing their parents, especially health care workers, to stay home to mind them.

“The reason is that we want children at school so that their parents or the guardians can be in the workforce, providing the services that we need at this time,” Mr Tehan told Sunrise.

“That is the first reason why we want them there. The second reason is it is possible if children are at home that they will be in contact with elderly relatives or people have to come in to look after them who are elderly, and that could cause the spread of the virus, especially in those who are elderly and we want to avoid that at this time.

“That medical advice is coming to the federal government, it’s coming to every state and territory government. It was given to the premiers, the leaders of the territories and the prime minister yesterday,” he said.

Scott Morrison announced the position on Sunday but said it could change this week.

Anne Barrowclough 7.25am: UK manufacturers to build ventilators

British manufacturers are to be put on a wartime footing, with boris Johnson urging them to produce essential health equipment for the NHS. He will ask them to switch their production lines to build ventilators which are in short supply as the cases in the UK leap 1,372, with 35 deaths.

Tim Dodd 7.15am: Queensland Uni suspends classes

The University of Queensland will suspend classes this week to give its staff time to fast track the introduction of online teaching.

No lectures, tutorials or online teaching will occur from March 16 to 20. Teaching will resume on March 23, the university announced late on Sunday.

In an email to students vice-chancellor Peter Hoj said it was “a big call, and one I have not taken lightly”. He said it was a complex task for the university to put its 300 programs and around 3,300 courses online.

A message from #UQ: COVID-19

You can read the full email sent to students here: https://t.co/KLeV4aYc99 pic.twitter.com/eqoBV6c7rv
— UQ News (@UQ_News) March 15, 2020

He said the university aimed to have the “vast majority” of lectures and tutorials online by March 23. When teaching recommences the university plans to continue with face-to-face practical sessions and laboratory work, as well as some tutorials, in small groups.

“I believe the decision to pause teaching for one week will ensure our students continue to receive a world class education from Australia’s best teachers and secure your academic success this year,” Professor Hoj said.

Although there is no teaching this week the university campus will remain open. This includes libraries, study spaces and eating areas, which will be operating as normal.

The university said it is also likely to extend the semester by a few weeks and reschedule its July graduation ceremonies.

Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.10am: Passengers arrive to quarantine

Some of the first Australians required to self-isolate under the government’s new travel restrictioms have arrived in Sydney, overall sanguine about the prospect of having to spend 14 days holed up at home.

Among the many arrivals from Jakarta and Manila are actress Toni Collette and ABC journalist Greg Jennett.

Toni Collette arrives at Sydney airport. Picture: John Grainger.

Many were wearing masks and clutching a pamphlet given to them by border security with advice on how to self-isolate.

Lillian Frank, who just stepped off Qantas Flight QF20 from Manila says she agrees with the government’s decision to impose the new restrictions.

“Its for the benefit of everyone,” she said. “We are supposed to have two weeks there but we have come home.

“My daughter is still there and she has a problem because she went to a resort and now she can’t get back into Manila because it’s locked down.

“She keeps booking flights and they keep getting cancelled.”

She said passengers were informed about the new measures both before and on the flight.

Novita, who came from Jakarta will have to transfer to a domestic flight to Canberra in order to get home and begin self-isolation.

“My partner told me all about it because he works for border force and we got a lot of good information from the beginning to the end,” she said.

“From check-in until the end they told us information.”

Peter and Lisa, who work at Jarkarta’s airport told The Australian that they didn’t think the information provided would he understood by everybody.

“We were happy with the information provided to an extent, but we were asking questions,” Lisa said.

“I don’t think everybody would be clear on what the exact borders of everything is. There are some people with very little English flying in who know they need to self-isolate, but might not have gotten all the details.”

Lachlan Moffet Gray 7.00am: Families gather at airport

People arrive at Sydney airport hours before the new restrictions come into effectt. Picture: Damian Shaw.

People are already gathering at the arrival gates at Sydney airport’s international terminal, ready to welcome loved ones and spirit them away into self-isolation.

Frank from Sydney is waiting for his son to arrive from Dallas, after his holiday was cut short by the deteriorating situation in the United States.

“He was meant to be back in a week and a half, but he says America’s shut down so he’s come back early,” Frank told The Australian.

“Missed the cutoff anyway by six hours.”

Frank says overall he agrees with the self-isolation measures taken by the government.

“I agree with the self isolation. I can’t see what harm it is, I do agree do it.

“My son just sent me a message saying he’s gonna play Xbox and watch movies.

“He starts his new job in three weeks so it’s all good.”

Anne Barrowclough 6.50am: Woolies launches shopping hour for elderly

Woolworths is to launch a dedicated shopping hour for the elderly each day. From Tuesday until at least Friday the store will open from 7am to 8am exclusively for older people and the disabled.

Weâ€™re launching a dedicated shopping hour in our stores to help support the needs of the elderly & people with disability in the community. From tomorrow until at least friday, weâ€™ll be opening exclusively for them to shop from 7-8am, where permitted.
— Woolworths (@woolworths) March 15, 2020

“The move has been prompted by the unprecedented demand in supermarkets over the past week, which has seen many elderly and vulnerable people in the community missing out on vital items they may need when they shop,” Woolworths said in a statement.

“Woolworths Supermarkets will open to all customers from 8am. Access to the store prior to this time will require a relevant Government issued concession card”.

Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Claire Peters said:“While we’ll continue to do our very best to restock our stores during this period of unprecedented demand, we know many of our elderly customers have been missing out on essential items when they shop.

“This temporary measure will give them, and those with a disability, the opportunity to shop before our stores officially open - helping them obtain the essential items they need most in a less crowded environment.

“We continue to encourage all Australians to be mindful of those in our communities who might need extra help at this time. Now - more than ever - we need to be kind to each other, especially to those most vulnerable.

“We’d like to thank our customers for their patience and apologise for any inconvenience caused by the revised opening hours.”

The company has also partnered with Meals on Wheels to deliver toilet paper to the elderly and vulnerable. The first delivery of toilet paper was dropped on on Friday in Tuggerah, the company announced.

Anne Barrowclough 6.15am: Germany closes borders

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has closed the country’s borders to a number of other countries including France. Picture: AFP

Germany is to partially close its borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Denmark as it steps up efforts to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said the new checks will take effect at 8am on Monday local time (6pm monday AEDT). However people who commute across the border to work will still be able to cross, as will goods.

Mr Seehofer said people “without a valid reason to travel will no longer be allowed to enter and leave” Germany. He added that German citizens in the neighboring countries would be allowed back in.

Germany has confirmed nearly 4,000 infections, with 11 deaths.

Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic also closed their own frontiers in recent days. Germany also has borders with the Netherlands and Belgium, which are not affected.

Will Glasgow 6.05am: Shop and awe in Beijing

‘We feel safe now’, says Wu Yang, right, during a celebratory shopping spree with his friend Zhu Yang in Beijing after weeks of confinement. Picture: Li Xiaonang.

After an almost two-month coronavirus hibernation, cashed-up Chinese consumers were out to spend, just as COVID-19 restrictions were closing stores around the world.

Everywhere in Beijing’s wealthy Sanlitun shopping neighbourhood there were signs to raise the spirits of bruised equity investors, who after decades of Chinese growth have in recent weeks been hit with a spectacular COVID-19 stockmarket dip.

Renminbi was being spent over the weekend by fastidiously groomed men getting their eyebrows sculpted, by young women queuing for the on-trend bubble tea Lelecha, and by young and old — but especially the young — who were out in their droves to buy goods from the world’s most desirable brands.

Read the full story here.

Simon Benson 6.00am: Newspoll: PM backed but voters fearful

Australians have swung behind Scott Morrison and his management of the coronavirus crisis with voters gripped by anxiety over the deterioration of the economy and the public health system’s ability to cope.

An exclusive Newspoll conducted for The Australian shows Mr Morrison overtaking Anthony Albanese as the preferred prime minister for the first time this year, marking a turnaround in confidence in his leadership since the bushfire crisis.

But opinion is split on whether the federal and state governments have done enough so far to mitigate the economic shock.

Read the full story here.

Yoni Bashan 5.45am: NSW bans gatherings over 500

The ban on public gatherings of over 500 comes into place at midnight on Monday.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the order, invoked using the Public Health Act, will mean anyone who does not comply could face up to six months in prison or up to $11,000 in fines, or a combination of both.

“I urge the community to do the right thing and obey the decisions and advice of the National and NSW Chief Medical Officers,” Mr Hazzard said. “But we will be tough if needed, to protect the wider community.” The order takes effect today.