Workers will be kept in their jobs with fortnightly $1500 government-funded payments in an extraordinary $130 billion bid to keep Australia’s economy afloat.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the new “JobKeeper” payment would support as many as six million Australians over the next six months.

The scheme will provide a flat payment to workers — rather than proportional wage subsidies for people on different incomes.

media_camera Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces the government's $130b wage subsidy package. Picture: AAP

Employers will receive the money from the government to keep paying their staff during the coronavirus crisis, in an effort to ensure workers still have a job once the pandemic has subsided.

The cash will flow from May 1, but be backdated to March 30.

Businesses must have had a drop in turnover of at least 30 per cent due to coronavirus to qualify for the payments to give their workers.

Mr Morrison said the “unprecedented action” was needed in “unprecedented times”.

“We must work together to make this work and to make it go as far as possible,” he said.

The Prime Minister said it was likely that whole countries would collapse in the coming months.

“This will not be Australia. We will get Australia through this with uniquely Australian solutions,” he said.

media_camera People queue outside a Centrelink in Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

The announcements follows an initial $17.6 billion economic stimulus boost, and a $66 billion support package which dramatically expanded the welfare safety net and doubled unemployment benefits.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the minimum $1500 payment would give working Australians the best chance of keeping their job.

media_camera Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the payments will flow from the first week of May and will be backdated. Picture: AAP

It is the equivalent of about 70 per cent of the median wage — and about 100 per cent of the median wage in sectors including retail, hospitality and tourism which are most impacted by the crisis.

Payments will flow from the first week of May and will be backdated to today.

Full-time and part-time workers are eligible for the scheme, along with casual workers who have been with the same employer for more than 12 months.

Businesses will be able to apply if their turnover has fallen by at least 30 per cent.

55 AUSSIES IN INTENSIVE CARE

It comes as at least 55 Australians are currently fighting for their lives in intensive care after contracting severe cases of coronavirus.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly said the COVID-19 situation globally was now a “major” pandemic, even as the rate of infection appeared to be decreasing in Australia.

“In Australia, we now have 4093 cases, for sure there will be more announced today and, unfortunately 16 of our fellow Australians have now died,” he said.

“There is some good news in those figures ... we have noticed a decrease in the number of cases in terms of the increase every day.”

media_camera Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly speaks to the media. Picture: AAP

Prof Kelly said there were currently 55 people in ICU as of Monday.

“We still have a lot of capacity in our intensive care units for those people who need that extra care,” he said.

Prof Kelly said the social distancing measures from about two weeks ago, including banning large crowds, stopping international travel and closing non-essential businesses were starting to have an impact.

“Very few people ... are coming back from overseas now and that is decreasing the numbers we are getting from that,” he said.

“A large number of people have come from a cruise ships, over 300 - of which almost 200 from the Ruby Princess.

“So they have been large numbers over recent times but that the stabilisation of numbers is what we are looking to do that flattening of the curve so that we can have enough hospital and intensive care resources over the coming weeks if indeed we need those.”

MODELLING TO BE RELEASED

Prof Kelly said modelling used to inform social distancing and shut down decisions would soon be made public in an effort to increase transparency around the decisions taken by the experts currently advising federal and state governments.

media_camera Alfred Hospital Associate Nurse Manager Michelle Caulfield. Picture: David Caird

“I think transparency is very important,” he said.

“I think the modelling component is one of those things that is changing very rapidly ... as of today, I have asked my staff to organise a meeting later this week where the modelling and the epidemiology and the public health response will be unlocked, and people will be able to ask questions about that.”

Prof Kelly said he believed experts had been “quite open” with “components” of the modelling, but he respected there are a large number of ways data can be assessed, which required further transparency.

Prof Kelly urged Australians to support elderly people in the community by doing their shopping and other tasks so they do not have to leave home.

He said it would take several weeks to see if Australia was successfully flattening the curve before any further actions were taken to relax measures.

“Obviously we want to see the curve not only flattening but starting to bend downwards, and then making that decision about when to take the foot off the brake will be very difficult,” he said.

“Do you take some of the measures of, do you take all of the measures off in places where there are no cases over a period?

“These are very tricky, and we have seen what has happened in China. It has taken them a couple of months, really, to be feeling that they were under control, and then to start to take those controls off. It is a tricky decision.”

Prof Kelly said the mental and physical health impacts of a sustained lockdown were a major concern for experts going forward.

ONE IN THREE NOT SELF-ISOLATING

Nearly one in three Australians were not self-isolating prior to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement last night where he unveiled tough new public gathering restrictions.

A Roy Morgan SMS survey of 2069 Australians aged 18 and older found that 69 per cent of respondents said they were self-isolating as much as possible, but 31 per cent were yet to do so.

Modelling released by the University of Sydney released last week showed that there needed to be 80 per cent compliance with strict social isolating rules in order for the virus to be brought under control within Australia. Even 70 per cent compliance would fail to rein in new infections, the researchers found.

media_camera People are seen at St Kilda Beach in Melbourne on Saturday, March 28. Picture: AAP

The Roy Morgan survey was conducted on Friday and Saturday, ahead of last night’s press conference by the Prime Minister, in which he announced tough new rules limiting social groups to just two people.

Seventy-three per cent of female respondents claimed to be self-isolating compared to just 65 per cent of males.

Roy Morgan CEO Michelle Levine said the company would conduct follow-up research to track social isolation rates after Sunday’s statement by the Prime Minister.

RAPID CORONAVIRUS TESTING TO ARRIVE SOON

Pinprick blood tests that detect COVID-19 in just minutes are coming to Australia within days.

Melbourne diagnostic company Endo X and ASX-listed biotech company Cellmid are among several companies that have signed import agreements with Chinese manufacturers to deliver rapid COVID-19 tests into Australia. Cellmid says its testing kits from Guangzhou Wondfo Biotech Co only require the “most basic of laboratory equipment” and just involve a finger prick, delivering results in three minutes for positive results and up to 15 minutes for negative ones.

Cellmid described the tests as a “small disposable kit” that is stable at room temperature for a year and could easily be used in mobile testing centres. Endo X meanwhile is bringing in 500,000 similar blood tests from VivaCheck Biotech (Hangzhou) Co Ltd, and says they will go to hospitals, GP clinics, pathology centres and testing centres this week.

Both tests look for antibodies in a few drops of blood and are much quicker and less expensive than the polymerase chain reaction (PRC) tests that use nasal swabs and take days to deliver results.

media_camera In this image from a video, an Indonesian local health service personnel extracts blood from an individual on self-quarantine, as they conduct a COVID-19 rapid test in Jakarta. Picture: AP

Endo X says its VivaCheck test is 94.6 per cent accurate from four to 10 days of the patient developing symptoms and 99.3 per cent accurate after 11 to 24 days.

Sydney-based Complete Corporate Wellness has also begun offering companies and organisations rapid testing so their employees can return to work.

“COVID-19 Rapid test is carried out onsite by medical professionals,” the company’s website says.

“We nominate a day where employees can attend their appointment. During testing days we have strict hygiene and infection control protocols that we follow.”

The pinprick tests are by USA company CTK Biotech and similarly return results in about 15 minutes.

Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration has approved 14 different COVID-19 tests, both laboratory-based and point-of-care, according to its website.

So far there are no tests that allow consumers to test themselves directly, however.

AUSTRALIA’S COVID-19 DEATH TOLL CLIMBS

A woman in her 80s has become the first person to die from coronavirus in Tasmania, raising the national death toll to 17.

Premer Peter Gutwein confirmed the woman died this morning in the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. They’re being provided the support and care they need at this time,” he told reporters.

“All Tasmanians need to accept and understand that this is not a game. This is serious. People’s lives are at risk.”

Mr Gutwein said anyone who disobeys the two-person-in-public rule, which comes into effect nationally from midnight, will be committing an offence.

media_camera The usually bustling Elizabeth Street in Hobart. Picture: Luke Bowden

People have been ordered to stay home unless they are going to work, school, getting essential supplies or medical supplies, providing compassionate care or exercising.

“Our police will ensure that they enforce this. You will be able to be arrested. You will be charged and summonsed,” Mr Gutwein said.

“I have the department at the moment looking at a range of on-the-spot fines.”

He said the order will be in place for four weeks, and reviewed after that.

Tasmania confirmed four new cases of coronavirus on Sunday night, bringing the state’s total to 66.

Investigations are ongoing into two potential cases of community transmission in Devonport.

TOUGH NEW RESTRICTIONS START TONIGHT

Public gatherings will be limited to two people in a bid to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders on Sunday agreed to further tighten the rule around indoor and outdoor public gatherings from 10 to two.

It will be up to the individual states and territories whether it is strictly enforced by police.

The limit won’t apply to members of the same household or family units, Mr Morrison said.

The prime minister on Sunday night also issued new advice relating to who should self-isolate.

He discouraged people aged over 70, people aged over 60 with chronic illness and indigenous Australians over 50 with chronic illness from leaving home “to the maximum extent practicable”.

Mr Morrison said the measure was for the protection of the individuals – who could face more severe effects from the virus – rather than the general public.

“They should limit contact with others as much as possible,” he said.

State and territory leaders also agreed that playgrounds, skate parks and outside gyms in public places would be closed from midnight tonight.

They agreed to a six-month moratorium on evictions for commercial and residential tenancies in financial distress who couldn’t meet their commitments because of the COVID-19 fallout.

The coronavirus death toll reached 16 over the weekend after a man aged in his 80s died in hospital in Victoria, while a 75-year-old woman died in Queensland.

media_camera Prime Minister Scott Morrison said public gatherings should now be reduced to two people and announced a move to ban rental evictions. Picture: Gary Ramage

The “radical” new measures to drastically limit people gathering in groups were decided by National Cabinet after thousands of people continued to flout existing social distance rules by flocking to public beaches and parks.

“To the maximum extent practical … this is for their own protection to limit their interaction with others in the community,” Mr Morrison said.

“This does not mean they cannot go outside.

“They can go outside and be accompanied by a support person for the purposes of getting fresh air and recreation but should limit contact with others as much as possible.”

The new gathering rules are for people who do not live in the same household, meaning families and housemates may still congregate in a group.

“Your household can be together inside your home and outside your home,” Mr Morrison said.

From midnight all outdoor public playgrounds, gyms and skate parks will be closed, while exercise boot camps are restricted to two people – a trainer and participant.

The limit for weddings remained at five people, while funerals can still have up to 10 attendees.

The Prime Minister said every Australian now must stay home except for essential shopping, work or school that cannot be done remotely, seeking medical services or exercising outdoors with no more than one other person.

“When you are going out for shopping, you should be going for just stuff you need and do it and get home,” he said.

“It is not a time for browsing, it is not a time for catching up with friends or bumping into people and having a long conversation and maybe drawing a few other friends across to catch up on how is it all going.

“No, you can’t do that anymore.”

The states and territories were also moving to ban evictions from rental properties, Mr Morrison said.

“States and Territories will be moving to put a moratorium on evictions of persons as a result of financial distress if they are unable to meet their commitments and so there would be a moratorium on evictions for the next six months under those rental arrangements.”

Further work is being done on commercial tenancies.

media_camera Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said there was still more work to be done to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Australia. Picture: AAP

Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy said there were some early promising signs previous social distancing measures were slowing the spread of coronavirus in Australia, but more had to be done.

“We have to change the way we, as people, interact with each other,” he said.

“It is very simple. Anyone who doesn’t need to be out of their home should be in the home.

“This is radical.”

Prof Murphy said the “vast majority” of Australians have done the right thing, but there has still been some “very silly behaviour” with groups gathering outdoors.

“That’s why we feel that it is really important that every Australian does the right thing because for these interventions to take effect, the science shows that you need more than 90 per cent of the population to be doing it all of the time,” he said.

“So please continue to do what you are doing.

“Continue to follow these rules and hopefully these early signs of flattening will mean that we can keep going and getting a reduction in the rate of increase every day.”

media_camera The Federal Government unveiled a coronavirus app and WhatsApp messaging service to help deliver important COVID-19 information to Australians.

Mr Morrison also said more than 290,000 Australians had signed up to the Federal Government’s new coronavirus WhatsApp service that was announced earlier and there had been more than 482,000 downloads of the new coronavirus app.

“That helps us get information to you and supports the work that we’re doing in managing the virus.” he said.

NSW, VIC, TAS, QLD WILL ENFORCE TOUGH RESTRICTIONS

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian this morning said the state will be strictly enforcing new physical distancing measures from midnight.

“Gatherings outside or inside should not be more than two people unless it is your immediate family. That is something we will enforce but I also want to remind everybody that you shouldn’t be leaving home unless it is for work, for school, for essential things that you need to buy or else if you need to seek medical attention or exercise. They are the only reasons you should leave home,” she said.

“If you can work from home you should, if you can learn from home, you should. If you can do everything from home, you should. It is only in the exceptional circumstances that you should leave home.”

She also specifically addressed people in their 20s and 30s to obey the new physical distance and gathering rules.

“Can I give a message to people in their 20s and 30s, you are not immune from this and even if you are, you risk spreading it to people you love or spreading it to people in the community who are vulnerable and will lose their life because of this.

“Please think about others. I do use that age group, in particular, because we are seeing an increase in the statistics in that age group.”

media_camera Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said anyone gathering in groups of more than two risked a $1600 on the spot fine. Picture: AAP

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews also announced stage 3 restrictions will be enforced.

Anyone gathering in groups of more than two risks a $1600 on the spot fine. This includes indoor gatherings. The only exemption is if you live with the people.

“Stay at home. If you are outside, or in your backyard, gathering in more than two people, if you are having friends over for dinner or friends over for drinks that are not members of your household, then you are breaking the law, you face an on the spot fine of more than $1600 and Victoria Police will not hesitate to take action against you. That is how serious this is.

No-one in my position enjoys doing this. We’re not doing it for any other reason than this is life and death,” he said.

It comes as the number of cases in Victoria increased from 136 to 821 in the last two days. Four people have died and 29 Victorians are in hospital and four in ICU, Mr Andrews said.

Tasmanian police will also enforce the rules, Premier Peter Gutwein said.

“Our police will ensure that they enforce this. You will be able to be arrested. You will be charged and summonsed,” Mr Gutwein said.

“I have the department at the moment looking at a range of on-the-spot fines.”

He said the order will be in place for four weeks, and reviewed after that.

Queensland will also be issuing on the spot fines for people who ignore the social distancing rules, AAP reports.

CHINA SEES DROP IN NEW CORONAVIRUS CASES

Mainland China has reported a drop in new coronavirus cases for the fourth consecutive day as Beijing seeks to stamp out the risk of a second wave of infections by shutting its borders to foreign travellers and cutting international flights.

The National Health Commission said on Monday that 31 new coronavirus cases were recorded on Sunday, including one locally transmitted infection, dropping from 45 cases a day earlier.

Four new deaths were reported, taking the cumulative death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in the mainland to 3304, from 81,470 infections. The number of new infections has fallen sharply in the mainland from the peak in February.

media_camera Health workers check details of a passenger arriving from Beijing at the train station in Wuhan in central China's Hubei. Picture: AP

The government is now exhorting businesses and factories to reopen for business as it rolls out various stimulus to drive a recovery from what many now expect to be an outright economic contraction in January-March.

Chinese President Xi Jinping said the government would adjust support policies for small and medium-sized firms promptly as the situation developed to protect them from the impact of the coronavirus.

Chinese firms should actively resume operations and production even as coronavirus prevention efforts continue, Xi also said during a Sunday visit to Ningbo, a major port city in eastern Zhejiang province, according to state media.

Hubei province, where the coronavirus outbreak first emerged in late 2019, reported no new cases for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday after the province of 60 million people lifted its traffic restrictions and resumed some domestic flights.

media_camera A medical worker wearing a hazmat suit gets a swab sample on a man to check if he has coronavirus. Picture: AFP

Beijing remains worried about the risk of a second wave of the epidemic triggered by cases involving travellers coming to China who were infected overseas.

The virus has now spread globally, infecting hundreds of thousands outside China’s borders.

China has barred foreigners from entering the country and ordered airlines to slash the number of international flights into the country.

The vast majority of the so-called imported cases reported to date have been Chinese nationals, many of whom are students.

VIRUS FAKERS COULD FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES

Workers faking COVID-19 symptoms in order to go on sick leave have been warned they could be committing a serious criminal offence.

Leading employment lawyer Andrew Tobin said offenders could be prosecuted in the most serious incidents.

“In the worst case, that’s really a version of a criminal fraud,” he told Sky News on Monday.

He said employers could send employees for an independent medical examination to uncover the truth.

“If it was to be discovered that you were bunging it on, or bunging on an original illness for an extended period, you would in fact jeopardise your employment,” Mr Tobin said.

“If you want a job to come back to with the same employer when all this disruption is over then I would think long and hard about trying to fake a sick leave scenario.”

Some general practitioners are offering to email medical certificates after phone appointments in a bid to reduce the spread of coronavirus. There’s also warnings for bosses who insist employees continue to attend in person rather than work from home amid the spread of the virus.

Mr Tobin said employers had a high duty of care to maintain worker safety, both at the office and while commuting.

Employers are also legally responsible for safety of their employees working from home.

Mr Tobin said there was no legal definition of an “essential” worker.

“Clearly people involved in frontline medical service and many government services are just obviously essential workers in the current scenario,” he said.

NSW CONFIRMED INFECTIONS NEAR 2000

It comes as two Sydney school teachers and an employee at a prison hospital are among recent coronavirus cases in NSW as the state’s number of confirmed infections reaches 1791.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Sunday said 24 people were in intensive care but no new deaths had been reported, with the state toll remaining at eight.

Cases without a known source of transmission had on Sunday reached 207.

New cases include two teachers and a student from Normanhurst West Public School and a staff member at the hospital inside Long Bay prison.

The number of Australian cases from the Ruby Princess cruise ship has spiked to 215 – with 189 of those cases diagnosed in NSW – after passengers disembarked in Sydney without adequate checks.

media_camera Princess cruises the Ruby Princess sits out at sea from Coogee beach. Picture: Damian Shaw

Mr Hazzard again urged people to follow guidelines to self-isolate and take precautions around social distancing, saying the whole word was facing “an unseen enemy that doesn’t have borders”.

200,000 DEATHS EXPECTED IN USA

President Donald Trump is extending the voluntary national shutdown for a month as sickness and death from the coronavirus pandemic rises in the US.

The initial 15-day period of social distancing urged by the US Government was due to expire Monday (local time), but will now be extended until April 30.

The US government’s top infectious disease expert believes the country will have “millions” of coronavirus cases and up to 200,000 deaths.

media_camera President Donald Trump announces an extension to a national shutdown. Picture: AP

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN that millions of deaths in the US from COVID-19 are unlikely – but that most likely deaths will fall in the hundreds of thousands.

“Looking at what we’re seeing now, I would say between 100 and 200,000 deaths, but I don’t want to be held to that,” said Dr Fauci, who has been present at daily briefings with President Trump – often offering competing opinions on the virus.

“I just don’t think that we really need to make a projection when it’s such a moving target.

“We’re going to have millions of cases.”

media_camera Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Picture: AP

He also said that models predicting a million or more deaths in the US were “almost certainly off the chart. It’s not impossible, but very, very unlikely.”

The number of coronavirus deaths in the United States has sharply accelerated in recent days, now exceeding 2300, marking a doubling of the fatality rate in the span of two days.

As of Sunday, the US had over 130,000 infections, according to the running tally kept by Johns Hopkins University, though the true number of cases is thought to be considerably higher because of testing shortages and mild illnesses that have gone unreported.

media_camera A temporary hospital which has been created by members of the California National Guard in Indio, California. Picture: AFP

New York State – where the death toll closed in on 1000, up by more than 200 from the day before – remained the epicentre of the US outbreak, with the vast majority of the deaths in New York City.

But spikes in infections were recorded around the country, not only in metropolitan areas but in Middle Western towns and Rocky Mountain ski havens.

“This is not going to get better soon,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

The virus is moving fast through nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other places that house elderly or otherwise vulnerable people, spreading “like fire through dry grass,” Cuomo said.

media_camera The Oculus transportation hub and mall stands nearly deserted in lower Manhattan in New York City. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

WELFARE CHANGES ON THE CARDS

Earlier, Mr Morrison said unemployed Australians who have been unable to qualify for welfare because their partner earns more than $48,000 would soon be able to access support as the government confirms it is changing the rule.

Asked if the measure would be changed on Sunday, the Prime Minister said: “Yes”.

“There is an even more effective way beyond the changes in social services that we can address that and I will be announcing that in the not-too-distant future,” he said.

The Prime Minister also flagged Australian workers who have recently been stood down due to the coronavirus will still be eligible for the federal government’s new income support measures when the package is finalised.

media_camera Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Christine Morgan, National Suicide Prevention Adviser, and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd. Picture: Gary Ramage

Mr Morrison said he would not go into the details of the not yet finished plan, which is widely believed to include a capped wage subsidy, but assured workers they would qualify for help if they had been stood down in recent weeks.

“The principles, I can say, is that the package would support those who have more recently been the victims of these closures that have taken place and we will be seeking to support people involved in those closures, but we will advise further details of the starting point about that,” he said.

“The Treasurer and I will be making an announcement on that as soon as we can, it is not that far away but we want to be sure that when we do it, we have covered the majority of the ground that needs to be covered to enable the program to be successfully implemented in partnership with the businesses.”

media_camera Department store Myer will close its doors nationwide due to the effect of the COVID-19 virus, which Scot Morrison describes as a “long-term battle”. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mr Morrison said Australia was facing a “long term battle” on two fronts that would stretch until September if not longer.

“This is going to be incredibly tough economically as well as from a health point of view but where Australia can ensure we can bounce back better and stronger on the other side is by following these strategies which enable businesses to re-emerge very, very quickly, with their employers, the capital, their equipment, with their shops and all of the things which they can switch on again and get moving again,” he said.

“Sadly, this health crisis and economic crisis is a battle on two fronts and it is going to be waged in an unimaginable and unprecedented way over the next at least six months and potentially beyond that.”

media_camera Prime Minister Scott Morrison said imported cases still make up the majority. Picture: Gary Ramage

CORONAVIRUS APP PROVIDES UPDATES

In what Health Minister Greg Hunt has called “an early positive sign”, the rate of increase in coronavirus cases has gone from around 25 per cent to 30 per cent per day a week ago to around 13 per cent to 15 per cent on Sunday.

The national death toll has risen to 16 today after a Melbourne man in his 80s died in hospital, bringing Victoria’s number of deaths up to 4.

In Queensland, a woman in her 70s who was a passenger on the Ruby Princess cruise ship, has died at Caboolture hospital.

Australians can now get the latest coronavirus information straight to their smartphones as the government tips more than $1 billion into support for mental and primary health care during the coronavirus crisis.

The government has also launched a dedicated coronavirus app for all smartphones and an official information platform on WhatsApp.

The aus.gov.au/whatsapp service is available on Android and Apple devices, while the app is currently only available in the Apple Store.

media_camera Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Health Minister Greg Hunt. Picture: Gary Ramage

The government has also announced $74 million for mental health support and $150 million for domestic violence initiatives to assist vulnerable Australians who are increasingly isolated due to the social distancing measures.

“Google has shown a 75 per cent increase in searches when it comes to concerns about domestic violence in recent days,” Mr Morrison said.

“We need to put more resources into supporting people who will be vulnerable and may be vulnerable, and we are putting up support in.”

The government has also put $200 million into emergency relief support.

“That will be provided to support charities and other community organisations which provide emergency food relief as demand surges as a result of the coronavirus,” Mr Morrison said.

“These services are demand driven, but we anticipate the funding boost, which is more than four times annual funding, will help hundreds of thousands of Australians in most urgent need. It will be shared among existing providers, including Food bank, the Salvation Army, St Vincent DePaul, Anglican and many other local community organisations.”

A $600 million expansion of Telehealth services will allow every doctor or specialist appointment that does not require a face-to-face treatment such as a blood test or surgical procedure will be able to happen over phone or video from today.

media_camera Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced a $1.1b health and family violence package. Picture: AAP

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government was also doubling the bulk-billing incentive to support healthcare providers and ensure concession and vulnerable patients had access to free services.

“Further changes will be introduced during the week that will allow GPs and other providers to apply their usual billing practices to telehealth consultations, while concessional and vulnerable patients will continue to receive services at no cost,” he said.

National Suicide Prevention Adviser to the Prime Minister Christine Morgan said every Australian needed to embrace physical distancing “but with social connection” during the coronavirus crisis.

“I would like to stop and just remember so many Australians who have recently been through the scourges of our drought and bushfires who are already suffering and to remember that their mental health and wellbeing is important,” she said.

“I would also like to stop and reflect on the fact that, as we must practice physical distance and as we all embrace the concept of loneliness that can go with that, for too many Australians today that also encompasses a sense of fear.”

GUN SHOPS DEEMED ‘ESSENTIAL SERVICES’ IN USA

If anyone needed further proof that we live in strange times, the Trump administration has added the firearms industry — gun shops included — to a federal list of critical infrastructure during the ongoing coronavirus emergency.

The new language, added to the website of the US Department of Homeland Security, now deems as critical “workers supporting the operation of firearm or ammunition product manufacturers, retailers, importers, distributors, and shooting ranges”.

media_camera A gun show in Mobile, Alabama. People can walk out the door with an AR-15 assault rifle after passing a quick background check. Picture: Gary Ramage

Previously designated critical industries include energy, food production, emergency services, government offices, transportation and healthcare.

The list is meant to be advisory for state and local governments in their decision making — as they “work to protect their communities while ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health and safety” during the pandemic, the website says.

media_camera Gun rights supporters rally in Connecticut, USA. Picture: AP

It was met with praise by the group “Gun Owners of America,” which said in it was encouraged President Trump’s administration was not ignoring “the ability to protect yourself” during the emergency.

AUSSIE HOSPITAL JOBS AT RISK

Meanwhile, Australian private and Catholic hospitals are about to be closed and their staff stood down, putting 100,000 workers out of a job, just as the hospital system is about to buckle under the weight of coronavirus admissions.

The catastrophe is the result of a failure of state and federal governments to come up with a financial solution for the hospitals after they banned non-elective surgery at a national cabinet meeting earlier this week.

News Corp Australia reported on Friday that 600 nurses had been stood down in New South Wales and more in Queensland when the third largest private hospital group Healthe Care was forced to cancel surgery.

media_camera Some hospitals are under threat with the potential of closure. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

On Saturday, all the nation’s private hospitals issued a warning they too are on the brink as a result of the decision by the state and federal governments.

The nation will need the access to Australia’s 650 private hospitals as it tries to cope with demand from the COVID-19 virus.

The Australian Private Hospitals Association, Catholic Health Australia, and Day Hospitals Australia said the private sector is prepared to play their part in the fight against COVID-19, but cuts to elective surgery and a failure of state governments to step up to support the sector will have dire consequences for Australia’s future hospital capacity.

“The hospitals are now faced with the very difficult decision to stand down staff and furlough services as a direct result, just when the entire health system is bracing itself for the surge in COVID-19 patients,” Australian Private Hospitals Association chief Michael Roff said.

media_camera Health workers applaud in support of the medical staff that are working on the COVID-19 virus outbreak at La Paz hospital in Madrid, Spain. Picture: AFP

The development comes as virus death rates soar around the world, with one person dying every eight minutes in Britain, and one New Yorker dying every 17 minutes.

Nearly 60,000 coronavirus cases and 1000 deaths have now been documented across New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Sunday local time, as he extended the closure of non-essential businesses until at least April 15.

US President Donald Trump shocked New York when he announced he was thinking about “quarantining” the state – meaning its residents could no longer leave the state.

Worldwide, more than 700,000 infections were reported, and deaths topped 33,500, half of them in Italy and Spain, where hospitals are swamped and the health system is at the breaking point.

PRIVATE HOSPITALS DEMAND GUARANTEES

Private hospitals are demanding governments guarantee their viability.

Between them, the private hospital system employs over 100,000 staff including 57,000 nurses across 650 hospital sites.

There are well over 300 overnight acute private hospitals.

More than a third of intensive care unit beds are in private hospitals, according to the Chief Medical Officer.

CHA Chief Executive Officer Pat Garcia said: “What should be happening at this time, in this breathing space we have before the full coronavirus onslaught, is all hospitals turn their attention to training up their existing clinical staff, and hiring additional staff – both clinical and non-clinical, to treat patients.

“We also acknowledge that winter, which is just around the corner, tests the hospital system at the best of times let alone when there is a global pandemic. Hospitals cannot simply close down entire wards and ICUs, then turn them back on at the flick of a switch. If we need to close down wards and hospitals, they may not be available when we need them.”

Michael Roff, CEO of the Australian Private Hospitals Association, said: “The states don’t seem to understand the urgency of reaching a deal this weekend, if they don’t do that, the beds they need in a few weeks’ time may no longer be available.”

“What we need is a national network of hospitals, co-ordinated between the States and the Commonwealth, and ensuring that our entire health system is at full capacity. Without a Commonwealth guarantee, private hospitals will start shutting their doors from early next week.”

media_camera An isolation room for a patient with COVID-19.

Jane Griffiths, CEO of Day Hospitals Australia said: “we have seen what’s been happening in Spain and Italy, where patients don’t have access to ventilators and ICU beds.

“The capacity of the private hospital system in Australia is enormous. We must act now to ensure capacity is available when we need it”.

NSW Health said they are in negotiations with private hospitals.

The private hospital sector will co-operate in whatever way it can to assist all governments with the development of the National coronavirus Partnership.

A number of for-profit and non-profit private hospitals are currently in discussion with the states and territories to assist in the development of mechanisms designed to maintain the viability of the clinical capacity provided by the private hospital sector.

Nevertheless, the sector believes it is unlikely a nationally consistent position can be reached via individual negotiations with each of the states and territories in the time frame necessary to maintain viability and capacity of the private hospital system.

EU STRUGGLES TO FLATTEN CURVE

Italy reported more than 750 new fatalities on Sunday, bringing the country’s total to nearly 10,800.

But the number of new infections showed signs of easing, with officials expressing cautious optimism that the most severe shutdown in the industrialised West is showing results.

Italy’s civil protection agency said more than 5200 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, the lowest number in four days, for a total of almost 98,000 infections.

The entire country has been under lockdown since March 10, with even more draconian measures put in place on March 20.

media_camera A French military helicopter delivers coronavirus patients for treatment in Muehlheim, Germany. Picture: Getty Images

Current restrictions are set to expire on April 3 but even if the situation improves, few people expect them to be lifted soon.

Spain moved to tighten its lockdown and ban all non-essential work as it recorded the world’s second-highest toll and confirmed another 838 deaths in the last 24 hours, a new daily record.

The number of confirmed cases reached 78,797 on Sunday, a one-day increase of 9.1 per cent, with a total of 6528 deaths

Spain’s health emergencies chief, Fernando Simon, said the number of people in intensive care units keeps rising and hospitals are at their limits in several regions.

“That is why we have to strictly apply the control measures,” he said.

media_camera People applaud from their houses in support of the medical staff that are working on the COVID-19 virus outbreak in Barcelona, Spain. Picture: AP

Egypt shut its beaches as cases in the Mideast surpassed 50,000.

Police in the Philippines stepped up arrests of quarantine violators, and more tourists were evacuated from Mount Everest and the Indonesian island of Bali.

Poland is considering delaying its May 10 presidential election.

Russia ordered borders to close on Monday, Moscow all but confined its 12 million residents to their homes, and the head of the Russian Orthodox called on believers to stay away from churches and pray at home instead.

media_camera A mortuary employee wearing a face mask places the coffin of a COVID-19 victim into a niche during a burial at the Fuencarral cemetery in Madrid, Spain. Picture: AFP

A prominent French politician with the virus died, the country’s first death of a senior official.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

But for others, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and lead to death.

Around the world, doctors were forced to make tough choices about which patients to save with their limited breathing machines, and Spain and Italy demanded more European help as they fight still surging coronavirus infections in the continent’s worst crisis since World War II.

PRIVATE HOSPITALS TREAT FOREIGN CRUISE PATIENTS

Dozens of passengers and crew on-board the Artania cruise ship in Fremantle have likely been infected with coronavirus and will be treated at private hospitals in Perth.

Premier Mark McGowan said the Commonwealth had contracted Bethesda and Hollywood hospitals to treat the foreigners.

“Cruise ships continue to be the Achilles heel when it comes to managing this situation,” he told reporters on Saturday.

“I’m pleased so say the Commonwealth agrees this matter is their responsibility.”

Mr McGowan said the Artania hit a crisis point on Friday night when it was revealed 77 people had virus-type symptoms and another person was evacuated for a separate illness.

WA health experts went aboard on Saturday, concluding 46 people should be tested for coronavirus, including 30 passengers and 16 crew.

Anyone who tests positive will be treated at the private hospitals.

Seven of the nine people who disembarked on Friday, who tested positive, will no longer be quarantined at the WA police academy, and will instead go to the hospitals.

Two other people were previously evacuated from the ship for other medical reasons, then subsequently diagnosed with COVID-19 and remain in a critical condition.

Health Minister Roger Cook said it was likely the third emergency evacuee would also test positive.

media_camera Banners are hung from the cruise ship MV Artania in Fremantle harbour.

Mr McGowan said four chartered flights would take about 800 healthy passengers and some crew back to Europe.

New Zealanders on-board the Vasco da Gama cruise ship, which is also docked in Fremantle, will be assessed before flying out on Saturday evening. There are also about 30 British people on-board.

About 200 passengers from WA will soon go into isolation on Rottnest Island for 14 days, while about 600 other Australians will quarantine in WA for two weeks before heading home.

Cruise ship Magnifica, which is anchored off Fremantle, is reprovisioning and will leave later on Saturday.

A fourth ship, which only has crew on-board, also needs to reprovision and refuel.

“The truth is that there’s no perfect solutions in this whole set of events,” Mr McGowan said.

“We don’t want passengers from cruise ships wandering around the streets.” WA has 23 new cases, including the confirmed Artania passengers, taking the state’s total to 278.

There are 14 people in hospital, including six in intensive care. Mr Cook said the overall numbers were “very encouraging”.

media_camera A passenger walks from the MV Artania to be attended to by waiting paramedics on the wharf at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal.

“What this means is that we are continuing to identify all the people who are at risk of contracting COVID-19 and we are isolating those people,” he said. Australian Medical Association WA president Andrew Miller said a lockdown was inevitable.

“The sooner we do it, the more effective it is and hopefully the shorter it will be.” But Mr McGowan said he did not like the term “lockdown”.

“We need to be careful in our language … there may well be further changes, but if there are, we will announce them in coming days, and if those changes are put in place it’s for the common good.” A 61-year-old man on his way to the beach has been charged after allegedly failing to comply with a direction to self-isolate upon his return to WA from Indonesia last week.

AUSSIE COPS MANAGE NEW QUARANTINES

Australian governments are now turning to police-managed quarantine measures and the threat of fines and jail to battle coronavirus, as the death toll reaches 14.

All Australians returning home on cruise ships or international airports from midnight Sunday – and many before that – will live out their 14 days of quarantine in state-funded hotel rooms.

The doors will be guarded by state police, defence personnel or private security guards.

Two-thirds of Australia’s more than 3580 cases have been linked to overseas travel, deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly said on Saturday.

media_camera Travellers arriving from flight QF66 from Johannesberg wearing protective face masks at Sydney International Airport.

“We really need to get on top of the people that have returned … from these other countries that had a much wider and worse epidemic of COVID-19 than we currently do here in Australia,” he told reporters, pointing to cruise ships, the US, UK and Italy as key sources.

Dr Kelly said most locally acquired cases have had clear contact with a known case of the novel coronavirus, making quarantine compulsory for returning travellers was very important and supported by the “very best” medical evidence.

media_camera Federal and Queensland police greeting passengers of a Qantas flight coming in from Sydney to check they know the quarantine rules. Picture: Stewart McLean

– with AAP