Australia has announced that families will be provided free childcare for six months as part of a bid to keep businesses operating through the coronavirus pandemic, as data on new infections supported early signs of “flattening the curve”.

The childcare centre subsidy adds to a growing list of support packages worth some A$200 billion (£98bn) as the government attempts to “hibernate” the Australian economy, to be reawakened when the crisis has passed.

“We will demonstrate to the world here in Australia how such societies can deal with these sort of challenges our way, the Australian way,” Mr Morrison said during a televised press conference. “So stay positive, Australia. Stay connected, stay strong. We will get through this together.”

Mr Morrison and state officials have introduced unprecedented restrictions on public movement to stop the spread of the virus and said that data on new infections continued to show those efforts were paying off.

Australia has reported around 5,200 infections and 25 deaths, with daily increases in new cases dropping to single digits from between 25 per cent and 30 per cent two weeks ago.

Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Show all 13 1 /13 Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Ringwood, Hampshire With flights grounded around the world due to the coronavirus outbreak, photographers have been able to capture stunning images of star trails - the streaks of light left by stars as the earth rotates - without the usual interruption caused by air traffic. Nick Lucas/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Miserden, Gloucestershire Using long exposure times, the shifting positions of the stars relative to Earth's rotation can be captured to create a striking orbital effect. Brian Johns/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Highams Park, London One photographer who has been taking advantage the quiet of skies, Jawad Saleem, said: “I've travelled up and down the country in search of elusive clear skies. Isolation and lockdown meant I had to be creative in capturing my favourite subject.” Jawad Saleem/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Ramshaw Rocks, Staffordshire Ben Lockett, a student from Staffordshire, also noted how the new social conditions assisted him greatly in capturing pictures during his daily exercise slot. Ben Lockett/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Shropshire “I usually end up spending a lot of time removing light trails caused by passing aircraft, but I only had one plane to remove from these images, instead of the usual 20-30!” Andrew Fusek Peters/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Hampshire Photographer Andrew Whyte described the process of getting his shots despite the restrictions to travel imposed by the government. Andrew Whyte/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Hampshire “On Friday night I continued to observe the lockdown and didn’t even cross the threshold of my front door,” he said. Andrew Whyte/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Coaly Peak, Gloucestershire One photographer who has been taking advantage the quiet of skies, Jawad Saleem, said: “I've travelled up and down the country in search of elusive clear skies. Isolation and lockdown meant I had to be creative in capturing my favourite subject.” Brian Johns/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Shropshire “At a time when there’d usually be a steady passage of friends and couples on their way home from the pub or taxis dropping off partygoers, I saw a single person out for a walk and no cars at all. Nick Jackson/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Hampshire - Before lockdown “Light trails through the sky from air traffic can cause a major visual distraction in star trail images. Removing these trails is a time-consuming task so it’s a real bonus to not have to do it.” Andrew Whyte/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Leicestershire Star trail over South Leicestershire, East Midlands - the small straigh line is a meteor, March 2020. See SWNS SWCAstars: Bored Brits have taken advantage of the coronavirus lockdown by capturing amazing star trail shots of the clear skies. The dazzling snaps seen here are rare - owing to the lack of planes in the sky due to the pandemic Photographers have capitalised on this unusual event to take mesmerising pictures in their free time. Mark Humpage/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Shropshire Star trail over Shropshire, March 2020. See SWNS SWCAstars: Bored Brits have taken advantage of the coronavirus lockdown by capturing amazing star trail shots of the clear skies. The dazzling snaps seen here are rare - owing to the lack of planes in the sky due to the pandemic Photographers have capitalised on this unusual event to take mesmerising pictures in their free time. Nick Jackson/SWNS Grounding of flights allows stunning photos of star trails Portishead, North Somerset Star trails over Portishead, North Somerset - also seen at three small meteors, March 2020. See SWNS SWCAstars: Bored Brits have taken advantage of the coronavirus lockdown by capturing amazing star trail shots of the clear skies. The dazzling snaps seen here are rare - owing to the lack of planes in the sky due to the pandemic Photographers have capitalised on this unusual event to take mesmerising pictures in their free time. Jon Mills/SWNS

“The curve is beginning to flatten,” Greg Hunt, the health minister, said. “It isn't sustained yet, it hasn't been consolidated, but those early, important signs are absolutely critical.”

Mr Morrison said on Thursday the country's testing rate was now more than 1,000 tests per 100,000 people, or 1 per cent of the population.

“We are the first country to the best of our knowledge that has been able to exceed that mark,” Mr Morrison said.

Childcare centres have lost significant business in recent weeks as thousands of people shifted to working at home, or were made redundant.

Mr Morrison said the subsidy would keep about 13,000 childcare centres open by paying them A$1.6 billion over the next three months. The full subsidies will last for six months, when they will be reviewed.

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Keeping the centres open would also allow critical workers from medical professionals to cleaners and food deliverers to continue to work, Mr Morrison said.

Australia has ordered the closure of restaurants, cafes, bars, movie theatres and instructed people to stay inside unless they are shopping for food or taking their daily exercise as it tries to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.

The restrictions are expected to push the country's A$2 trillion economy into its first recession in almost three decades and lift unemployment to double figures.