Chinese officials say all their new infections were imported from overseas, almost $16 million has been allocated to help develop a new coronavirus test and more than 1,000 COVID-19 infections have been confirmed in Australia.

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Saturday's key moments

Mosque closures in Egypt

Egypt's Al-Azhar mosque, one of its oldest and largest, has been ordered to shut its doors.

Al-Azhar, Egypt's top Sunni Muslim authority, said it was shutting its historic mosque in old Cairo "for the safety of worshippers, and until the end of the [coronavirus] epidemic," it said in a statement.

No decision has been made regarding the country's hundreds of thousands of other mosques.

Many on social media criticised the Government for not cancelling the weekly Friday prayers.

Egypt so far registered 285 confirmed coronavirus cases including eight deaths.

The country's Coptic Orthodox Church on Saturday ordered all its churches to shut their doors and suspend masses for two weeks over coronavirus fears.

The historic mosque will be closed, but no decision has been made about others in Egypt. ( Reuters: Mohamed Abd El Ghany )

South Koreans told to spend two weeks apart

People in South Korea have been told to forego socialising for 15 days as part of a voluntary social distancing policy.

The country reported 147 new coronavirus infections today, jumping from the previous day's 87.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun strongly recommended religious, indoor sports and entertainment facilities such as nightclubs suspend operations, and people avoid socialising and travel for the next 15 days.

He said if facilities did not conform to rules such as mandatory mask wearing for all users, and keeping at least a 1 metre distance between everyone, while listing the names and phone numbers of all entrants, the government would order gatherings to disperse.

Saturday's cases bring the country's total to 8,799.

The number of deaths associated with the virus in South Korea rose to 104.

Returning expats see China's cases rise

There are fears of a second wave of infections in China as expats return home from the US and Europe.

All 41 of the new confirmed cases in China were imported from overseas, the country's National Health Commission said on Saturday.

But there were no locally transmitted cases for the third day running.

While there has been no reported transmission of the virus from people arriving from abroad to local communities, authorities across China are tightening public health measures.

Beijing and Shanghai have set up stringent testing and screening protocols for all international arrivals, while travellers who enter Guangdong province from abroad will be subject to a 14-day quarantine on arrival.

The total number of confirmed cases in mainland China stood at 81,008 at the end of Friday, health authorities said.

China's death toll was 3,255, up by seven — which is a much slower rate than at the height of the crisis.

This lack of locally transmitted cases for the third day running prompted officials to relax restrictions, even in the virus epicentre of Wuhan.

Meanwhile, the initial phase of a clinical trial of a vaccine has begun, state media reported on Saturday.

The first batch of 36 volunteers, comprising Wuhan residents aged between 18 and 60, will undergo a 14-day quarantine at a centralised location.

Tasmania records new cases

Five new Tasmanian cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed today.

Of those five, three are passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise.

The other two are a man and a woman who recently arrived in Australia from Europe.

These cases bring the total number of cases diagnosed in Tasmania to 16, with the additional Tasmanian resident diagnosed interstate.

New border restrictions in the NT

The Northern Territory will introduce new border controls from 4pm on Tuesday, forcing any interstate or overseas arrivals to self-isolate for 14 days.

There will be exemptions to the self-isolation requirement for health and emergency services, defence and policing, flight crews and freight.

But tourists heading to the NT have been told to revaluate their plans.

"Arrivals will have to show they meet the essential arrival criteria to be granted an exemption," Chief Minister Michael Gunner said.

"There will also be exemptions granted on compassionate grounds."

Mr Gunner said the move would not impact on the delivery of essential goods and services, assuring the state that supermarkets "will be stocked".

More information would be provided in the coming days about exemptions, he said.

Mr Gunner said there would be some exemptions granted on "compassionate grounds". ( ABC News: Michael Franchi )

US tourists isolated in luxury vineyard retreat

Ten American tourists and a nine-year-old boy are among 17 new people to test positive for COVID-19 in South Australia today.

The members of the American tour group in the Barossa Valley tested positive overnight, with a further four members of the 18-strong party awaiting test results.

They were isolated in their residence at luxury vineyard retreat The Louise, as none needed hospitalisation yet.

The hotel released a statement on Saturday afternoon that said from Sunday, "the property and its restaurants Appellation and three75 will close for the next two weeks".

"These guests are in need of high-quality isolation and support during this unexpected change in their itinerary, based on the advice of SA Health," the statement said.

"The Louise has agreed to support these guests in the near term, and will therefore close its normal accommodation and dining venues for the coming two weeks."

Seven other new cases have been confirmed in South Australia — the biggest daily increase so far — bringing the state's total to 67 cases.

Funding boost to rapidly develop new test

Health Minister Greg Hunt has announced $15.6 million in funding to help researchers develop a new coronavirus test "within weeks".

Mr Hunt defended the amount of testing that was being currently conducted in Australia, despite criticism from Opposition Health Spokesman Chris Bowen.

He said Australia had one of the highest coronavirus testing rates globally.

"On the latest advice I have — and this will be updated over the course of the weekend — [we have performed] 115,000 tests, which is one of the highest in the world and, in particular, one of the highest per capita rates of testing in the world," he said.

"That means we have had over a 99 per cent negative rate. So for every 100 tests, well over 99 have been negative."

He said more testing kits had been ordered from overseas.

Four cruise ships to dock in Australia

More than 1,000 crew remain quarantines on the Ruby Princess at Circular Quay in Sydney. ( AAP: Dean Lewins )

A 30-day ban on foreign cruise ships was announced last week but an exemption had been made for the four already heading to Australian ports.

This week 2,647 passengers disembarked from the Ruby Princess at Sydney's Circular Quay and four people from the vessel have tested positive for COVID-19.

More than 1,000 Ruby Princess crew members remain quarantined on the ship.

A second cruise ship is arriving in the West Australian port of Fremantle today and a third is set to dock in Darwin this week.

Foreign passengers are not allowed to disembark unless they have arrangements to travel home.

Australian citizens and residents will be allowed off, but will have to self-isolate for 14 days.

Bondi Beach closed after 'unacceptable' gathering

Beachgoers enjoy a sunny day at Bondi Beach despite growing concerns about the spread of coronavirus. ( Reuters: Loren Elliott )

The New South Wales Government has banned people from going to Bondi Beach.

Other NSW beaches will also be shut down if social distancing advice is ignored.

The news of Bondi's temporary closure came a day after the beach was packed with people appearing to flout health advice about social distancing and avoiding gatherings.

Images of the busy beach left many fuming and started a social media storm.

Hundreds of locals and tourists were back at the famous beach on Saturday morning but it was closed just before 1:00pm AEDT.

Health Minister Greg Hunt had asked people to stop gathering at Bondi to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Mr Hunt said Australians were taking enormous strides when it came to social distancing, but what happened at Bondi was unacceptable.

The crowds at Bondi Beach on Saturday were smaller, but still exceeded 500 people. ( ABC News: Victoria Pengilley )

Italy's death toll continues to rise

Italy, the European country hardest-hit by COVID-19, has reported 627 new deaths, its biggest day-to-day increase since the outbreak began.

It has recorded over 4,000 deaths — more than China — and 47,000 infections.

The soaring numbers have come despite a nationwide lockdown.

The World Health Organisation has noted the dramatic speed of the virus's spread, pointing out it took more than three months to infect 100,000 people but only 12 days to reach another 100,000.

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Australians head home as countries lock down

Australian citizens, residents and their families are rushing home from overseas, concerned future travel bans could block their path.

Tighter border controls kicked in on Friday night.

Under the changes, non-citizens and non-residents cannot enter Australia, and Australian Border Force officers have been placed at foreign airports to enforce the rules.

Australians can still return from overseas but they are required to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving.

Visa holders already in Australia can remain in the country.

UK to help pay salaries

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 4 seconds 1 m 4 s Prime Minister Boris Johnson orders all pubs, restaurants and cafes to close to fight spread of coronavirus

With cafes, pubs, restaurants, gyms and cinemas across the UK ordered to shut, the British Government has said it will help employers pay workers' wages.

British employers will be able to access a grant aimed at covering up to 80 per cent of an employee's wage to prevent them being laid off.

The grants are worth up to 2,500 pounds ($5,000) a month.

Treasury chief Rishi Sunak called the economic intervention an "unprecedented" response by a British Government.

Keeping the love alive

With couples around the world quarantined together and forced to spend more time in close quarters than ever before, lawyers are predicting an increase in divorces.

Stress levels will be up and some therapists are already seeing coronavirus have more direct impacts on intimate relationships.

The current pandemic may be unprecedented, but research on natural disasters might provide some clues as to how intimate relationships could be affected in the coming weeks and months.

While such crises undoubtedly put enormous strain on couples, experts say it's important to keep in mind they can also lead to positive growth.

Dire warning for Brazil

Brazil's health system will collapse by the end of April, the country's Health Minister has warned.

Luiz Henrique Mandetta said Sao Paulo was at the start of the coronavirus whirlwind, and the number of cases there would jump next week.

Speaking to business leaders by video conference, the nation's President Jair Bolsonaro said measures to deal with coronavirus's spread needed to be taken but he warned against actions that would cause "hysteria".

He said closures of airports and roads was not advisable and would cause panic.

Two Pentagon cases confirmed

The Pentagon has confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus.

One of the infected individuals was an active-duty airman who worked at the Defence Health Agency in Falls Church, Virginia, and had been inside the Pentagon on Monday, the US Air Force said.

He has received medical treatment and is in self-quarantine at home.

The other infected person is an Air Force defence contractor who works in the Pentagon. He has been self-quarantined since March 7, according to the Air Force.

The cases were revealed as New York authorities joined their Californian counterparts in ordering all non-essential workers to stay home.

The pandemic has upended life in much of the United States, shuttering schools and businesses, prompting millions to work from home, forcing many out of jobs and sharply curtailing travel.

"This is the most drastic action we can take," New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference, revealing all non-essential businesses in his state must also close.

US, Mexico stop some border crossings

Donald Trump said prohibiting "non-essential" border crossings would save lives. ( AP: Evan Vucci )

All "non-essential" travel between Mexico and the United States is set to be prohibited.

The two countries, as well as Canada, have agreed to turn back anyone trying to cross their borders illegally.

US officials said unchecked entries posed a risk amid the coronavirus pandemic.

US President Donald Trump said: "The actions we are taking together with our North American partners will save countless lives."

Peak US sports body calls for Olympics reset

USA Swimming's CEO is urging the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to push for the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics until next year.

Tim Hinchey wrote to USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland on Friday to advocate on behalf of his governing body's 400,000 members.

Mr Hinchey said athletes' worlds had been turned "upside down" and they were struggling to find ways to prepare and train for the Games.

"Pressing forward amidst the global health crisis this summer is not the answer," he wrote.

He said going ahead with the Olympics this year would call into question "the authenticity of a level playing field for all".

Australian coronavirus cases pass 1,000

There are 1,073 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia.

Here is a state-by-state breakdown of confirmed coronavirus cases:

NSW: 436 (six deaths)

NSW: 436 (six deaths) Victoria: 229

Victoria: 229 Queensland: 221

Queensland: 221 WA: 90 (one death)

WA: 90 (one death) SA: 67

SA: 67 Tasmania: 16

Tasmania: 16 ACT: 9

ACT: 9 NT: 5

The figures come from state and territory databases of confirmed COVID-19 cases. The latest update was at 8:30pm AEDT on Saturday, March 21.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 3 minutes 42 seconds 3 m 42 s Q+A: Coronavirus testing criteria slammed

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