Add Category
Updated
The Federal Government is taking medical advice on whether it needs to bring in more restrictions on mass gatherings to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Key points:
- The Government is pondering more social distancing and more stimulus measures
- Schools remain open, but the Chief Medical Officer acknowledges it's a "vexed" issue
- Medical experts will advise ministers later today
This morning US President Donald Trump recommended Americans avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people, saying tougher restrictions were needed to "blunt" the impact of COVID-19.
Australia's restrictions currently apply to gatherings of 500 or more people, and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has confirmed ministers are having discussions about scaling up the nation's response.
"We continue to receive medical advice," he said.
"Obviously some other parts of the world, in particular Europe and also the US, are somewhat further advanced in terms of the spread of the virus there.
"But we will continue to act as we are advised. As the Prime Minister indicated yesterday in relation to some of these things, it is important to time these decisions in the right way.
"We will be making announcements before the Parliament returns next week."
The US has more than 4,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with at least 78 deaths. Australia now has more than 370 cases, with five deaths.
The National Security Committee and the National Cabinet — which includes state and territory leaders — are both due to meet today.
Federal Cabinet is also meeting, and will discuss an escalation in stimulus measures, less than one week after announcing a $17.6 billion package.
Australia's chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has told Sydney radio station 2GB the need for social distancing, such as not shaking hands, is more important than ever before.
"Keep your distance from people, avoid non-essential travel, try and avoid non-essential large groups … work from home. All of those sort of measures are very important," he said.
Senator Cormann said the Government was considering further stimulus measures to "maximise the strength of the bounceback" but warned the virus had created a "grim reality".
"We expect that businesses will close and people will lose their jobs," he said.
"And we're currently working to provide the necessary support through what will be a difficult transition. That is the grim reality of it."
Focus on schools, aged care
The Government is aware of community fears about schools remaining open, despite other countries closing them.
There are concerns sending students home will force parents to take time off work to look after them, putting further strain on the nation's workforce.
On Monday night Prime Minister took to Facebook to tell parents: "Closing schools at this time could potentially worsen the situation."
Professor Murphy said any decision to shut schools down could not be taken lightly.
"The issue of schools is a very vexed one," he said.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
"You can make schools safer, you can introduce measures in schools to reduce big gatherings.
"But the measures we put in place could be in place for several weeks, if not months."
Ministers are holding round tables today and are likely to announce new measures for aged care centres tomorrow.
Topics: government-and-politics, infectious-diseases-other, federal-government, economic-trends, health, australia
First posted