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| Coronavirus: Australia to close pubs, cafes and places of worship | Coronavirus: Australia to close pubs, cafes and places of worship |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Australia is shutting down non-essential services as coronavirus cases rise rapidly in the country. | Australia is shutting down non-essential services as coronavirus cases rise rapidly in the country. |
| Pubs, clubs, gyms, cinemas and places of worship will be shut from midday on Monday, while restaurants and cafes will have to switch to takeaway only. | |
| Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the restrictions after a national cabinet meeting. | Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the restrictions after a national cabinet meeting. |
| The number of cases in Australia has risen sharply in recent days, reaching 1,315. | The number of cases in Australia has risen sharply in recent days, reaching 1,315. |
| New South Wales (NSW), home to Sydney, is the worst-affected state with 533 confirmed cases. Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, has 296 cases, while Queensland has 259. | New South Wales (NSW), home to Sydney, is the worst-affected state with 533 confirmed cases. Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, has 296 cases, while Queensland has 259. |
| The new restrictions will see many businesses close but supermarkets, petrol stations, pharmacies and home delivery services will continue running. | The new restrictions will see many businesses close but supermarkets, petrol stations, pharmacies and home delivery services will continue running. |
| The prime minister said he wanted to keep schools open but parents would be able to keep their children at home if they wished to do so. | |
| "I don't want to see our children lose an entire year of their education," he said. | |
| Some states, including Victoria, have signalled that they want to close schools. | Some states, including Victoria, have signalled that they want to close schools. |
| Seven people have died across Australia so far from Covid-19. | Seven people have died across Australia so far from Covid-19. |
| The new measures come after large crowds gathered on Sydney's beaches including Bondi on Saturday, flouting social distancing advice. | The new measures come after large crowds gathered on Sydney's beaches including Bondi on Saturday, flouting social distancing advice. |
| Mr Morrison said that the federal and state governments had decided to act because Australians were not obeying guidelines. | |
| But he added: "We are not putting in place lockdowns that put people in and confine them to their homes. | |
| "That is not a measure that has been contemplated at this point." | |
| Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said people, especially the young, had to realise that they needed to live "very differently" and stop going out in order to control the virus. | |
| In other developments: | |
| Australians' lethargy on social distancing | Australians' lethargy on social distancing |
| by BBC News reporter Frances Mao, in Sydney | by BBC News reporter Frances Mao, in Sydney |
| Just hours after the impending shutdown was announced, I walked through an inner Sydney neighbourhood. It was a balmy Sunday evening and people were out at bars and restaurants perhaps unaware that this would be their last drink outside their homes for a while. | Just hours after the impending shutdown was announced, I walked through an inner Sydney neighbourhood. It was a balmy Sunday evening and people were out at bars and restaurants perhaps unaware that this would be their last drink outside their homes for a while. |
| The measures are likely to hit Australians hard, and shock many out of the lethargy they've felt towards social distancing. | The measures are likely to hit Australians hard, and shock many out of the lethargy they've felt towards social distancing. |
| State restrictions had already ramped up this past week, as the case numbers doubled every few days. However, many Australians haven't been paying attention to the statistics. | State restrictions had already ramped up this past week, as the case numbers doubled every few days. However, many Australians haven't been paying attention to the statistics. |
| Instead, discussion has often centred around disruption to daily life - the inconvenience and tedium of working from home; the panic buying at supermarkets. While some - closely attuned to the crisis in the US and Europe - have been vigilantly isolating, others have been resistant to the message "stay at home". | Instead, discussion has often centred around disruption to daily life - the inconvenience and tedium of working from home; the panic buying at supermarkets. While some - closely attuned to the crisis in the US and Europe - have been vigilantly isolating, others have been resistant to the message "stay at home". |
| It's why a blast of late summer heat on Friday drew so many out to Bondi Beach - the social isolation mantra hasn't sunk in yet. There's been little public education campaigning, and the constantly changing messaging from the government hasn't helped. | It's why a blast of late summer heat on Friday drew so many out to Bondi Beach - the social isolation mantra hasn't sunk in yet. There's been little public education campaigning, and the constantly changing messaging from the government hasn't helped. |
| It was only 10 days ago that the prime minister blithely said he'd still attend a rugby game, minutes after banning large gatherings outside. He later changed his decision. Australia had fewer than 200 cases then, it now has over 1,300. | It was only 10 days ago that the prime minister blithely said he'd still attend a rugby game, minutes after banning large gatherings outside. He later changed his decision. Australia had fewer than 200 cases then, it now has over 1,300. |
| What was in the financial package? | What was in the financial package? |
| The prime minister earlier on Sunday announced a second stimulus package worth A$66bn, meaning the total financial package offered by the government and Reserve Bank now amounts to A$189bn (£94bn, $109bn). | |
| Mr Morrison said financial support would be offered to those most vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus crisis. | Mr Morrison said financial support would be offered to those most vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus crisis. |
| The measures include doubling income support for those on Jobseeker's allowance while waiving asset tests and waiting periods. | The measures include doubling income support for those on Jobseeker's allowance while waiving asset tests and waiting periods. |
| Grants of up to A$100,000 will be made available for small and medium-sized businesses. | Grants of up to A$100,000 will be made available for small and medium-sized businesses. |
| Individuals affected by the coronavirus will be able to access up to A$10,000 of their pension during 2019 and 2020. They will be able to take a further A$10,000 the following year. | Individuals affected by the coronavirus will be able to access up to A$10,000 of their pension during 2019 and 2020. They will be able to take a further A$10,000 the following year. |
| Australian airlines and airports will meanwhile be provided with up to A$715 million in support. | Australian airlines and airports will meanwhile be provided with up to A$715 million in support. |
| Mr Morrison stressed that the measures cover the next six months. "This is not a quick fix," he said. "This will not be my last visit to the podium. There will be more packages and more support." | Mr Morrison stressed that the measures cover the next six months. "This is not a quick fix," he said. "This will not be my last visit to the podium. There will be more packages and more support." |
| What's happening in Asia? | What's happening in Asia? |
| Singapore has announced it will ban all short-term visitors under new coronavirus measures. Short-term visitors are also banned from transiting through Singapore. Only work pass holders who have healthcare and transport will be allowed to enter, along with their dependents. | Singapore has announced it will ban all short-term visitors under new coronavirus measures. Short-term visitors are also banned from transiting through Singapore. Only work pass holders who have healthcare and transport will be allowed to enter, along with their dependents. |
| The city state confirmed on Saturday that two people had died from Covid-19, the first virus related deaths in Singapore. | The city state confirmed on Saturday that two people had died from Covid-19, the first virus related deaths in Singapore. |
| China reported 46 new cases, all but one brought in from other countries. The one domestic case was linked to a previous imported case, according to local authorities. | China reported 46 new cases, all but one brought in from other countries. The one domestic case was linked to a previous imported case, according to local authorities. |
| South Korea reported 98 new cases on Sunday. The figure suggests a downward trend in new cases. The total number of coronavirus cases in South Korea has now reached 8,897. | South Korea reported 98 new cases on Sunday. The figure suggests a downward trend in new cases. The total number of coronavirus cases in South Korea has now reached 8,897. |