Australia is to impose 14-day self-isolation on international travelers arriving from midnight yesterday and ban cruise ships from foreign ports for 30 days, mirroring restrictions in nearby New Zealand aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the new measures after a meeting with a newly formed national cabinet, dubbed the coronavirus “war Cabinet.”
The strict measures were designed to slow the spread of the global pandemic across Australia and help the country “flatten the peak” of the virus, Morrison told a news conference.
Photo: EPA-EFE
“To help stay ahead of this curve, we will impose a universal precautionary self-isolation requirement on all international arrivals to Australia and that is effective from midnight tonight,” he said.
“Further the Australian government will also ban cruise ships from foreign ports from arriving at Australian ports for an initial 30 days,” he added.
The new border restrictions come as Australia recorded more than 250 cases of coronavirus and three deaths.
Australia has already imposed bans for travelers from China, Italy Iran and South Korea, countries with high infection rates.
The bans mean foreign nationals who have been in any of the four nations would not be allowed into Australia for 14 days from the time they left those countries.
Australian citizens and permanent residents traveling from those countries would still be able to enter Australia, but must self-isolate for a fortnight after returning home.
Australia has advised against nonessential gatherings of more than 500 people from today, but this is yet to apply to schools and universities.
Morrison yesterday urged people to practice “social distancing,” such as keeping a meter apart and not to shake hands, in order to reduce transmissions.
He said the rate of community transmission had started to increase and that social distancing would help limit demand on the healthcare systems, which would mean better treatment for elderly and those in remote and vulnerable communities.
“Slowing the spread will free up beds,” he said. “That’s what happens when you get this right and we’ve seen other countries going down this path.”
Neighboring New Zealand on Saturday said it would require incoming travelers, including its own citizens, to self-isolate for two weeks and banned cruise ships.
The Australian government is yet to restrict the operation of schools, but Australian Minister of Health Greg Hunt yesterday did not rule out such a measure in the coming months.
The new phase of restrictions come as the Australian government launches a multimillion dollar advertising campaign focused on good hygiene, and the formation of a Coronavirus Business Liaison Unit to address the economic fallout.
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