Australia declares emergency, invokes new powers to fight coronavirus
Skip to main content
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Wednesday
August 17, 2022

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • World+Biz
  • Sports
  • Features
  • Epaper
  • More
    • Subscribe
    • COVID-19
    • Bangladesh
    • Splash
    • Videos
    • Games
    • Long Read
    • Infograph
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Thoughts
    • Podcast
    • Quiz
    • Tech
    • Archive
    • Trial By Trivia
    • Magazine
    • Supplement
  • বাংলা
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2022
Australia declares emergency, invokes new powers to fight coronavirus

Coronavirus chronicle

Reuters
18 March, 2020, 09:30 am
Last modified: 18 March, 2020, 09:35 am

Related News

  • Australia's PM says predecessor 'undermined democracy' with secret roles
  • Australia's PM says predecessor Morrison secretly held ministry roles during pandemic
  • Australia's PM says former PM Morrison took on secret ministerial roles during Covid
  • Southern hemisphere to get first mRNA vaccine facility
  • Australia's Canberra airport evacuated after gunshots fired; one arrested

Australia declares emergency, invokes new powers to fight coronavirus

The formal declaration gives the government the power to close off cities or regions, impose curfews and order people to quarantine, if deemed necessary to contain the spread of the virus

Reuters
18 March, 2020, 09:30 am
Last modified: 18 March, 2020, 09:35 am
Tables at an open restaurant are seen mostly deserted on a quiet morning at the waterfront of the Sydney Opera House, where scheduled public performances have been cancelled due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2020/ Reuters
Tables at an open restaurant are seen mostly deserted on a quiet morning at the waterfront of the Sydney Opera House, where scheduled public performances have been cancelled due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), in Sydney, Australia, March 18, 2020/ Reuters

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday declared a "human biosecurity emergency" and said the country's citizens should abandon all overseas travel because of the coronavirus epidemic.

The formal declaration gives the government the power to close off cities or regions, impose curfews and order people to quarantine, if deemed necessary to contain the spread of the virus.

The upgrade in official advice to an unprecedented "Level 4: Do not travel" to any country in the world, was accompanied by a ban on any non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people.

"Life is changing in Australia, as it is changing all around the world," Morrison said during a televised news conference. "Life is going to continue to change, as we deal with the global coronavirus. This is a once in a hundred year type event."

Australia has recorded around 425 coronavirus infections and five deaths, a relatively small number compared to other countries, but officials are growing increasingly concerned about the prospect of exponential rise in cases. New South Wales, the country's most populous state, reported it's biggest one-day surge in new cases on Wednesday.

Morrison said the tighter ban on indoor social gatherings, down to 100 people from 500 people, did not include essential services like schools, public transport and shopping centres.

The Australian leader cited expert health guidance as the rationale for keeping schools open, a strategy that has been questioned by some experts. Several private schools have made the unilateral decision to close ahead of the upcoming Easter break.

Morrison reiterated the need for social distancing and good hand hygiene to curb the spread of the virus and announced restricted access to aged care homes.

Anybody who travels during a Level 4 ban is warned that the Australian government may not be able to assist if they get into trouble while abroad, according the government's official SmartTraveller website. It also recommends people already in a "do not travel" area consider leaving.

Shortly before Morrison's statement, the government unveiled a A$A$715 million (354.64 million pounds) aid package for airlines, including waivers on domestic air traffic control fees. Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd has suspended all international flights from March 30 to June 14, while Qantas Airways Ltd has cut its international capacity by 90%.

The widening restrictions on travel and domestic movement are expected to take a significant toll on Australia's tourism, retail and entertainment sectors.

Economists are predicting the country will slip into its first recession in nearly three decades in the first half of 2020, prompting a rapid jump in unemployment.

"It's Unaustralian"

However, while the epidemic is expected to crimp consumer spending in the long run, data from the official statistics agency released on Wednesday showed a 0.4% rise in retail sales in February as people bought up staples in preparation for shortages.

The country's major grocers, Coles Group Ltd and Woolworths Group Ltd have increased sales restrictions in response to the panic buying on goods including toilet paper, milk, meat, flour, rice, hand sanitiser, eggs and frozen vegetables.

They have also introduced exclusive shopping sessions for the elderly and the disabled early in the day, when stores have been restocked.

Morrison issued blunt advice on Wednesday that the hoarding was unnecessary and counter-productive.

"Stop doing it. It's ridiculous. It's un-Australian, and it must stop," he said.

Morrison has already flagged a stimulus package worth around A$17 billion (8.41 billion pounds) and said on Wednesday the government was "considering quite extensive further economic measures" to dull the impact on the economy.

The Reserve Bank of Australia this week pumped liquidity into money markets and has promised further stimulus measures will be announced on March 19.

Interviews / Top News

Coronavirus / Coronavirus challange / COVID-19 / australia

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Russia now offers Bangladesh finished oil
    Russia now offers Bangladesh finished oil
  • PM okays major trade deal negotiations with India
    PM okays major trade deal negotiations with India
  • An operator does not just lift the girder and set it up at will. It is impossible. There is a process at every step. Where is the process?” Photo: TBS
    Blood on their hands

MOST VIEWED

  • People walk at a subway station, following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), in Shanghai, China May 11, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song
    Two Covid scares cause mayhem in Shanghai
  • File Photo: A woman holds a small bottle labeled with a "Vaccine Covid-19" sticker and a medical syringe in this illustration taken April 10, 2020. Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
    Variant-adapted Covid vaccine wins first approval in Britain
  • Southern hemisphere to get first mRNA vaccine facility
    Southern hemisphere to get first mRNA vaccine facility
  • North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un greets health workers and scientists struggling with the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic during a photo session in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this undated photo released on August 10, 2022 by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA via REUTERS
    North Korea lifts mask mandate, distancing rules after declaring Covid victory
  • A motorist passes by a mural of frontline workers against coronavirus at RK Puram in New Delhi on July 25. Delhi’s Covid-19 recoveries have outstripped new cases on almost all days this month barring a few exceptions, after ramped-up containment and testing efforts over the past month or so. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)
    Delhi to enforce mask mandate again after spurt in Covid cases
  • A general view of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia September 30, 2014. REUTERS/Tami Chappell
    US CDC no longer recommends students quarantine for Covid-19 exposure

Related News

  • Australia's PM says predecessor 'undermined democracy' with secret roles
  • Australia's PM says predecessor Morrison secretly held ministry roles during pandemic
  • Australia's PM says former PM Morrison took on secret ministerial roles during Covid
  • Southern hemisphere to get first mRNA vaccine facility
  • Australia's Canberra airport evacuated after gunshots fired; one arrested

Features

Photo: Collected

Which Nintendo Switch should you switch to?

14h | Brands
Photo: Collected

Welcome to the age of glass facades

23h | Habitat
Photo: Mumit M/TBS

Why artificial oyster reefs are the answer to our coastal embankments problems

23h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Anwar Group: From comb maker to owner of 20 companies

1d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Photo: TBS

Who is responsible for the Uttara girder tragedy?

30m | Videos
Photo: TBS

Evidence of negligence in Uttara girder tragedy

35m | Videos
The most dangerous animals in the Amazon

The most dangerous animals in the Amazon

35m | Videos
A month only for eating sandwiches

A month only for eating sandwiches

40m | Videos

Most Read

1
From left Afzal Karim, Murshedul Kabir and Mohammad Jahangir
Banking

Sonali, Agrani and Rupali banks get new MDs

2
Photo: TBS
Bangladesh

5 crushed to death as BRT girder falls on car in Uttara

3
Dollar price drops by Tk8 in kerb market
Economy

Dollar price drops by Tk8 in kerb market

4
Representational Image. Photo: Collected
Bangladesh

Air passengers should plan extra commute time to airport: DMP

5
Dollar crisis: BB orders removal of 6 banks’ treasury chiefs 
Banking

Dollar crisis: BB orders removal of 6 banks’ treasury chiefs 

6
Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard. Photo: Courtesy
Bangladesh

Bangladesh never asked for particular info from Swiss bank: Ambassador

EMAIL US
[email protected]
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2022
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - [email protected]

For advertisement- [email protected]