Australia started shutting down pubs, clubs, gyms and houses of worship on Monday after a jump in coronavirus cases. This caused after thousands disregarded social distancing advice and crowded beaches, bars and restaurants.
According to Reuters.com, the number of coronavirus cases in Australia has now surpassed 1,100. The highest number of case recording with the south-eastern states of Victoria and New South Wales.
Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister said “There will be no more going to the pub after work, no more going to the gym in the morning, and no more sitting down for brunch at a cafe.”
To emphasize this point, Morisson said that sweeping new measures aim to enforce social distancing, ordering non-essential services, including indoor sporting venues, pubs, cinemas, bars and places of worship. It will start from midday Monday.
Local authorities have also been closing beaches to disperse crowds amid a warm autumn spell. Meanwhile, for cafes and restaurants, they will be able to only offer takeaway and delivery services. For supermarket, pharmacies, freight and retail will continue to trade.
The benchmark index plunged more than 8% at the open. A day after the government pledged an extra A$66.4 billion ($38.06 billion) to combat the impact of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, the parts of the package require parliamentary approval, the opposition Labor party said it will support the legislation.
With scores of people already unemployed, hundreds of Australians lined up outside government offices in Sydney and Melbourne on Monday to register for social security payments, according to two Reuters’ witnesses.
Schools would be closed from Tuesday, said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. He suggests that the learning will place for remote. He adds, “If people simply behave as normal, if they don’t take this seriously, if they act selfishly, then people will die.”