Self-isolating Australians are saving lives and livelihoods: PM

The prime minister thanked the public for adhering to strict social distancing measures after revealing movement around Sydney and Melbourne has dropped by 80 per cent over the past weekend. Many non-essential businesses, including pubs, restaurants, auction houses, Beauty therapy, tanning and waxing, spa centres, massage parlours, amusement parks among others have been closed to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Australians have been encouraged to stay at home unless they are going to buy essential goods and services. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said by and large, Australians have complied with the government's message. "I can assure you I would rather be in Australia now with the way we are dealing with this together than any other country in the world today," he said. He said due to the public's compliance to social distancing measures, the national cabinet could target the area of most concern: overseas travellers. "The reason we can focus on that is because of the great work Australians have done particularly over the course of the past week on getting on tonne of their own movements and their own behaviours," Mr Morrison said. "It means we can focus even more on these critical areas that are our greatest risk at this point in time. Two-thirds of the cases that we currently have are from an Australian who has come home. " From Sunday, every traveller entering Australia next week will be forced into 14-day quarantines as the federal government takes control of closed hotels to isolate the most dangerous source of COVID-19. Mr Morrison said travellers would be detained in the state their flight landed and they would not be able to travel interstate before the two-week window expired. "So, Australia, thank you again, thank you for what you have done. We will continue to do everything in our power to support you, and this weekend I hope you have a good one," Mr Morrison said. There are currently 3,059 confirmed cases of the disease in Australia, resulting in 13 deaths. Via news.com.au — Australia’s #1 news site https://www.news.com.au